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What RU player would go best in RL? What RL player would be best in RU?

DangerMouse_007

Juniors
Messages
347
I'd be interested to hear peoples views on this. Union have poached a lot of our players over the last couple of years but have they targeted the most ideal play for their code? I've often thought Lockyer could have been the greatest Union players of all time. He would have carved up with his running game to a greater extent than in League. He has the best long kicking game in either code (and think about his drop kicking abilities) and who has a better passing game? He would be like a super version of Larkham. The Wallabies should have gone after him and not Johns.

Two other players I think would make it would be Justin Hodges and Matt Bowen. Hodges has been the best back in either code for the last 3 seasons. He's been consistently better than Gasnier, Inglis and guys like Lote. I'm not sure why union didn't piss Lote off and try and sign Hodges for half the price. He's younger and a more dangerous ball runner. No one in League beats as many tacklers as Hodges does. Inglis and Gasnier are perhaps as dangerous near the line but Hodges is dangerous everywhere on the field. Inglis may ultimately become greater, but right now I'd take Hodges.

Matt Bowen would make an unbelievable fullback or inside centre in Union. He's running game is obvious to everyone but he also has a very underrated long kicking game. He can kick the ball a long way and very accurately. He'd be awesome in Union playing a similar role to Giteau. He's got a good passing game too.

Those would be my picks. Obviously guys like Inglis, Thurston, Prince, Falou, Stewart etc would all probably walk into the Wallaby team.

League never targets established Union players now but are there any current Wallabies or All Blacks you'd want at your club? Would Giteau or Carter make good League halves? Are their skills transferable? What about Mortlock? Would he be a good league centre? Or would you look to the power of the all blacks with guys like Nonu. Perhaps you'd pass on all these guys and just sing back Lote, Tahu or SBW.
 

Thomas

First Grade
Messages
9,658
Bowen is too small for inside centre in RU. He'd be a good halfback with his speed around the ruck. Cam Smith would go alright as well at halfback. He's got a cracking pass off the ground and is a hard hitter.

As for RU players playing RL...George Smith and Richie McCaw would go well (Richie is a monster of a player and is stupidly quick around the field....think a bigger faster Hindmarsh in his prime). Carter obviously...Mortlock would go okay...he's the same height and weight as SBW.
 

Thomas

First Grade
Messages
9,658
Yeah....most hookers in RL would go well at halfback in RU.

I always wanted to see Webcke play RU. He's a unit. I've met him a couple of times and he isn't a huge block but is as solid as they come.

Berrick Barnes reckons his good defence is due to him being forced to tackle Webcke at training every week.
 

Thomas

First Grade
Messages
9,658
Yeah...he's on the way out and this will probably be his last season in Australia.
 

hellteam

First Grade
Messages
6,539
No way Bowen would play inside centre. Giteau and Carter would both be good league players.

Pretty much any decent league player (backs anyway) would be able to play super 14. Look at Ryan Cross, 2 or 3 years ago he was an average player playing for the Roosters and now hes starting for the Wallabies.

If rugby were to target anyone I'd definately say Inglis and Folau. Inglis at fullback and Folau at outside centre would be unstoppable. I reckon this would be the best rugby backline you could make

9. Smith
10. Prince
11. Hayne
12. Anasta
13. Folau
14. cant relaly think of another winger at the moment
15. Inglis

Some people will laugh at Anasta, but I reckon he would suit 12 at union.
 

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
Tatafu Polata-Nao would go well in League.

He used to play both Union and League at school level I believe, just the Union came knocking first.

he's only young, has running and offload skills and would make a good backrower. And in League he wouldn't have to worry about all that throw in crap ;-)
 

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