We value your privacy

We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products.

With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation. You may click to consent to our and our partners’ processing as described above. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing.

More Options

Mon 13 Jul 2015 | 02:42
Incredible backflip pass by Nathan Friend leads to great Rugby League Try

18
Comments

So this happened in the NRL at the weekend. Yes, it's not Union, but it is unbelievable, so we had to share it. Not only was the flip out of this world, but there was a great flick pass and some slick hands after that too, before stunned Melbourne Storm leaked a try in the process.

Nathan Friend of the NZ Warriors got up high, took the catch then while realising he was going to flip and likely land on his head, he managed to get the pass away mid-air, through his legs. A few very neat passes later and Tuimoala Lolohea went over in the corner for a the try. Brilliant.

Posted By: Grant Constable

18 Comments

  • rugbyleagueisking
    2:38 AM 19/07/2015

    There are reasons why rugby league is overwhelmingly more popular than rugby union in Australia. That is because the game rewards try scoring, and gives much less value to penalty goals. Second, there are far more superior athletes in rugby league as compared to rugby union. Shaun Johnson, Greg Inglis, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston have no peers in rugby union. This try just sums it all up. To those who find rugby league boring, I would suggest that you watch the New Zealand Warriors games in the NRL each week. That will cure you of your boredom.

  • facepalm
    2:54 AM 15/07/2015

    Also spent some time down under. I want to grab every Australian by their shoulders and give them a shake. Someone has to tell them that all of their best players are playing the wrong bloody game! It's got to the point where I much prefer to watch a game of NRL to a game of super rugby - purely because of the quality of players.

    This is coming from someone who's played and watched union all their life. Make these freaks of nature play the better code and we would have something very, very special.

  • 12:28 AM 15/07/2015

    For what it's worth, rugby ain't even in the top ten most popular sports in Canada and I don't give a s$?t. It is, & always will be my sport.

  • mise
    6:38 PM 14/07/2015

    here are the two codes in OZ compared (and other sports); Rules rules eh?

    http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2014/apr/15/australia-football-interactive-statistics

    Player participation in League is 5 times higher in all codes (according to a broken wikipedia link!) in Oz https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_rugby_league_and_rugby_union#cite_note-autogenerated1-59

    and here's a really interesting way to have a combo/compromise/hybrid game: attacking team plays league til halfway line, then union if they pass it. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/news/4994642/Hybrid-rugby-union-league-experiment

    This is the time of year people often talk about a fusion of the two - it would become one massive cross-class sport if it did...Ireland would be fucked, and flankers would probably disappear - a pity as they are in many ways the most dynamic and interesting of players (and, the most leaguey in terms of physique)

    Its impossible of course, compared to the Berlin wall coming down anyway.... :-)

  • eddie-g
    3:04 PM 14/07/2015

    But there's a difference between struggling and dying. I'd agree that the ARU has had a tough few years, mainly driven by the problems in the national team. And Union has always been behind League, Footie and Cricket in popularity, so not sure that's really the right benchmark.

    My point about French rugby and its wealth is that it will tempt some League stars into Union. The new Top-14 TV deal is huge, and a lot of that money will translate into player pay. I'd say the ARU benefits from each League convert it gets, regardless of their motivation. (I disagree too that the French wages hurt the ARU (or the NZ or SA bodies) - they hurt an antiquated system of player retention in the professional era, but they help getting more top athletes into Union.)

    Anyway, no arguments the ARU is in a bit of a funk, but I think it's far from dying. Union is going through some professional era growing pains, but it's going to be ok.

  • stroudos
    9:06 AM 14/07/2015

    I'm sending you my computer repair bill. Made me laugh coffee all over the keyboard you shit!

  • sportbarry
    2:26 AM 14/07/2015

    The NRL have the better athletes in Australia for sure, but that does not make it the better game.
    Union has its problems, but league just leaves me cold. Little tactics, little variety , its the little rugby game.

  • 2:23 AM 14/07/2015

    I watch league and other than plays like this I find it utterly boring and predictable. They are not better athletes the only reason they make plays like this is because of the nature of the rules, high flying, high reward, low risk kicks are frequent on the 5th tackle. It takes no guts to go for this on a fifth tackle, in fact itd be dumb not too. I know this was still impressive but it's all context.

    Plus they have to throw the ball around on the fifth tackle because otherwise it's a turnover. In fact I'd say league is more predictable than the nfl. Kick, counter 2-3 hit ups, one spin wide and a kick, ohh maybe a kick in 4th tackle to keep it interesting.

    Give me the unpredictability of union anyway. League has nothing like France returning a penalty for a try vs England at twickenham.

    Not that I'm not impressed but league supporters can have there state of origin game, I'd rather watch the varsity match

  • sportbarry
    2:22 AM 14/07/2015

    Australia keep getting pumped by New Zealand every year. Playing the number one country all the time keeps them down the rankings. They play us more than anyone else. In fact NZ v Australia have more tests between each other than any other countries in history.

  • finedisregard
    10:23 PM 13/07/2015

    I am not from a place in the world where Rugby League is played but I was in Australia last year and I was very surprised by how the two codes are received.

    Every NRL match is an event, like the NFL in the USA. At my first (and only) NRL match the atmosphere was more similar to an NFL game or even NASCAR compared to Union games. It really is a different sporting culture. I hope young men in Australia continue with Union but I was shocked at the difference and disparity between the codes.

    NRL has better athletes, sorry.

  • jimmy23
    9:42 PM 13/07/2015

    Well, that was ridiculous. In every way possible.

  • danknapp
    6:54 PM 13/07/2015

    I follow the NRL on Facebook just for these highlights. They turn up astounding finishes and plays like this on a regular basis. Totally, totally unbelievable.

  • flanker2712
    6:34 PM 13/07/2015

    Looks like Russell Brand after a couple of decent meals and a few gym sessions.

  • eddie-g
    6:21 PM 13/07/2015

    Is Union really dying? It's maybe not growing as fast as they want, the national team has had an iffy few years, and they need the SA and NZ parts of SANZAR to stay afloat financially, but I'm not sure the game's actually in decline.

    If anything, the exploding salaries in France and the broader global appeal of Union is going to help further... don't see Union over-taking the NRL, but it's got enough going for it to stay popular and probably attract more stars from the NRL than it loses to it.

  • xenophile
    5:04 PM 13/07/2015

    Amazing bit of skill on display but the finish looked like a knock-on to my eyes.

  • stroudos
    4:44 PM 13/07/2015

    Check out the beardy opposition player with the green mouthguard in the picture - he's going "YEEEEEEEEEEEEAHHH!!!"

  • guy
    4:11 PM 13/07/2015

    Absolutely everything about this piece of play is pure class. Incredible stuff.

  • facepalm
    4:06 PM 13/07/2015

    With moments like this it's hardly surprising union is dying out in Australia. The NRL is absolutely incredible.

Related Articles