I thought we did worse than the NRL.com stats show. As a team we were sixth best at both making and conceding post contact meters. Our only forwards in the top 50 players for making post contact meteres (total for the year) were Shane Lane (24th; 1002m) and Juniour Paulo (28th; 972m). However, our new recruits performed well: Ryan Matterson (12th , 1193m) and Reagan Campbell-Gillard was just outside the top 50 but has been up there on previous years. I was thinking that if we start with JP and RCG in the middle and SL and RM on the edges that should get the opposition back pedaling more and creating more opportunity for Nathan Brown and Mahoney to use their fast leg speed. But then I looked at the post contact metres per run using NRL.com stats - only available for props. I was thinking dividing by the number of hit ups would make up for players only playing a short time (or only a few games) - although this biases against players playing long minutes and having to pace themselves.
Tim Mannah was the stand out. Oregon, Kane, RCG and Paulo were all good and Alvaro and Terepo struggled. Nathan Brown also struggled - which is why his role should not be bashing the line but jumping on opportunities created by props pnetrating the line or offloading.
| Prop | PCM | PCM/run | matches | run/match | runs |
| Tim Mannah | 318.4 | 4.2 | 10 | 7.6 | 76 |
| Oregon Kafusi | 138 | 3.9 | 8 | 4.4 | 35.2 |
| Kane Evans | 682.3 | 3.9 | 19 | 9.2 | 174.8 |
| Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 835.5 | 3.8 | 23 | 9.6 | 220.8 |
| Junior Paulo | 972.3 | 3.7 | 24 | 10.9 | 261.6 |
| Daniel Alvaro | 527.5 | 3.1 | 19 | 8.9 | 169.1 |
| Peni Terepo | 287.4 | 2.9 | 16 | 6.1 | 97.6 |
| Nathan Brown | 489 | 2.8 | 13 | 13.4 | 174.2 |
Replies
Stats are interestin, Tim plays 10 games, and Terep 16, yet only adds 31 runs over Tim who rolls Terepo on the post contact metres, another why Tim was selected behind Terepo and Tepai who does not rate in the players,
Looking at the primary Props we will have next season in RCG, Evans, Jnr and Alvaro, I would be looking at having the same starting props next season in Jnr and Evens, bring on RCG as first run on for Evens at around teh 20 minute mark, and Alvaro for Jnr at around the 25mark, See how that goes as to have RCG as run on props would be great as to their power and run metres, we need one of them on for much of the match, and have Evens and Alvaro as the 2nd stringers. I would also see Kafusi as a better option than Terepo based on those states, only thing that Terepo has over Kafusi is the number of runs, but Kafusi beats him in the other areas.
Like most eels fans I love the agression NBrown gives the team. The line speed in defense and pure mongrel
However, these stats are telling. A lack of meters and the discipline becomes an issue.
I hope that he can get his form back from previous years, and balance his game and be the leader we know he can be
It doesn't take much for any player to seemingly drop off, given that NB only played basically half a season, suspension and injury, he comes out not that bad, his runs are 0.6 below Evans who has 6 more games, likewise run the rule over NB's line and you will find its not that bad really..
Outside of those points, & the demotion of Tim and the few games by Oregon, whose PCM stats don't look that bad though, the weak link in the team really is Terepo, which has me wondering where those for Tepai are?
I think the stats ar erepresentative for NB. He needs to find his niche and play to his strengths, which are not pretending to be a Klemmer and bash a set line. He needs to use his leg speed and ability to pass at the line. He will do better if our props can unsettle the defensive line in front of him.
Stats are misleading .
For instance some of those players roles runs are to take the settlers at the try lines
Again depending on which play in the set of 6 within general field position, we could be after quick play the balls rather than player trying to fight for PCM which slows down the next play
eg im sure Klemmer is one of the higherst in PCM but his play the balls generally slow and soaks up time trying to get those PCM that invariably the defence is set once he plays the ball