Cutter said:
A few years ago David Hundt, the then Manly coach, tried both Tim O'Brien and George Smith at halfback for Manly. It didnt work at club level and it wouldnt work at S14 level. Nick Mallet played Bergamasco at halfback for Italy a few weeks ago and it was a disaster.
I know naza is just stirring, but too often I seem opinions suggesting that a player can play out of position. Phil Waugh to No. 8 was another recent one. As Mortlock has shown time and time again, he cant play anywhere but 12; Phil Waugh is a specialist 7 (but could have switched to hooker if he had done it young enough I reckon); AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) isnt a 15 (no matter how many times he plays there)
Four more successful conversions:
Richard Harry backrow to front row
Jim Williams from wing to back row
Steve Larkham from fullback to 5/8
Toutai Kefu from centre to number 8
Who suggested those?
For us oldies:
John Thornett from back row to second row to front row.
I don't recall the Manly experiment. I think it'd be a different situation if Waugh realises its convert or miss out on selection. And yeah, you need to give a guy time to adjust. I reckon those experiments are just players humouring the coach and biding their time til they get moved back to their normal spot. If the player has incentive and is driven, they could do it. I still think my Waugh idea has merit.
As for crazy conversions, Bob Dwyer wanting his NSW outside centre, Luke Inman, to convert to the loose forwards is the all time winner in that department.