Rugby league positions
Forwards are required to improve the team's field position thus creating space and time for the backs.
Their roles require speed and ball-playing skills, rather than just strength, to take advantage of the field position gained by the forwards.
In some competitions, such as Super League, players receive a squad number to use all season, no matter what positions they play in.
Defensively, fullbacks must be able to chase and tackle any player who breaks the first line of defence, and must be able to catch and return kicks made by the attacking side.
Fullbacks that feature in their respective nations' rugby league halls of fame are France's Puig Aubert, Australia's Clive Churchill, Charles Fraser, Graeme Langlands, Graham Eadie and Billy Slater, Great Britain/Wales' Jim Sullivan, New Zealand's Des White and Great Britain's Kris Radlinski.
They are generally among the fastest players in a team, with the speed to exploit space that is created for them and finish an attacking move.
In defence their primary role is to mark their opposing wingers, and they are also usually required to catch and return kicks made by an attacking team, often dropping behind the defensive line to help the fullback.
Wingers that feature in their nations' rugby league halls of fame are Great Britain's Billy Batten, Billy Boston and Clive Sullivan, Australia's Brian Bevan, John Ferguson, Ken Irvine, Harold Horder and Brian Carlson, South African Tom van Vollenhoven and France's Raymond Contrastin.
Centres that feature in their countries' halls of fame are France's Max Rousié, England's Eric Ashton, Harold Wagstaff and Neil Fox, Wales' Gus Risman and Australia's Reg Gasnier, H "Dally" Messenger, Dave Brown, Jim Craig, Bob Fulton, Mal Meninga, and Greg Inglis.
A rugby league forward pack consists of six players who tend to be bigger and stronger than backs, and generally rely more on their strength and size to fulfill their roles than play-making skills.
The hooker or rake, numbered 9,[notes 1] traditionally packs in the middle of the scrum's front row.
The position is named because of the traditional role of "hooking" the ball back with the foot when it enters the scrum.
In attack, their size and strength means that they are primarily used for running directly into the defensive line, as a kind of "battering ram" to simply gain metres.
[notes 3] While their responsibilities are similar in many ways to the props, these players typically possess more speed and agility and take up a wider position in attack and defence.
Often each second rower will cover a specific side of the field, working in unison with their respective centre and winger.
Second-row forwards that feature in their nations' halls of fame include New Zealand's Mark Graham, Australia's Norm Provan, George Treweek and Harry Bath, France's Jean Galia, and Great Britain & England's Martin Hodgson.
Loose forwards that feature in their nation's Halls of Fame include Australia's Ron Coote, Johnny Raper, Bradley Clyde and Wally Prigg, Great Britain's Vince Karalius, Ellery Hanley and 'Rocky' Turner, and New Zealand's Charlie Seeling.
Commencing in the 2016 season, Australia's National Rugby League permits up to eight interchanges per team per game.
[13] Often an interchange bench will include at least one (and usually two) replacement props, as it is generally considered to be the most physically taxing position and these players are likely to tire the quickest.
