I’ve always been against squad numbers. They promote a sense of security amongst some.

I’d prefer to revert back to team numbers. You play well, you earn the number, continue and you keep it.

If it’s in Latu’s contract, then they have an obligation to pay for it.

I'd suggest that the price of his ticket is the least of our concern regarding the cost of Latu's contract on the basis that he'll be fed and watered

Greg Inglis arrived at Manc Airport today. Was on the Wire Twitter, with pics.

I also prefer traditional numbers, so you know who's supposed to be in each position.



I know it was sometimes messed up because some clubs had (for example) 8 as the blind-side prop and 10 as the open-side, and others had 8 as right and 10 as left, or players swapped positions mid-game, but at least you had a sense of who was supposed to be where.

Genuine question, can you not tell that just by peoples positioning, and play?

Well, given the number of people who said Austin played at loose forward in that game when he was named at 13, I'd suggest a good number can't work out where someone is playing if they are not told.

More difficult in rugby league than in football.



It does throw me a bit when you have a number 1 playing centre (to give just one example, which often happens now). Because my eyesight isn't brilliant I think for a split second "what the hell is the full-back doing?"

I didn’t say, and don’t think implied, I had a problem with players position during a match. My point was, not giving a comfort pad to any squad player. No one is bigger than his selection into the first team. If a player comes in and plays well, he keeps that shirt with that number. A starting shirt number promotes competition, and that is healthy...I don’t want to see undroppables,



Edited, sorry, I just realised your post was not a question to me.

Stay safe and great year to you FMC.

Apart from making money selling shirts I don't see much point in squad numbers. As a coach I would hate to show my hand of who I think should play where so early in the season. Must be de-motivating for those on the edge of the team. I used like training at the start of the season before the first selection.



When watching teams I don't follow, like the Aussie games, I seem to be able to work out what's going on a bit quicker with the traditional numbering.

This is basically the point I was trying to make. Someone wearing 20 playing on the wing doesn't bother me. Someone wearing 6 but playing the loose forward role does, especially if the club's number 7 is then playing stand-off (have seen it happen), although I accept that a reshuffle could take place like this with traditional numbering it was at least set right at the beginning of most games.

I dont see that its that big a deal, I see where people line up on the field in defence, that tells me what position they're defending in.



In attack, I see where people are standing and what they do, that tells me what positions they're attacking in.



Theres no point getting overly concerned about 6 and 7 in most cases now, when most teams play split half backs.