Dunbar

Is that true? That has properly screwed with my head. In my fantasies I am backing up a break by Hanley before sending Offiah over in the corner. You’ll be telling me next that all my old girlfriends are not as attractive as I remember them!

Look at those effective tackles by Wigan - we absolutely smashed them.

I suppose there are two factors in play - one is what the coach wants to do and two, the personnel he has at his disposal. There was certainly a trend where teams wanted to have halves play almost the same game - and split in attack. What Ricky Stuart was doing with George Williams and Jack Wighton for the Raiders was players playing an almost identical game split left and right. Whereas now he has a much more traditional pair in Jamal Fogerty and Ethan Strange. But again, did Stuart do that because that is how he wanted the Raiders to play or because he saw that neither Williams or Wighton were traditional game management half backs and so he wanted to share the responsibility. With all these things, the devil is in the detail but my general point is that when you see half backs like Reynolds, Hynes, Cherry-Evans and Cleary playing a very traditional scrum half role both sides of the ruck (and 4 of the top 5 sides) the idea that halves split left and right is nowhere near as prevalent as it was maybe even a few years ago.

Yes, I thought we were going to agree to disagree. I just felt your last line was a bit of a dig to be honest.

There is a post I wrote here 5 years ago talking about the naming of the half backs as left and right pivot. I just think we are in an era now where coaches are starting to see the value of more traditional half back pairings / strengths. The game is constantly evolving.

OK, I don't think we are getting anywhere here. Let's leave it.

I'm not talking about the other positions. I am simply saying that modern half back pairs (and in the top teams in each league) are far more similar to the old 6 and 7 roles than you described. Are you really saying that when you watch Reynolds and Mam play for the Broncos (as an example), you don't see the same style of play and scrum half / stand off roles from previous decades.

Well, we'll have to disagree on that as these pairs look exactly like the old half back pairs to me.

Looks good. I have always enjoyed the video analysis that Wells does with well spoken players and coaches, understanding the thought processes and decision making. If we can get more of that (and the trailer indicated it) I'm on board.

Not really. Clearly and Luai. Reynolds and Mam. Smith and French. Hughes and Munster. And yes, Dodd and Lomax. These combinations are far more like the traditional 6 and 7 roles than your description indicates. One is a game manager and the other a more attacking / running threat. Do they split left and right sometimes in attack, of course. Are they interchangeable in their roles and skill set. No.

I like the three halves, they are reinventing maths as well as Rugby League.

I was just replying to a post that said move Lomax to 7. And to be honest, not all teams play half backs split left and right, some still play the more traditional roles of organising 7 and running 6.

It's probably just that Gould signed Toby Sexton to the Bulldogs who is 23 and a bit rubbish... he's just saying, nah he will be good by the time he is 28, promise.

Lomax could probably do a job at 7 but Bennison isn't good enough. Keep Welsby at 1, Lomax at 6 and bring in a 7 (even if it is short term) - the overall team will be stronger. The equation is simple, can Saints recruit a half who is better than Bennison is at 1. Undoubtably, that is a yes.

There are some positions where the NRL is flush with quality across the board but I don't think half back is one of them. This is the list of 7's starting for the NRL teams last time out. Sean Johnson Kieran Foran Ben Hunt Sam Walker Jahrome Hughes Dean Hawkins Daly Cherry-Evans Dylan Brown Aiden Sezer Adam Reynolds Chad Townsend Nathan Cleary Isaiya Katoa Jackson Hastings Kaeo Weekes Nicholas Hynes Drew Hutchinson There are some good players in there but also some very average one's as well... Hawkins, Sezer, Townsend, Hutchinson... they don't exactly make you think world class.