Arghhh yes that’s correct.
All attacking structures now in Rugby League have restricted both the half and 5/8 to one side of the field each. In that game they just get called halves now and it has stuffed their ability to play like the 5/8’s in league from the past. Just go and watch the halves from the 80 & 90s to now and you’ll see they roamed both sides in league as they do in Union. But the new focus on the spine and structures meaning each ‘halve’ has one side has changed it and some kids like Katoa have developed into one sided player and make better league players.
To my point again, Union thankfully for all its faults isn’t played that way so the 5/8 or No 10 whatever you wish to call them has to be able to play and run both ways. Fowler does it better both sides not just on the left. Again go and watch both players highlights and you’ll see it.
The best rugby 10 in Australian Schools is Joey Fowler by the length of a straight. Isaiya Katoa is the best league half back but definitely not a Union 10.
Fowler is equally strong left or right, watch Katoa or any highlights and 90% of what he does is on the left hand side of the sticks going left to right and that suits modern league, think of all the tries and what side they are scored by left side attacks nowadays. No doubt he is good but for a rugby 10, who at times reminds me of Steve Larkham I choose Fowler all day every day.
And I stick with my earlier thought that if the two teams were to play again, both at full strength I’d be picking Joeys.
Interesting conversation. I was at the Barker game. I took some joker bullets for opinions I expressed following that game.
It is true that at least 50% of the joeys side that played were still down with flu 2 days before. They had not recovered.
It is true that the joeys 5/8 was taken out legitimately in a heavy tackle pretty early in the first half. He was also playing poorly.
It is true that Barker were clearly the better side and the final score was a fair reflection of the game. Joeys lost their composure that game badly.
The Barker 10 did not impress me that much that day. the 13 was awesome.
At that time I made comment that Joeys were no certainty to win the comp. they played loose hi risk footy, had issues coming out of their 22 and had issues in defense. They had points in them but would give other teams a chance
Fast forward and they have become far more measured and fowler and hwi off the back of a very very hard working pack are the reason. Fowlers ability is really something to watch. beautiful hands and timing.
So, while we will never know because they wont play, I think that Barker played their hearts out that day, It meant a huge amount to them, but the team they played was not the team that has played the last 4 weeks. Would have been a great game.
