'The Spine' = Idiot Buzzword

[Guest]

I hear what your saying bansai, and i was one of the ones that started a 'spine' thread, however the game has changed so much its what you need to win at the moment with the one out running and wrestling in defense. I wish it was different and i wonder why coaches dont start changing it up again like you said.

Im only 32 however i remember playing and watching inside and outside centres pass the ball to each other in backline movements, unlike today where the centres are left and right and second rowers are out there running wide.

Imagine if a coach in the off season said stuff it and went back to the ways we all new... would take a while to get used to but the rest of the sides wouldn't know what too do.

[redwhiteblue]

Any idiot and his dog - including this idiot and his dog - have been talking big about the importance of 'the spine' recently.

Spine this, spine that, please...

I thought it was just me! I've been watching rugby league for 40 years and I've never heard the expression until this season. It bugs the hell out of me too.

[Hawkeye]

'The Spine' = Idiot Buzzword

I'm sorry, I saw the words Idiot and Buzz in the title, and naturally assumed this was another thread on Rothfield !

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I thought it was just me! I've been watching rugby league for 40 years and I've never heard the expression until this season. It bugs the hell out of me too.

Yes it rates up there with terms like "Silverware" and "Bellamy" that should be removed from the Rugby League vocabulary.

[Guest]

Yes it rates up there with terms like "Silverware" and "Bellamy" that should be removed from the Rugby League vocabulary.

At least they aren't saying "A Defenders" in every game anymore.

[stsae]

I've seen a few on here of late who are rather Spine-Less.

Idiots and Buzzs-words were involved even.

[Guest]

Ive always believed that the mental attitude and desire to win in sport will often overcome skill.
Like who is willing to push themselves above and beyond their known limits.
I would rather have a side in this state of mind then a side just willing to back themselves on skill alone.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Ive always believed that the mental attitude and desire to win in sport will often overcome skill.
Like who is willing to push themselves above and beyond their known limits.
I would rather have a side in this state of mind then a side just willing to back themselves on skill alone.

Yeah Ive been saying similar in a different way on here this year....class helps but TUDE (confidence and determination) can compensate for the "best team on paper" theory.

[kakaruk]

I dont agree with this spine bullshit one bit.Who started this shite?Does anyone know?So when a side has a great set of forwards a capable hooker,half and fullback but a couple of really good centeres and wins a couple of premierships what do we call them spineless? lucky? or just a really good all round football team for mine its the latter.

[Hawkeye]

I'd rather the complete skeleton than just the spine !

[Guest]

Any idiot and his dog - including this idiot and his dog - have been talking big about the importance of 'the spine' recently.

Story goes that unless you have creative, game-breaking fullback, hooker and half, you may as well up stumps and go home.

What a load.

Melbourne's current brand of ball-tearing football is very different from the kind of footy they were playing a few years back. Back then they relied less on 'the big 3' and more on their massive pack and outside backs. They could - and did - score from anywhere.

Back when we were firing a decade ago it was on the back of brutal gang defence. We'd elect to kick off because our defence won us matches. Sure we had Freddy and Wing and Mullins, but our game didn't revolve around them.

Pretty soon some team is going to start winning games off the back of centres running off second-rowers or something. Could even be us.

All this Spine bullish!t is just a buzzword for the obvious: if you have three brilliant playmakers, you're going to win your share of matches.

But it's sure as sh!t isn't the only way to win.

Spine this, spine that, please...

Brave words as according to some experts on here Fittler carried us during those years and he was our spine.

You're right though, it's just another buzz phrase that everyone has latched onto cause everyone else has latched onto it. Just add to the ever growing list of Ruby League cliche's.

Chook.

[Guest]

Sure, but we can't all be Melbourne.

Hell, even Melbourne weren't Melbourne three years ago. And they still killed everyone.

Because they were rorting the salary cap.

[Guest]

I'd rather the complete skeleton than just the spine !

And that skeleton needs a heart and brain to give it life,otherwise the "spine"is just a pile of bones in a heap...

[Guest]

The spine is just a word for what everyone already knew: the most important positions in a team are 1, 6, 7 and 9.

Nothing new to see here.

[redwhiteblue]

Yes it rates up there with terms like "Silverware" and "Bellamy" that should be removed from the Rugby League vocabulary.

Pass the sick bag..!!