Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Q & A with Tony Smith Q.  RLCM: The role of the dummy half A.  Tony Smith,  Warrington [RLCM Subscriber]: I believe a dummy half has to have good vision and be a good schemer. Some dummy halves count numbers and others just run on instinct. Some see one marker and just go, that's their rule, it doesn't matter what else is called, that's what they do in the game and they will run either side.

A perfect dummy half should have good vision and good instinct on reading situations.

Forwards are the players to start the roll and are the ones to get a team on the front foot. But it is often these little dummy halves with a simple instinctive scoot from the ruck gaining easy metres and then a quick play the ball which allows for two or three big forwards to run over the advantage line continuing the roll.

I think the flat ball is a good way for dummy halves to play. Their dummy half goes forward before passing and disguises whether the pass is forward or flat, I think most teams are adopting similar tactics.....

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