The 6's and 7's are at 6's & 7's

[Bruce Pickett]

I don't think I've ever seen the RL with so many great

Fullbacks: Teddy, Turbo, RTS, Ponga etc
Hookers: Friend, Smith, and a host of young guns like Verills, Mahoney, Brandon Smith etc. Even Korasau
Backrowers: Just at Easts,Cricthon, Cords, & up & comers like Sitili not to mention some of the talent at the Broncos etc

But where are all the halves?? Keary is the best half in the comp and our most important player in our team imo. But apart from he, Munster and maybe DCE, who else is out there? And it's not as if I'd put them in the class of Freddy, Daley, Stuart, Johns, Langer. You know standards have dropped when Cleary is seen as the first choice NSW 7 by many 'experts'.

From Mortimer,Sterling, Lamb, Kenny to Cronk, Thurston, Lockyear there was a procession of great halves. Is the assembly line broken?

[zac]

fair call. been that way in nsw for a while. mitch pearce is a good player but i don't know if he's as good as how many origins he's played.

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

Wighton keeps on improving.

Not a lot of depth, though. Probably a reflection of how the game has changed, with most fullbacks now playing a ball-playing role.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

Nathan Cleary NSW 7
Mitch Pearce/Moses seen as his back up?
DCE Aussie/Qld 7
Bent Kunt.... sorry mean Ben Hunt his back up?
Kodi Nikorima NZ 7

In 2020 I wouldn't sign any of them to lead Easts around the park. This thread has a valid point.

I met Matty Johns ages ago when he was on the footy show. We were talking origin and he said Peter Wallace and Mitch Pearce would be battling for the NSW and Aussie #7 for the nect decade.

[Bruce Pickett]

Wighton keeps on improving.

Not a lot of depth, though. Probably a reflection of how the game has changed, with most fullbacks now playing a ball-playing role.

I thought the lay down moseire for Origin this year was NSW (Keary/Wighton) v QLD (DCE/Munster) - the media experts are saying Cleary this and that. Some have even mentioned Moses and Pearce.

[chopstiks]

Nathan Cleary NSW 7
Mitch Pearce/Moses seen as his back up?
DCE Aussie/Qld 7
Bent Kunt.... sorry mean Ben Hunt his back up?
Kodi Nikorima NZ 7

In 2020 I wouldn't sign any of them to lead Easts around the park. This thread has a valid point.

I met Matty Johns ages ago when he was on the footy show. We were talking origin and he said Peter Wallace and Mitch Pearce would be battling for the NSW and Aussie #7 for the nect decade.

Funniest thing Johns has ever said.

Cleary backed it up last night. If he couldn't close out that game he would have been up there with Pearce as far as im concerned.
And Moses? hiding against the panthers and hyped up into oblivion by the "experts".

[Johnny Brass]

The halves and 5/8s were traditionally the most important positions and the best players played there , I think that has shifted somewhat to fullback and hooker having more influence on the results these days.
The fullback position is where you will find the best athletes and they have become so important with their organisation of defence and they have become the link with the quick hands to the outside backs.
The hooker has changed from the small,slow tough guy to a dominant position as they handle the ball more than anyone else and you need someone with quick feet and a even quicker brain.
The move to left and right sides has also changed the way 6 and 7s play in attack and defence. It's imperative they are good defenders as they are often targetted by huge edge backrowers.
They will always be important positions and some good young ones coming through , I just think they don't influence results as much as they used to.

[Thirteen]

Cleary being selected to play half at origin level is testament to what you are saying.

Mortimer, Alexander, Stuart, Sterlo, Johns...... and then there's Cleary?!

[HBK]

I really rate DCE. He's an excellent player and a match winner

[Mickie Lane]

The halves and 5/8s were traditionally the most important positions and the best players played there , I think that has shifted somewhat to fullback and hooker having more influence on the results these days.
The fullback position is where you will find the best athletes and they have become so important with their organisation of defence and they have become the link with the quick hands to the outside backs.
The hooker has changed from the small,slow tough guy to a dominant position as they handle the ball more than anyone else and you need someone with quick feet and a even quicker brain.
The move to left and right sides has also changed the way 6 and 7s play in attack and defence. It's imperative they are good defenders as they are often targetted by huge edge backrowers.
They will always be important positions and some good young ones coming through , I just think they don't influence results as much as they used to.

Very well explained & true.

[Mickie Lane]

I don't think I've ever seen the RL with so many great

Fullbacks: Teddy, Turbo, RTS, Ponga etc
Hookers: Friend, Smith, and a host of young guns like Verills, Mahoney, Brandon Smith etc. Even Korasau
Backrowers: Just at Easts,Cricthon, Cords, & up & comers like Sitili not to mention some of the talent at the Broncos etc

But where are all the halves?? Keary is the best half in the comp and our most important player in our team imo. But apart from he, Munster and maybe DCE, who else is out there? And it's not as if I'd put them in the class of Freddy, Daley, Stuart, Johns, Langer. You know standards have dropped when Cleary is seen as the first choice NSW 7 by many 'experts'.

From Mortimer,Sterling, Lamb, Kenny to Cronk, Thurston, Lockyear there was a procession of great halves. Is the assembly line broken?

What about Wally.
In any era there is only ever 2 or 3 halves that are a cut above the rest and right now its DCE, Keary, Munster & Cody Walker so no the assembly line is not broken.

The other thing that I think about is if say Ash Taylor was at the Chooks could he be a superstar?
He is a champion player who plays in an average side who is also surrounded by leeches who have just about stuffed his career up. The poor blokes mental health has been damaged.