Dunbar

But seriously... I didn't include 9 in the list because while they are a key play maker and tactical element they are not pivots as we come to associate the word in Rugby League.

23

Just an evolution of the game I guess. The pivots and creative players used to be 6, 7 & 13 and now they are 1, 6 & 7. I guess modern day coaches will look at fire power and 'go forward' in the pack as priority and then any skills as an added bonus.

Fair enough but they are all 'middles' these days so makes little difference.

Whitehead has started at 6 for Canberra in his time in the NRL so it could be 1. Widdop 2. Farnworth 3. Bateman 4. Watkins 5. Hall 6. Whitehead 7. Williams 8. Graham 9. Hodgson 10. George Burgess 11. Sam Burgess 12. Ryan Sutton 13. Tom Burgess Sutton is not an edge forward but that team is close to being as per club/international positions.

Agreed. But I hope he gets a chance to show what he can do later this year as it will set him up nicely for a pre-season and a big 2020.

Interestingly on the GC website AJ Brimson was asked about Watkins and he said that he couldn't wait to see Watkins play when he is '100% fit'. I think that the Titans will be looking to assess his condition before playing him. Probably the best move as I think a few weeks for Watkins to refresh and get ready would be good for him.

I think I have worked it out. Hall has played on both wings.

They an interesting team the Roosters. While Mitchell and Manu are both capable of miracle passes neither are classic wingers centres and the centres themselves are the real strike weapons. As a result Robinson tends to go with big wingers who can carry the ball for 200 metres a game and support the forwards in go forward so that they have the energy for their suffocating defence. It works well.

If the Roosters were half as good at moving the ball to their right as they are to the left he would be in with a shout... he didn't get too much of a sniff today. But 200+ meters with ball in hand was a solid effort.

Yep, I can see that side too. He won't be in the firing line for a poor performance and he could shine, some young backs have really done well in first grade this year (Bronson Xerri at the Sharks and Zac Lomax at the Dragons). I'm really looking forward to the game, it's funny but we have been talking about Farnworth on here for ages and yet I have never seen the lad play.

Not actually the perfect situation for Farnworth to make his first grade debut but I guess he will jump at the chance.

Maybe. They lost Jack Bird for the season and James Roberts moved on to Souths and they were first choice starters at the start of the season. But they switched Milford to 1 and Boyd to 6 last week against Newcastle and that didn't work out. All in all they are a bit of a mess at the moment from 1 to 7 the Broncos.

Darius Boyd is under a huge amount of pressure at the moment for his performances, he looks completely out of sorts. From being absolutely unimaginable just a little while ago I can easily see him being dropped now.

Second from the right, middle row. This was actually circa 1989/90 when I played our one season at Staffordshire Polytechnic (now Uni). I played again for England a few years later when I was University of Central Lancs. I don't know about Neil Tunnicliffe... to be honest, if you hadn't reminded me I wouldn't have remembered his name.

After game 1 New South Wales were certainly staring into the abyss

The four English lads in the Canberra pack went well today. They were up against a Cowboys pack where the three middle forwards were Kangaroos and the two edge forwards were Queensland State of Origin reps and came out on top.

It was a dirty shot by Pangai on Cronk and he deserves a ban. The commentators did point out though that Cronk's injury in the photo was not the result of the Pangai incident.

When Lodge and Haas are back in the mix I hope Seibold does move Pangai to 13. I think Nikorima and Milford can do a job for the Broncos, I expect them to improve as they play more under their new coach.

I think Gillett has struggled in the middle of the park. He only made 58 run meters last week which is not food enough for a middle forward when you look at what some of the other 13's are achieving this year.

John Bateman picked up three Dally M points for his performance for Canberra against Newcastle this week. Josh Hodgson picked up one point. Both Bateman and Sam Burgess sit on 5 points after round 3 and they are both just behind Robbie Farah and Cameron Munster who lead the way on 6 points each.

All four of the Canberra Raiders brits did well this morning. Bateman stood out again topping the metres made for the game and tackles made for Canberra. He also made two line breaks. Hodgson was scheming at dummy half - could have had four try assists in the first 20 minutes but two tries were chalked off. Whitehead was his usual consistent self and Ryan Sutton went well in his first NRL start. Canberra are two for three to start the year and could be real contenders if they had a couple of half backs.

Sam Burgess is up to joint second in the Dally M leader board after a 3 point performance against the Dragons to add to the two points he picked up against the Roosters. He trails Robbie Farrah who is the only player on 6 points after two Man of the Match performances in the opening two rounds. Robbie Farah 6 Sam Burgess 5 Adam Reynolds 5 Matt Moylan 4

He topped the metres gained for the match and was also the Raiders top tackler in an 80 minutes effort. I do agree that the fact he was on debut and an Englishman playing his first NRL game increased his attention but his performance would have stood out whatever the circumstances.

A good Round 1 for the NRL brits. Three of them picked up Dally M points - Sam Burgess (2 points) for Souths and John Bateman (2 points) and Josh Hodgson (1 point) for Canberra. Tom Burgess was strong up front for Souths while James Graham and Gareth Widdop went reasonably well in a losing St George team. Bateman started his NRL career with a boom game and many thought he was man of the match (surprised he didn't pick up the 3 Dally M points) while Ryan Sutton was solid off the bench.