The death of the specialist winger

The retirement of Eric Grothe Jnr puts up another nail in the coffin of specialist wingers. In an era where management of one’s salary cap is as crucial to success as any other factor, fewer and fewer clubs are willing to put big money into specialist flankers like Grothe, who are wingers and nothing but wingers. You can probably point to just a handful of highly paid specialist wingers. Brett Morris is the obvious example. You might suggest Lote Tiquiri, Michael Gordon or Nathan Merritt all of those players can double as fullbacks, like our own Luke Burt. And Merritt, Gordon and Burt all have goalkicking abilities that add to their value. The trends these days is to fill your roster with centres with perhaps one player known predominantly for their wing abilities, but who can also fill in at number one if need be. You only have to look at representative teams where the likes of Jarryd Hayne, Darius Boyd and others have generally been preferred to specialists. Meanwhile, Brisbane has led the way by using the wing as a way to blood their young talented outside backs. With the gap between NRL and NYC being so large these days, the wing is arguably the best way to ease a talented young centre into the game. Despite that, I think there’s room left for a player like Grothe in today’s game. While he only ever played on the flank, Grothe effectively doubled up as an extra forward. If you have a strong fullback and a big winger, getting two strong opening runs makes such a difference in terms of putting your attack back on the front foot and working your way out of trouble. However, players with Grothe’s size, strength and pace are rare physical specimens. And they tend to get bumped up into the second row before they make a home for themselves on the wing. All of this, shows how unusual Parramatta’s roster is for next year. With only one experienced centre left in Joel Reddy, the Eels are going to feel the pressure to make a centre out of winger or bring young Jacob Loko directly into one of the most demanding positions in the game. The reasons centres are so highly valued, and why having depth in that position, is accepted as being more valuable than what a specialist flanker can provide is that you can’t hide centres. Players like Michael Jennings and Greg Inglis will cut through you all day if you have defensive issues in the centre, and without at least one standout centre it is very difficult to score points because its the position on the field where it’s easiest to create any amount of space. I have no doubt Parramatta will miss Grothe’s barnstorming hit ups. Given Luke Burt’s size, it puts pressure on our coaches to select with size in mind on that other flank, so it changes the equation a little when trying to put together two well-matched wings. Kenny Sio might find it a little more difficult to get a run in first grade as you probably don’t want to pair up two smaller players like Burt and Sio because it makes it difficult to get a good start to your set. However, if we can find a genuine centre, the loss will be felt far less. Loko represents a ready-made replacement for Grothe. He’ll provide that strong early hitup and it’s a proven way to blood him for future game-time in the centres. If not, the challenge is certainly there for Walker or Atkins to show that they’re not just wingers - because I think there is no doubt we’re carrying too many specialists in that position right now.

You may be right 1eyed but I don't think the loss of the specialist winger is a big loss in our game.

I think the game misses other areas/skills more so. Forwards today are great athletes, but nearly all lack the use of slight of hand, a genuine dummy or offload, the ability to pass well before the line or create something out of nothing with short passing through line.

In fact same goes to our halves. I think the 6 is alive and well.... he just plays in a 1 these days....

however we have pretty much seen the death of the traditional 7...their reliance on kicks is as great as ever (and maybe their kicking is as good as ever)... but.... the passing and organisational skills of a 7 are very poor in todays game when you move beyond the top few 7's.

One skill lost and never spoken about is the ability to play slow..... Jason Smith was the last one to master it and Hayne has the ability to do it but very few players can play slow. I think this is potentially a great asset in today's game and would like to see it more from back rowers and halves in particular,

"I think compared to the rubbish we've had since Reed Ryley is a breath of fresh air. I reckon a role as a 14 doing a bit in the middle isn't out of the question but for now I'm impressed with how hes travelling "

Replies

Bourbon Man December 13, 2010 at 4:04pm

I begrudgingly think that our only option is to play Chris Walker in the centres. If we do secure Chris Hicks, he'd be the obvious choice as his defence is sturdier than Walker's.
David December 13, 2010 at 5:27pm

Not resigning Inu and Mateo seems like a bigger mistake now. Inu may not have lit the world on fire in 2010 but his experience is sorely needed atm.
Army of one December 13, 2010 at 5:31pm

Loko must be in our 2011 team.
Michael Ericson December 13, 2010 at 5:40pm

I'd have walker in the centres but essentially defend him on the wing if possible. I would actually consider partnering him with reddy for that purpose because I don't think reddy is that dangerous an attacking centre really but he is a vast improved defender.
playthedoors December 13, 2010 at 6:50pm

The specialist winger, now there's a thing of the past....or are today's specialist wingers required to have a different body shape to the wingers of yesteryear, and play a different role?

I dislike the play of bash, bash, bash, bomb for the corner.It's why 2001 was one of the most enjoyable years of watching football I've ever had. The team we had back then created tries, and lots of them, through guile (Jason Smith), raw explosiveness (Hindmarsh and Drew) and specialist wingers (Burt and Grothe if I'm not mistaken) & toughness (everyone). The support cast was fantastic (apologies for not naming the other 15 players who contributed throughout the year)

I had a conversation last week with someone about Ken Irvine. He was before my vintage but the sheer delight on the face of the person I was talking to reminiscing about some of his deeds was a pleasure to behold.

The modern game requires a different specialist winger. We shouldn't have a problem with the wing position this year though. We could almost name a team of wingers..
Eelcentric December 13, 2010 at 10:14pm

Despite the title of One Eyes blog i think he is trying to illuminate how vastly important it's going to be to get someone who is a strong and experienced centre and how incredibly weak our backline is at the moment.

There is talent within our club but no experience. I agree Loko can be blooded in at winger but our alternatives at centre is ridiculously weak. If our side is relatively the same going into next season i can see us doing better than this season but we are no where near premiership material without a strong standout centre.
Daneel December 14, 2010 at 10:36am

Great blog 1Eyed!! Particularly noting that Grothe, like his father were rare physical specimens.

The ability to fend and bump with the ball, all whilst running at a 45degree angle to the ground cannot be taught. It is all in the genes. Hence, like father, like son.

I would start the year with Burt, Walker wings and Hicks, Reddy centre. I have no doubt this will shift around before we finally settle on combinations, however I dont think we can afford starting off the year being too experimental.

We need to get runs on the board early.
YDIDISAYIDO December 14, 2010 at 10:56am

You may be right 1eyed but I don't think the loss of the specialist winger is a big loss in our game.

I think the game misses other areas/skills more so. Forwards today are great athletes, but nearly all lack the use of slight of hand, a genuine dummy or offload, the ability to pass well before the line or create something out of nothing with short passing through line.

In fact same goes to our halves. I think the 6 is alive and well.... he just plays in a 1 these days....

however we have pretty much seen the death of the traditional 7...their reliance on kicks is as great as ever (and maybe their kicking is as good as ever)... but.... the passing and organisational skills of a 7 are very poor in todays game when you move beyond the top few 7's.

One skill lost and never spoken about is the ability to play slow..... Jason Smith was the last one to master it and Hayne has the ability to do it but very few players can play slow. I think this is potentially a great asset in today's game and would like to see it more from back rowers and halves in particular,

This reply was deleted.

Eels Blogs

The death of the specialist winger

Replies

More stuff to read

Eels blogs

Jake Arthur

R12 team list v Sea Eagles

Built in Parra: Lachlan Coinakis building towards NRL dream

Joash to debut

Note: this page contains paid content.

Social Blogs

NSW Origin Squad 2025

I say if we lose this week against Newcastle we will come last

Jim Sarantinos on SEN: Moses an outside chance before R9

Highest score

Note: this page contains paid content.