Re: Death of the half back : Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:20 pm  

the flying biscuit wrote:

Michael Dobson.................

A mate of mine who is a wigan fan will always maintain Michael Dobson Was a class act .. and was their best (and only) scrum half since Andy Gregory...

ps I dont agree with the OP btw

Had a word with Mr Dobson in Wetherspoons 1 night and told him moving to Wigan would be a mistake. At least at KR he's been given a chance to express himself.

As for halfbacks, I take it the best part of nobody watched the Fax/ Keighley game on thursday. Absolute throwback to a halfback thinking. 20 seconds left, fax on the attack, last tackle, drop goal lined up........................... and he throws it out wide for the match winning try, with 12 seconds remaining. Boy it takes you back.. great end to a great game. 2nd best game seen this season, after the Fax/Fev final.

Don't have the facts to prove otherwise, but after watching all the lower league stuff on tv this season, it would seem that the hb's in the lower leagues have a bit more " licence" to do what they want to.

Next up, Fev/Leigh, if the rains come, watch out for Ridyard.

Re: Death of the half back : Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:39 pm  

back to the title of the thread if the halfback is dead what about the full back then..............

Not one fullback from the Andy Gregory era could do what Brett Hodgson is doing now.

I could get all nostalgic about Full backs being a solid last line of Defence (unlike Sam Tomkins), or defusing bomb after bomb (unlike Sam Tomkins)

so
Wigan fans, Steve Hampson or Sam Tomkins...?
Wire Fans, Brian Johnson or Brett Hodgson?
Bradford fans, Keith Mumby or Brett Kearney?
Saints fans, Phil Veivers or Paul Wellens.......... ahh you lot dont have to join in if you dont want to...

Re: Death of the half back : Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:53 am  

I think it's probably a bit to do with rosetinted glasses and more TV coverage nowadays. Hence you "remember" how great things were pre Sky TV, ignoring the many dire matches / performances, but "recalling" great moments that you saw live, rather than those analysed and replayed endlessly on TV.

Re: Death of the half back : Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:12 am  

I understand Gaz E's comment regarding over coaching. I think we have all done that when we are trying to develop players - the only problem is we impose our game on them instead of allowing them to express themselves.

I have for sometime now tried to allow pivots to develop decision making skills without tinkering too much with their natural skills and vision, it does lead to frustration for all while they learn what works and what doesn't, but you have to guide them not dictate 'what they do next'.

Re: Death of the half back : Mon Sep 10, 2012 9:57 am  

TFB, I would agree to a point with what you have said, a lot of the changes to the FB mentality and the realisation that from that position the player has a great deal of insight into what is in front of them for the team - this lead to developing HB's in the role because of their vision.

With regards to AG's era I think most waited to the last couple of tackles to chime into the line with one aim, to score, now they chime in earlier and add sweep to improve numbers which leads to scores for them or by using their skills they create for others.

Re: Death of the half back : Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:25 am  

Actually, I think the game is so fast and furious now, alot of fans don't actually take in what they are watching. Many form opinions about a player after 1 or 2 games and that's it, nothing they do will change their mind. The abuse I heard being slung at Paul Wood and Chris Riley yesterday after they'd made errors was absurd.

Take Myler for example. In this thread alone, some have said all he does is ship the ball on, others have said he's just a runner! My view is that he is developing very nicely into a top all round half back. He can support, he can run, he can put players through a gap, he can link nicely with his half-back partner, he can send out long passes, he can kick and he can defend! He's also not afraid of running across a defence looking for a gap / runner. I'm often baffled at the criticism he gets.

All this nostalgia for the old days is just that. Yes there were some great players, there were also plenty of awful ones too. We have loads of talented skilful players in SL, I wish they got the appreciation they deserved. Sell-out grounds in the playoffs for example would be nice!

Re: Death of the half back : Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:06 pm  

Speaking of Myler, how was he in the game yesterday? The radio commentary said he was doing a lot of organising, telling people where to be and where to go, which sounds good for his development - but I was listening to the BBC, so for all I know it was actually Briers.