Someone put up a great post about player defence stats which can be misleading.
The purpose in defence is to either stop opposition progress or prevent their progression till others can complete a tackle.
Players who may have just completed a tackle can find themselves having to do it again immediately after just completing a tackle or a high activity role.
Sometimes just doing enough to stop momentum is called a missed tackle and is a poor reflection on the total contribution the player makes defensively.
I am thinking of judgements made on Hopgood and Hodgson.
They are both high activity players who often do momentum pauses.
Maybe stats should consider half tackles or momentum holders as worthwhile effort areas?
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I agree to an extent but the same can be said of any statistic. You need to look at what leads to a line break, try, a tackle that leads to quick play the ball or even player failing to get back I to position to make a tackle which the clubs collect and study.
Speaking to people in the game about Parra in previous years and how they would target Mahoney due to poor 2nd and 3rd efforts which either result in line break, offload or quick play the balls. All these have positive results where missed tackle doesn't necessarily give positive outcome. No doubt they have identified the same on Hodgson.
Another thing beyond stats is fans perceptions which don't change an and example is Moses. He used to miss tackles a lot at tigers as he wouldn't get in front of the ball carrier. He then started putting his body in front when came to Parra which slowed attacker till support came to tackle the defender. People still bag him today as not being able to tackle which isn't the case. Now he regularly completes 1 on 1 tackles against huge back rowers and centres. The clubs would be aware of this but many fans believe he is a shit defender
Defensive stats are always noisier than offensive stats, it tends to be true across pretty much all sports.
I agree when it comes to individuals. However a high team missed tackle count is usually reflected in the scoreline.
Middles should have the higher missed tackle count in any team. As long as they're getting in front and making contact they're doing their job. The missed tackles that lead to line breaks are another issue and we probably should record those stats differently. Hodgo has been caught out a few times there.
Interesting comments re. Moses. He is an excellent defender these days. Absolutely top shelf. But people love to hate him and generally speaking, the haters don't watch him closely.
The problem with Hodgson is that his "activity" level is not high enough in defence
1 tackle every 2 minutes does not cut it when you have big arsed props like us
I agree with your thoughts Tad including very good point you raised in final paragraph. The longer time before the refs call ' held' and 'release' the more times 1 or 2 extra tacklers join in and I think ' try to steal the tackle point ' by wrestling tackled player or lifting his leg and trying to unbalance him . Whilst no one ever actually trained me how to carry out tackle counts during a country rugby league match I have throughout a game called out the tackler/s for my associated club official recording those stats. Each tackle count was my subjective decision being made (as to the name or number of the dominant tackler/s so good eye sight and judgment are essential.
As well often the jersey numbers are hidden with players in the ruck area twisting and turning and laying covered in the ruck area so you can only rely on your memory of who the player could be and in many games players have similar height , build and other features . So easy in those times for mistakes as to the correct dominant tackler /s to be made.
Interesting Driza, if you were trying out for a rep side, wear distinguished coloured headgear and assuming you are busy enough, they wont miss you!
Absolutely Poppa . But I might wear same headgear as Reed Mahoney and get awarded many more tackles . There would have been confusion between Sterlo and Paul Taylor.
Mate I used to get mixed up as a kid between them and also Brian Jackson. Looking now I don't know how I confused Jacko , but I did.
Yes mate Jackson did look similar to me and greatly confused as well .I think though Brian Jackson played mostly since Paul Taylor moved on didn't he ?
Points well made Driza.Who gets the credit for a gang tackle. When. Player like Hopgood makes over 40 tackles is it fair to criticise his missed tackle count. Do you give credit to a light weight player in stopping a big boppers momentum for others to get the credit for an " effective" tackle.
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