Quote: Once were Loiners "13 isn't in the spine. The spine is 1,6,7 and 9.
As an aside, years ago I remember listening to a discussion about why British halfbacks are generally useless, and one of the reasons they suggested was the British obsession with ball handling 13s. At the time I thought that was OTT, having been brought up watching Norton, Heron, Crane, Hanley etc, but I do think its part of the problem. Cleary, DCE, Reynolds etc do not need any 'help' setting up plays from a lumbering forward with the odd pass. Some Aussie forwards can pass really well (Wade Graham for example), but generally the 13 is a mobile prop in the NRL, and its been that way for decades.'"
If you asked all the people on here what is the spine everyone apart from yourself they would say 1,6,7,9 &13. We must agree to differ on that. Most on here would see Cameron Smith as ball playing forward.
The NRL is a different game to here far more evolved - the back row is 3 players most of the 13's in the NRL are closer to a second row forward than a prop i.e. fast running forward that has footwork and passing skills not just another battering ram. How best describes Carrigan at the Broncos who plays Lock as they call the 13 - a prop or a second row forward?