Two things I've noticed in the last 3 weeks which has me excited.
1. Our defence does not jam in from the edges. We hold and slide in a more passive structure. Thankfully, Opacic and Penisini have had the pace to pull it off. Sivo was excellent at it tonight too. That makes us far less susceptible to being stripped on the edges, which has been our biggest vulnerability.
2. We now attack on our right edge equally. We used to be very left edge dominant in attack, which made us very predictable. I think Blake being on that wing has changed our mentality. I know he was quiet tonight, but having him there is similar to having Sivo on the other edge. We know that if we have good shape and execute, that edge is a big threat. Moses, ICE and Penisini are forming great combos. Mitch's ball to Penisini (which he dropped) was awesome. Guth chiming in with some sweep plays more regularly, like he does on the left, will make it even better.
Bring on the finals!!!
Replies
Nailed it Johnny . Defence has definitely been tinkered . They are sliding better and wingers are staying outside and we are reading the out the back play so much better .
No doubt edge defence starts inside but the problem is no team can continually win the ruck.
Watch Penrith and when they lose the middle their edges shuffle hustle and slide together to snuff out threats and if they hold the opposition long enough momentum will change.
We lose the ruck and often within a lousy 5 mins our right edge will leak and then it busts. The more points they pile on the harder it is to wrestle momentum back. The problem with our right edge is that they can't shuffle hustle together when the second rower cannot slide with them.
Melbourne were only allowed to start running late in the game and yep as usual the lateral movement of Ice is shown up again. He needs to defend in the middle even if he attacks out wide
We still jam in, but from a higher line. We got off our line quicker and didn't let their playmakers turn the corner. That's the key.
Nice blog Jonny B the point about the defense is spot on - both sides on the field holding their line and showing the sideline worked beautifully. Attack was slick and direct, Olam was lucky he wasn't exposed even more - credit to BA and coaching staff that's called good coaching
Thats a good point Johnny, but our defense is now being driven from the inside. Moses and Ice on the right are now pushing from the inside accross and plug the holes as the centres and wing slide out. The same on the other side Dylan and Lane are pushing across and filling the gap left by the centre and wing as they slide. Its being driven from the middle outwards now . Middles working harder finally. Gutho in behind racing from side to side, as cover..
Its working well but there were cracks. a couple of time Waqa raced in and got found out but our cover kept sliding and covered the mistake on his outside. Late in the piece Ice got tired and didnt push accross and follow the play as it went lateral past him. He left the gap exposed on the inside as the centre slid accross.
Agree with the comments that the sliding defence relies on the work from the inside, that's implicit. You tend to notice it more on the edges in the dramatic moments when they either strip us or get run down/ taken over the sideline. But it all starts from the middle and fans outwards.
3. Change the bench selection to give our big boys some relief.
We will need it in the big games. We can't play against the Panthers, Roosters or Souths with 15 men like last night
The snail 🐌 will be there till the end, Tank. We will need to win it with 16 players from here on in. We just have to accept that. Dad just can't help himself, he has played his hand and bullshitted through every excuse why Jake needs to be in the 17. There is no reason except for DNA.
Yep gotta feeling that will be case. Bryce and Brown should be on that bench 100%.
Seriously putting his son's career ahead of what's best for the team.
He doesn't have a "career" in the NRL
It's bring your son to work day.... soon it will be two. They can car pool.
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