Bulldog Adam Elliott wants to be at forefront of lock revolution
The modern day No.13’s are now being asked to become game breakers, rather than line-busting big men. Bulldogs lock Adam Elliott wants to change the nature of the role at Belmore.
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He has played 61 NRL matches, made 737 tackles and is considered a future captain of Canterbury but Adam Elliott claims he is still a work in progress.
Welcome to the always-changing world of the rugby league lock.
On the eve of his bid to help the Bulldogs climb from the floor by claiming a win over North Queensland at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, Elliott, 24, has revealed he is attempting to reinvent himself as an attacking middle man.
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“I’m learning all over again,’’ Elliott said.
And Elliott is not alone.
Having always been the NRL’s most schizophrenic position, the No.13 is going through its latest rugby league revolution.
Traditionally more five-eighth than forward, the NRL lock has also been an 80-minute workhorse and most recently an extra prop – all size and power and 25 minute stints.
The modern day No.13s are now being asked to become game breakers. To become ball playing, line-busting big men.
Elliott is at the coalface of the latest transformation trend.
“It is a changing role,’’ Elliott said.
“I think the role of a lock is now determined by what team you are in and how that team plays their football. If you look at the Melbourne Storm in the past, they have just had a massive lock, a metre eater that holds down the middle. Here (at the Bulldogs) we have also
played with more of a third front-rower in the past.
“But the role changes for teams trying to be more creative.’’
And that’s where Elliott fits in with the edge back rower switching to the middle last year.
“Dean wants us to be more creative,’’ Elliott said.
“He wants us to move the footy around the middle. Size isn’t on my side so for me it is about
getting into those bigger packs using my footwork and leg speed. I have been told to play a
bit of footy.’’
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Elliott is attempting to nail down a starting spot as he continues to learn the latest
incarnation of the position.
“I think the position suits me,’’ Elliott said.
“I am a lot closer to the football in at No.13 and it feels natural. I came off the bench in that
middle third of the game to start the season but I started last week and that is where I
would like to stay.
“It is now about getting my minutes up and doing my job for team. I am trying to find my
template for a complete performance so I have something to strive towards each week.’’
Elliott said
he is learning to focus on himself instead of others.
“It has been frustrating because we haven’t been able to put the runs on the board,’’ Elliott
said.
“It has been hard to put that to the side at times. I am trying to get better at worrying about
my individual form rather than the teams form. I have to be able to focus on what I can do
better.
“We are sitting at one and five and it sometimes feels like the walls are crashing down. It needs to all be about just getting ready for that next game.’’
That next game will come on Friday night when the Bulldogs get the chance to claim win No.2 in a clash against the hot-and-cold Cowboys.
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