NRL undergoing (c) change with traditional leadership model dying out

“Where have all the captains gone?”

Pete Seeger could have sung just such a refrain had he been an NRL fan these past 20 years.

There has been a major “C change” in the code, as clubs have moved to co-captains, or appointed others by default rather than maintaining faith with the traditional model of the long-term dominant, unflappable individual.

Of the 16 NRL clubs, six have new captains this season and three have dual skippers (Raiders, Eels, Panthers), while two clubs (Storm and Wests Tigers) are yet to announce their leadership teams.

Only the Broncos’ new halfback, Adam Reynolds, St George Illawarra’s Ben Hunt and Manly’s experienced No.7, Daly Cherry-Evans, resemble the traditional leader who plays in the spine, calls the shots and is on the field for 80 minutes each week.

Even the Eels’ inspirational fullback, Clint Gutherson, now has a co-captain in Junior Paulo.

Something has happened to the position to make some players not want the job. Similarly, in the AFL, three captains have stood down this season, with Richmond appointing co-captains for the first time in the club’s celebrated history. The Swans’ long-term leader, Josh Kennedy, has stepped aside, and the club now has three co-captains.

The Storm’s former premiership skipper, Cameron Smith, is the last in the mould of Darren Lockyer, Allan Langer, Geoff Toovey and Brad Fittler.

Yet Smith, who had an unflappability that was almost eerie, wanted to relinquish the role a couple of seasons back and had to be convinced otherwise by the Storm.

Perhaps it was the constant battering by journalists (fed by opposition coaches) that he had too much influence over referees’ on-field decisions. Or maybe he felt burdened by the expanded commitments to sponsors and media.

Some clubs have considered splitting the roles, as in New Zealand rugby union, into on-field and off-field, with the latter assuming all the media and sponsorship duties as well as organising social functions.

The salary cap plays a big role, with some future leaders leaving a club for riches elsewhere while others appear to have acquired the job on a seniority basis, or given the armband as an enticement to stay.

Interchange has also impacted on the role, with some natural leaders only playing 50 minutes per game, meaning they need a replacement for their time on the sidelines.

The captain’s challenge has added to the skipper’s responsibilities, while also being revealing. We see a player lose the ball cold, blow up to the referee, insist he has been stripped, with the captain consulted and the challenge proceed, only to see it fail just as those watching on TV anticipated.

The best captains have the personalities of their coach.

Yet we also see the same scenario and the captain eye the culprit with a look which could smelt iron, and the appeal is rejected.

Rugby league, more than any of the football codes, is still dependent on individual displays of mental toughness and physical courage, the pillars of leadership ever since dinosaurs ruled the earth.

While this leadership model suited the single captain, now clubs delegate decision-making to leadership groups and coaches are all aware of the latest -ism.

Interestingly, the Titans have taken a step back in time, opting for forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, soon to turn 22, as captain. He comes from the Storm system, meaning he is a great trainer and exhorts his players to ever more effort. It is noticeable that he commands respect, but whether he can also make sound tactical decisions remains to be seen.

After all, the captain must understand and implement the game plan; be a liaison between players and coach; be the public face of the club; maintain a respectful relationship with referees; act as social director and possess a sharp sense of inclusiveness by integrating the veterans and the teenagers alike.

And he must do all this while being one of the top three players in the club, as well as being a dedicated trainer.

He can’t cut corners at training, or chide a teammate for an error, while risking the response: “what about you?”

The best captains have the personalities of their coach, such as Lockyer and taciturn Wayne Bennett, or earlier with Toovey and the highly competitive Bob Fulton

Penrith’s premiership-winning coach, Ivan Cleary, gave his son, Nathan, half the job, sharing it with lock Isaah Yeo. It’s a neat summary of captaincy at the crossroads, although Nathan, 24, will probably be passed the baton exclusively one day, even if he echoes Seeger in singing it’s been a “long time passing.”