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Grand final pair Anthony Milford and Michael Morgan’s transition from fullback to five-eighth was seamless. Many believe Penrith’s prospects will sky rocket with Matt Moylan’s speed and guile shifted to the front line.
So what does a coach expect from a fullback? What is it about the modern version of rugby league forcing traditional five-eighths to glance nervously over their shoulder?
To unravel the current fullback obsession it’s worth rolling the tape back 60 years to the premier custodian of the time, Clive Churchill.
The Little Master’s unique brand of skills filled training manuals for subsequent generations. However a try-scoring drought, one that unbelievably lasted his entire career, shows just how far the role has evolved.
In 157 career games for the Rabbitohs, the Team of the Century fullback only crossed the line on 13 occasions. Astonishingly for a backline legend he went try-less in 37 Tests.
By modern try scoring standards, the uninitiated could well interpret the diminutive speedster forged Immortality from the front-row. He has a strike rate remarkably similar to George Rose – who tallied 10 tries in 151 appearances.
Obviously racking up three-pointers in the old currency wasn’t Churchill’s forte but a rare ability to orchestrate attacking raids proved revolutionary.
Since then there’s been the dazzling sidesteps of Graeme Langlands through to the kamikaze raids of Gary Jack and the mesmerising hands of Gary Belcher.
Not until Darren Lockyer has a player possessed such a diverse range of skills and athletic power synonymous with multiple key positions.
Australia’s most capped Test star dominated from fullback for five years until 2003, before doing the same in the halves for another eight. In 59 Tests the Queenslander twice claimed the Golden Boot for international player of the year – remarkably, once from each position.
He raised the bar in both positions, trail-blazing what is now a recurring theme where ball players blessed with speed and vision are readily interchangeable between the two positions.
High flyers Greg Inglis, Josh Dugan, Ben Barba and Jarryd Hayne have all covered five-eighth. For the new generation led by Milford, Morgan, Gareth Widdop, and Corey Norman the transformation fits like a glove.
Interestingly, the perceived demise of traditional ball-playing halves has been a hot topic, particularly in New South Wales where experts blame inadequate junior programs.
Yet the same programs have unearthed an abundance of fullback talent not only blessed with pace and power but creativity to dominate key frontline positions.
Even a couple of old dogs with expanded attacking repertoires have kept pace with the younger brigade.
With many years under Lockyer at representative level, it’s little wonder Billy Slater is now considered the best fullback of all time. The Storm veteran not only sits second on the premiership try-scoring list but in recent seasons has added try-provider to an exhaustive bag of tricks.
Yapping at Slater’s heels for tries scored, Brett Stewart has similarly adapted into a quality all-rounder. The Sea Eagle finished second to Johnathan Thurston for try-assists in 2014 and is now touted as a possible five-eighth replacement for Kieran Foran in 2016.
The diversification of skills means traditional halves combinations are on the slippery slope to park footy. The selection of two playmakers with limited line breaking ability is harder on the nose than Sam Burgess at a Bath rugby convention.
It’s why Cronulla recruit Chad Townsend would be a surprise selection in combination with James Maloney. In would-be fullback Jack Bird, coach Shane Flanagan has a tackle busting five-eighth with the frontline nous to compliment Valentine Holmes’ strike from the back.
Peter Wallace is in the same boat. Once again the former Bronco faces Anthony Griffin’s axe. Matt Moylan’s transfer would ignite the Panthers’ halves and unlock the dynamic skills of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak through the back field.
In essence, pacey ball players are serving fullback apprenticeships before striking from centre stage.
Rugby league’s spine is now bigger. The spur growing mid-ship is a proven winner and coaches missing the boarding call risk sailing a course wide of the finals.
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