The referee's didn't like it at all from what i can recall! Rarely did they allow the try - probably because they had no idea how he had pinched it!

Ive gone for Clinch as he did it on a consitant level in the SL days (although technically his best days were with us in the 1990's, not 2000's)

Ben has the potential to be one of our best half backs & I love watching him play.

Dunny was a strong runner & tackler.

I know the positions but Half back and stand off are two different positions

A half back is a scrum half and a stand off is a five-eighth.

In England I think Stand off and scrum half are both classed as half back. In aussie they call the stand of five-eight.

Anyway, wheres Dane Dorahy on this list?!

You'd need 2 selections for him, the "On Trial Dane Dorahy" and the "Not bothered now he's got a contract Dane Dorahy"

Can't really vote for Black he's never been tested at superleague level like the other 2

Dunemann 100% consistent

I knew we were doomed as soon as we signed him. From memory, hasnt he only played for teams that ended up being relegated?

Andrew Duneman

Think he played for Wakefield didnt he?

that was it. didnt he pick up a bad injury there? I wouldnt even say he was Championship standard!

Scrum half and stand off are the half backs



As good as Black is hes doing it against very average defences.

No, a scrum half (half back) and a stand off (five eighth) are called halves not half backs. Half backs are an actual position, no 7 before squad numbers.

Halves are called halves because they are situated between the forwards and backs in order to distribute play between them. They are neither back not forward.

Stand offs are called stand offs because they stand off the scrum and direct play.

A scrum half (half back by it's other name) is called such because he links the scrum to the backs. He isn't a forward but links with them.

Now over the last few years they have fudged this with the incorporation of super league and the demise in this country of true stand offs.

Since the likes of Andy Gregory and Schoffield going, stand offs no longer dominate the kicking game for the team and are more support runners in the mould of McGuire at Leeds and McNally at Whitehaven. However Halifax had a proper stand off last year in Holroyd but he wasn't a half back, he was a stand off (no 6) as Ben black was the scrum half (half back, no 7)

That is why a dummy half is called so, because he does the role of the half back (scrum half) by taking the ball at the play the ball and either running or distributing. That is their job in traditional rugby sense.


The morale of this whole thing is that a half back is NOT a STAND OFF or vice-versa. They are Halves, not both half backs.

1 = Full Back
2 - 5 = Three Quarters
6,7 = Half Backs
8 - 13 = Forwards

In Rugby League the Halves comprise of (6 and 7)

6. Stand Off, Five Eighth
7. Scrum Half, Half Back

In Rugby Union the HALF BACKS comprise of (9 and 10)

9. Inside half, half-back, scrum off, scrummie
10. Outside half, out half, stand-off, stand-off half, five-eighth, first five-eighth, first five, fly, pivot


You may know them as half backs and always known them as half backs, but they are halves. Always have been.

However i give up and you can call them both half backs if you wish. That's your choice.

Me i voted for Gavin Clinch but all three are of was good.

I voted for Halves.

Andy Gregory was a scrum half, Billy.

6 AND 7 ARE HALFBACKS

five eighth's an half

Duneman for me too. Better all round game. Carried us for a season too.

Corrected that for you





Amazed you refered to one the the finest scrum halfs i've seen as a stand off

I know we're talking about a different era, but I was amazed at Chris Anderson playing so well as a stand off when he ruled the world as Halifax player/coach after playing as a winger for most of his career, he had so much vision he was unbelievable. I wish I'd hung onto all the games I'd recorded on VHS at that time

i have still got lots of highlights from that era on video. always remember bbc showing replay of a try when kickoff was taken and then going back live as fax scored again. missed another great anderson move.

The 1/4 final v HKR in 87 was a perfect example! Superb!

think thats the game bbc missed try. still got highlights on video.