1. Corey Norman 16 runs for 137 metres 1 offload 1 line break 3 tackles break 3/3 tackles
2. Semi Radradra 17 runs for 155 metres 1 line break 2 tackle breaks 4/4 tackles
3. Will Hopoate 16 runs for 159 metres 1 offload 3 tackle breaks 5/6 tackles
4. Brad Takairangi 12 runs for 124 metres 3 offloads 3 tackle breaks 8/8 tackles
5. Ryan Morgan 6 runs for 58 metres 1 tackle break 15/17 tackles
6. Luke Kelly 6 runs for 29 metres 15/15 tackles 8 kicks for 305 metres 2 penalties conceded 1 error
7. Chris Sandow 2 runs for 5 metres 7/12 tackles 8 kicks for 150 metres 1 error
8. Tim Mannah 15 runs for 135 metres 2 offloads 1 tackle break 40/40 tackles
19. Nathan Peats 6 runs for 67 metres 1 tackle break 52/54 tackles
10. Junior Paulo 19 runs for 205 metres 3 offloads 3 tackle breaks 1 try assist 26/28 tackles
11. Manu Ma'u 14 runs for 108 metres 1 offload 26/27 tackles
12. Tepai Moeroa 5 runs for 45 metres 1 offload 30/33 tackles
13. Anthony Watmough 10 runs for 130 metres 1 line break 2 tackle breaks 18/19 tackles
14. Darcy Lussick 6 runs for 63 metres 1 offload 21/24 tackles
15. Pauli Pauli 9 runs for 81 metres 1 offload 1 tackle break 6/7 tackles
16. Danny Wicks 8 runs for 81 metres 1 tackle break 10/12 tackles
17. David Gower 11 runs for 111 metres 2 offloads 1 tackle break 20/20 tackles On Report
Possession;
Parra 49%
Dogs 51%
Completion Rate;
Parra 26/33 79%
Dogs 26/37 70%
Total Runs;
Parra 178 runs for 1691 metres
Dogs 183 metres 1864 metres
Offloads;
Parra; 16
Dogs; 21
Linebreaks;
Parra 3
Dogs 8
Kick Metres;
Parra 20 kicks for 548 metres
Dogs 17 kicks for 561 metres
Tackles;
Parra 306/329
England 297/319
Penalties conceded;
Parra; 6
Dogs; 7
Sandow's stats from previous weeks were;
Vs Tigers; 1 try 2 try assists 1 tackle breaks 1 line break 8/13 tackles 6 runs for 55 metres
Vs Saints; 1 try assist 4 runs for 14 metres 13/20 tackles
Vs Melbourne; 4 try assists 2 offloads 2 tackle breaks 1 line break 6 runs for 55 metres
Vs Cows; 1 offload 1 tackle break 11 runs for 89 metres 14/17 tackles.
Courtesy of League Live
Replies
Big Dog's forwards must have scared him.
The teams stats show the effort and grind was very even between the teams. The biggest difference was the fact that they made almost triple the linebreaks despite missed tackles being about the same for both sides.
On Sandow's side of the defensive line, Jackson (2), Reynolds and Lafai all made breaks. It's crazy how our right side was our weak defensive side until Sandow moved to the left. Now that is our weak side.
Speaking of our defensive weakness, in the first half the Dogs' halves had these numbers:
Reynolds (vs our left side): 15 touches, 2 runs
Hodkinson (vs our right side): 19 touches, 2 runs
In the first half they just tried to roll up the middle and we handled them well. In the second half they changed tack, and targeted our biggest weakness, Chris Sandow:
Reynolds (vs our left side): 31 touches, 7 runs
Hodkinson (vs our right side): 13 touches, 2 runs
So in the second half Reynolds handled the ball twice as often as he did in the first half. Off the back of this, the Dogs' other right side players all had a field day:
Jackson (1st half:) 7 runs, 62m
Jackson (2nd half:) 9 runs, 80m, 5 tackle breaks, 2 line breaks
Lafai (1st half:) 2 runs, 24m, 2 tackle breaks, 1 line break
Lafai (2nd half:) 4 runs, 53m, 1 tackle break
Perrett (1st half:) 3 runs, 15m
Perrett (2nd half:) 7 runs, 68m, 1 tackle break
And of course the Dogs' second half targeting our left side is borne out by our defensive stats:
Radradra (1st half:) 0 tackles attempted
Radradra (2nd half:) 4 tackles, 1 ineffective, 1 missed
Takairangi (1st half:) 4 tackles, 0 missed
Takairangi (2nd half:) 6 tackles, 2 ineffective, 0 missed
Sandow (1st half:) 3 tackles, 1 ineffective, 1 missed
Sandow (2nd half:) 2 tackles, 3 missed
Ma'u (1st half:) 11 tackles, 3 ineffective, 0 missed
Ma'u (2nd half:) 17 tackles, 2 ineffective, 0 missed
Any team would have struggled to score against the Dogs last night, but if we didn't concede metres, quick play-the-balls and points so easily in the second half, we could have stayed with them and been able to put pressure on their attack. As it was, they went from a 2 point lead to an 8 point lead in just six minutes, and six minutes later they were 14 points in front. From there we were out of the grind and had to switch to high risk play to try and reduce the deficit against their awesome defence. Meanwhile the Dogs didn't need any risky play at all for their attacking momentum - they just sent repeated runners at Sandow (or the spot where he should have been).
Nice Stats, good points
In summary, Sandow is a horrible defensive liability and compromises the entire defensive line. Players around him have to double their efforts and it leaves them vulnerable to making defensive mistakes trying to cover for Sandow's inadequacies.
So, basically what I have been saying for years! Anyone still want a small half?
This is the true reason BA wants to play Kelly over Sandow. He doesn't care that Kelly is a bog average player, he knows that he will get a defensive line with him, and with Sandow he won't.
I agree 100%. After 2011, when we defended (relatively) well despite an atrocious roster, I thought Sandow was exactly what we needed. Two wooden spoons, three coaches and consistently shithouse defence performances later and I concede I was very wrong.
Every NRL player needs a bare minimum of defensive ability to play the game or his attack is irrelevant. This even applies to wingers and halfbacks.
Kelly is big enough for an NRL half, despite having very little skill. Sandow would be in the top 1% for attacking and kicking ability but is just too small to contribute in defence for 80 minutes. He is a true liability.
Exactly it's a shame that a good effort from the majority of the squad has been overlooked because one Clown forgot to lace his boots up