These halves Structures.....

[maxta]

The debate about playing right/ left and having to be at this certain point of the field at this particular moment is a bit of a drag and imo, a little predictable.
The best halves in recent years Thurston/ Johns and Lockyer play structure in relation to time management and field position, but would constantly attack either side of the ruck....depending on where they could find a weakness in the defence - an overlap or a player they want to target....
Personally not a fan of pigeon holing players and find it restrictive and actually diminishes natural ability in a big way.
Left right out I say !!

 

[The Who]

Agree. I played in the days of inside and outside centre - primarily rugby - where you played side-by-side. I've never understood when I read that 'Player X is a right-side specialist' etc. It's trying to compartmentalise the sport, like American football.
More 'play what's in front of you' please.

 

[Bearfax]

And I suspect Barrett isnt one for pigeon holing either. If Pearce comes, both he and DCE would be on licence, being so experienced, of playing the game as they see it.

 

[manly al]

There is still some reasonable opportunity and scope for modern day halves to have some type of a more roving role if they are confident and capable enough but obviously a different matter for centres and second rowers who are generally expected to be much more structured . The trend for the structured left and right edge playing style seemed to originate around the early nineties era and Manly coach at the time, Graham Lowe was one of it"s advocates with his concept and description of left and right edge playing channels or path ways or similar references . I guess that even these earlier eras had a form of structure with the inside and outside centre definitions and so on but for modern times with so much emphasis on settlers , Kick chase , repeat sets , quick resetting for attack and defence , the priority is going to be for some mainly structured playing styles except again for the more confident and capable halves . D C E and Pearce are definitely in this category . The Walker brothers have tried to break the mould with less structured play , very appealing at a QLD cup level but of course will take a bit of convincing for any N R l coach to adopt .