Some like their use in rugby league and use them to gauge how a player is performing, whilst others often believe that they can be a misrepresentation of sorts and thus ignore them. I'm in the first category obviously, and believe they play a big role in the scheme of things. Doing my own stats especially, means that I appreciate the impact they can have on providing evidence or making a relevant point.
Everyone knows my stance on statistics and how beneficial they can be in an argument, as a reference point or just in general, and so I thought I'd take the opportunity to ask the following questions in relation to stats.
1. What specific stats do you want to see posted to then analyse them further either now or in the future?
2. When it comes to game-day blogs next year, would you want to see an additional blog created that is a statistical analysis of whatever statistics are relevant to that particular game (milestones (or even soon-to-be milestones), tries scored, player stats, etc) or would you rather see it incorporated as a part of the usual game-day blog itself that goes up?
3. How often would you want to see general statistical updates across the site pertaining to players, coaches or the club in general?
4. Are you in favour of stats being provided for players outside of the club when their names are raised or mentioned in the numerous blogs on the site?
And I ask from all of you, please be sensible out this. I'm asking because it seems like there's a genuine interest from some to know more about stats and have them take on a bigger role in game-day blogs - either combined or standalone - so I want serious answers to gauge specific statistics to focus on or areas to analyse further, so I'd appreciate serious undertones and genuine responses to the questions above or to any aspect of NRL statistics in general.
Replies
Ricky : The great French mathematician Simon Laplace, who advanced the science of statistics in many ways said: statistics are only used where there is no certainty. If things were certain there is no need for statistics. I would not worry too much what people on this site say. Fire away with your states remembering the above.
Robert, the post isn't so much what people may or may not say.
The reason why I put it up is that there seems to be more & more among the site that are interested to know of the statistics of our players and others across the league, and so I've put up a thread early to do whatever research is required into those stats.
And it's more to get a general idea and feel as to the specific stats that some may be after. I'll still post the ones I currently do, just after specifics from other members and how they perceive the stats that go up.
I do tend to keep an eye on backs stats like missed tackles, mistakes and metres gained sometimes I must admit.
Which is what this blog is about, in part.
To gauge the interest there is in stats of all kinds across our team and the NRL, and find out which specific areas members want focus and areas that they think may not be overly relevant.
Here is some food for thought
The best players in the game are usually the best scorers in Super Coach and Dream Team
Now go through the entire Parra Team and check results for them in positions in the overall system
You will find the likes of Example of 2 players only I could add a few more but wont.
Dud Kelly
Dud Morgan
will be at the bottom of the list for games played versus minutes played = average scores & total scores.
Trust me when I say that some of the stats you will be pulling up will have no bearing on players abilities because these can be impacted by coaches instructions, mins played, and depending on time on the field.
Example
If Paulo was to play first 20 and we are on top and making meters his stats will look good
However if we are getting pumped in the first 20 his stats will look shit
Also same
for when he comes back on 2nd spell and we are smashing the opposition = stats look good
and if we are under the pump = stats look worse.
Most of the other stats like tackles assists and runs will be similar for each player.
One of the main reason why our club will never get off the bottom without being negative is that we re-sign dumplings like
morgan and kelly even after 5 years of gargbage from them.
No matter how much they are willing to play for I would send them packing because I know what I am going to get.
Its just a shame that people only think of $$$ when it comes to resigning these Dumplings.
This is the major issue I have with our club.
Yes I know people will complain that stayed for less. "they stayed for less cause they had no offers ALA Keating"
You resign monkeys
and you get monkeys on the field, not only do the supporters end up hating on this players who have a go but It also has other implications and these are
play makers taking on 2 much because they get frustrated with the players not able to finish off simple moves or passes or score when they have a line wide open or cant find a support player.
I hope the eels replace these players and others mid season in 2016 because if you have a few players who do not addapt and learn then the entire squad ends up going well fuck it he keeps dropping balls , he wont pass and dont pass it to him because I have no faith in his ability.
The END
Statistics for individual players without surrounding or describing them in context are irrelevant in Rugby League.
If you can rate the outcome or the influence on a game of every item you are including in a statistical analysis, then they become relevant.
Sports that are individual based are different.
Swimming, cycling, golf & to an extent even cricket and baseball have merit in being analysed statistically.
Just not sports like League, AFL, Union & Soccer.
There are far too many variables for such a simplistic approach.
I will however confess to bagging Sandow based on stats to appear to win an argument. If I was arguing with myself, I would have been found out. lol
Turpy, stats must be relevant to league as ALL coaches keep them.
Ricky I think time in possession would be a good stat to keep, and imo even more important next year than this with reduced interchanges. Last year we were under 50% and amongst the worst in the league. Certainly doesn't help you in winning games with poor possession.
To your first point, it's precisely why I try to deliver some context with the set of statistics when they're posted. Making a brief analysis of what their statistics mean, how well they've played overall, areas that they need to improve on, how effective they've been in attack, how poor they've been in defence, etc.
I highlight all of those from an analytical standpoint, rather than merely presenting a set of stats and nothing more.
As to your 2nd point below, there's some things that cannot be collated or recorded within stats because it's logistically impossible.
Stats can't aim to appease the entirety of the game as there are areas that even it cannot cover, so there will always be areas within the game that remain somewhat stat-free.
Try-saving tackles or key defensive moments I can do, they are a recorded stat. But particular massive hits or line-breaks that directly result in tries, from a statistical standpoint, is a lot harder, too tedious and far too time-consuming.
But as time goes by, I'll see what different elements I can introduce to try and get as many stats possible into the analysis.
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