Sam Burgess...What do we think?

[kenny_bee180]

George, the better of the twins, is just being tipped to be the first prop to sign a $1mil contract. So doubt he will switch.
His game is much less suited to union aswell. He's more powerful than Sam, but isn't as mobile or skillfull. He would have probably made a good front rower, but he's to old for that now. Even though he's still only 21!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGt-lsxY8Qs

 

[kenny_bee180]

The next high profile league player to make the switch will most likely be Greg inglis

 

[TheSaffycen]

Alberts has Vermeulen, Louw and Bismarck/Strauss to cover the work that'd be expected of him on the deck though. Balance is key.

For England Launchbury, Cole and Kvesic would be the guys at the breakdown, so I think we could have the balance at ruck time.

 

[kenny_bee180]

Do you really want Burgess tied up in Rucks all game anyway? Your not going to get the best out of him.

 

[HenryChinaski]

Yeah seems a bit odd to me...you make a big effort and spend big money on the transfer, to get a big name player from league presumably on the basis of the skills you know he has in abundance because he's already demonstrated them at the highest level.

Then, when he arrives, you try to teach him a different skill-set... I don't really get it. Nobody watching the Rugby League world cup said to themselves "This guy's electric; can't wait to see what he can do at ruck time".

On the other hand as an England fan I rather love the idea of having a blindside who can have impact with ball in hand, a la Kieran Read.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Read, the interviews with the guy in charge of the conversion - Mike Ford - he is saying exactly the same things as you.

 

[kenny_bee180]

With ball carriers like Burgess, Billy, Manu and Brown in your team the opposition are probably going to be reluctant to commit to many players to the break down and leave more space for these guys. Thus making this area less competitive anyway.

 

[Goodey]

There are plenty of 6s who are ball-carriers rather than breakdown specialists like Croft, O'Brien and so on. So long as you have people elsewhere in the pack who can get through a high workrate in the ruck regularly then it's not a problem.

I presume no one is worried about his defence?

 

[goodNumber10]

There are plenty of 6s who are ball-carriers rather than breakdown specialists

Agreed!

like Croft, O'Brien and so on.

except them two, as they are both excellent at the breakdown.

 

[kenny_bee180]

I presume no one is worried about his defence?[/QUOTE]

No!!! He will break people in two.

 

[goodNumber10]

he's gonna get done for not wrapping a good few times though.... couple of yellow cards in his first few games for certain.

 

[kenny_bee180]

Since the shoulder block has been outlawed from league (sadly) the tackling techniques have become much closer. I'd imagine he would get punished a few times to begin with though.
If I were to pick between league and union forward, and players in General, to make a one-on-one tackle. I'd choose the league player all day long.
Ashton being the exception. But he's just useless anyway.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

he's gonna get done for not wrapping a good few times though.... couple of yellow cards in his first few games for certain.

Why?
Shoulder barges will have been gone for two(?) years by the time he arrives.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Watched the last couple of Rabbits games and his tackles are all perfectly legal in union.

 

[kenny_bee180]

Shoulder blocks may be illegal. But, as far as I'm aware (and what I've watched), you don't need to wrap the player with two arms, throw a cushion under him, and slowly lower him to the ground like you do in union.
Joking aside, players take the contact and go to ground early in union these days in order to secure and have quick ball.

 

[Aristodemus]

I am pretty sure he has the mental capacity to understand he isn't playing league anymore.

 

[ruggabee]

It's very risky fighting for those extra few metres when teams are using the choke more often. You'd want hands like SBW to get the ball away or weigh 400 kg so they can't hold you up lol.

I think Burgess has to succeed at 12 otherwise he'll just be average, which is sad and a waste of time for him because he could continue being a star in league. I can't see him making it in the backrow. It's one of those positions you need to grow up playing until the whole understanding of the breakdown like timing, technique, when to support runners etc becomes an instinct. He's going to be a couple seconds slower than every flanker because he'll need to think about what's the right decision. His instinct is to bash holes in defences, make or break the gain line and feed go forward ball to those on his shoulder. I'm sure he can develop a longer passing game given the time as well. But yea, the backrow isn't a position that comes natural to him. Regardless of all that pessimism, I'm really excited to just see him run with the ball and make hits. It'll be interesting to see if his physicality stands out more in union.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I can't see him making it in the backrow. It's one of those positions you need to grow up playing until the whole understanding of the breakdown like timing, technique, when to support runners etc becomes an instinct. He's going to be a couple seconds slower than every flanker because he'll need to think about what's the right decision.

Tell that to Peter Ryan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Ryan_(rugby_league)

 

[ruggabee]

Tell that to Peter Ryan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Ryan_(rugby_league)

I've never heard of him but sounds like an exceptional case? Only player I know of to be successful in the forwards from league is Brad Thorne.

I just read that Bath are training Burgess as a backrow and not a centre. I hope he proves me wrong cos it would suck to waste an exciting player.

 

[ratsapprentice]

What do you mean by an exceptional case?

Very few league converts have even tried to become a forward in Union because League is essentially 13 Union backs.
The assumption that league players can't make it as union forwards is just that - an assumption.