Where did it go wrong ? A promising start , lots of positive talk, best pre season ever, the hard nosed new approach etc. YES, injuries have really hurt us.
My observations are simple :
No thrust out the back with HOPPA. We are starting our sets on the back foot and find it hard to recover from there. Our wingers dont have the ability to take us over the advantage line so this places pressure on the forwards to make that advantage line, hence the dropped balls, forward passes and pressure passes. Opposition kickers are putting Hoppa into the corners as all good kickers do and that creates the optimal defensive position by jamming in and hitting the A runners. Last year, HAYNE would always beat one or two and this would allow the set to spring from there. HOPPA's lack of pace and ability to beat a defender puts us in a terrible position to start our set. I think ROBINSON would give us more flight and speed but he is not particularly strong and is more of an open field runner. He would be great in jagged lines.
We are not tactically effecient. WE are playing ' our game " which is fine if you dont make mistakes, defend well and have points in you. However, using almost the same game plan week in week out is not the answer. Teams are wedging in and putting pressure and we are trying to go around rather than through teams and this creates issues like intercepts and drop balls. Love to see horses for courses tactics that are catered for each team. Each team we have played has given us a window of opportunity to beat them. However, we stray from that opportunity and revert to the same tactic of trying to go around teams. Maybe when SEMI, TAKA and ROBBO are on the flanks you can go that way but certainly not with MORGAN, FALOU and Co. The better teams with line speed such as Broncos, Roosters and Melbourne will kills us and pressure us into the forced mistakes. Another thing, we seem to arm wrestle for 60 minutes per game and when we need to maintain patience and control we revert back to the old ways and it all goes pear shape.
EDWARDS, Jo PAULO were bis losses IMO. The big popper created pressure and because he hits the corridor hard - PEATS and IDG created from there. MANNAH does create any sort of pressure but does have a quick play the Ball. Darcy wont bend the line back. The thing about EDWARDS was that he creates opportunity becuase he attacks on the outside of shoulders and has size and speed. He doesnt run over the top of players he aims for their outside and that creates space. He has a beautiful passing game too when given opportunities. A massive blow losing him.
The MORGAN experiment is a failure. He offers us nothing. FALOU also is not quick enough between the ears and feet to match it with the quality Backs like JENNINGS, ROBERTS & co. These two are time bombs are their total ineptness at reading defence places pressure on the whole line as it creates runners coming out of the line to stop the ball going out wide. Our good defenders are defending wider to compensate and this creates pressure on the inside middle defenders. The fast play the balls then break up the pattern further. CHAMPION would have commanded a greater defensive backline by his presence but that is now a distant memory.
What is the answer - I dont have one. But I am not clearly not alone. I think we need to play more direct , more percentages, more tactical. The great Brian SMITH was a master at tactical advantage. Who would forget how he beat a star studded Broncos team multiple times with pure game plans. Something that appears to be non existant here.
Blood is in the water and the sharks are feeding on the dead carcass.
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Agreed! We are currently fielding a team with too many non-NRL standard players. Consistency & mental toughness is lacking severely. Players like Morgan, Joe Paulo, Folau, might be ok periodically but can't do it on a week in week out basis. I'd make an offer to Nate Myles; Beau Scott might be 30 but I also think he can add to the qualities we are currently missing.
lets quit our day jobs and all become coaches :) Thats why we are on this forum
Great analysis by the way :)
Would I get a $500K contract for being on this forum? I'd take it haha :)
Opinions are like arseholes - we all have one Adnan. Having coached a bit in my time just my thoughts. Thanks for yours.
I better send him my details haha
Here's an idea BA and it will cost nothing.
Drop Seffa and De Gois. Bring in Fa'oso and Tep onto our bench move Robbo to fullback and Hoppa to center. Its not hard to make those changes. Don't just stick and pick every single week. Its fucking boring as all fuck and obviously not working for you.
Also buy some freaking speed. Whatever Roberts is on double it and make him our fullback.
i dont think robbo is strong enough to hold out attacking players. He does look quite slim
However he is stuffing our set plays with his poor speed.
Hahaha Ill give you A for effort Frankie
Is there any chance you are Top Dawg? lol
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