Top 10 Centres in the NRL

[Lambretta]

What do you mean used to be? Second row forward is still the position. All the positions are named by where they stand at the scrum. The most confusion I've heard over a position is 'what the hell does five-eighth mean?'

About two thirds - 62.5%
It's name is derived from how intelligent you need to be to play there
"Why didn't he pass when there was a huge gap there for the other guy to run into?"
"Because he's about two thirds as smart as the team mascot"
"You mean five eighths as smart as?"
Yeah, whatever.... merkin

 

[big hit!]

The centre is a key part of any team, and crucial for making line breaks and setting up their wingers.

so is it a position on offense?

 

[big hit!]

Probably Tamalaulo.
I think the new name for the centre position should be "big back" or even "muscle back". Sort of like the old inside centre and the new decoy/edge forward position (remember when they used to be called "second row" until everyone went "second row of what exactly?").
The name big back or muscle back makes more sense than centre since they are a long way from the centre and they are usually further out than the edge forward.
There should also be a position called "gap back" and "all purpose back".
We need to get away from Rugby Union terminology.

bare back

 

[T-Boon]

I think that Fifita would be the best centre. Makes the most metres up the guts and gets ok offloads and fast play the balls. These are the most important jobs of the guys playing in the centre. He is also an A defender that doesnt miss a lot of tackles and wrestles ok. Gives away some penalties but what centre doesnt.

 

[ed-grimley]

it comes down to maths believe it or not

fullback = 8/8
wing three quarter = 6/8
center three quarter = 6/8
five eighth = 5/8
halfback = 4/8

halfback is also called the half
centers are also called 3 quarters

5/8 is between the 2 of them on the football field, and 5 eighths is halfway between a half and 3 quarters

Now I get it.

 

[myrrh ken]

it comes down to maths believe it or not

fullback = 8/8
wing three quarter = 6/8
center three quarter = 6/8
five eighth = 5/8
halfback = 4/8

halfback is also called the half
centers are also called 3 quarters

5/8 is between the 2 of them on the football field, and 5 eighths is halfway between a half and 3 quarters

But why is it out of 8? There's 7 backs.
Why are wingers called 3/4? Surely they would be 7/8.

 

[2010Dragons]

But why is it out of 8? There's 7 backs.
Why are wingers called 3/4? Surely they would be 7/8.

It's a measurement in relation to the players standing position on the field.

 

[ANTiLAG]

But why is it out of 8? There's 7 backs.
Why are wingers called 3/4? Surely they would be 7/8.

Well you see how many times you want to say five/seventh and wing centre six/seventh.

But if you're looking to satisfy the 8 - remember the guy locking back of the scrum in rugby league, or number 8 in union, is allowed to pick up the ball from the scrum (or at least used to be able pending what the rules are now).

But all backs should be behind (or making their way behind after feeding the ball in the halfback's case) the the second row's feet at least at the scrum which is where the ball must travel past to become sufficeintly live for the lock or number 8 to pick it up in the scrum.

So it does add up, there should be 8 players behind the back of the second row of the scrum before when the ball may be played with hands in scrums and becomes live. And in both codes, different names aside, the scrum got naming precendence.

 

[myrrh ken]

It's a measurement in relation to the players standing position on the field.

Okay lets see...

1. Props and hooker
2. Second row
3. Lock
4. Halfback
5. 5/8
6. Centres
7. Wingers
8. Fullback.

Its still bad maths to call wingers 3/4

 

[ANTiLAG]

Okay lets see...

1. Props and hooker
2. Second row
3. Lock
4. Halfback
5. 5/8
6. Centres
7. Wingers
8. Fullback.

Its still bad maths to call wingers 3/4

Whoever said rugby players had to be good at maths? How are they going to adjust for the short side winger standing further up or equal to than an open side centre depending where on the field the scrum is fed? That's a lot of different calculations each time. Especially if centres are split.

But 3/4 is still between a half and a full and wide enough for almost all scenarios, whether they stand 6/8 or 7/8 due to scrum location - so its good enough.

 

[Cockadoodledoo]

Curtis Scott and Esan Marsters are better then a lot of the guys you mentioned

Easily, Marsters and Scott have to be there. Can remove Jennings and Lafai painlessly from that list.