Good commentary about Australia's dearth of halves

[England 3 Lions]

With halves at sixes and sevens, it's time to declare: School's in
Phil Gould | March 29, 2009

Source: LeagueHQ.com.au

I repeat my calls for the NRL - or ARL - to establish a rugby league academy specifically designed for the development of playmakers.

I would like football to return to the days when genuine halves and five-eighths were considered a must for any successful football team.

I want kids to aspire to play these positions in the professional code.

As I scan through the NRL teams, I find it staggering to realise just how many sides are trying to survive by manufacturing players to fill these roles. Not only this, but as I watch substandard senior football masque- rading as a reserve grade competition, I'm also alarmed at the embarrassing lack of depth in these key playmaker positions.

I see few standout halfback talents coming through the ranks in the junior representative competitions.

We need more halves, but …

EXPERIENCE NO. 1

I asked a bloke the other day how his son's footy was going. He shook his head and said, "Nah, mate - he gave it away. He's a small Caucasian halfback. He has no future in league."

I stood there, my mouth gaping open. It was like watching a movie where the picture goes all wavy, the character is transported back in time and the words sent him into this stupor sound over and over: "Small Caucasian halfback, small Caucasian halfback … no future, no future, no future …"Billy Smith, Peter Sterling, Steve Mortimer, Geoff Toovey, Allan Langer, Andrew Johns … Do you mean to tell me our game has gone beyond the talents of the little men? Is this where rugby league is heading? Is this really how parents and kids think?


EXPERIENCE NO. 2

In most junior league football I've seen, up until the age of 12 or so, kids don't play in specific positions. The only real constants are the dummy-half and the first receiver, or, as we know them, the hooker and halfback.

In junior football, though, these kids are instructed to simply stand and pass the ball to a stationary receiver. They're not allowed to run.

As a result, if you ask kids to play these positions, no one volunteers because they'd prefer to run the ball. These positions are seen to be boring. I've seen kids cry and throw a tantrum if the coach asks them to play half or hooker. Yet in professional football, these are the key playmaker positions. What are we teaching our kids?

EXPERIENCE NO. 3

Let's be brutally honest about the halves and five-eighths playing in the NRL this weekend.

Of the halfbacks, only Brett Kimmorley, Matt Orford, Mitchell Pearce, Stacey Jones and perhaps Brett Finch came into grade football in this position. The Knights' Scott Dureau played at five-eighth last week but appears suited at either No. 6 or No. 7.

Tiger Benji Marshall, Dragon Ben Hornby, Shark Blake Green and Panther Jarrod Sammut all have "L" plates on. They are manufactured halfbacks - all trying to learn the most important position in league while playing in the top grade. A huge ask.

Peter Wallace, Nathan Fein, Scott Prince, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk established themselves in other positions before being moved to halfback through necessity.

Braith Anasta started as a five-eighth. Darren Lockyer started as a fullback before being moved to No.6. Bulldog Ben Roberts's best position is still a mystery. Cowboy Travis Burns continues to improve. I guess we could call Newcastle's Ben Rogers a five-eighth. Now, to the others.

Tiger John Morris has played several positions, and could hardly be described as a specialist.

Mat Rogers, Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne, Terry Campese, John Sutton, Chris Bailey and Luke Lewis are not five-eighths. Perhaps talent will get them through, but they're not genuine playmakers. They're just filling a role for their team.

Should any of these players be unavailable for extended periods, the lack of depth in NRL squads due to salary cap pressure will mean they can't be replaced with experienced talent. Lose your halfback and your season is as good as over.

To me, that's not a professional football code. In the American NFL and English Premier League football, teams have key positions covered by as many as four or five specialists. Perhaps we should stop referring to the No. 6 as a five-eighth, or change our thoughts on the role of No. 6 in the NRL teams. It's obvious the NRL coaches have changed their expectations of this position.

EXPERIENCE NO. 4

I was chatting with Andrew Johns recently. He was telling me about the work he's doing with various halfbacks throughout the NRL.

He talked about this pass that pass, this step that step, this kick that kick, this pattern and that pattern.

It all sounded great.

I then asked, "Andrew, do you teach them how to think? Do you show them how to study an opposition or ignite the talent around them in their own team? Can you teach them to think their way through a game and understand how the pulse of a game ebbs and flows?"

To me, these are the special gifts of great playmakers. My old coach used to say: "Give a gorilla a typewriter and eventually he'll type a sentence, but it doesn't mean he knows what he's doing." I guess the comparison is somewhat harsh but the basic philosophy is worth consideration.

CONCLUSION

I think for the future of our game, an emphasis on genuine creativity from playmakers is essential. If coaches see smaller players as liabilities in defence, then we need to change the rules to bring the smaller men back into play.

The first thing we do is to bring the interchange back from 10 to six, maybe even four. Allow four fresh bodies on the bench as replacements, but no interchange. Tire the big blokes out so the little men get their own back as the game progresses. Stop rewarding the forward who can play only in 10-minute bursts. That's not football.

Secondly, we need a playmaker academy so we can extract the knowledge of a Johns, a Langer, a Sterling, Greg Alexander, Wally Lewis, Cliff Lyons or Laurie Daley. From an early age, subject the kids to all their experience, knowledge and skills. I'm sure even the current halfbacks in the NRL would like a place in that clinic!


BLITZING IT
LAST year I wrote about Rugby League Blitz, a group that holds coaching clinics for kids during the holidays. The group is the idea of former first-grade footballer Paul Khoury, who is keen to provide specialised coaching for footballers (and even coaches) of all ages.

Their two-day camp last November was one of the best I've seen. Several current and former players were there and the kids had a ball learning about all the training and skills NRL players use. The concept deserves our support; the ARL should find ways to promote ex-players keen to put something back into the game.

[England 3 Lions]

The dearth of creative five-eighthes in the NRL has puzzled me for awhile. Many of the modern-day five-eighthes are just ball-runners who lack a short kicking game and have poor passing skills. For example, second-rowers like Steve Menzies, Justin Smith and Tonie Carrol aren't genuine play-makers and don't read the game like a Wally Lewis or a Jason Smith, yet they've played in the five-eighth position at some stage over the last few seasons.

Out of the modern-day five-eighthes who are running around in the NRL, I'd say that Darren Lockyer is the only one who reads the game very well. Johnathon Thurston is now playing halfback, but he's a specialist five-eighth. He tends to be somewhat subdued when the defence don't fall for them. He has a very good short-kicking game and has utilised it in a way that suggests he can read the game, but I don't think it's the main reason behind his success. His success is derived more from his tenacity than his ability to read the game. For example, most of his try-assists and line-breaks are on the back of the defence falling for his dummies.

The RFL seems to have a few young five-eighthes/halfbacks coming through its system. The young five-eighth from Wigan has the skills of a genuine play-maker. All he needs to do is add some bulk to his frame so he can become a stronger defender. The bloke who partnered Mal Brough during Wakefield's loss to St Helens looked alright.

I reckon the open, faster-paced style of the ESL will lead to the English producing the best halves in the world within a decade or two. Smaller persons like Rob Burrow will inspire small children to become the next Allan Langer. The NRL's style is more robotic and focused on size/speed than anything else. The result is Australian children grow up wanting to be the next Israel Folau, Wendell Sailor and Billy Slater.

[Druzik]

Mmmm interesting.

I havent seen that much NRL obviously so cant comment completely on their style, but what about someone like Benji Marshal? He has been put into the half position now i think, whats he been like?

I think this could be something for some of the retired halves to maybe set something up.... stacey jones or Lewis could be someone to bring in.

Interesting comments Bruce.

[England 3 Lions]

Apr 3, 2009 23:08:35 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Mmmm interesting.

I havent seen that much NRL obviously so cant comment completely on their style, but what about someone like Benji Marshal? He has been put into the half position now i think, whats he been like?

T haven't seen a lot of Marshall this year, but I haven't been impressed with the few glimpses I have seen. A few of his passes have ended up travelling well behind their receivers. His kicking game has been poor.

Apr 3, 2009 23:08:35 GMT 10 Druzik said:

I think this could be something for some of the retired halves to maybe set something up.... stacey jones or Lewis could be someone to bring in.

Interesting comments Bruce.

Stacey Jones is playing with the Warriors this year.

I'd like to see Allan Langer, Wally Lewis, Peter Stirling, Andrew Johns and Cliff Lyons get involved with the program.

[Druzik]

Well they were just some examples, but yeah some of them involved would be good. I dont see why they cant set up a sanctioned private venture, sort of like what Neil Harmon has done in the UK.