Rellum, you have a good point there re modern players. The way they are coached nowadays is almost robotic. A left centre can't play on the right because he is, well, a left centre. Same with forwards. One time we had inside and outside centres who played on either side of the field. Same again in the halves, left and right, the way they are coached. I preferred the days when we had genuine halves and 5/8's who played both sides. When kids get up to u16's and u18's they enter the robot system where they have to leave their instinctive play behind because the coaches demand it. Defence is left and right with players having to take up their positions on their allocated side. Many years ago I listened in on a coaching clinic for juniors where John Monie was the guest coach. He said RL is a simple game that needs patience. For defence his players were instructed to defend where ever they were on the pitch at any time. Yeah, the modern players are sometimes over coached.
Siebold said he was hoping to let the team play off the cuff. I got me thinking maybe modern players don't know how to play off the cuff. They don't have the back yard footy upbringing so they can only play super structured football. I really hope that is not the case.
Rellum
Roar Guru
My point isn't about coaching, it is more about the natural feel for the game that only endless backyard/school yard footy gives you.
Clanger McClunk
Guest
Rellum, you have a good point there re modern players. The way they are coached nowadays is almost robotic. A left centre can't play on the right because he is, well, a left centre. Same with forwards. One time we had inside and outside centres who played on either side of the field. Same again in the halves, left and right, the way they are coached. I preferred the days when we had genuine halves and 5/8's who played both sides. When kids get up to u16's and u18's they enter the robot system where they have to leave their instinctive play behind because the coaches demand it. Defence is left and right with players having to take up their positions on their allocated side. Many years ago I listened in on a coaching clinic for juniors where John Monie was the guest coach. He said RL is a simple game that needs patience. For defence his players were instructed to defend where ever they were on the pitch at any time. Yeah, the modern players are sometimes over coached.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Siebold said he was hoping to let the team play off the cuff. I got me thinking maybe modern players don't know how to play off the cuff. They don't have the back yard footy upbringing so they can only play super structured football. I really hope that is not the case.