Are the days of genuine top class centres fading away in favour of athletes? In the not too distant past, there was a wealth of ability in the centres across the globe, which seems to be slipping.

Over the past 10-15 years, the Aussies had Gasnier, Gidley, Renouf and the last of them would be Lyon and Hodges I'd say. NZ had Vagana and England had Gleeson, Senior, Newlove, Connely.

None of these are real athletes, yet they were genuine talents at finding space and creating room or wingers. Lyon is one of the only ones who I watch and marvel at his skills as a centre, the rest are robotic athletes with pace power and enough skill as required. Compare Gasnier and Morris for example, or Kenny-Dowell and Vagana, or Gleeson and Atkins. I know which I would pick from those.

For me, it's a dying art, and would love to see it come back into the game!

Ben Crooks is the most Natural centre I've seen at Hull for years. Creates acres of space for his wingman, great step, quick and still only 20. Genuinely believe he'll become world class. I do generally agree that centres now seem to be more bash and barge rather than fotwork and cunning.

A little bit behind in development, but we were very impressed with Mark Percival at Saints. Seems like a naturally classy centre.

I'd expect to see a lot more of him next year. Despite impressing this season, they've wrapped him in cotton wool a little (he could do with a little bit more meat on his bones).

The above two (Crooks/Percival) look like they have great potential, and of course don't forget Watkins! From wigan, Goulding is definitely more in the mold of a classy centre, even if he doesn't live up to the reputations of the guys like Lyon.

Also, I'd hardly consider Hodges as classy, he's definitely more of an athlete than anything else imo.

Goulding is a good centre.
I noted when you played Wire ealy in the season, he gave Atkins (a supreme athelete, but a technically poor centre imo) a torrid time.

They all have to look up to this guy. His pace, strength and positional play were second to none. He is the template for them all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtxnGFTsiUc

They all have to look up to this guy. His pace, strength and positional play were second to none. He is the template for them all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtxnGFTsiUc

I really like Crooks, he is beyond his years as a player. Keep his head down and he will be a cracker.

The simplest way to identify a centre is the way they carry the ball. If it goes into the crook of the arm/elbow, you know you are looking purely at a runner.

The beauty of centre play is to always have the ball in front of the body, able to give a pass out, easily, and, attract the outside defender to the ball, to give your winger that little bit of space.

I would say Lyon and Watkins are the best exponents of this.

I was impressed by Cudjoe at Huddersfield a few years ago , especially his array of tricks and flicks , but he hasn't been so impressive the last few times I've seen him.

I understand your point, yet Matthew Gidley, who in my opinion re-wrote the book of how to play centre, carried the ball predominantly one handed. He had a strong left hand fend and a great one handed pass. Something that many have tried to replicate since.

But again, I agree, the creation of space comes from the creation on doubt. Hence why Lyon is pulling up tree's at the moment, never know whether he will run, pass or kick and he does all with distinction.

Watkins has great hands and footwork and is more than capable of creating lots of space for his wingman, as well as finishing himself. Its a just a shame he plays for a team that doesnt give him the ball anywhere near enough.

Agree about crooks too, based on what ive seen of him.

From your club, Bridge, although perhaps patchy of late due to injury(?), is a very nice centre.
He has the ability to glide on an arc out side his marker and before they realise, he's halfway through the gap. He compliments this with a nice step back inside.

I may be guilty of judging him on form from a couple of years ago, but he's very pleasant to watch.

Sadly his form is much like Warringtons at the moment.... But he does have the ability. I remember when he got picked for England, and I was shocked to be honest, but he turned in a great performance at Huddersfield against the Kiwi's

I was at that game and he did play well. That season's form may well be what stick in my mind.

Not at all, he's an exceptional all-round centre. Real natural footballer.

Gary Prohm was the best centre I've seen at HKR back in in the mid-80s. Real beast of a player.

Quote ="Maple Leaf"They all have to look up to this guy. His pace, strength and positional play were second to none. He is the template for them all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtxnGFTsiUc'" As great a player as Meninga was he was no artisan as a centre, pace & strength and no certain amount of guts I'll grant you

Quote ="Maple Leaf"They all have to look up to this guy. His pace, strength and positional play were second to none. He is the template for them all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtxnGFTsiUc'" As great a player as Meninga was he was no artisan as a centre, pace & strength and no certain amount of guts I'll grant you

Always liked the look of David Stephenson when I've seen him play - admittedly only on VHS or DVD. Really classy centre from the looks of it. There's a try he sets up for Carl Gibson in the '88 Yorkshire Cup final that just oozes quality centre play. As the OP states, there isn't a lot of genuine centre play around these days.

As a Leeds fan I expected Watkins name to be mentioned a few times but on occasions Moon has been outstanding in the number 4 shirt this year. Those little one handed flick passes he manages to get away mid tackle, I don't think Ive ever seen it completed as much!

Gene miles was doing it long before Gidley.

there has always been variation in centre play. Neil Fox was very much biff and barge, with good hands. Australia had Mal Meninga and gene miles the big and barge and the sublime.

Brad Gooden anyone, not the biggest or quickest but the best I have seen in the super league era for putting his winger away.

If I am honest, I had forgotten about Gidley. The exception that proves the rule perhaps? One thing I would say about that style, is that it would be easier to attack the ball than the player. Plus, it is quite dependent on getting on the outside of the defender. But that would mean defending from the outside shoulder; no mean feat in itself.

PS

One thing I would say with Gidley/that style, it limits your option to give an inside pass.

good player Stephenson only thing he lacked was real pace brilliant wingers centre.

Greg Austin and Darrel Shelford were an awesome pairing for Fartown in the mid 90's

At the moment we have Cudjoe and Wardle who will both be top players for years to come !

From the Aussies. Steve Rodgers was a good centre Andrew Ettingshausen had a pretty complete game. Brett Kenny was a Club Stand off and Test Centre in many matches and he had pretty well everything including a rock solid defense. Nowadays the benchmark is based on Athleticism in all positions in the game. Greg Inglis can beat a man with pace or strength but still has sublime skills. It is not black and white or one or another its a combination of skills and build. youtu.be/Aor6x0BRAp8 youtu.be/IpxVmWHZd4E

From the Aussies. Steve Rodgers was a good centre Andrew Ettingshausen had a pretty complete game. Brett Kenny was a Club Stand off and Test Centre in many matches and he had pretty well everything including a rock solid defense. Nowadays the benchmark is based on Athleticism in all positions in the game. Greg Inglis can beat a man with pace or strength but still has sublime skills. It is not black and white or one or another its a combination of skills and build. youtu.be/Aor6x0BRAp8 youtu.be/IpxVmWHZd4E