Rugby League players who could have/could make the switch

[Brisbok]

Switching from league to rugby (and the other way, perhaps to a slightly less extent) is far more than having the right technical skills, athletic ability, whatever.


The motivation of the athlete, his genuine and altruistic reasons for making the switch, are far more important, IMHO.


Playing in the NRL, every second week at home, every other week not far away from home, is vastly different to being in a Super Rugby franchise, being in South Africa for a couple of weeks, and New Zealand for a couple of weeks, every now and then........not to mention the rigours of the international season, if a convert is good enough to make that particular grade. The NRL playing environment probably suits some players better than the rugby environment, and vice versa.


Players are clearly going to do better if they switch when they are young and single.

...and if the reason they make the switch is because they truly want to experience playing rugby and testing themselves in a different code rather than because they can earn more money which seems to be a popular trait among NRL players despite what they may say (read Karmichael Hunt, Folau etc.)

 

[Dan54]

Pretty sure it's this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWWbJZ61sZo

After watching that tackle Ever,I don't think it would be particularly relevant in union, if any union team I was attached to left player who was being tacklede unassisted like that , some heads would roll. While not saying Gallen wouldn't make it in union, just that tackling style wouldn't. I profess to watching almost zero league so wouldn't know a lot of league players, but sure some would, but always think any playing anywhere but wing generally need a few years to understand unions defense, which is quite strange when so many leaguies are used as defensive coaches. Generally midfield players like Tahu, Cross etc have not been hell of a great converts in my opinion.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Yep. That's a great technique if players run straight at you. And you don't have to then release them immediately. It's also likely to often be called head high, and be much less effective against rugby players who are used to protecting the ball.

The offload in union is more dynamic as well - whereas in league the tackle player is stopped and gets their arms free, in union the offloads are more likely to be in a half broken tackle.

 

[nugget]

i reckon many of the big-name league backs could make it, ie thurston, slater, lockyer, lewis, inglis etc. Forwards is a different story, and that's why Brad Thorn I reckon tops them all.

 

[DPK]

I think it's all about attitude and intelligence. I look at some league players and think they could make it purely because they have the work ethic to make it in a different game, and the intelligence to learn from their mistakes.

Gallen doesn't strike me as one of these players.

 

[Tangawizi]

When 95% of our sportsmen play other codes we'd be foolish not to look.

There's a massive islander who always carries three blokes over the advantage line and plays for the knights - anyone know his name?

Maybe Antonio Kaufusi?

Tariq Sims would be a good pick up too. Put him in the centres to smash Nonu & SBW.

 

[mark_s]

Brad Clyde (although I am cheating given he was a younger version of ray price)

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Sam Thaiday would have made a pretty useful 8

Andrew Johns

Thaiday didnt/doesnt (Is the guy still playing?) have the work rate to play no 8 - he is also only 5'11. Prop would have been his rugby position.
Johns, like all mungoball 5/8s, runs to the defensive line too much....you can't take the tackle as a 5/8 in union or you bugger the next phase (evidence: Dan Carter rarely gets tackled) and late passes have a ha bait of not sticking. If you plan to play it at half i have some bad news for you: he aint got the service to play half in union

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Brad Clyde (although I am cheating given he was a younger version of ray price)

Nothing like the resilience of Ray Price

 

[Inside Shoulder]

After watching that tackle Ever,I don't think it would be particularly relevant in union, if any union team I was attached to left player who was being tacklede unassisted like that , some heads would roll. While not saying Gallen wouldn't make it in union, just that tackling style wouldn't. I profess to watching almost zero league so wouldn't know a lot of league players, but sure some would, but always think any playing anywhere but wing generally need a few years to understand unions defense, which is quite strange when so many leaguies are used as defensive coaches. Generally midfield players like Tahu, Cross etc have not been hell of a great converts in my opinion.

I reckon Gallen would have been penalised for nearly every one of those tackles in union - and not for not releasing.
That is part of the reason why league followers assume that league tackling is better than union tackling - they are 2 quite different things with different aims and laws.

 

[Lee Grant]

Agree - different player from Ray Price altogether. Imagine McCaw without all the breakdown work etc playing league - and that was Clyde.

As a rugby union player Price was a bit like Beau Robinson,

 

[mark_s]

I disagree. Price played most of his football before league cleaned up its game, Clyde started soon after it was cleaned up. Both were hard running, big tackling and non stop players.

Another league forward who I theoretically could make it in union was Shane Webcke. Ben Kennedy is another, but I'm not sure if he is disqualified given the amount of rugby he played before going to league.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Price was not a "hard runner" if you mean by that that he ran at the defence - remember the swivel: he wasn't big enough to take on players directly he had to be a bit (not much) more subtle about it.
Clyde was 100kg
i reckon price might have been 80kg

 

[QuadeCooperFan]

Billy Slater. He's so good.

 

[Lee Grant]

We'll have to agree to disagree on Price - but agree about Webke. Another prop who could have made it as a union prop I reckon was Glen Lazarus.

Ben Kennedy would have been a good rugby player, as he was at Joeys. I thought he was more similar to Clyde than Price was.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Billy Slater. He's so good.

Too small (that should draw some heat)

 

[darkhorse]

I don't really like the guy, but I am certain Brett Stewart could have made it union and would have been world class. Sounds ridiculous I know. I would have been more interested in him maybe 2/3 years ago. He is on his way down now.

The guy isn't particularly quick, agile or strong but he seems to have a rugby brain. The problem there is a massive difference b/w having a rugby brain and a fully-functioning brain. Players that don't have exceptional athletic ability and still find a way to be exceptional are special IMO. To me players like Larkham fit this mold.

The lines he ran for manly were exceptional and would have translated very well into the 15 man code IMO.

 

[bryce]

Sam Thaiday. Although he's short for a number 8, the guy is a wrecking ball. The low centre of gravity might help.

Greg Inglis also. I've written this before on this forum, Greg Inglis at full pace is a scary sight. He's skillful and agile as well as being fast and massive.

 

[Lee Grant]

Inglis is massive - and skilful - but not that fast even when fully fit. Not that he has to be to be very effective.

 

[dobduff11]

Brett Stewart: The guy isn't particularly quick, agile or strong but he seems to have a rugby brain. The problem there is a massive difference b/w having a rugby brain and a fully-functioning brain. Players that don't have exceptional athletic ability and still find a way to be exceptional are special IMO

Think you might be underestimating his pace darkhorse. Pretty sure hes considered one of if not the fastest player in the NRL, or at least he was in 08. Had a couple of knee injuries i think but is close to his previous sharpness.