Rugby League players who could have/could make the switch

[Pfitzy]

The whole league myth about their defense being harder ignores the fact, as I've said elsewhere, that "defending" and "tackling" are two different things.

On the rare occasion I watch NRL "highlights" the things that stand out most of all are:

1) A lot of tries are scored from kicks because the attacking side's leadup execution is bad.
2) A lot of the tries that result from passes are due to really bad defensive reading and alignment.

Let's be clear that it is not a faster game these days, and league tackles and union tackles are about as difficult. But one thing is for sure: defending in Union is a damn sight harder that the line-up-knock-down you see in mungoball.

EDIT: I will add that the collisions in the NRL are quite often bigger, but this is the result of having a ten metre runup, not because they're bigger or tougher (because they're not).

 

[en_force_er]

The whole league myth about their defense being harder ignores the fact, as I've said elsewhere, that "defending" and "tackling" are two different things.

On the rare occasion I watch NRL "highlights" the things that stand out most of all are:

1) A lot of tries are scored from kicks because the attacking side's leadup execution is bad.
2) A lot of the tries that result from passes are due to really bad defensive reading and alignment.

Let's be clear that it is not a faster game these days, and league tackles and union tackles are about as difficult. But one thing is for sure: defending in Union is a damn sight harder that the line-up-knock-down you see in mungoball.

EDIT: I will add that the collisions in the NRL are quite often bigger, but this is the result of having a ten metre runup, not because they're bigger or tougher (because they're not).

You had me until the bolded text.

The issue with league to me is they've worked out a offensive and defensive system that works, and most teams run a close variation of the same system.

This means you could argue league defense is simpler (in the sense that there's less posting up, less emphasis on sweepers, most teams do the same stuff, etc.) but you can't argue it's easier. It's just different.

Similar enough that we can learn things from what they do and vice versa but different enough that there's plenty of teething when you switch between the codes.

 

[The Rock]

The whole league myth about their defense being harder ignores the fact, as I've said elsewhere, that "defending" and "tackling" are two different things.

On the rare occasion I watch NRL "highlights" the things that stand out most of all are:

1) A lot of tries are scored from kicks because the attacking side's leadup execution is bad.
2) A lot of the tries that result from passes are due to really bad defensive reading and alignment.

Let's be clear that it is not a faster game these days, and league tackles and union tackles are about as difficult. But one thing is for sure: defending in Union is a damn sight harder that the line-up-knock-down you see in mungoball.

EDIT: I will add that the collisions in the NRL are quite often bigger, but this is the result of having a ten metre runup, not because they're bigger or tougher (because they're not).

I would love to see the top grades union clubs do a drill test with the top League sides, in catching high bombs, doing defensive drills plus tackling, speed work and then field session non stop for 90 mins, sand hill runs for 2 hours and see who comes out on top, the league boys would leave them for dead !

 

[terry j]

you mean a 'contest' between full time, highly paid professionals who can afford to spend hours in the gym (after all they do not have to work other jobs) against club rugby guys?

 

[en_force_er]

I would love to see the top grades union clubs do a drill test with the top League sides, in catching high bombs, doing defensive drills plus tackling, speed work and then field session non stop for 90 mins, sand hill runs for 2 hours and see who comes out on top, the league boys would leave them for dead !

What evidence do you have to base this on? I think you'd actually find they'd be pretty similar at all of those things, bar maybe tight 5 forwards who despite becoming more athletic still weigh a heap more.

 

[Sully]

I think the interchange bench means that a lot of league players aren't quite as fit as you think. And I think the tight five in union would be noticeably stronger.

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[Braveheart81]

Can we just acknowledge that they are different games and both have a different set of core skills.



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[en_force_er]

Can we just acknowledge that they are different games and both have a different set of core skills.



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That's basically what I said, and I'd like to think a bit more eloquently.

 

[I like to watch]

Can we just acknowledge that they are different games and both have a different set of core skills.



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Apparently not!

 

[Pfitzy]

I would love to see the top grades union clubs do a drill test with the top League sides, in catching high bombs, doing defensive drills plus tackling, speed work and then field session non stop for 90 mins, sand hill runs for 2 hours and see who comes out on top, the league boys would leave them for dead !

I like you. You're funny. In a kind of "living-in-the-past" way.

 

[Ash]

I like you. You're funny. In a kind of "living-in-the-past" way.

I too thought he was funny, although more in a special way!

 

[The Rock]

you mean a 'contest' between full time, highly paid professionals who can afford to spend hours in the gym (after all they do not have to work other jobs) against club rugby guys?

You can have it between the Wallabies and the Kangaroos, if you like, the only one who will come out on top there in the rugby is Folau as he is an ex leaguie. The league boys will still win in all disciplines hands down. Fifita and Hargreaves will be lapping your props and catching the high balls on the full and show your forwards how to tackle. Lol.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

You can have it between the Wallabies and the Kangaroos, if you like, the only one who will come out on top there in the rugby is Folau as he is an ex leaguie. The league boys will still win in all disciplines hands down. Fifita and Hargreaves will be lapping your props and catching the high balls on the full and show your forwards how to tackle. Lol.

You're trying to be funny, right? You must be with your references to both Fifita and Hargreaves.

 

[I like to watch]

That's just silly.
Get Fifita etc to pack into a real scrum and they would be bitched.
Why,because the Rugby guys do specific strength training to assist their scrummaging,which affects their mobility.
Do 3on 2,and 4 on 3 drills to see which group actually has any football knowledge/skills.
Only the League halves (perhaps) could use the ball to beat the man.
They have had football thinking coached out of them.

 

[terry j]

You can have it between the Wallabies and the Kangaroos, if you like, the only one who will come out on top there in the rugby is Folau as he is an ex leaguie. The league boys will still win in all disciplines hands down. Fifita and Hargreaves will be lapping your props and catching the high balls on the full and show your forwards how to tackle. Lol.

It would be interesting if you gave some of the reasoning for your beliefs.

How does it work anyway, what magic is it that the best athletes make it to a two bit game in a tiny section of the world and the rest of the dross just make it into other games? Presumably because, even tho they would WANT to they cannot make it into such elite competition.

WHY is it that the worlds elite athletes just happen to appear in this little backwater?

OR, do they become men because they play this elite game?

What was that show hosted by dell, different players from different codes facing off against each other in physical tests. Thought quade did ok in that?

Stick around, you're fun!

 

[Tomikin]

Everyone realise Fifita was a union junior and brumbies boy till like 20ish.. he can play union

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[Bowside]

If Fifita is coming to rugby he might as well ask for an early release and come now.

At the very least he should be straight into the NRC if his league club doesn't make the finals.

 

[The Rock]

If Fifita is coming to rugby he might as well ask for an early release and come now.

At the very least he should be straight into the NRC if his league club doesn't make the finals.

Souths will pick him up, if Burgess goes, now Packer is there big $$$$ will be splashed around and all the perks as well.

 

[TOCC]

Stop feeding the troll

 

[The Rock]

That's just silly.
Get Fifita etc to pack into a real scrum and they would be bitched.
Why,because the Rugby guys do specific strength training to assist their scrummaging,which affects their mobility.
Do 3on 2,and 4 on 3 drills to see which group actually has any football knowledge/skills.
Only the League halves (perhaps) could use the ball to beat the man.
They have had football thinking coached out of them.

and if these boys don't make the grade in rugby, thats it for them as League won't touch them as they're too slow and normally unfit. Your better off still having mobility, as speed is everything in both codes, you are born genetically to have it. To be fair league don't have scrums like in rugby, but all the other skills which are used in both codes, tackling, catching etc. The league boys would win hands down. Why is the Rugby sniffing around league and have the cheque books ready ? can't they develop their own guys ??? Union know if they get a league player he will be good.