Is centre the new dud position?

[MadMarcus]

A couple of centres out there for NSW tonight probably disagree with the premise

Great motivational thread this turned out to be!!

 

[Disco]

A couple of centres out there for NSW tonight probably disagree with the premise

The two fullbacks?

 

[Simonmyers11]

How good were they? Ridiculous

 

[Dee Why Eagle]

The two fullbacks?

check the team list 😉

 

[QueefRichards]

How good was Turbo and Latrell linking up

 

[Disco]

check the team list 😉

Ha the original post literally highlights the fact that Turbo, Latrell and Capewell being selected as rep centre demonstrates the lack of influence NRL centres have.

So Turbo and Latrell having a blinder only reinforces that point

 

[frank stokes]

Short answer, no....

 

[QueefRichards]

Depends how much you're paying them

Latrell was already a phenomenal centre at the roosters but why stay there when there's much more money in playing fullback

Centre is probably still his best position

 

[Dee Why Eagle]

Quality players can excel in a number of positions.
After tonight, some may be wondering whether Manly should be playing Tom at centre (especially with his hammies).
But the value of playing Tom at fullback is not so much his excellent last line of defence but his ability to organise the troops.

 

[jbb/james]

How good were they? Ridiculous

2 greg inglis types in there prime. Very hard to stop that

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

The game did prove you can still be a match-winner from centre. If you are good enough.

 

[Will on the hill]

Maybe it's not the centre position itself but more the quality of the players playing centre that is the issue. In years gone by a lot of our star fullbacks would've been playing centre. These days a centre that shows a high level of talent/ability inevitably gets moved to fullback.

 

[frank stokes]

Maybe it's not the centre position itself but more the quality of the players playing centre that is the issue. In years gone by a lot of our star fullbacks would've been playing centre. These days a centre that shows a high level of talent/ability inevitably gets moved to fullback.

...and it is probably more a comment on the dearth of quality NRL players that many centres are ordinary...

last night, and the roosters back-to-back premierships, showed what quality centres do for a side...

 

[Will on the hill]

Here is a short list of centres that have been moved to 5/8 or fullback. Sure I've missed some but it's a fair list.
Daley
Fittler
Girdler
Lyon
Inglis
Walker
Mitchell
Wighton
Staggs(apparently playing 5/8 next year)

 

[Dee Why Eagle]

Maybe it's not the centre position itself but more the quality of the players playing centre that is the issue. In years gone by a lot of our star fullbacks would've been playing centre. These days a centre that shows a high level of talent/ability inevitably gets moved to fullback.

Exactly, certain skills are required to play fullback, wing & 5/8.
As those skills may be in short supply, you will find yourself playing there (even though you may be a better centre).

Conversely, as someone said earlier, if you can handle fullback (even though you may be a better centre) you opt for fullback dollars (Latrell).

 

[Disco]

Maybe it's not the centre position itself but more the quality of the players playing centre that is the issue. In years gone by a lot of our star fullbacks would've been playing centre. These days a centre that shows a high level of talent/ability inevitably gets moved to fullback.

Yeas this is more the point I'm making.

Talented players are getting moved to other positions to have a greater impact on their teams.

Not doubt you put a star at centre they can be a star but it seems these days anyone who begins to star at centre gets moved to fullback or 5/8

 

[Nordburg]

A couple of centres out there for NSW tonight probably disagree with the premise

Origin is played a completely different way to your week in week out club games,which make centres more active.Block plays are useless,as evidenced by QLDs efforts last night

 

[Scorpio]

Here is a short list of centres that have been moved to 5/8 or fullback. Sure I've missed some but it's a fair list.
Daley
Fittler
Girdler
Lyon
Inglis
Walker
Mitchell
Wighton
Staggs(apparently playing 5/8 next year)

You can add Matt Burton who is surely going to play 5/8 at the Dogs though he is killing it at Centre

 

[HK_Eagle]

Is there an opportunity for a progressive coach to move towards position, and positional role, deconstruction? I mean, is the near future a bunch of very talented guys playing more ad lib and free-floating in a positional sense? Can we identify areas of the game where structure is an absolute necessity and then give certain key players (like Turbo) a license to play freely outside of these areas? Perhaps SOO is giving us a glimpse of creative possibilities for the future?