This edition looks at the fun and fantasy of players playing out of position. We all have theories about how to get the best out of a player’s skill set or to perhaps get the best players on the field at the same time. The smaller player pools available to the NRC clubs let us see these shufflings happen with regularity, often with sexy results.
Tom Staniforth is a young lock with the Vikings, however due to a glut of second rowers he’s been rolled out in blindside flanker. While that’s not a stretch for a lock’s skill set, he was amongst the best on field for them every match. Thriving in the tight-loose channels expected of a six, Staniforth racked up one hundred and ten carries for the season, the most of any player.
Brynard Stander if the Perth Spirit is another player thriving in foreign pastures. Predominately a blindside, Stander has made a move to number eight and has made a lot more of an impact as a ball runner, chalking up eighty runs and two tries. Stander has a great ability to get rid of the pill in contact which contributed heavily towards Perth leading the NRC in offloads. Defensively he has been just as effective with an eighty seven percent tackle success rate.
David Horwitz was a middling player for the Tahs at super level, but has really stood out in the NRC this year. During his early career David was primarily a fly-half then an inside centre. With those positions crowded at the NSW country eagles, Horwitz stuck his hand up to play thirteen and has often outshone some more fancied teammates.
Perhaps the best performance by an out of place player was witnessed last weekend, in a “do or die” semi-final. Ian Prior was thrown into the fly half role, with GAGR’s player of the NRC Jono Lance out injured. Apparently this was no big deal for Prior who looked like he had played in ten his whole life. Such was his influence that he was our MOTM, guiding his team to something of an upset victory over the rays. Not bad for the veteran scrum half.
Special mention must also go to Matt Lucas who seemed to be playing in blindside flanker for some of that same match, once his deputy, Dewitt Roos was subbed on (see the title picture). Although in saying that I must also add that Perth’s Michael Ruru, ordinarily a scrum half, started the trend. Packing at blindside flanker Michael was part of several dominant scrums against the Canberra Vikings the previous week. He’s a much bigger unit though.
So what do you guys think? Are players out of position a good thing, or a sign of a lack of depth? Also post any out of position players I’ve missed.
