How much of an advantage is grubbing? And does anyone know the rules (or a place online to find them)?

Question

I play for a small school in western PA with a lot of small players, so we're looking for just about any advantage we can find. Are there any real advantages to grubbing on a consistent basis or should it just be reserved for special occasions? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

Answer 1

The correct term is grubbering, and it can be a very effective weapon in the right circumstances. Your question asks when that advantage should be taken.

In league there are really 2 x when its effective



1 when trying to trap the defensive side in their in goal area to get them to have to line drop out and therefore give your side another 6 tackles or for your attackers to regather and score.

2 Its is an effective weapon when used just in to the defenders half when their fullback has dropped too far back. You grubber just behind their defense so that your supporting players can regather gaining an overlap on the fullback

I believe the grubber kick is a better option in Rugby League than in Rugby Union. In Union attack is ALL about ball in hand and building attacking pressure by continual possession in rucks and mauls. Kicking in Union is about gaining ground mainly to the side line

Answer 2

I hope that you mean kicking the ball on the run... and not something foul that you might find two softball players doing under the bleachers. Grub kicks are very difficult to do consistently. The pros's do it often! it is the best way to get around an opposing player when you have no one to pass to. But do not try it in a game until you have practiced it 100 times. If you are asking about rucking then change your question. Rucking is a wonderful tool that can keep the ball moving in your direction.

Answer 3

I wouldn't do it consistently because you can lose posession of the ball if it's not executed perfectly.  Try working on effective plays and more strategic running (cutting around defenders and stiffarming, explosive sprinting, etc).  Grub kicks should really only be used to mix up your game if the defense is getting smart.

Answer 4

How much of an advantage is grubbing? Are there any real advantages to grubbing on a consistent basis or should it just be reserved for special occasions?

A grubber kick should only be reserved for special occasions, as the opposition is likely to see that you are consistently using a grubber and will defend accordingly.  It is easier to defend against a grubber, if you know the opposition will use it.

As another answerer stated, there are really only two occasions to use the grubber in Rugby League.

The occasions in rugby union would be;

1. If you had the defenders running towards you, and the fullback was either one of the defenders, or a fair bit behind the defenders.  You could do a little grubber to get through the defenders, and regather.

2. If running at the fullback, and the fullback is isolated, then a little grubber may be effective to get past them.

Being a small player myself, it was always more satisfying to be able to run around the defenders, as they were bigger, and slower.  This may not be the case with your opponents, they may be big and just as fast.

Use the agility of your small players, and try to beat the opposition this way.  You will need your players to have endurance, as they may be running a lot more in the games.

If your small players can move around the field easily and quickly, then use lots of passes to try to obtain an overlap and get past the opposition.

It is best to mix up your kicking game, and only use certain kicks when you have a greater probability of getting the ball back.

There are no rules about the grubber kick, or any other type of kick, except how it must touch a part of the foot.  In the case of a drop kick, the ball can land on the ground before touching the foot.  In ruby league, the part of the foot does not include the heel [1] p6 description of 'Kick'.

Answer 5

A grubber kick should be a "surprise" tactic. Even  here in Australia where they play Rugby League  and use it a lot, its still supposed to have a surprise effect. If you use it too often your opponents will fall back and just wait for you to do it.