Five of the best position changes in Super League history

A position switch can change everything, it can make a star or even lead to Grand Final glory.

As talks go on about some positional changes could occur in 2023 with Morgan Gannon of Leeds Rhinos potentially moving in the halves, here are five of the best position changes in Super League history.

Rob Burrow: Halfback – Hooker
Though it is widely known that Rob Burrow himself was not happy about this positional switch, it is hard to dispute its effectiveness. Burrow was moved to hooker by new coach Brian McDermott in 2011 after helping Leeds Rhinos to four Grand Final wins starting three of them at scrumhalf. His running from dummyhalf would be a key role in Leeds stunning the league and winning the Grand Final from fifth. He would remain as a hooker for the next three Grand Final wins in 2012, 2015 and 2017. However, it was his performance as a substitute hooker in the 2011 Grand Final that is remarkable which included scoring one of the greatest ever Grand Final tries and creating another for Ryan Hall as he won the Harry Sunderland Award with all 37 votes.

Kevin Sinfield: Loose-forward – Stand-off
Though Kevin Sinfield started the 2004 Grand Final at stand-off, he cemented at loose-forward from 2005-10 but in 2011, as Burrow moved to hooker, Sinfield switched to loose-forward in 2011. In fact, after 2011, he only played three games at loose-forward despite wearing the number 13 shirt. Oddly, he won four of the seven Grand Finals he won at stand-off winning the Harry Sunderland Award playing there in 2012.

Sam Tomkins: Stand-off – Fullback
In 2009, Sam Tomkins burst onto the scene in Super League and the Wigan Warriors youngster was named in the Dream Team and even made his England debut at the end of the year. But in 2010, as Wigan went on to end a 12-year wait for Grand Final glory, Tomkins was moved to fullback by new coach Michael Maguire and spent the rest of his career there winning four Grand Finals as a star fullback.

Danny Kirmond: Wing – Second-Row
From a winger at Huddersfield Giants to second-row at Wakefield Trinity, and one of the best backrows in the league. He even went on to captain the club and was in the Super League Dream Team in 2013.

Eorl Crabtree: Centre – Prop
Another big change in terms of position as Eorl Crabtree went from playing centre to being one of the best props in Super League being named in the Dream Team and playing for England. He was vital as Huddersfield won the League Leaders’ Shield in 2013 under Paul Anderson.