[PopTart]

Re: Learning to play league : Wed Nov 29, 2017 7:30 am  

Hi DC

I played both codes.
There is lots of cross over when you look for it. As a number 8 you'll be used to running with the ball which is good. Depends on your level.
I played prop as a kid but as I got older I started to play hooker partly through skills and partly through enjoyment but mainly we had bigger guys than me for prop.
I played Union as an adult and went the same way. I was a tight head at 5 9 and 16 - 17 stone but when I played at a higher level I had to be better as I as just out gunned for size.
You'll find the same in League the other way. You are big enough to play prop which is more akin to a number 8 but you'll be out gunned if you were playing semi pro.
Second row uses your ball skills and work rate slightly more. If you'd said you sometimes cover inside centre rather than wing of have said second row.

In the technicalities of the game you are going the easier way but there are 2 skills that you need to understand.
1 When you have the ball you are trying to break the line. In Union good runners set up play very early by going to ground. League has come closer to Union in the quick play the ball being much more like a quick ruck than it used to be but hitting the line with the intention of breaking through is a mindset change. You can always tell a league player going the other way because of that. Scrummaging and number 8 role will help you with leg drive after contact. Your team will like that anout you.
2 Structure of defence. These days it isn't enough to be able to tackle. You need to know where to stand and who to tackle. Whether to help the guy next to you or keep your line is important. Much more structured than Union and far more tackles too.

I'd also say League welcomed different sizes.
Wakefield have a massive pack at the moment and enjoy the benefits but if you look at Wigan they've been successful with very light running second rowers who are fast and skilful.
I'd start by watching the World Cup Final but after that watch Wakefield for fun and keep an eye on Ashurst and Horo and get some videos of Wigan with Bateman and Farrell and watch how they play. (It pains me to say that)

You'll enjoy it I'm sure.
Best way to learn is to play. Just go for it.

Re: Learning to play league : Wed Nov 29, 2017 8:50 am  

Fitness will be the biggest change for you.
My lad played Union for 12 years and although he had played league as a junior, he was staggered by how "unfit" he was when he want back to play League.
Certainly the demands of the outside backs and full back are far heavier in league and of course tackling.
In Union, making 10/12 tackles a game is considered a big effort but, this might get you through the first half in League, if you are luck.

The skill set for playing on the wing is pretty similar and if you've played there in Union, it would be a good starting point if you try League and
should help you get used to what is going on.

League is far more enjoyable though

Re: Learning to play league : Wed Nov 29, 2017 12:52 pm  

have you sorted yourself a club DC?

Re: Learning to play league : Thu Nov 30, 2017 12:38 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Fitness will be the biggest change for you.
My lad played Union for 12 years and although he had played league as a junior, he was staggered by how "unfit" he was when he want back to play League.
Certainly the demands of the outside backs and full back are far heavier in league and of course tackling.
In Union, making 10/12 tackles a game is considered a big effort but, this might get you through the first half in League, if you are luck.

The skill set for playing on the wing is pretty similar and if you've played there in Union, it would be a good starting point if you try League and
should help you get used to what is going on.

League is far more enjoyable though

Ignore this. There is no difference in fitness at all. I play both codes and actually find union more demanding fitness wise.

If you can play lock in union, you will be absolutely fine fitness wise.

Regards

King James

Re: Learning to play league : Thu Nov 30, 2017 1:09 pm  

Lebron James wrote:

Ignore this. There is no difference in fitness at all. I play both codes and actually find union more demanding fitness wise.

If you can play lock in union, you will be absolutely fine fitness wise.

Regards

King James

I'll trust my son's opinion over a pseudo ruler, thanks.
He played on the wing at union up to district level and certainly found League a far more physical challenge than Union.
A different game in the pack but, Union back's and especially on the wing (the position that the op mentioned) is a different kettle of fish altogether.
Wingers in Union can go 80 minutes and barely touch the ball but, I'm sure that you know this and they are not used to bring the ball out of defence in Union EVER.

[PopTart]

Re: Learning to play league : Thu Nov 30, 2017 7:16 pm  

It's just different fitness.
Not many League players would enjoy the scrummaging or mauling until they've got their fitness right.
Equally a union forward would be blowing with all the getting back on side and continually tackling.

But if you are fit you'll soon adapt in either direction.

Re: Learning to play league : Fri Dec 01, 2017 9:13 pm  

PopTart wrote:

It's just different fitness.
Not many League players would enjoy the scrummaging or mauling until they've got their fitness right.
Equally a union forward would be blowing with all the getting back on side and continually tackling.

But if you are fit you'll soon adapt in either direction.

Well said.

Regards

King James

Re: Learning to play league : Sat Dec 02, 2017 12:03 am  

PopTart wrote:

It's just different fitness.
Not many League players would enjoy the scrummaging or mauling until they've got their fitness right.
Equally a union forward would be blowing with all the getting back on side and continually tackling.

But if you are fit you'll soon adapt in either direction.

Agree. I played Union for school on Saturdays and League for Eastmoor on Sundays, until an injury ended my playing days for good.

My experience was this. In RL my favorite position was at Centre and the Coaches were happy to let me play there. At 15 I was already over 6ft and 15 stone, but I also used to sprint for the Harriers so had pace. When I played Union for school, even though it was obvious where I was best used, every year there was always a Coach that wanted to convert me to a second row, Flanker or No.8.
i remember once I had to move into the pack for a few games due to someone's injury and without wanting to sound like an a-hole, I thought I was the fittest guy on the team due to what we did in the gym and laps around the field etc & it would be no big deal at all. What a shock I was in for, the scrummaging, lineouts, then having to get to every breakdown, ruck and maul, run from one side of the pitch to the other and back again. I was absolutely blowing out of my ass within 20 minutes. At that level, especially in the 80's & early 90's when I played RU, it wasn't as start-stop as the Pros is nowadays either.
I couldn't get my head around at the time how these chubby Props and slightly unathletic guys elsewhere in the pack were getting there before me and weren't in the same state I was in. As a few games passed and I got better in the pack & it became obvious, it's what they had been training at for years and even though I was fit and adapted, I simply just wasn't used to doing it.

Anyway after my cool story, the long and short of it, like PT says, if you're fit you'll soon adapt to RL and you'll love it.

[PopTart]

Re: Learning to play league : Sat Dec 02, 2017 7:35 am  

Indeed.
Just like we talk about fitness at pro level now, if the team know how to play they will look fitter too.
I can remember playing a Union team that had a really old pack. First kick-off and they started mauling. When they eventually won a penalty I was relieved....sweat was dripping down my face. I'd never been so knackered and I'd only moved at walking pace. It was like pushing a Car.
We eventually realised we had to run everything as we had a young backline. As soon as we took it to slow contract we were dead in the water.
Union is a great game to play... But at elite level it can seem slow and frustrating compared to League....unless you understand what those forwards are actually doing.
Of course I much prefer league....but I understand why those that have played enjoy union.

In fact now I think about it, it's like comparing an Olympic wrestler against an Olympic boxer. Both are extremely fit. Combat sports. Same size 'pitch'. If you swap them over their fitness would be lacking at first.....but I prefer the fast dynamic sport of the two.