Meant to bring this up a few weeks ago but after seeing it elsewhere, I thought I may as we'll bring it up.

Don't know if anyone saw, but after the England v New Zealand RU game the other week, Will Greenwood discussed Kyle Eastmond and how he apparently contrasts from the traditional Rugby League player in terms of how he carries the ball in both hands.

Having played RU, how are players being told to carry the ball in RL? Does he have a point?

As per usual, Mr Greenwood is showing the classic signs of RU ignorance. The core skills in RL are very strong, including grip and carry. 99% of the time, players grip the ball very well.

Simple ignorant cheap shot at RL, pretty typical to be honest.

More pretence from an ignorant RU type that their code has greater core skills which couldn't be further from the truth. The core skills in Rugby League are far superior to those in Rugby Union and that's demonstrated by the way they hold up under immense defensive pressure the likes of which Union players NEVER face.

When faced with pressure or fatigue the first thing to fail in players with poor core skills is catch grip and carry

Most players, but especially halves & centres are coached to carry the ball in 2 hands until just before contact, then obviously you tuck it in tight in one hand. It's so that defenders are in 2 mins about your intentions ie whether you're going to pass or not. Obviously at the very highest level that's negated a little by the ability to perform one handed passes/flicks/offloads, and you might deliberately carry it in one hand to try and "bluff" the defender into committing to you at which point you quickly pass/offload. But still most players are taught a 2 handed carry.

I've done a fair bit of coaching RU players to play league, and the differences I find side, bring the ball into his chest with one hand and fend with the other or to free an arm to run faster in open space, or bring the ball into his chest with both hands, which puts him in a position to land on his elbows and get a quick PTB. He can also tip the ball down and kick it.

The RU players tend to hold the ball down by his hip, I think for a better position to lay the ball back in a ruck (or maul, I can never remember which is which) or hold up if they turn and stand in a ruck or maul. That's why they always seem to only be able to spin pass even when passing three yards, and why they drift outside before passing.

Here you go rlcoaching.co.uk/core-skills-2/ Thumb position is poor from pic 5 onwards, but it's too big a ball for the players.

Here you go rlcoaching.co.uk/core-skills-2/ Thumb position is poor from pic 5 onwards, but it's too big a ball for the players.

I dont think he's having a dig, its just more important to try and break the line in league and get over the advantage line by making fast, hard runs.

It's much easier to run faster with the ball in one hand than in both, hence the difference in style.

The classiest players run effortlessly and quick with the ball in two hands. Defenders seem to be repelled rather than drawn in by this style. Watch Wally Lewis (recordings, obviously).

The only major difference I can see is that Union players will grip the ball more closely when going into a tackle and go to ground quickly to cover it as any defender can take it off them.