Johnston not the best fit for fullback: Ennis

FORMER Canterbury Bulldogs hooker Michael Ennis does not see Alex Johnston as a fullback, despite noting the South Sydney speedster did “evolve” in the role over the past couple of seasons.
On the other hand, the Fox League analyst reckons Rabbitohs’ new recruit Corey Allan — the Broncos junior yet to make his NRL debut — is a “star in the making” with the number one on his back.
Ennis’s assessment is important because Greg Inglis was expected to return to fullback this season.
He still may, but the flare up of an old knee injury will see him miss the opening two rounds. There are also rumours he is overweight — although Bennett and Johnston have both laughed this off.
Regardless, if he’s not in the sort of shape he needs to be in to handle the physical demand of fullback, Wayne Bennett may stick with Inglis’s replacement and station the Maroons skipper at centre, where he played last season.
And there’s no doubt in Ennis’s mind that Inglis’s replacement should be the 20-year-old Allan.
“No I wouldn’t [replace Inglis with Johnston] to be honest,” Ennis said. “I think Alex Johnston is a better winger — he’s obviously a good finisher with great acceleration.
“He’s had a lot of success, and I thought he did evolve in that fullback role. Wonderful try-scorer and he’s very dangerous through that middle of the field in particular his support play.
“But I’ve seen a lot of this young Corey Allan — we get an opportunity to see his first game in the red and green this weekend in a trial match for South Sydney and he is a star of the future.”
With the Rabbitohs boasting an experienced roster with the likes of Inglis, John Sutton, Sam Burgess and Adam Reynolds, Ennis sees it as the best time to use him.
“I would be leaning towards that development. I think with the amount of experience they’ve got in their side at South Sydney it’s a great chance to blood Corey while those senior players are there.” – foxsport.com