Players who have excelled in positions they grew up not playing.

[Loudstrat]

Tony Williams was a winger/centre.

Op said "excelled"

Benny Elias was a halfback. Mick Vella was a winger.

 

[some11]

Gillett was a 5/8 at Norths.

 

[muzby]

- ryles was a halfback in the juniors
- creagh started out as a wing / centre in 1st grade
- wade graham was a tiny little halfback until his mysterious change to beefcake lock since he moved to cronulla

 

[WaznTheGreat]

Might and Power started out as a back marker until they changed positions to an pace galloper and turned into one of the greatest front running stayers of this generation

 

[Allstar Knights]

Dane Gagai was mainly a fullback/winger in the juniors and Brisbane wanted him to bulk up and move to centre last season to be Hodges' replacement. He was killing it there in QLD Cup to start the season so the Knights signed him and he's looked a superstar in his first year playing there.

 

[Scorpio30]

Gus told a story a few years ago on a Sunday arvo footy broadcast from a Dragons game....Something along the lines of "When Jason Ryles was playing football as a young kid he used to spend most of his time chasing butterflies around"...I think of that in every game I see him play LOL

 

[Lambretta]

don't know what he played in his junior days but Luke Ricketson started on the wing for the Roosters, then played centre, lock and finally back row.

 

[TheDalek079]

been a couple of years since I read his autobiography, but didn't Big Artie begin first grade on the wing?

 

[Rhino_NQ]

Dave taylor has turned into a handy centre

 

[Loudstrat]

been a couple of years since I read his autobiography, but didn't Big Artie begin first grade on the wing?

He was bought as a centre.

 

[grouch]

Ben Hornby graded as a fullback, won a comp at halfback.

 

[Loudstrat]

Some conversions are easier than others. For mine, the hardest are probably fullback or winger to prop or hooker.

Thinking of position - here are some famous ones that may or may not have happened in the transition from juniors to fg.

Fullback and halves (Lockyer and Paul Taylor)
Wingers and forwards (Vella, Mitch Healey from Norths, T Rex)
Centres - halves - forwards (Fittler, Daniel Wagon, Shaun Timmins)
Hooker - backrow (Mark Ridell)
Wingers and halves (Matt Geyer, Jarryd Hayne).

I cant think of a fullback/forwards change.

 

[Desert Qlder]

Brad Meyers was a union centre for his school.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Jonathon Thurston Halfback to 5/8. Amazing transition.

 

[DeeJ]

Petero was a center as a junior before starting his NRL career as a backrower. Then he moved to prop.

Lewis Brown was a hooker in the under 20's but has only played backrow and center at NRL level, which is kinda surprising since the warriors have had some hooker issues when he was there.

 

[JamesBrandy]

Where did Luke Lewis play as a junior? He's played just about everywhere in first grade.

 

[aqua_duck]

Where did Luke Lewis play as a junior? He's played just about everywhere in first grade.

Centre/wing

 

[nqcowboy87]

Lewis Brown was a hooker in the under 20's but has only played backrow and center at NRL level, which is kinda surprising since the warriors have had some hooker issues when he was there.

lewis brown never played under 20's

matty sing was actually brought to penrith as a halfback then became one of the most solid wingers of the last 20 years

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Jason ryes was half back until he was 16-17.

Luke bailey was one of the biggest aust boy rep wingers ever!

 

[ShaneO85]

Sean Berrigan played pretty much everywhere, and given a season to settle into the position would often make the Australian side there.

iirc berrigan played at least 1 game for the broncos in every position except for prop. One of the most versatile players i can ever think of watching.