Something Parra has missed the last few years is an assistant coach with footy nous and strong tactics who can recognise a teams weakness and attack it. We don't seem to adjust game plans against different opposition or adjust when things are not working.
It is why despite Mahoney getting plenty of tackles per game, teams would target him in the game plan against us. BA and the clowns we have had as assistants over the years never addressed the issue and seemed happy Mahoney's workrate and tackle count showed a big heart and front loaded effort as BA says. They should have been trying to get Mahoney to focus on quality defence instead of high tackle counts, which would have added the benefit of more energy for his running game which diminished as he focused on tackle counts. It would have also strengthened our middle defence so backrowers didn't feel the need to hold their position until the ball went past them and stay closer to ruck leaving us exposed out wide. There have also been consistent issues with our edge defence making the same defensive read errors year on year as well. If it was tactics, players or combinations it doesn't matter as the coaching staff didn't change anything year on year. Is that because despite obvious deficiencies the club and BA were blinded by the end of year ladder position and playing finals each year resulting in a reluctance to change.
Well we have reached the peak to where we can get without a quality assistant coach as we won't win a GF without better players or better tactics. We are basically the same team and haven't bought any match winners so our tactics have to change. The problem here is BA isn't a tactical coach but more a motivator and effort coach. Is Trent Barrett the assistant coach who can help having had success as an assistant previously before failing as a head coach with lack of ability to motivate the playing group?
Considering that we have dropped players due to poor form like Waqa, Simmonson and Momoisea already this year, it may be a sign of improvement in this regard and possibly Barrett having input as BA has been reluctant to drop players for 10years but this weekend may show if we have further improved in this area and if Barrett can be assistant we have been looking for. The inclusion of Hands is another sign of improved coaching which I feel wouldn't have occured in previous years. BA has relied on JA or a backrowers to be the back up hooker. This has improved each week increasing Hand's game time and identifying Hodgson's issues at the end of the first half, but I would still be much happier with Hand's coming on after 20-25 mins. The other option is starting with Hands and bringing on Hodgson later in the half against tired defences where his footy IQ may identify attacking opportunities against tired forwards but may be a risk defensively defending with our tired forwards hence why not considered.
Will Barrett identify and target Mahoney as a weak link in defence this weekend which our club failed to recognise or address for years. I haven't seen enough of dogs this year to see if Mahoney has adjusted his game but once players get recognised for high work rate it is a hard habit to break so I assume the same issues are there still. I have also heard from doggie fans and others that due to lack of attacking options Mahoney is responsible for more creative play than when he was with us making it more important to target him in defence and tire him out.
Other teams targeted Mahoney at the eels, as he falls off tackles, allows quick play the balls and fails to get back into the line when forced to make multiple defensive plays in a row
Will we make Mahoney defend with effort on effort which will open up their middle defence allowing us to get a roll on through the middle, which just so happens to be our strength when we play our best. This will then lead to opportunities to spread the ball out wide to see how dunster and Russell have progressed. Targeting Mahoney in defence will also slow their line speed as the game goes on as he leads their defensive line speed and force there average halves to create attacking opportunities.
I expect Parra to play a lot better this week especially with Junior back but am more worried about this game then I was against the tigers because it is the Bulldogs and we could bring out the best of them. That said I believe good tactics could make this an easy game by targeting Mahoney and playing to our strengths through the middle. Then a good win this weekend will be great for our confidence and could set us up for a string of victories and into the top 8.
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We have the forwards to take on Mahoney. RCG, Paulo, Matto and Hopgood all can target Mahoney, can even free up an offload with Gutho hanging around.
I think you've made a lot of assumptions here.
Of course it's my thoughts and some assumptions Brett as is anything written on public blogs is someone's opinions, thoughts and assumptions. Although it is my thoughts they are based on some facts and have support from current player at another club
I won't say players name but they are very good at reading the game and played under some good coaches. They have expressed similar thoughts to above through numerous discussions although last time we spoke was before this season. Other teams targeted Mahoney successfully for years and after teams make ground through the middle or get quick play the balls, it opens the field as edge defence start compressing leaving our outside backs with to much ground to cover.
Everyone can see that our coaching is 1 dimensional and have commented on it relentlessly. It is clear that either we lack tactical changes or the players don't follow the tactics given to them. Either way that comes down to poor coaching which a better assistant can addresss.
I asked the question is Barrett the assistant we need and I feel now he has had some time we have seen changes in dropping players and use of the bench etc which is different to previous years.
I feel BA is doing things a little more different then in the past. Seems more inclined to move on from those who are not good enough but been in the squad for a bit.
Now it seems those who were always on the border (i.e. Greig, Russell, Hands) He is trusting more.
He said it at the start of last year when people were outraged at his bench usuage and a bunch of other stuff. He said that if he does things the same as the prior year then we can expect the same result. He said ( whether it's the correct strategy or not I guess we don't know ) that by using a player less it will increase the fitness levels hence why this season ( last season) he started leaving a player on the bench unless needed . In the end we were a pretty fit squad.
So this year I would not be surprised if he's changed his mindset again. He's left a few spots vacant , has dropped his kid , has punted Waqa and is openly shopping for a player ( apparently ).
He's evolving . He has to as he's tenure at Parramatta is seriously at risk.
He needs to go at the end of this extension regardless of results.
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FM, 100% agree.! Good analysis
I think BA is an average at best coach who try's to get by with the simple basics or rugby league and in fairness it has led to a pretty decent win rate.
Hes had the luxury of a fairy stable squad and spine and hasn't really capitalised on it . We haven't built up to things like set plays off scrums or any real trick plays amongst the spine. WE rely very heavily on Moses kicking game for points and to keep us in the arm wrestle. He's really not capitalised on that stability luxury .
He also struggles with building up the squad throughout the season . We know Parra are at their best when Reg and junior are on the field but part of what you need to do in the regular season is get game time into others. Not just so guys aren't stuffed during a game or fatigue during a season but to get experience and game time into guys you may need minutes from as the season goes on. Grieg is a case in point. We needed some mins from him with Junior out... he was walking quickly in the roosters game and got 19 mins vs Tigers. There's only really been one undeveloped guy he's been desperate to get mins into over the last few years and let's not have that convo again while he's the full time 18th man.
Some fair points Snottie- fully agree abt Greig and hope he can get some more time during the season.
As for JA I am not sure he had lots of mins last season, but he got a go when we had an injury.
For me BA has not addressed or it seems as though the coaching hasn't sorted defence on the edges. To me this is one major issue, and he has been too loyal at times to players; or has less faith in others.
At times our attack is predictable as you mentioned abt the kicking - and I hope this season we see some changes as the season goes on.
We need a stronger bench and the club must have known this with the Tapau chase last yr.
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