There would be no need to have him at half back in my line up, he could do a job at centre but there are option there too, I'm not saying he would be back on the bench every week, just some weeks, it depends on our injury list. The weakest back line where he would be on the bench would be with Meli and Lance injured. even in this line up if you don't want him at centre there are options. If we lost any more backs, then Wellens would slot into FB.

Makinson
Ade
Shenton
Wheeler
Foster
Lomax
Gaskell

if you lose a centre, then Wellens goes to FB.
if you lose a half back, then wellens goes to FB, makinson to centre, Wheeler to half back.

The scrum-half has pretty much always been heavily involved with marshalling the defence (both Allan Langer and Andrew Johns were excellent defensive organisers). It's true that some are more vociferous than others, and, yes, duties tend to be shared these days between the loose-forward, hooker and sometimes full-back (who has a better view) - but [isomebody[/i must do it.

Conceding 30 odd easy points against modest opposition with a near full-strength side suggests poor organisation, leadership and/or lack of motivation. Not surprising given that Hohaia's hardly had enough time to learn his team-mates' names, Lomax isn't a scrum half and Wilkin - whilst many things - has never possessed the leadership skills of a Scully or a Joynt.

You could always buy Richie Mathers, by all accounts he never shuts up

I have never come across a defence organised by the scrum half in the modern game. The Full Back shouts people into gaps, the Wingers set how compact the line is and the front row and 13 keep the middle channel tight.

This is just nonsense. Tell me, precisely [iwhen[/i did this "modern game" in which the scrum half had zero input to the defence arrive? Three months ago? Allan Langer was regarded as one of the best defensive organisers in the business. Andrew Johns wasn't far behind him. Clearly you must never have seen Sean Long gesticulating wildly at his forwards to shunt left or right.

You're conflating the various tactical defensive set-ups the coach drills into the team (to suit various opponents) with the dynamic calling of plays by [isomeone[/i in lieu of rapidly changing on-the-field events. As any military strategist will tell you - no plan survives first contact. Faced with unfamiliar attacking plays from the opponent a team must adapt or get caned. Given that the coach isn't on the field to make immediate changes one player (usually the scrum half - if the NRL's tactical analyses are anything to go by) has the coach's authority to override any pattern if it is compromised.

So you never watched Allan Langer or Andrew Johns or Sean Long or Ben Hornby or Chris Sandow? Precisely WHAT do you think those guys are/were shouting about in the time immediately between the ref shouting "hold" and the ptb?

Jesting aside, Mathers for all his flaws was a major contributor in our improved defence, I think it's preferential to have your FB calling the shots if you're relying on one guy, but at Wire as most people know Briers does most of the shouting and organising at 6 with a defensive position at centre.
Briers was always a shouter but I'm sure he learned an awful lot from Alfie, I think though it's ideal to have 2, one in the line and the FB to iron out the gaps from behind.

That's good. But I didn't mention Lomax's individual defence.



I guess that's your theory. But Wellens' abilities to organise the defence aren't conditional upon his fitness/speed/age. Unless he had laryngitis and [icouldn't speak[/i the team would have received the same level of instruction they did during trophy-winning seasons (perhaps better given his greater experience).



That's good. But ...

I think you're mistaken. The halves make no contribution to the defensive pattern in the modern game.

I didn't say they had no contribution, it is each and every plays responsibility to ensure the defensive line is set. However, you was saying it was mainly Lomax's role which is nonsense.

If anything the Full Back has a far greater responsibility than the scrum half so aim your suggestions at Paul Wellens, after all he's in the optimum position to see everything going on.

Yes Lomax has a responsibility to ensure the line around him is set, but it's not his responsibility to set the entire line. Each individual player must be held accountable for being able to know where they need to be. The scrum half defends in wider channels than they used to, they physically can't organise the entire line, it's impossible doing that from the centre position.

And I know East Hull is a bit rough, but these aren't 'military strategists' they are Rugby League players.

Conceding 36 points against a team without recognisd halfbacks should probably ring a few alarm bells.

Correct
Royce has got his work cut out with his defence in the next 6 games: I would only be confident against Bradford at this stage.
Catalan
Huddesfield
Hull
Bulls
Leeds
Wire

You saidI have never come across a defence organised by the scrum half in the modern game.'"