I'm not disputing what you are saying Billy re Shiba, except to say that his average of performing at his best versus his worst is my problem with him - on a consistency front and in spite of his performance in the Semis, I'd have Tuala ahead of him on consistency and potential every day of the week.
I think Shibasaki is a player that has limited development in him because, from my assessment, he is more of an athlete than a football player.
In attack, and outside of his ability to compete for and catch a high ball, but from what I've noticed as a centre he just doesn't have the natural ability to read a situation and play what's in front of him - he tends to try and run the set plays regardless of whether it is on or not and tends to struggle when he is pressured by the defence in those situations.
In defence, and outside of the feedback (from the coaches) I still think there is an issue of being able read a play and adapt - again because I think he is an athlete that can manage when everything goes to plan but he struggles when he has to read the play and make decisions.
The only other measure for comparison is that I also consider Tuala is a much better effort on effort player - I have noticed that Shiba tends to drop his concentration and not respond when he is initially beaten and needs to scramble...I never seem to see that in Tuala, Best or Hunt
Again, he's not our worst player and gives us depth but I personally see Tuala, Best, Hunt and Lee as our most capable starting back line, with Toa (particularly after a full first grade off season) also ahead of him. For me that then puts him probably at the front of the mix with the development players like Simi potentially and finally Young.
