Super League Team of the Decade: Fullback

As the decade draws to a close, we look at the options for the Super League team of the year. We will look at the nominations first, and then at the end of the year, we will announce our winners.

These are in no particular order.

Paul Wellens (St Helens)

Mr St Helens himself Paul Wellens kicks off the list, he was part of a very successful side in the prime of his career, but even in his latter years, he was  still ever-present.

He was named captain of his boyhood club in 2011 after an already stellar career following James Graham’s departure to the NRL.

During this time, he scored his 1,000th career point after his try during the Saints’ stunning comeback win at Castleford Tigers in 2014.

It was in that same season where Wellens lifted his first trophy as captain. He helped Saints on their way to the Super League title, after beating Wigan Warriors 14-6 in the Grand Final.

He eventually retired midway through the 2015 season after failing to recover from a long-standing hip injury.

Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons)

A three time Dream Team fullback, Tomkins initially came through Wigan’s academy as a standoff, and was given the number six shirt in 2010 under new Head Coach Michael Maguire.

He played in every single game, and helped the Warriors to win the League Leaders Shield, and then the Super League title.

It was during this time he was sent to fullback, and was awarded for his efforts with the number one shirt in 2011.

This season saw Wigan win the Challenge Cup, though it would be Maguire’s last season at the club, as he returned to Australia. He was replaced by his assistant Shaun Wane.

2012 was an impressive year for Tomkins, as he scored 36 tries in 30 games, fuelling speculation of a move to Australia.

He ended up leaving for New Zealand Warriors, after guiding Wigan to a League and Cup double in 2013.

The England international spent two years in the NRL, but returned on account of homesickness and injury ahead of the 2016 season.

His first season back was blighted by injury, but 2017 saw his real comeback begin, as he was key in guiding Wigan to the Challenge Cup Final, though they lost against Hull FC.

However, it was in 2018 when things started to go awry. After it had been announced he was leaving the club, and not long after, he was involved with his brother in a video, which showed the verbal abuse of staff at a bar in Wigan. He was fined £5,000 for the incident.

He went out on the right note though, as he helped the Warriors to the Super League title with another Grand Final victory over Warrington.

Tomkins moved to the South of France with Catalans Dragons for the 2019 season, but a season that promised a lot, ended up falling short of expectation as the Dragons fell away in the race for the playoffs.

Whilst the 30-year-old may have had his best years, there is no doubt he is one of the best fullbacks of his generation.

Zak Hardaker (Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers and Wigan Warriors)

Hardaker signed for Leeds Rhinos in 2011 from Championship club Featherstone Rovers, and hasn’t left the top level since.

He came in after injuries on the wing, and stayed in the side to help the Rhinos to their fourth Super League title in five years, all of them coming against St Helens.

The England international was given the number four jersey for the 2012 season, and he was a constant figure in the Rhinos side, as they claimed another Super League title, and reached the Challenge Cup Final, but they lost against Warrington.

Hardaker achieved his first selection to the Super League Dream Team in 2014 after an impressive personal season that saw Leeds lift the Challenge Cup once more.

2015 is the season that Hardaker will be most remembered for. He played some brilliant stuff as the Rhinos won the treble. He also won the Man of Steel award for his performances.

However, 2016 was a tough season. A lot of the Rhinos’ star players had left and they were struggling to cope without them and Hardaker was no exception. He ended the season on loan at Penrith Panthers in the NRL for the rest of the season.

He came back to West Yorkshire and ended up signing for rivals Castleford Tigers. His impact was evident as the Tigers came as close as ever before to lifting the Super League title. They did lift the League Leaders Shield but fell short in the final.

Hardaker did not play in the final, after it had emerged he failed a drugs test after an earlier game against Leeds.

He was subsequently banned from the game for 18 months.

Once that ban had finished, he signed for Wigan on a four year contract and helped them recover from a slow start to record a second placed finish.

Hardaker, when on top of his game, is one of the best fullbacks around. The fact that he has done it for a number of years, is why he is on the list.

Jamie Shaul (Hull FC)

Shaul came through into the Hull FC side in 2013, he even played in their Challenge Cup Final defeat against Wigan.

He has been an ever-present in their side ever since. He has scored 93 tries in 166 games for the Black and Whites.

His crowning moment came in 2016, when he was part of the side that led Hull to their first ever win at Wembley, as they beat Warrington in the final.

They were also one game away from clinching the League Leaders Shield, but Warrington got their revenge.

However, Shaul was again instrumental as Hull claimed back-to-back Challenge Cups for the first time in their history.

At just the age of 27, it feels like he will have more to gives he enters his peak period.

Ben Barba (St Helens)

Barba came to St Helens with a big reputation, having been a former Dally M medal winner in Australia.

However, his career had hit the buffers in Australia, after it had emerged he had taken cocaine before the NRL Grand Final.

After a brief spell in French Rugby Union, he signed for St Helens at the back end of the 2017 season. He helped the side recover from a slow start to finish fourth. They lost narrowly in the semi final against Castleford.

However, in 2018, Barba showed his true class.  He led the line for the Saints and led them to a comfortable first place finish. It was the clubs first League Leaders Shield since 2014.

For his performances, he became the first person to hold both the Dally M medal and the Super League Man of Steel award.

He got his dream move back to Australia, but his contract with the North Queensland Cowboys was terminated after footage emerged of a domestic disturbance with his wife outside a casino in Townsville.

Despite how it ended, there is no denying that Barba at his peak, was one of the most exciting players to watch and that is why he makes the list.