Quote: Fantastic Mr Catpiss "I always figured that 8 was the closest thing to a RL backrow, but you needed to have significent size/bulk (using dallalligo as an example) but still be fairly mobile, which Sam does have. Whats the requirements/expectation of that position then?'"
Lineout work, control at the back of the scrum, covering across with the rest of the back row, work in the ruck and maul, it's endless. These days the nearest thing to a Rugby League back row is probably centre, which sums up the way the game has gone, it's all size these days. If they carry on playing Eastmond at centre he'll get eaten alive, he simply isn't big enough.
Sam's problem will be learning the endless rules at the lineout, scrum, ruck and maul, and the techniques in those four facets, that's why they'll play him at centre.
