Define what a lock's position is then. Whatever definition you come up with you will not find a player on each team that positions thenselves the same as your definition in both attack and defence. Teams don't use in traditional positions anymore. A 5/8 traditionally is the second receiver, however now most teams play one half on the left, one half on the right. How can you say who the best 5/8 is if one plays as a first receiver on one half of the field while another 5/8 plays as a second receiver on both sides of the field.
A lock plays in the middle third of the field, he defends and attacks there. It's why the position draws so many role comparisons to that of a front rower because they both defend and attack in the middle third of the field.
A second rower plays on the fringes, they defend 4 in and attack 3 in. For example;
Manly's defence would be;
Stewart - DCE - Lyon - Wiliams
Manly's attack would be;
Stewart - Lyon - Williams
Roles are irrevealnt and we're not arguing halves, there's still a clear difference between the second row and the lock, one plays in the middle of the field and the other on the fringes. So much so that clubs are starting to refer to the lock position as a middle third player (along with the two frontrowers) and thus no longer even use the terminology of 'backrow'.
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