Ability to sidestep with acceleration is the most prized attacking skill in rugby league. When combined with the dummy pass it can be a game changing talent.

[uNew Zealand[/u has Shaun Johnson with his magical step off either foot and blisteringly fast acceleration. He combines this with the dummy pass to great effect. He is the king of the solo dancers. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is barely behind Johnson, and these two may be the kings of stepping penetration, though RTS doesn't quite have Johnson's dummy.

[uAustralia[/u has Blake Austin at Canberra, who is also not far behind Shaun Johnson in stepping, acceleration, and dummy skills. He will be Australia's No 6 within three years. Incumbent No 6 Johnathan Thurston has a decent step but not as wide as Johnson's or Austin's, and he doesn't have the acceleration. Thurston relies a lot on the dummy plus the sidestep to break the defensive line. Jacob Miller with Wakefield has a good sidestep but is nowhere near as fast in acceleration as Johnson.

Who does [uEngland[/u have to do the dance? Only Samuel Tomkins if I am not mistaken but he lacks the acceleration of Shaun Johnson. Gareth Widdop has a decent dummy and a small sidestep but
lacks the acceleration of Johnson. Matthew Smith is weak in all these skills, which is why he is not a great halfback.

Does the dearth of great sidesteppers with great acceleration perhaps explain why the English halves and outside backs are not as feared in attack as New Zealand's?

You might have heard of Kallum Watkins?

Thanks for the contribution, Big Jim. In fact I have not only heard of Kallum Watkins, but I have also seen him play. But he is nowhere near as effective as the others whom I have named. Why is that? Is it that his sidestep is not as huge as Johnson and Austin's. Or is it that his acceleration is not as rapid as theirs and Tuivasa-Shecks? Granted Watkins is fast over a distance, but acceleration a different matter. Michael Jennings has one of the best accelerations in the game, plus a decent sidestep and swerve.

Most SL clubs 1/2 backs do not qualify to play for England and those that do are not international standard. It's been this way for years.

Probably still Rob Burrow as much as anyone.

George Williams has a decent step & definitely has the acceleration.

Rangi Chase



Seriously though, Ryan Brierley has all 3. One of the many, many reasons to hate Ian Millward is not keeping him on at Cas.

Gareth Widdop

Agree with that and also Ryan Brierley at Leigh is just electric in my opinion

Austin uses his strength

Keiran Dixon has the best acceleration of any English player. Would love to see him trained up to be a half-back, because (size, tackling) he'll never be an international standard fullback.

Matty Russell. Although he can't pass. At all.