Which Is More Important: Five-Eighth or Halfback?

[nick87]

Most teams play split halves
Thurston plays both sides because he's Thurston, and he raiders often link up half-5/8th like the good ol days but for the most part teams have halves who strictly stick to left/right side

The roles are virtually the same. The fullback for the most part plays 2nd receiver these days

Hooker is the most important position on the park in the modern game

 

[southwalesrabbitoh]

Most teams play split halves
Thurston plays both sides because he's Thurston, and he raiders often link up half-5/8th like the good ol days but for the most part teams have halves who strictly stick to left/right side

The roles are virtually the same. The fullback for the most part plays 2nd receiver these days

Hooker is the most important position on the park in the modern game

Because the No.9 has become so important, that's why I want changes like reducing the defensive gap to 5m and going to 11 a side so the outside backs have more room, so more likely to get the ball to them more often than currently is the case, without them having to come inside to get their hands on the ball. Also be more harsh on high tackles, so players tackle lower, attackers can off-load the ball more then.

 

[nick87]

Why is the importance of the #9 such a problem to necessitate drastic changes like that? Haha

In any event those "solutions" are the ultimate baby out with the bath water situation haha

Terrible ideas

 

[TIM !!!!!!]

Halfback

Thurston should be playing halfback for Australia

 

[Walpole]

Was this thread started by Paul McGregor?

Seems like the sort of question he might ask...

 

[Caped Crusader]

Nah, Mary would be asking if halves are even needed in the modern game

 

[POPEYE]

If the interchange was reduced by 2 more soc's like me wouldn't have to explain to naïve youngsters how important 80 minute halves used to be . . . #6 or #7 on their backs irrelevant

 

[MF88]

Thurston is an anomalous case imo because he roams and ventures into traditional stand-off play more than any other five-eighth in the game. It's part of why he's so good. There's no doubt he can consistently create opportunities for his edge forward or outside backs, playing one pass off the ruck but it's when he shifts wider that his play-making and ball running is just untouchable.

I think he's proven to be simultaneously the best halfback and the best five-eighth in the game. Not to diminish Cronk for one second but the guy has played virtually his entire career being fed by Smith, as well as having Smith do a good deal of organising from acting half. Imagine what that would do for Thurston's game playing alongside probably the greatest hooker of the modern era, week in week out.

 

[POPEYE]

Thurston is an anomalous case imo because he roams and ventures into traditional stand-off play more than any other five-eighth in the game. It's part of why he's so good. There's no doubt he can consistently create opportunities for his edge forward or outside backs, playing one pass off the ruck but it's when he shifts wider that his play-making and ball running is just untouchable.

I think he's proven to be simultaneously the best halfback and the best five-eighth in the game. Not to diminish Cronk for one second but the guy has played virtually his entire career being fed by Smith, as well as having Smith do a good deal of organising from acting half. Imagine what that would do for Thurston's game playing alongside probably the greatest hooker of the modern era, week in week out.

That's common sense ol' mate, even Doggie Reynolds would grow another leg being fed by Smith but the fact remains Cronk was the one been there done that . . . which is why Qld are the most complete team on the planet

 

[Spade]

Doesn't matter either way you just need a quality one of either.

 

[Dragonwest]

Thurston is an anomalous case imo because he roams and ventures into traditional stand-off play more than any other five-eighth in the game. It's part of why he's so good. There's no doubt he can consistently create opportunities for his edge forward or outside backs, playing one pass off the ruck but it's when he shifts wider that his play-making and ball running is just untouchable.

I think he's proven to be simultaneously the best halfback and the best five-eighth in the game. Not to diminish Cronk for one second but the guy has played virtually his entire career being fed by Smith, as well as having Smith do a good deal of organising from acting half. Imagine what that would do for Thurston's game playing alongside probably the greatest hooker of the modern era, week in week out.

The cowboys system is very different to the majority of other clubs. The cows have one very dominant half back and two running halves/fullbacks. Thurston runs the show and plays first receiver in between the 20m lines, Coote sits on the left / Morgan the right. Both play the sweep fullback role on open side plays and typically playing first receiver down short sides. The biggest advantage of this system over the spit halves / roaming fullback is the positioning of the fullback does not give away the intended direction of play.

If Slater comes back i'd expect Melbourne to shift to this arrangement in 2017 with Cronk/Munster/Slater.

 

[ed-grimley]

That's common sense ol' mate, even Doggie Reynolds would grow another leg being fed by Smith but the fact remains Cronk was the one been there done that . . . which is why Qld are the most complete team on the planet

Its completeness will be emphasised when one or more of the key players is not there any more.