IT wasn't so long ago we were watching Hull FC putting square pegs into round holes as they tried to fill their full-back position, writes Craig Murdock. But not since fans were split on whether they preferred Motu Tony or Shaun Briscoe have Hull had such a wealth of number one options.
The performances of Jamie Shaul, Jordan Rankin and Curtis Naughton on Sunday emphasised that fact. I'll nail my colours to the mast early on and say, Shaul's X-factor ability means he gets the nod for me, but what a decision it will be.
Rankin gives you another option at full-back. A lot of teams like to play with an extra pivot at full-back these days and that is the one part of Shaul's game that he is still to improve upon.
What we saw reinforced against York on Sunday is that with the ball in hand, and open space to run into, Shaul is as good as any full-back in Super League.
He probably started the match against York a little bit down after seeing Rankin start ahead of him, especially after how well he performed last season.
Apart from Joe Westerman, who was missing, the team that took the field against York could well start against Huddersfield in round one next month and the fact Shaul was omitted will have hurt him dearly.
If his nose was put out or he felt deflated, he gave the perfect response because not only was he outstanding, but also he gave the performance of the day at the Keepmoat Stadium.
What's great for Lee Radford is he clearly has options. I believe Rankin at full-back is better for the team dynamic in terms of the way Hull play as he offers more for the team in his skill set.
However, Shaul has the ability to score you a try from nothing and is the type of player that can win you a match with his own brilliance.
Rankin's presence helps bring in the centres and wingers more because he joins the line as an extra pivot and you know you can rely on him to find the pass to get the three-quarter line away.
He doesn't have Shaul's explosive ability, though. It's a really tough choice to have to make, complicated further by the emergence of Curtis Naughton. Once Rankin is fit, I can certainly see Radford picking whichever full-back is best suited to that day and the opposition.
Regardless of whether he starts at full-back, I would always have Rankin in the 17 each week because of the utility value he brings to the side.
He can play right across the back division and at a push can fill in at hooker too because he's got that physicality to his game.
