Rugby League has evolved so much over the years.
Not just in terms of structures or the physicality of players, but also the effectiveness and importance of positions. The wingers nowadays are some of the most important members in a team, vital to how a team starts their sets and how clinical they are at finishing.
Take, for example, Blake Ferguson at the Parramatta Eels. He’s helped transform last year’s wooden spooners into a genuine finals contender, something they lost last year with the departure of Semi Radradra.
Or the number 9, where the dummy halves are now so important in attacking structure, highlighted by how influential current hookers are, namely Cameron Smith and Damien Cook.
However, the one that seems most interesting to me is the way the number 13 position has been re-revolutionised. From the ball-playing locks in the late ’80s and early ’90s, such as Jim Dymock, Ellery Hanley, and even for periods through their career; Laurie Daley and Brad Fittler.
Two players who were equally adept at five-eighth, centre and lock forward.
Moving into the mid-2000s until very recently, the lock position has transformed into big, middle units, essentially a third prop, who are utilised as battering rams, compounded by their usually strong running metres.
They differed slightly from a prop in the sense they usually play bigger minutes, for example, Jason Taumololo, Paul Gallen or Sam Burgess. The power game had come to the fore in the NRL and coaches were favouring monstrous packs to roll over their opposition.
Coaches were insistent this was the way to go, and they had good reason to believe so. The past four or so grand finals have been won by teams who’ve held the more dominant engine room; the Bunnies in 2014, Cowboys in 2015, and the Sharks in 2016, who were led by Andrew Fifita and Gallen.
This is why I find the emergence of small lock forwards so interesting. The current list of small number 13’s, who possess speed and footwork and the ability to ball play is headed by players from the top sides in the game: Brandon Smith at the Storm, Victor Radley at the Roosters and NSW representative, Cameron Murray from the Bunnies.
It’s a formula that brought a premiership to the Roosters last year, where Radley’s ability to utilise his leg speed and also ball play, caused a lot of trouble for sides who weren’t used to having a middle forward who could link up with his halfbacks.
I believe it’s become such a useful asset for a side because of the variation they provide for a team’s go forward.
Instead of three very similar forwards carting the ball up, often with no intention of passing, it’s easy pickings for the opposition defence. However, when a small player carries the ball, the big middle defenders become worried because of their leg speed, footwork and ability to take different options.
Cameron Murray is a prime example of a player who defies the trend, he stands around six-feet tall, weighing 90kg, he’s in complete disproportion to the hulking giants of other side’s number 13’s.
Yet, this season, he’s arguably been the best lock in the competition, his play of the balls are the quickest in the competition, he never seems to be put on to his back and churns through a lot of running metres (115 per game).
It’s a massive factor as to why Damien Cook is having another great year, as Murray provides the platform for him to run through his play of the ball speed.
Brandon Smith at the Storm is a hooker by trade, yet his performances off the bench in the number 13 position force Craig Bellamy to pick him.
He scored a double at the weekend and it was through his strength and speed which allowed him to spin away from the defenders. From a big middle’s perspective, the smaller, quicker and athletic lock forwards are a nightmare for them to tackle as they force them to work harder to contain the footwork and leg drive.
I think more and more coaches are going to go this way with selections. The variation the smaller, quicker number 13’s provides in attack is hard to ignore, and it’s highlighted by the fact the current top three teams possess these types of players.
They can play bigger minutes, get through more work and that means fewer interchanges, ensuring the other big middles get plenty of rest and can come on fresh, which is integral with the eight interchanges at present.
From the Dymocks to the Gallens and now to the Murrays. Rugby league is a game constantly changing.
What works one year might not work the next, which is what makes it so special.
Rupert
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the article which illuminates how far the role of lock forward has changed over the years. Going back as far as the 50's, a lock's main role was cover tackling in defence. A lock was the second line of defence with the fullback. The best cover defender was probably Johnny Raper who had a copybook tackle style around the buttocks. I thought the best attacking lock of the last 50 years is South's Ron Coote - very damaging around the edge of the rucks. Coote was fast, long legged and difficult to stop, a bit like a Brett Mullins. His running style reminds me of a Gridiron running back skirting the rucks. How the game, and the role of playing positions, evolves is up to the administrators. Certainly, the decisions in recent years have taken the game closer to American Football. Hopefully, the number interchanges etc will be reassessed to increase stamina as a desirable attribute and reduce the number of behemoths currently playing. If this happens Brandon Smith, who you regard as 'small'at 90 kg, may be regarded as 'normal'.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Bradley Clyde was a next-gen player of his time. He was a big man who was quick and mobile. Knee injury robbed him of some of that mobility and was never really the same player, but like all champs he modified his game and remained a powerhouse until his Bulldogs days.
thenrlblog
Roar Rookie
The Titans are really missing Jai Arrow - He has both sides, the leg speed and engine, but also the power to really mix it with the big middles.
thenrlblog
Roar Rookie
That was more my understanding that he became a bit more of a battering ram. I didn't watch a lot of 90's so thanks for confirming that mate. Would have loved to watch more of him though.
thenrlblog
Roar Rookie
Very true. The leg speed, footwork and energy are the key factors why the players I've managed are so successful, but because they have smaller frames it allows them to possess those skills. It's a good point with Taumololo, the only issue is if he started to think pass first before run, which would take away from his most damaging asset - his power running game.
thenrlblog
Roar Rookie
Hey mate, some great points there, which I completely agree with. It is to do with what suits the side, I just found it quite interesting that the 3 top sides all utilised smaller lock's throughout games and it seems to cause team's trouble. Your right with Finucane & Fisher-Harris, they're both bigger units with massive engines. However, the Storm have Brandon Smith to come of the bench in that 13 role, and the Panthers have had Liam Martin playing in that position, who is also a smaller body. With the reduction in interchanges, the smaller plays are (usually) fitter as they don't have to carry the big frames around and therefore it allows the coaches to stint their big men better.
thenrlblog
Roar Rookie
Daley did play a bit of lock, albeit not much. My point being was that you wouldn't find Munster or Wighton starting lock for their side, although this was how sides sometimes lined up in the 80s/90s.
thenrlblog
Roar Rookie
Hi mate, yeah good point. I didn't watch loads of 90's footy but I always remember seeing how subtle Dymock's ball playing was. I was probably more under the illusion that Clyde was a metre eater, but I'll definitely try research more next time. Yeah Cameron Murray is incredible, he's only about 90kg but is so strong through his hips that sides can't put him on his back. He's also technically excellent and can spin in tackles to find his front. There will always be the need for the big man who can dominate opposition packs, I just think the smaller more mobile locks complement it so well.
buttery
Roar Rookie
The thing I found most strange was the Titans picking Jarod Wallace at lock, too big, too slow, the lock poison is doing a full circle, back to the days of Raper, Ronnie Coote.
RandyM
Guest
but he mentions Laurie Daley who I don't think ever played lock. He was a 5/8 or centre.
Rod
Guest
Players like Murray , Radley , Smith and the like are more like traditional locks . Clyde was one of the greats , one of my favourite all time players ,but in the end I’m not sure it was his sheer will to win or coaches instructions he became a bit of battering ram , by his late 20’s he was not the same the player he once was
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Broncos can't keep all those forwards but they'll be trying to keep Haas. Trouble is they need to find the money for a spine, interesting balancing act.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I would agree Albo except i don’t really think it’s about size. More about leg speed , poking through the line and getting a quick ptb. As well as great ball skills . This is where Jake. , Radley , Murray and Smith excel. JT 13 is a wonderful lock but imagine how much better he would be if Green let him develop his ball skills and also let him use them..
Albo
Roar Rookie
How good is Payne Haas ! Not sure we can clone him, but I reckon every Club is looking for one this good. Speed, power, strong defender, off loads, massive motor and no rubbish in this game ! Where do we get one, please ?
Albo
Roar Rookie
I am not so sure the trend is toward the smaller number 13 in general ? I think what Clubs are looking for are the best advantages that suit their overall squad’s talent and devised game plans to match. In the case of Souths who have a great smaller 13 in Murray, it suits their team and game plan. Murray provides quick play the balls to advantage Cook scooting out of dummy half ( one of Souths key attacking weapons) , he provides a link in attack to his backs by often playing first receiver , but most importantly he is a strong defender in the middle third. But he can only do all this great work for 60 minutes a game. On the other hand you have guys like Jake T or James Fisher -Harris who are bigger bodies who play 80 minutes in the middle third, providing a heap of hit ups , a heap of tackles and some ball playing at times. Then we have plenty of teams still using big bodied 13’s but for limited game time , and sharing with bench options. It really depends on the talent you have at hand as to what type and role your 13 will play. The key smaller body 13’s like Jazz Tevaga, Branden Smith & Victor Radley are great for their teams for their shorter term impacts , but I’m not convinced these types will always supercede bigger types like Joe Tapine, Dale Finucane, Jason Taumololo, & Paul Gallen. Its more horses for courses I think .
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
This is a good article but how can you have an article on locks that doesn’t mention Brad Clyde, the prince of all running / ball playing 13’s. I agree with you completely that the Cameron Murray style lock is the future. The leg speed and quick ptb is just so effective. The number of times he just pokes through the line is incredible. This allows him to land on his front and get up quickly. I see this style developing not just with locks but also props. I am afraid the day of the big man without pace is quickly going . Of course if you can find a player like Haas who has this speed plus super size as well it’s a bonus.