Flankers don't really push all that much, tbh. Essentially there to scrag the #9 (half-back in leaguese) & contest possession at the break-down so could be dispensed with without too much negative effect on the set piece if the hybrid code used league's play-the-ball restarts.
Fair enough.
Sort of underscores the problem though doesn't it? If this hybrid game is going to be enough like League for Leaguies to accept it, it won't be Union enough for Union folk, and vice versa.
I think you'd see ALOT of kicking for touch. You wouldn't see guys like Slater, Hayne and Gordon bringing the ball back into broken defensive lines. You'd need to take the wingers out of the defensive line though which might be interesting, more space for guys to run through.
Interesting to note that the idea didn't take off because League officials didn't want the rules of the game interfered with. They were happy with the game the way it was. You see pretty similar attitudes to the proposal today from League fans, in spite of the obvious similarities between the two codes, and the way League has reinvented itself over the years. I don't know whether that says more about us as fans, or more about the quality of the sport. More than likely a bit of both.
I think there'd obviously need to be some give and take on both sides and, traditionally, neither one has been very keen to extend the olive branch. League fans tend to see the ways in which it differs from union as its strengths and vice versa. I actually doubt either governing body would be hugely keen to sanction it either, the hybrid code possibly being the thin end of the wedge to a merger.Sort of underscores the problem though doesn't it? If this hybrid game is going to be enough like League for Leaguies to accept it, it won't be Union enough for Union folk, and vice versa.
I think you'd see ALOT of kicking for touch. You wouldn't see guys like Slater, Hayne and Gordon bringing the ball back into broken defensive lines. You'd need to take the wingers out of the defensive line though which might be interesting, more space for guys to run through.
Then it's just League with lineouts and contested scrums though. Would that be enough for the majority of Union fans?
Interesting to note that the idea didn't take off because League officials didn't want the rules of the game interfered with. They were happy with the game the way it was. You see pretty similar attitudes to the proposal today from League fans, in spite of the obvious similarities between the two codes, and the way League has reinvented itself over the years. I don't know whether that says more about us as fans, or more about the quality of the sport. More than likely a bit of both.
On a side note, that site is awesome
Wigan meanwhile adapted rather better, as these two length of pitch efforts finished by Craig Murdock show.
I've only played wing in rugby so don't have much time for scrums. If there is a hybrid game I hope they keep league scrums. I actually find them far more entertaining that rugby scrums just becuase I find it amusing how crooked the feed is from the half back.
Yup. Last minute winner too.Exiles got up, I hear?
I was on a train back from Nottingham.
Widdop's been named too. From the BBC:
He'd been threatening to do it for a while tbh. There have been articles with him talking about representing England each time he missed selection for NSW. Glenn Stewart starting to get recognition was probably the nail in the coffin for the bloke.