A NRL Union Team

[Sportsjock]

If a team of these players pulled on the boots and played Rugby Union for Australia - fair dinkum, they'd smash any team they'd run into.

They would certainly smash the current Australian union team, and is probably one reason why Union keep refusing to have an intercode game of league and union against each other.

This is a team I came up with - obviously much of it is subjective, but reality is, we could probably name two or three teams of league players with more skills than the current Australian union team.
The team I have come up with arent necessarily the best NRL players in their relevant positions in league, however , are named in this team with the style of union in mind and how well they would adapt.



15. Darren Lockyer
14. Timana Tahu
13. Matt Cooper
12. Mark Gasnier
11. Clinton Shcifkoske
10. Andrew Johns
9. Craig Wing
8. Trent Waterhouse
7. Nathan Hindmarsh
6. Gorden Tallis
5. Ben Kennedy
4. Jason Ryles
3. Joel Clinton
2. Mark Riddell
1. Shane Webcke


I won't even begin to get into an interchange bench, but you can just let your mind drift into same of the potential game breakers like Billy Slater you could have running into the game late.

Imagine the height and skills of Kennedy and Ryles in the second row and in the line outs?

Tallis and Waterhouse also adding height to the line out.
Hindmarsh playing the role of a Phil Waugh in breakaway.

And the backline skills speak for themselves...

I put Schifkoske on the wing simply for his general kicking skills and in union, at least one winger in your team need this.

Johns would be the goalkicker.

Can anyone here honestly say that this team wouldnt simply smash any current union team that the ARU can put on paper?

Gregan , Larkham v Johns , Wing - its a no brainer :lol:

 

[NPK]

Civoniceva would be a good Union prop too I think.

 

[Sportsjock]

I found the props the toughest to pick actually.

I think Webcke for sure due to his size, but Civo would definitely be a great option too.

I mean take your pick out of Luke Bailey and Civo to also be in contention for a prop slot.

I picked Riddell because of his size at hooker, and the fact he has good ball handling skills for a union lineout hooker role.

 

[t-ba]

I think that's alright, but I don't like Tallis at Breakaway. Not fast enough off the mark to really threaten the halves. You could probably get away with having a big and reasonably built winger like Joel Monaghan at Flanker in Union.

 

[NPK]

The wingers should have some size too - they would be marking big wingers like Sailor and Tune..

 

[t-ba]

And on the Wingers. Does Tahu have a boot on him?

 

[Sportsjock]

And on the Wingers. Does Tahu have a boot on him?

He can kick, more attacking kicks like grubbers , kick and chases etc, but then again, can Tune and Sailor?

 

[Thomas]

I love the backline, but seriously...the forwards would get smashed in rucks, mauls and scrums. I know a league forward is more skillful with the ball than a union forward, but there are facets of the forward game in union that these guys would have no idea what they are doing.

Give them a couple of months and some games against some kiwi teams (the best forwards in the world) and then we'll see.

Oh, and Petro would be too tall for a prop in union, but he'd make a great number 8 or second row.

 

[Twizzle]

Yo may as well put Tiquiri in there as well.

It appears his union days are numbered.

 

[keeney]

i think hindmarsh wouldn't be a good openside flanker, and i think that front row would get bent over in the scrums

 

[Te Kaha]

That team would get thrashed by any respectable team. There is talent in it for sure, but how do you win a game with no ball?

They would get smashed in the scrums and wouldn't win a single lineout.

 

[Sportsjock]

Are you trying to suggest there isnt enough size or strength in that scrum, that given training, it couldnt win scrums?

Are you kidding?!

As for a lineout , there arent too many blokes in union that could outjump, outsize and outreach players with the weight and height of Ryles and Waterhouse ( and even Clinton ).

 

[CanadianSteve]

They would certainly smash the current Australian union team, and is probably one reason why Union keep refusing to have an intercode game of league and union against each other.

Is this actually true, that such a game has been proposed but the ARU says no?

I've always thought a game of sevens would be more realistic, since league teams have done well in England in the Middlesex Sevens tournament. How would a hypothetical Kangaroos vs. Wallabies sevens match go?

 

[DIEHARD]

Who gives a shit about Union. Everyone knows we are the superior rugby code.

 

[ThrashViking]

That team would get thrashed by any respectable team. There is talent in it for sure, but how do you win a game with no ball?

They would get smashed in the scrums and wouldn't win a single lineout.

Sounds like The Hurricanes...

 

[Sportsjock]

Is this actually true, that such a game has been proposed but the ARU says no?

Yes in recent times, there was talk of 2 games of football - one union , one league - Australian teams against each other.

The NRL was keen. The ARU was not.

It was designed as an out of season showcase to be held at Telstra Stadium.

 

[madunit]

Here's another topic, how would the union boys go in League?

 

[KulaShaker]

Nothing special, although there aren't many Union players in the NRL who haven't already switched codes (ie. Tinga, A Walker)

 

[Te Kaha]

Are you trying to suggest there isnt enough size or strength in that scrum, that given training, it couldnt win scrums?

Are you kidding?!

As for a lineout , there arent too many blokes in union that could outjump, outsize and outreach players with the weight and height of Ryles and Waterhouse ( and even Clinton ).

Which goes to show how much you don't know.....

Scrumaging isn't all about size and strength it is most about technique.

There are guys who have been scrumaging for twenty years who still get neck and back injuries. Ther is a hell of a lot of pressure put on to the prop and hookers shoulders from 16 100+KH guys pushing in the same direction.

And lineouts, please, jumping is only half the problem, how many lineouts has riddel thrown in about zero? And how do you purpose lifting guys like Ryles, waterhouse or clinton above the top locks?

You obviously don't watch the game so how can you objectivly evaluate who in League would be able to play. And remember this the last intercode game in the UK was won by the Union team.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Are you trying to suggest there isnt enough size or strength in that scrum, that given training, it couldnt win scrums?

Are you kidding?!

As for a lineout , there arent too many blokes in union that could outjump, outsize and outreach players with the weight and height of Ryles and Waterhouse ( and even Clinton ).

Which goes to show how much you don't know.....

Scrumaging isn't all about size and strength it is most about technique.

There are guys who have been scrumaging for twenty years who still get neck and back injuries. Ther is a hell of a lot of pressure put on to the prop and hookers shoulders from 16 100+KH guys pushing in the same direction.

And lineouts, please, jumping is only half the problem, how many lineouts has riddel thrown in about zero? And how do you purpose lifting guys like Ryles, waterhouse or clinton above the top locks?

You obviously don't watch the game so how can you objectivly evaluate who in League would be able to play. And remember this the last intercode game in the UK was won by the Union team.

Taking nothing away from the league guys but union forward play is a far too specialised discipline for them to have a hope in hell. Very few League props would even have the required physique for a union prop (given that you've got to be about six foot nothing, 110kg with no neck to survive a union scrum). Those who claimed Civenoceva would make a good union prop know nothing about the game, he is just the wrong shape for the position (great league prop though).
League would have plenty of good candidates for positions 6-15 in union, and there would be a few second rowers who could convert although they'd still struggle in scrums and lineouts, at least initially. A few league props would make decent hookers (most league hookers would get murdered), but it's at prop where the league playeres would get killed, and you can't win at union without a decent front row.
I'd also say that there wouldn't be too many league forwards who could play #7 effectively, however the likes of Hindmarsh who play 80min non-stop might come close.
To even things up a bit how about we name a Union league team? I'll admit my NZ bias (or rather lack of knowledge of non-NZ players) and name a side who I reckon could compete at least at NRL level.

1: Howlett
2: Rokococko
3: Nonu
4: Umaga
5: Caucaunibaca
6: Spencer
7: Spice
8: Collins
9: Marshall
10: Mealamu
11: Flavell
12: Levi
13: McCaw

Note most of the forwards aren't playing in the posaitions they would play in union: I've got a blindside/#8 and hooker as props, a halfback a hooker, another blindside flanker at second row and an openside flanker at lock.