Thought Id start up a thread inviting people's thoughts on the evolution of strategy and use of positions in rugby league.
When I was playing club & schoolboy rugby league in the 80's, as well as heading down to Henson Park to watch the Jets and Rooters (while the SFS was being built) there were distinct differences in the type of attributes required and the roles performed for certain rugby league positions.
Props were big and slow, second rowers mightve been leaner and a little bit quicker, but both were generally used as battering rams up the middle, or sometimes 2nd off the ruck in the case of second rowers. essentially both roles in general play were the same with the differentiator being how they packed into the scrum.
The role of the halves in general play was more clearly differentiated with the halfback almost always being the first receiver from the ruck in a backline move, as well as being the link between forwards 2nd off the ruck hitups. The 5/8 would generally be the 2nd receiver in a backline play and would be similar to a 3rd centre. The centres themselves were classified as inside and outside as in rugby union.
But the full-time professional era has brought with it advances in coaching strategies, more efficient structures, and associated changes in how certain positions are used in the game today.
The props are still the big battering rams, but an ability to distribute the ball after making decent metres and heavy contact is considered a big asset. The Second Rower has become an extremely versatile, skilled and speed position in comparison to the second rower up to the 80 & 90s . They need to shoulder a load of gaining metres as a battering ram up the middle, but are increasingly being used in prefered side backline moves alongside centres, either as a decoy or intended ball receivers.
The differentiation between halfback and 5/8 is all but gone in general play, with any indicator to position being made at the scrum. In general play, the halves now have the same role but as prefered side specialists - left or right. Rarely will you see the halfback and 5/8 maintain roles at 1st and 2nd receiver in the conventional way we're accustomed too. If you note the play of Thurston and Lockyer for QUE, you'll see the former run the play on the left, and the latter on the right. Furthermore, in open side backline plays starting from the left, Thurston will be 1st receiver with Lockyer 2nd receiver. The opposite will happen in open side plays beginning from the right with Lockyer taking the ball at 1st receiver, Thurston 2nd. Additional capabilities such as kicking game are now based on an individual players ability rather their position.
Centres have now become prefered side specialists.
This has spawned greater requirements for balance, and specialised links and structures within teams both in attack and defense. Using SGI as an example, the left side structure is Hornby-Creagh-Cooper-Morris & the right side is Soward-Scott-Gasnier-Nightingale.
What are other people's thoughts? What was and is the role of the lock or loose forward and how are they used? Should the names of certain positions evolve with the change in how they're used? I for one think 'hooker' is outdated and the position would be more appropriately called dummy half bringing the role in line with that of general play, and also, clearly differentiating it from rugby union.
When I was playing club & schoolboy rugby league in the 80's, as well as heading down to Henson Park to watch the Jets and Rooters (while the SFS was being built) there were distinct differences in the type of attributes required and the roles performed for certain rugby league positions.
Props were big and slow, second rowers mightve been leaner and a little bit quicker, but both were generally used as battering rams up the middle, or sometimes 2nd off the ruck in the case of second rowers. essentially both roles in general play were the same with the differentiator being how they packed into the scrum.
The role of the halves in general play was more clearly differentiated with the halfback almost always being the first receiver from the ruck in a backline move, as well as being the link between forwards 2nd off the ruck hitups. The 5/8 would generally be the 2nd receiver in a backline play and would be similar to a 3rd centre. The centres themselves were classified as inside and outside as in rugby union.
But the full-time professional era has brought with it advances in coaching strategies, more efficient structures, and associated changes in how certain positions are used in the game today.
The props are still the big battering rams, but an ability to distribute the ball after making decent metres and heavy contact is considered a big asset. The Second Rower has become an extremely versatile, skilled and speed position in comparison to the second rower up to the 80 & 90s . They need to shoulder a load of gaining metres as a battering ram up the middle, but are increasingly being used in prefered side backline moves alongside centres, either as a decoy or intended ball receivers.
The differentiation between halfback and 5/8 is all but gone in general play, with any indicator to position being made at the scrum. In general play, the halves now have the same role but as prefered side specialists - left or right. Rarely will you see the halfback and 5/8 maintain roles at 1st and 2nd receiver in the conventional way we're accustomed too. If you note the play of Thurston and Lockyer for QUE, you'll see the former run the play on the left, and the latter on the right. Furthermore, in open side backline plays starting from the left, Thurston will be 1st receiver with Lockyer 2nd receiver. The opposite will happen in open side plays beginning from the right with Lockyer taking the ball at 1st receiver, Thurston 2nd. Additional capabilities such as kicking game are now based on an individual players ability rather their position.
Centres have now become prefered side specialists.
This has spawned greater requirements for balance, and specialised links and structures within teams both in attack and defense. Using SGI as an example, the left side structure is Hornby-Creagh-Cooper-Morris & the right side is Soward-Scott-Gasnier-Nightingale.
What are other people's thoughts? What was and is the role of the lock or loose forward and how are they used? Should the names of certain positions evolve with the change in how they're used? I for one think 'hooker' is outdated and the position would be more appropriately called dummy half bringing the role in line with that of general play, and also, clearly differentiating it from rugby union.
