If you were in charge of an NRL team, who would you sign to build your spine taking into account salary cap, team balance and player longevity?
There are many strategies that teams have taken in order to build their spine, a part of the side which has become more and more important in recent times. I didn’t necessarily take the best available players instead focusing on value, experience and specific abilities.
This is not a list of the best players in particular positions, instead it focuses on team needs and how players can complement each other.
Halfback – Adam Reynolds
(Others considered: Nathan Cleary, Cooper Cronk)
Cooper Cronk would be considered for this team but given he is towards the end of his career I would take Adam Reynolds to start an NRL side. He has won over 62 per cent of his games since his debut in 2012; better than many halfbacks including Mitchell Pearce (50%), Johnathan Thurston (56%), Daly Cherry-Evans (59%) and Ben Hunt (55%).
Reynolds is a tough player and gets credit for his strong defence given that halves are often targeted by hard running back rowers. He missed 34 tackles in the 2016 season compared to noted defender Trent Hodkinson who missed more than double that amount.
Reynolds has one of the best short kicking games in the NRL which is crucial to building pressure and scoring points. He is an underrated runner of the football and has shown a development in leadership in the past few seasons. Reynolds is also kicking goals at a career rate of 83 per cent.
For comparison, Thurston has a career percentage of 75 and Jarrod Croker is at 81. Nathan Cleary would be a younger option with great value given he wouldn’t command as much of the salary cap as Reynolds. However, Reynolds is a premiership winner and a leader who can steer a team around the park and take the game on when needed.
Fullback – Cameron Munster
(Others considered: Matt Moylan, Josh Dugan)
The NRL has a lot of quality fullbacks at the moment and all play the game in a different way. Cameron Munster is close to a complete player and has filled in so well for Billy Slater it will be difficult to remove him from the position.
I consider Cameron Munster to be a combination of Matt Moylan and Josh Dugan given that he can ball play and is very solid in defence and dangerous returning kicks. He is also more than comfortable under the high ball and when running the ball. He made only eight errors in 2016 compared with James Tedesco (18) and Jack Wighton (41), as well as both Moylan (16) and Dugan (22).
I would take either of these three fullbacks but I feel Munster offers more ball playing ability than Josh Dugan and has an edge over Moylan coming out out of his own end of the field. Munster would also be slightly cheaper than Moylan or Dugan given he has less experience in the top grade.
Hooker – Andrew McCullough
(Others considered: Nathan Peats)
We have seen some coaches such as Jason Taylor move away from a ball-centric hooker in favour of a reliable distributor who can open up more time and space for the halves to create plays.
McCullough has the ability both to be a distributor and a creator and has been described by many as in the mould of Cameron Smith. McCullough has an excellent kicking game out of dummy half and has tremendous experience for a 26 year old (196 games).
Nathan Peats offers versatility (can play in the back row), running ability, toughness in defence and is especially dangerous out of dummy half close to the line but I prefer Mccullough’s experience, poise and kicking ability which will help take some of the predictability out of last tackle options that a side with Adam Reynolds may have.
Five-Eighth – Corey Norman
(Others considered: Kieran Foran, Aidan Sezer)
Corey Norman is a dynamic player who adds game breaking ability to this spine. He is a constant ball-running threat and has a passing game that can lay on points. Despite missing extended time last season due to suspension and injury, Norman posted 15 try assists. He is solid in defence and has an improving kicking game that will help to take the pressure off Adam Reynolds.
Kieran Foran is a player that would complement Adam Reynolds well with his direct running game but he would command a large chunk of salary cap and has had some injury problems throughout his career. Aidan Sezer has a great kicking game that would complement Reynolds well in keeping the attack unpredictable and has proven to be a dangerous ball runner as well especially in his time at the Titans.
However I would take Norman given his versatility seen in his ability to play at fullback and his comfort playing on either side of the field. Despite his game-breaking abilities Norman made only nine errors in the 2016 season.
This spine would not create a massive salary cap headache and would allow the team to sign good players around them. This certainly is not the only approach.
Teams like the Storm have shown that you can have sustained success by putting the majority of resources into building a spine and looking to add role players and cheaper options around them.
Reynolds, Munster, Norman and McCullough are all excellent in defence and have complementary abilities. They have also proven that they can fit into team structures and contribute to successful teams without any issues.
This spine lacks an out-and-out superstar of the game such as a Johnathan Thurston or Cameron Smith but contains younger, established first graders that will not completely break the bank and it is a strategy which I believe to be more sustainable and effective.
What strategy would you use to build an NRL spine and which players would you target?
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
While Walker has only had one season in the TOP Grade, He has definitely played plenty of reserve grade against the men. Unlike these 20s players who get promoted and end up like turnstiles like Brooks 98, Moses 92, Cartwright 77 missed tackles.and the like. Walker's defence is pretty good on the whole. Missed tackles Maloney 103, Hunt 99, Thurston 87, and Widdop 81 missed way more tackles than walker at 37. I rate him very highly. TOP 5 for five-eighths.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
The reason Souths let Keary go so easily is very simple. NO decent kicking game. Keary tried hard but he's got nothing in that department. Everytime Reyno was out Keary just couldn't step up.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
The Souths Spine absolutely Craps on the Rorts spine. Chalk and Cheese.
Craig
Guest
McCullough is tough and durable, I'll give him that. He has somewhat of a clearing kick (40/20s too), but outside of a metre-making kick, he doesn't possess any attacking kicking game. I wont give him "really great service". There was a period of time where nearly every game, sometimes multiple times in one game where he would get his arms chopped from dummy half as he went to pass the ball and spill it. He's improved on that over the last couple seasons, but his service is still quite slow. He seriously lacks creativity too.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Cleary, Taylor, Peats and Munster. That's a spine that will win a few premeirships over the next 12 years. I think Taylor can play 6 as his first instinct is run/pass but he also has a great short kicking game. Cleary at 7, already showing maturity beyond his years. Peats I think is the best 9 in this age group and Munster is just a very solid fullback. Tedesco is my other choice at fullback but he has injury worries and makes a lot of mistakes. His attack though is way ahead of any other fullback.
Chook
Guest
That would be a mistake. He is a very talented player who is no team player. He does what makes L.Keary look good and stuff everyone else. Somebody should have a word with the person who taught him how to pass. I don't think I seen him throw one that has been legal
Chook
Guest
Casper
Guest
Based on the need to build a team around them under the salary cap: and have a few years together: 9 Granville (Parcell) 7 Cleary (Taylor) 6 Milford (Morgan) 1 Holmes (Mitchell) Can't underestimate the value of a hooker with pace and elusiveness.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
1/2 preference Tedesco/Munster Milford/Morgan Cleary/Moylan Granville/Hodgson
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
I would like you to know that Souths have Edi Levido, the Norths halfback as a backup also. This Kid is going to be good. Brad Deitz, a Hooker also at Norths won their Player of the year is also on the Verge of playing First Grade.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Good question. Tedesco picks himself at fullback. Then probably Moses at five-eighth - young and open to improvement. A steady, kicking and solid passing halfback. Let's go with Luke Brooks, I reckon. And I am going to go with youth for the future at hooker. Let's say young Jacob Liddle. Tedesco, Moses, Brooks, Liddle. If you could get that lot together, they would win multiple premierships.
Albo
Guest
Thanks Craig ! Can't agree with you however, on McCulloch . He is tough & durable, gives really great service from dummy half and is a strong defender around the rucks. He has a handy kicking game to boot. I actually think Nathan Peats is the most over-rated hooker in the game. He is too small, regularly injured, no kicking game, can be handy scampering out of dummy half and is as game as they come, but that's no different to say a Mitch Rein, who the struggling St George don't even want ! Hodgson, McCulloch & Friend are my hookers of choice by a margin ( assuming Cam Smith is nearing his end) , and with the key attribute being the quality of service they give from dummy half which is massively underestimated in terms of value to a team's performance. Throw in their high work rates in defence along with kicking games and individual skills, and that will do me.
The spectator
Guest
How do you build the perfect spine?
Alex L
Roar Rookie
If you want to exclusively talk non-origin players. Munster, Moses, Taylor, and Hodgson. Peats not too far away either.
Craig
Guest
Best list I've seen on here. I love Milford and he's exciting, I would have Mitchell Moses as a backup to him. 9. Hodgson (backup Granville, Peats) 7. Ash Taylor (Cleary, Reynolds) 6. Milford (Moses, Maloney) 1. Moylan (Tedesco, Trobojevic) McCullough is one of the most over-rated hookers in the game. Decent club level player, but no more.
Mal Webster
Roar Rookie
Green is a nice signing for Manly. He can be dangerous in his own right and moving Walker back to the centres will free him up in 2017. I like the hooker combination of Parcell and Korisau, they are both electric out of dummy half and can create opportunities. Trent Barrett has a lot of talent to work with at Manly, the pressure will be on if they don't perform.
bearfax
Guest
I know this is terribly parochial but what the heck. Watch out next year for T, Trbojevic, Green, Cherry-Evans,Parcell
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
I have Coote and Morgan down and I have no idea how they would go week in week out and with Coote defending front line, but it seems to be the path we are going down. I think it will work long term. The other option is to get Ponga into the halves after a year on the wing, might do him good and help him with the bulk up process. It seems to me like the Cowboys are hell bent on using their own development for players, the last signing I can think was Hannant at for season 2015. I admire the guts in the policy but its going to be interesting to see how it all pans out as it relies on genuine superstars sticking to the life of Townsville and gettiing their families started up there. Also depends on them building themselves as an attractive 3rd party endorsement type person for the NQ community. Lolo, Morgs, Feldt, Bowen, Ponga, Scott, Tamou, Hess Asiata and Bolton are all one clubs Cowboys, except Tamou has gone. Cooper, Thurston and arguably Coote are also now synonymous with the Cowboys. I like what they are building, interesting times ahead.
Albo
Guest
I'd be pretty happy with : 9. Hodgson ( Back ups McCulloch, Friend) 7. Cleary ( Back ups Ash Taylor, Adam Reynolds) 6. Millford ( Back ups Mbye, Norman) 1. Moylan ( Back ups Tom T. & Munster)
Mal Webster
Roar Rookie
Vincent, do you think a Cowboys halves pairing of Coote and Moylan could consistently apply pressure in the kicking game? Coote has a nice left boot but they lose a lot when you take Thurston out with the last tackle options. Will be interesting to see how they replace JT when he eventually hangs them up..