apparantly he has to finish his studies

The best back threes have always had "balance".

A runner, a tackler and a ball handler.

That's not to say that the runner doesn't tackle etc, all the players perform parts of the others game, but they do have their major functions / responsibilities inside the TEAM.

The Runner = J Tomkins/Mossop
The Tackler = Hansen/Bailey
The Ball Handler = Lockers

Like you said they dont always have to stick to that but its good to have a balance. For example Hansen can be the 'Runner' and Tomkins the 'Ball Handler'

I personally do not like this and think it has become a bit like the old scooting hooker syndrome.

While i appreciate it is the case at the moment it does not need to be and nor should it have got to this situation.

It is almost as if we accept deficiencies in players games and then excuse them due to balance.

Less and less do we see this "balance" in the NRL and it certainly does not exist in the Australian and Kiwi sides Internationally.

All members of the back row in my opinion should be individually balanced and if they do not offer something with ball in hand and in defence then i think we are accepting there weaknesses and excusing the flaws in our developmental systems.

Thats true, but then we need to start using the likes of Hansen more in attack then. Get him running the lines like he did when Barrett was here.

You are always going to get certain 'flair' players though, for instance Hock, Lautiti and Puletua and I know this will sound daft but IMO balance suits SL at the moment, especially due to salary cap restraints and the lack of talent coming through compared to Aus and NZ.

I appreciate that some player are going to be naturally stronger in one area and are always going to gravitate towards that style, i just think in the recent past we have accepted that this is there style and that is that, if we are to move forward as a sport in England then we need to move away from this mentality.

A player like Gaz Ellis is a great example, how would you pigeon hole him? He gets through a mountain of work in defence yet also causes defences all sorts of trouble with him lines of running and his handling skills.