Five-eighth or stand-off is one of the positions in a rugby league football team. Wearing jersey number 6, this player is one of the two half backs in a team, partnering the scrum-half . Sometimes known as the pivot or second receiver, in a traditional attacking 'back-line' (No. 1-7) play, the five-eighth would receive the ball from the halfback, who is the first receiver of the ball from the dummy-half or hooker following a tackle .
18-443: The role of the five-eighth is often to pass the ball away from the congested area around the tackle, further out along the 'back-line' to the outside backs, the centres and wingers, who have more space to run with it. Furthermore, players in this position typically assume responsibility for kicking the ball for field position in general play. The five-eighth is therefore considered one of the most important positions, often referred to as
36-415: A 'play maker', assuming a decision-making role on the field. Over time, however, as the game has evolved, the roles of the two halves have grown more aligned and difficult to distinguish. Along with other key positions – fullback , hooker and halfback – the five-eighth makes up what is known as a team's spine. One book published in 1996 stated that in senior rugby league, the five-eighth and hooker handled
54-439: The "half back" which is the name commonly given to the number 7. In New Zealand, both terms appear to be used interchangeably. Five-eighths that feature in their respective nations' rugby league halls of fame are England's Roger Millward , Australia's Wally Lewis , Bob Fulton , Brett Kenny , Albert Rosenfeld and Vic Hey , and New Zealand's George Menzies . Rugby league's first known black player, Lucius Banks , played in
72-514: The 18-footers World Championship in 1958 sailing in "Jantzen Girl." Chook Fraser died at Birchgrove in 1981, age 88. He was survived by six children, 17 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, and was buried at Field of Mars Cemetery on 3 February 1981. In 2006, Fraser was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame . In February 2008, Fraser was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which
90-454: The 1914 and 1920 Lions, while touring New Zealand in 1919 and then on his second Kangaroo tour of 1921–22, with fellow Balmain players Reg Latta, Jimmy Craig and Bill Schultz playing seven times at full-back and three times at five-eighth. The 1919 touring side of New Zealand was the first Australian full Test side to cross the Tasman. With the world still recovering from World War I and in
108-538: The 1st Test of 1911 at Newcastle upon Tyne and played in twenty other tour matches. He was the youngest Australian footballer to play Test football (18 years 301 days) when he toured with the 1911–12 Kangaroos until surpassed by Brad Fittler in 1990 and then by Israel Folau in 2007. He made his state debut for New South Wales in 1912 against New Zealand . He made a further nine state appearances during his career against Queensland or visiting International sides. He made ten further Test appearances (at home against
126-583: The Game state that the 'fullback' is to be numbered 1. However, traditionally players' jersey numbers have varied, and in the modern Super League , each squad's players are assigned individual numbers regardless of position. Fullbacks who feature in their respective nations' rugby league halls of fame are France's Puig Aubert , Australia's Clive Churchill and Charles Fraser , Wales' Jim Sullivan and New Zealand's Des White . Churchill's and Darren Lockyer 's attacking flair as players are credited with having changed
144-590: The Sun Herald in 1978, "I'm 85 but I'm still a fan. I never miss a game at Leichhardt and I go to the S.C.G. for all the big games." In the same article Fraser stated that Dally Messenger was greatest player he had ever seen play Rugby League. Chook Fraser's favourite hobby was sailing . He was a life member of the 18 footer sailing league in Sydney, and was a crew member of several noted boats and skiffs of his era. Charles' third son Jim, also an avid sailor, went on to win
162-456: The ball more often than any other positions. The Rugby League International Federation 's Laws of the Game state that the "Stand-off half or Five-eighth" is to be numbered 6. However, traditionally players' jersey numbers have varied, and in the modern Super League , each squad's players are assigned individual numbers regardless of position. Traditionally in rugby football , there have always been two half-backs as well as scrums involving
180-416: The forwards. Of the two half backs, the name "scrum half" was given to the one which was involved in the scrum by feeding the ball into it and the name "stand-off half" was given to the one which stood off to the side of the scrum. In Britain, where rugby league originated, this terminology has been retained. In Australian English , however, "five-eighth" is the term used for the number 6, to differentiate from
198-479: The midst of the deadly Spanish flu pandemic, the team could only find passage to New Zealand on a cockroach and rat-infested cargo ship out of Newcastle harbour. Half-way across the Tasman, bites from the ship-bred vermin led to Fraser and Duncan Thompson falling victim to blood-poisoned legs. His first appearance as captain of the Kangaroos was the first test of the 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain . He led
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#1733094154833216-492: The most important positions in attack, handling the ball nearly every set of six and often running into open space on the field . Therefore, together with the two half backs and hooker , fullback is one of the four key positions that make up what is referred to as a team's 'spine'. Because the fullback makes the most support runs, players in the fullback role complete more very high-intensity running than any other position. The Rugby League International Federation 's Laws of
234-409: The position for Hunslet R.L.F.C. in 1912-13. Fullback (rugby league) Fullback (or full-back ) is one of the positions in a rugby league football team. Typically wearing jersey number 1 , the fullback is a member of the team's 'back-line' (No. 1-7). The position's name comes from their duty of standing the furthest back in defence, behind the forwards (8-13), half backs (6 and 7) and
252-459: The role of the fullback. Charles Fraser (rugby league) Charles "Chook" Fraser (1893–1981) was an Australian rugby league footballer and later coach. He was a versatile three-quarter for the Australian national team . He played in 11 Tests between 1911 and 1920 as captain on 3 occasions. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century Chook Fraser
270-517: The side in all three Tests of that series. He coached Balmain on two separate occasions. He coached a Gundagai side to success in a country competition in 1926 before returning to coach the Balmain Tigers in 1932. He remained involved with the Balmain club in the 1950s and 1960s as a talent scout and lived at Dock Road, Balmain with wife Veronica for the rest of his long life. He told Tom Goodman in
288-401: The three-quarter backs (2-5). Fullbacks are therefore the last line of defence, having to tackle any opposition players and regather the ball from any kicks that make it through their teammates. It is for this reason that the fullback is also referred to as the sweeper or custodian . Being able to secure high bomb kicks is a highly sought quality in fullbacks. Fullback is also one of
306-494: Was born in Short Street, Birchgrove in 1893. A Balmain junior, Fraser was graded with the Balmain Tigers at age 17, before an extraordinary seventeen year first grade career for the club at either fullback or centre from 1910 to 1926. He was member of Balmain's premiership winning sides of 1915 , 1916 , 1917 , 1919 , 1920 and 1924 . His 185 first grade games stood as the Balmain club record for more than four decades. He
324-666: Was the NSW Rugby Football League's top point scorer in 1916 and 1917 . He was selected in both the Wests Tigers Team of the Century and the Balmain Tigers Team of the Century in the position of centre. In only his second year in first grade with just 15 games to his credit and still aged 18, Fraser was selected for the 1911–12 Kangaroo Tour of England . He made his Test debut at full-back against England in
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