Talent wasted in mungo ball

[Captain]

Ok this is very hypothetical, but here goes:

Which league players would you choose in the wallaby side over the current wallaby players? And at which position? This assumes that the league players are instantly up to speed on the rules etc.

For me there would be Billy Slater at fullback and Greg Ingles somewhere in the centres, but what about Thurston? From earlier comments he seems to think of himself as a shoe-in if he wants, but how does he compare to a bloke like Quade, or even Gits?

Clearly there wouldn't be anyone who would be chunky enough for the front row, but what about the rest of the scrum, league forwards suit this size.

 

[RugbyFuture]

none of them in the forwards, ok maybe there might be one or two decent flankers, dunno, don't watch the "game", only ever hear of the "superstars".

 

[dobduff11]

I wouldn't want any of them apart from maybe slater at wing and cronk at 10/12 over the current wallabies but I think a few of them could fill in in the backs:
Slater at fullback or wing
Brett Morris at wing
Jarryd Hayne at 13 or 15
Greg Inglis at 13 or wing
JT at 10
Cooper Cronk at 10 or 12
Sam Thaiday at 6 or 7

 

[Scotty]

If Inglis had been playing union for the last 5 years I'd have no doubt he'd currently be our starting 13.

And as much as he is a tosser, Hayne would likely be the starting fullback if he had union experience, coupled with Slater on the wing.

I just wish we could find the next Brad Thorn in the league ranks and convert him to a wallaby lock.

 

[Ruggo]

None in the Wallabies. We have already seen this bull shit and personally I think it cheapened the Wallaby jersey.

Players I would like to see come into the code and try and earn there stripes are Inglis, Daniel Mortemer and Cameron Smith.

 

[RugbyReg]

My theory for leaguies is based on the Swans 'No dickheads' policy. It's probably not as harsh, but I would almost steer clear of the rep players. You know - the glory boys. League is such an individual game, and that's one of the areas it so differs from rugby, that the rep players are generally the best individual players. So they have brilliant skill, for sure, but I don't think it translates. I think what works is your more, perhaps not as notably brilliant, better club players. Hard workers who have to continue to work hard for success. Those that it doesn't come naturally too.

Thus the Peter Ryans, the Clinton Shifcofskes, the Ryan Cross's, the Will Chambers.

So I wouldn't even consider the likes of Thurston, Slater, Inglis etc. They'd be more trouble than they are worth.

I'd look at players like (and I don't watch league like I used to, so aren't as familiar with the players):

Peter Wallace
Luke Burt
Luke Patten
David Stagg

Pfft, can't think of many more. And guys like Patten and Burt are too old now for any real investment.

The other option are the ex-rugby guys like Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Terry Campese.

In saying all that, those Morris brothers look like they'd be decent level headed rugby players too.

 

[Ruggo]

Very well said Rugby Reg.

 

[MrTimms]

My theory for leaguies is based on the Swans 'No dickheads' policy.

An absolute MUST.

 

[Blue]

I can't help but think that the likes of Civoneceva (sp) and Thayday would have made good back rowers. Note I say would have, ie if they had played rugby all their careers. I doubt you can convert a league player to back row unless he played it at least at school.

Both these guys are quick enough, tough as nails and they have some skills.

It's all hypothetical of course.

As for backs I think Lockyer would have played many Wallaby tests had he been a rugby player, again not saying he'd convert but if he had grown up as a rugby player.

What lets most converts down is workrate. The ones that figure out the need for workrate make it happen, like Chambers and the early version of Lote.

 

[Scotty]

I wouldn't have said no to Lockyer if Union had managed to get him about 6-8 years ago. He doesn't seem to have the ego of a lot of the others.

 

[RugbyReg]

I can't help but think that the likes of Civoneceva (sp) and Thayday would have made good back rowers. Note I say would have, ie if they had played rugby all their careers. I doubt you can convert a league player to back row unless he played it at least at school.

Both these guys are quick enough, tough as nails and they have some skills.

It's all hypothetical of course.

As for backs I think Lockyer would have played many Wallaby tests had he been a rugby player, again not saying he'd convert but if he had grown up as a rugby player.

What lets most converts down is workrate. The ones that figure out the need for workrate make it happen, like Chambers and the early version of Lote.

his old man was a very dominant number 8 for Redcliffe in the Briso Rugby comp back in the 70s.

 

[fatprop]

The big young guy off the bench for Qld looked like the type of 6/8 we need.

 

[Scotty]

You mean the 'coaltrain' (David Taylor)? You are right he is exactly the body type and skill we are looking for in an 8.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

on the flip side of things, how many Wallaby backs do you think would make the Kangaroos team?

For instance..

7. Thurston vs Genia
6. Lockyer vs Cooper
5. Folou vs Ioane
4. Gasnier vs Fainga'a
3. Inglis vs Ashley-Cooper
2. Hayne vs Mitchell
1. Slator vs O'Connor

 

[Ash]

Dave Taylor tends to be lazy though. It would be damn hard for a league forward making the transition, and I bet you'd never get a league forward moving into the front row of union.

The difference between league and union forwards is that their type of effort and skills are pretty different - league forwards take a big run and then take 3 - 4 minutes of rest, apart from the jogging back on defence, league forwards can get subbed on and off, union forwards have set peices and rucks/mauls whereas the main job for league forwards is either to cart the ball up or make lots of tackles on defence.

You can't compare a league halfback to a union halfback either - the league hooker role is now more similar to the union halfback. The league halfback is more like the union 5/8, with the league centres being like a left outside centre and right outside centre. Actually, league backrowers now tend to stand around the centres on attack and have channels they target. It's all completely different on attack.

Despite all this the skill sets are slightly different for the backs, as it is easier for league backs (especially the fullback, halfback, 5/8, wingers) to inject themselves into the game, the timing is different with regards to decision making, and union outside backs require more kicking skills. Hence it's very very hard to tell who will make a convert either way.

I personally didn't think that Chambers would go well for the Reds, as I was not too impressed with his play for the Storm. He looked solid, but that's about it. Chambers actually looked better, to me, at 13 for the Reds than he did at right centre for the Storm.

 

[magoo]

It's somewhat of a pity that rugby, league & AFL all actually compete for players & market share. I think time spent in a different code would probably benefit most players if they then went back to the original code. Big names like Wally Lewis, Ricky Stuart & Cooper Cronk all went to league with kicking games developed in union. Berrick Barnes surely would've developed sound defence playing league. Elsom would've added to his game playing league. Folau will take his strength in contact to AFL & if he goes back to league (as speculated), you'd imagine he'll have an improved kicking game from his time in AFL.

I don't know about specific players, but I agree that they'd be best to target harder working players than the star outside backs drafted previously. I think league forwards could be best used as a 6 or 7 (Anthony Watmough, Luke O'Donnell, Nathan Hindmarsh, David Stagg, Andrew Ryan). For backs I'd rather they avoid halves & outside backs & take hard tacklers & straight runners & put them in the centres. Scott Gibbs was a weapon in defence & attack for Wales & the Lions after his time spent in league.

 

[Ruggo]

Ash

Chambers had a bit of rugby background when he was a junior in Gove.

Nathan Hindmarsh would of bee a good convert. He has the work rate and the intelect to make it.

 

[DPK]

Nathan Hindmarsh would of bee a good convert. He has the work rate and the intelect to make it.

Modern Ray Price?

 

[en_force_er]

I just wish we could find the next Brad Thorn in the league ranks and convert him to a wallaby lock.

 

[RugbyReg]

on the flip side of things, how many Wallaby backs do you think would make the Kangaroos team?

For instance..

7. Thurston vs Genia
6. Lockyer vs Cooper
5. Folou vs Ioane
4. Gasnier vs Fainga'a
3. Inglis vs Ashley-Cooper
2. Hayne vs Mitchell
1. Slator vs O'Connor

different positions. JOC (James O'Connor) would be a 6 or 7. Fainga'a would probably be a 13. Genia probably a 9.

If you were picking a league team of rugby players possibly something like:

1 Hynes
2 Horne
3 Higgers
4 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
5 Davies
6 Cooper
7 Barnes
13 Pocock
12 Ioane
11 Elsom
10 Palu
9 Genia
8 Alexander