The Dawn Of The All Rounder

[Emanon]

Once upon a time almost a generation ago, being a utility player wasn't something you wanted to be as an NRL player.

But that didn't stop them from existing. Guys like Preston Campbell, Craig Wing, Kurt Gidley and Shaun Berrigan were probably some famous examples of what a utility player was back then.

Nicho Hynes and Mitch Aubusson do spring to mind as modern examples of a classic utility, but rarely were they started at 9. And without your team facing a major injury crisis, you wouldn't put most current dummy halves at somewhere like fullback.

With the rise of salary cap management, squad management and the need to be able to cover for injuries as issues all clubs face throughout a season, what is the utility player who can cover every position in the spine effectively both defensively and offensively for example worth to a modern NRL team?

Obviously and realistically you want a superstar specialist as your starter in the spine positions if they are fit and available. But it also isn't the NRL of 20 years ago. Having a superstar player like Latrell Mitchell or Tom Trbojevic getting injured, or your team letting a star halfback leave (like Souths or Newcastle) can de-rail an entire clubs season.

So the question I'll end it on is this, could we see the dawn of the superstar all-rounder soon in the NRL from a tactical perspective?

 

[winslow_wong]

The Shane Watson of the NRL

maybe if it was more lucrative guys like nikorima would have been more accepting of being the 14.

 

[Jedhead]

The Shane Watson of the NRL

maybe if it was more lucrative guys like nikorima would have been more accepting of being the 14.

To be honest as soon as Knik baulked at the 14 for us he was no longer of any use to us as a team player. No one can be bigger than the team if you want to build a solid foundation for a successful footy team.

 

[Emanon]

The Shane Watson of the NRL

maybe if it was more lucrative guys like nikorima would have been more accepting of being the 14.

That's kind of what I mean. Coaches seem to love those players that can play multiple positions, but it isn't seen by players as a lucrative option.

We can argue about depth and whether there are too many teams in the NRL, but there will never be a shortage of prospects trying to make it as NRL players.

Looking at the spine, the Fullback organises the defense, the halfback marshall's the attack and the Hooker controls the speed. With the Five Eighth needing to be able to play structurally or ad libbed depending on the situation.

Being able to cover all four of those positions would take just as much talent as it would hard work. But being able to adapt to playing a different spine position every week depending on injury would be an awesome skill to have from a team and an individual players perspective.

If a player put in the effort and pulled it off, would they be worth cap wise as much as a marquee specialist Fullback like Tedesco or Ponga?

 

[Kimlo]

Kurt Mann springs to mind as someone who could play any position. He's played in the halves, lock, fullback, hooker, centre, I'm sure elsewhere too.

 

[Emanon]

Forgot about Mann.

 

[bazza]

Brandon Smith, Kurt Mann, Kurt Capewell, Connor Watson, Jack Bird, Clint Gutherson, Tyrone Peachey, Victor Radley, Cameron Murray, Kodi Nikorima, Adam Elliot and Moses Mbye are some other versatile multi-position players that come to mind.

 

[Harry Sack]

Dylan Walker

 

[Emanon]

Brandon Smith, Kurt Mann, Kurt Capewell, Connor Watson, Jack Bird, Clint Gutherson, Tyrone Peachey, Victor Radley, Cameron Murray, Kodi Nikorima, Adam Elliot and Moses Mbye are some other versatile multi-position players that come to mind.

That is true, all of those players are multi positional. And there are more than I thought currently...

 

[bazza]

That is true, all of those players are multi positional. And there are more than I thought currently...

I guess it's just a bit hard to have a utility option sitting on the bench though just for the sake of being a utility because their game time kind of depends on an unplanned injury. If you are going to have an all-rounder on the bench, they have to firstly have a predefined role in the team that they will play if things go according to plan. Otherwise without a clear defined role, and if there are no injuries, where does he play? His game time then become a bit of an afterthought from the coach and he ends up getting junk minutes when the game is wrapped up. I can't imagine that would be a good place to be if you are a player. Just sitting there waiting, not knowing if you'll even get on the field would be quite draining.

 

[Morkel]

They may be valuable but they'll never be paid a decent amount for the same reason the OP mentions - the salary cap. There are already a lack of decent spine players, so even a true utility (that is equally capable of playing multiple important positions) is going to end up being recruited by a club (likely a struggling club) as their first choice spine player. Mbye is probably the best example - he can and has played as a (starting 13) half and hooker, and played centre in Origin. and at one point was being paid something like $800k+ while the Dogs and Tigers were splitting the bill. To have one of a decent caliber on the bench or standing by as injury cover would be a luxury that no team could afford.

 

[Mr Fourex]

I guess it's just a bit hard to have a utility option sitting on the bench though just for the sake of being a utility because their game time kind of depends on an unplanned injury. If you are going to have an all-rounder on the bench, they have to firstly have a predefined role in the team that they will play if things go according to plan. Otherwise without a clear defined role, and if there are no injuries, where does he play? His game time then become a bit of an afterthought from the coach and he ends up getting junk minutes when the game is wrapped up. I can't imagine that would be a good place to be if you are a player. Just sitting there waiting, not knowing if you'll even get on the field would be quite draining.

Too good a player (because of his utility) to be paying peanuts......

Too expensive to be sitting through most games, on the sidelines.

The very crux of the problem.......

I'm leaning towards paying him a bit more and then really, its up to a smart coach on how to utilise him best.
Shouldn't be that difficult to figure out when to give him minutes, considering...his multi positional value.

 

[bazza]

Too good a player (because of his utility) to be paying peanuts......

Too expensive to be sitting through most games, on the sidelines.

The very crux of the problem.......

I'm leaning towards paying him a bit more and then really, its up to a smart coach on how to utilise him best.
Shouldn't be that difficult to figure out when to give him minutes, considering...his multi positional value.

Agree. It also depends on what positions they can realistically cover. If you have a player that only covers the backline or only the halves, they are harder to accommodate from the bench, and maybe provide a little less value as a utility. They'd probably be better off in the starting team, which then cuts down their utility value. Ideally, you would want someone who can play every position in the forwards, but at a pinch can move into the backline at centre or something. It would still require some shuffling of players on the run, but at least you would be able to cover most positions.

 

[Mr Fourex]

All very good points.....

 

[mrslong]

Jack of all trades, master of none.
they won’t be worth as much as those in full time positions, because if they’re one of your best/expensive players youd want them on the field as much as possible, not riding the pine. Brandon smith for eg, he’s wasted if he’s not playing at Least 3/4 of the game.

 

[Emanon]

Jack of all trades, master of none.
they won’t be worth as much as those in full time positions, because if they’re one of your best/expensive players youd want them on the field as much as possible, not riding the pine. Brandon smith for eg, he’s wasted if he’s not playing at Least 3/4 of the game.

Its gotten lost in translation, (my fault) but I never saw the all-rounder playing off the bench every game, I originally saw them swapping positions every week without warning or time to adjust due to injury, and being capable of holding their own in every position they can play. If they tactically work better off the bench, so be it. But starting if they are fit and in form.

B.Smith I agree with you on.

 

[Foordy]

Brandon Smith, Kurt Mann, Kurt Capewell, Connor Watson, Jack Bird, Clint Gutherson, Tyrone Peachey, Victor Radley, Cameron Murray, Kodi Nikorima, Adam Elliot and Moses Mbye are some other versatile multi-position players that come to mind.

You forgot the GOAT ... Billy Walters