Do the Roosters have a halfback problem?

[The Corner Post]

I wrote this post after thinking about Keary playing halfback this season, where I believe his best position is five eighth.

Looking back at out teams over the past few decades, aside from Pearce, it looks like we haven’t developed a first grade half back for a very long time. I can’t even remember the last time. Correct me if I’m wrong.

The thing about Pearce through is that he could easily have been a five eighth.

Cronk came from the Storm, Flanagan the Sharks, so on.

So is there something about our development or even our style of play that’s stopping us from developing halfbacks?

And can you name the last regular first grade halfback that we developed.

[bondi.boy]

Bit hard developing players when our juniors area seems not much bigger than Rushcutters Bay Park.

[Rooster36]

I wrote this post after thinking about Keary playing halfback this season, where I believe his best position is five eighth.

Looking back at out teams over the past few decades, aside from Pearce, it looks like we haven’t developed a first grade half back for a very long time. I can’t even remember the last time. Correct me if I’m wrong.

The thing about Pearce through is that he could easily have been a five eighth.

Cronk came from the Storm, Flanagan the Sharks, so on.

So is there something about our development or even our style of play that’s stopping us from developing halfbacks?

And can you name the last regular first grade halfback that we developed.

im hearing there is this young qld kid that could be alright. Playing 5/8th at the moment but that’s coz his 19… might be worth a look

[A Country Member]

Rugby league has a halfback problem at nrl level, all clubs suffer the same fate. With the lack of a proper second tier comp and clubs having to play youngsters such as Sam Walker ahead of his time, whilst opposition coaches target him in the defensive line doesn’t bode well for good halfback development.

The quicker they establish a game day reserve grade game the better. It would bring back some prestige to reggies allowing veterans to drop down and rookies to get a taste of the playing on the big stage.

[ism22]

1. There's no difference between HB and 5/8. It's all down to what the coach tells them to do.

2. We have one of the best halves pairings in the comp.

[ism22]

Rugby league has a halfback problem at nrl level, all clubs suffer the same fate. With the lack of a proper second tier comp and clubs having to play youngsters such as Sam Walker ahead of his time, whilst opposition coaches target him in the defensive line doesn’t bode well for good halfback development.

The quicker they establish a game day reserve grade game the better. It would bring back some prestige to reggies allowing veterans to drop down and rookies to get a taste of the playing on the big stage.

Be neat hey. Only think I'd note is that...

- Duribg a recent presser, somebody asked if Suaalii and Walker were being considered for U20s Origin (which is kinda the level below? Kinda). Robbo's only response was something like 'they're regular NRL players... nobody's talked to me about it and it would be odd... again they're NRL players and I want them to be playing NRL!'

- Mini did an interview with Bloke in a Bar and both agreed that the lower grades in NSW/QLD are no softer than the NRL. There's some big boppers and people hit each roughly as hard.

- Based on the above, I dunno what reserve-grade would look like. Walker's an NRL player... they've made the judgment call that he's physically ready to play NRL (and while the disciplinary dorks seem to disagree that it's misconduct, IMO no matter how big you are, an intentional elbow to the head is gonna be dangerous... bigger muscles don't make your skull thicker). If he wasn't ready then I guess he could play U20's? I suspect that with his skills and physical prep, it would be inappropriate for him to play against U20s players.

[Flipper Hands]

1. There's no difference between HB and 5/8. It's all down to what the coach tells them to do.

2. We have one of the best halves pairings in the comp.

Perhaps in the very future, not quite yet though.

[bondi.boy]

1. There's no difference between HB and 5/8. It's all down to what the coach tells them to do.

2. We have one of the best halves pairings in the comp.

And the smallest...who seem to be getting trampled more often than they used to...as teams increase in size, speed, and the helter skelter non-structure of rugba leeg changes the game.

[King Salvo]

Bit hard developing players when our juniors area seems not much bigger than Rushcutters Bay Park.

You Forget about the Central Coast junior area and there are a few half backs coming through the ranks - Sandon Smith playing NSW Cup - Hugo Savala and Robbie Miller Jersey Flegg / Toby Rodwell and Cassius Tia Harold Matthews for instance.

Across the board in the juniors both male and female there is a crop of players in all positions who could progress to be NRL/NRLW standard players - it's up to the club and the players to develop and improve their game to get to that level in the years to come.

I think the days of being a recruitment club are hopefully long gone and they are on the right path in becoming a development club instead.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Bit hard developing players when our juniors area seems not much bigger than Rushcutters Bay Park.

Well that's not fair, they have still left us with Lady Jane Beach.

[King Salvo]

Be neat hey. Only think I'd note is that...

- Duribg a recent presser, somebody asked if Suaalii and Walker were being considered for U20s Origin (which is kinda the level below? Kinda). Robbo's only response was something like 'they're regular NRL players... nobody's talked to me about it and it would be odd... again they're NRL players and I want them to be playing NRL!'

- Mini did an interview with Bloke in a Bar and both agreed that the lower grades in NSW/QLD are no softer than the NRL. There's some big boppers and people hit each roughly as hard.

- Based on the above, I dunno what reserve-grade would look like. Walker's an NRL player... they've made the judgment call that he's physically ready to play NRL (and while the disciplinary dorks seem to disagree that it's misconduct, IMO no matter how big you are, an intentional elbow to the head is gonna be dangerous... bigger muscles don't make your skull thicker). If he wasn't ready then I guess he could play U20's? I suspect that with his skills and physical prep, it would be inappropriate for him to play against U20s players.

Trouble with reserves is you have a mix of players NRL contracted and Non NRL contracted players and not many times the same team the following week due to players being promoted to NRL/ Dropping back from NRL or being reserves for NRL and not playing any grade.

Obviously the non NRL contracted players are not training full time and need to hold down some sort of employment to supplement their footy earnings which would not be much - 5 to 10 grand or so.

The non NRL contracted players would be training twice a week at best and i don't know how often the NRL Contracted players selected in the NSW Cup side would train with the Non NRL Contracted players in a lead up to NSW Cup games.

Also no doubt the NRL coachng staff would want these NRL Contracted players to be playing at NRL level in NSW cup and not drop their form and game level as if needed in NRL they wouldn't want to have to put a lot of work into these players to get them back to NRL standard.

When there was a NYC comp the players had to be in full time employment or full time study - not sure if this is the same for Jersey Flegg - Obviously the number of times they train each week would be subject to players being available owing to these other commitments.

[Mickie Lane]

I wrote this post after thinking about Keary playing halfback this season, where I believe his best position is five eighth.

Looking back at out teams over the past few decades, aside from Pearce, it looks like we haven’t developed a first grade half back for a very long time. I can’t even remember the last time. Correct me if I’m wrong.

The thing about Pearce through is that he could easily have been a five eighth.

Cronk came from the Storm, Flanagan the Sharks, so on.

So is there something about our development or even our style of play that’s stopping us from developing halfbacks?

And can you name the last regular first grade halfback that we developed.

The problem with developing a halfback is time. Clubs dont give halfbacks enough time to develop.
It takes years to master the halfback position, Johns, Cronk & Thurston were at their best in their late 20's to early 30's.
Ben Hunt, Reynolds & Townsend are playing their best footy now.
DCE has pretty much been the only half I can think of that has been a top halfback from his debut.
Fogerty is a very good halfback but its also taken him years to develop.

[JB_Cloey]

2 suggestions:

1. We should not have let volkman go. Local boy and star in the making.

2. Why not try Manu in the halves? He goes well when he slots in there and would be a great running half partner to walker.

[mightyrooster]

I don’t think we have a half back problem. But if Keary is forced to retire we will have a five eighth problem. Walker will eventually move to half.

[JB_Cloey]

I don’t think we have a half back problem. But if Keary is forced to retire we will have a five eighth problem. Walker will eventually move to half.

Name one game where Keary made it happen this year. He is a top bloke but as BB King said the thrill is gone.