Should Opacic and Blake swap?

Is it worth for BA to consider swapping Tom Opacic and Waqa Blake. I honestly believe this could be a good option. Let’s consider both attacking and defensive aspects.

Attack:

Blake and Fergo have no real combination in attack, contributing to why Fergo took forever to score last year. So separating them in attack should not make many differences. Hopefully, moving Opacic there will somehow help Fergo's attack.
Similarly, Opacic and Sivo have no real combination in attack. When Opacic was named next to Sivo, everyone wondered if this would affect our lethal left side attack considering how many times Jenko set up Sivo. While Opacic doesn't provide Sivo this service, the way our left side attack, Opacic only runs as a decoy which Blake can do. Gutho and Sivo is the main combination down that left edge, so it will still reman lethal.
Therefore, I believe swapping our centres around wouldn’t do any harm to our attack, but only potentially improve it. D Brown and Moses also haven't developed any real combination with their centres.
When thinking about the aerial targets, there will be 2 on each side. Sivo and Blake would be the target on the left side whereas Matterson and Fergo will be the target on the right side.
Also, I think D Brown, Blake and Fergo are the fastest at the club. So swapping Blake and Opacic would provide speed on both flanks as opposed to just one.

Defence:

Sivo, Blake and Moses defensive edge.

Pros:
- Blake and Fergo are no longer defending together. Blake defended very well during his time at the Panthers and also Rabbitoh’s’ final (Without Fergo). Whereas Fergo defended pretty well with Niukore. So hopefully, splitting the combination of Blake and Fergo will help with both individual’s defensive game.
- Blake who has been a poor defender of late will be less involved in making defensive decisions since most teams attacking down the other edge.
- Sivo’s main flaw in his defence is how compressed he is, which leaves the wing open. But I don’t think having Opacic or Blake inside of him will make any difference in that area, unless Opacic (Jenko previously) guided him heaps in defence. But generally speaking, I love how Sivo defends as he is pretty good at trusting his centre and also follow the defenders inside of him. For example, if Opacic jams in or slides, Sivo will do the same thing. This will greatly help Blake, because Fergo and him were on different wave lengths regularly. One would jam in while the other one is sliding or vice versa. It happened in one of the Broncos tries and another line break in round 1 and a couple times against the Warriors. I honestly, believe Fergo and Blake are incompatible with each other.
Cons:
- In the last 2 or so years, it been obvious that Blake has struggled to defend. So, him and Moses together could cause some problems as Moses himself is vulnerable (although improving his defence).
- Blake and Sivo are not the best at reading defences.

Fergo, Opacic, D Brown defensive edge

Pros:
- Opacic, who is a better defender than Blake will be more involved in defence because majority of teams favour attacking teams right edge defence.
- Hopefully Opacic’s ability to defend well gives Fergo the confidence to trust his centre in making the correct decision. This may mean Fergo himself doesn’t jam in or leave his wing open.
- Having D Brown and Opacic defending together to combat an opponents lethal left side raids would be so good.
Cons:
- No real cons with those three defending together on the edge because Opacic is a better defender than Blake in every aspect other than aerial ability. While Blake is faster, Opacic puts himself in a position where he doesn’t need to be explosive of the mark to defend.

First off, when at the riff did Waq a play left or right centre? This is what has me mystified as he is said to have been a good defender with the rif, which makes me wonder why he has dropped off in the way he has. Also who were his wingman there and the other side centre and wing?

Opi is doing his job well enough, a look at his eels profile and then to his stats, show a pretty fair rating, 10 games & 4 tries scored, 87.4% tackle efficiency, average running metres 94mtrs. Nothing to snort at but compare with Waqa

DEFENCE TACKLES MADE 29 MISSED TACKLES 9 TACKLE EFFICIENCY 72.5

AVERAGE RUNNING METRES 87 TOTAL RUNNING METRES 175 All these are his 2 games stats. How far off Fergs is he? Considering injury and time out of the game he is still to reach NRL fitness levels.

I doubt very much whether Fergs will change his game plays, which to me is the big issue, maybe if Opi does end up on Fergs inside, he could be strong enough vocally to put Fergs in his place. Which I believe the club seriously needs to look at his positioning. Strictly speaking from what I have seen, Fergs leaves his wing to much rather than play to the wing outside Waqa, has not appeared to have been that bad with Marata at 4.

Sivo interestingly has the following stats TRY ASSISTS 0 LINE BREAKS 12 TACKLE BREAKS 41

TACKLES MADE 28 MISSED TACKLES 4 TACKLE EFFICIENCY 78% quite close to Waqa in a couple of areas, but has played all games this year.

Looking at the comparisons, Waqa all things considered for this season has not been that bad on the paper details. If we move to Fergs, we would see a lot of extra K's in his running but a lot is not from his wing position, which leaves his inside man to make up for his wingers missing in action from that side of the field.

The net result from your input and what I am seeing really shows that Fergs is likely the cause of much of Waqa's problems. As I aske regarding him at the Riff and where he's at now? why the drop in abilities?

Maybe the swap sides for Waqa and Opi could well be a big plus but would like to know what position at other clubs, 3 or 4, he's doin quite well on the left side and can read the play quite well and backs up well which comes out in try scores. A swap could work but it may also be a pull down if he's left to play in the same setup as Fergs is now.

Would not hurt to have the swaps and trial, but if Fergs continues his abandoning of his wing spot the way he has, will not help his cause nor the players on his inside.

I personally see Fergs as the primary liability in the backs atm.

Replies

colin hussey May 18, 2021 at 10:11pm

First off, when at the riff did Waq a play left or right centre? This is what has me mystified as he is said to have been a good defender with the rif, which makes me wonder why he has dropped off in the way he has. Also who were his wingman there and the other side centre and wing?

Opi is doing his job well enough, a look at his eels profile and then to his stats, show a pretty fair rating, 10 games & 4 tries scored, 87.4% tackle efficiency, average running metres 94mtrs. Nothing to snort at but compare with Waqa

DEFENCE TACKLES MADE 29 MISSED TACKLES 9 TACKLE EFFICIENCY 72.5

AVERAGE RUNNING METRES 87 TOTAL RUNNING METRES 175 All these are his 2 games stats. How far off Fergs is he? Considering injury and time out of the game he is still to reach NRL fitness levels.

I doubt very much whether Fergs will change his game plays, which to me is the big issue, maybe if Opi does end up on Fergs inside, he could be strong enough vocally to put Fergs in his place. Which I believe the club seriously needs to look at his positioning. Strictly speaking from what I have seen, Fergs leaves his wing to much rather than play to the wing outside Waqa, has not appeared to have been that bad with Marata at 4.

Sivo interestingly has the following stats TRY ASSISTS 0 LINE BREAKS 12 TACKLE BREAKS 41

TACKLES MADE 28 MISSED TACKLES 4 TACKLE EFFICIENCY 78% quite close to Waqa in a couple of areas, but has played all games this year.

Looking at the comparisons, Waqa all things considered for this season has not been that bad on the paper details. If we move to Fergs, we would see a lot of extra K's in his running but a lot is not from his wing position, which leaves his inside man to make up for his wingers missing in action from that side of the field.

The net result from your input and what I am seeing really shows that Fergs is likely the cause of much of Waqa's problems. As I aske regarding him at the Riff and where he's at now? why the drop in abilities?

Maybe the swap sides for Waqa and Opi could well be a big plus but would like to know what position at other clubs, 3 or 4, he's doin quite well on the left side and can read the play quite well and backs up well which comes out in try scores. A swap could work but it may also be a pull down if he's left to play in the same setup as Fergs is now.

Would not hurt to have the swaps and trial, but if Fergs continues his abandoning of his wing spot the way he has, will not help his cause nor the players on his inside.

I personally see Fergs as the primary liability in the backs atm.
- TPol > colin hussey May 18, 2021 at 11:46pm
  
  Or just have marata at right centre
Bruno Brincat May 18, 2021 at 10:28pm

Thanks for the points and info, good read.

I'm open to the idea. Points are aplenty in the comp and teams are getting their line broken at will by energetic offences and quick play-the-balls. It's not unusual to see happen, although it felt like it happened way less with Marata there.
Offside May 18, 2021 at 10:30pm

It's a no from me.

Opiacic had done a solid job and Sivo needs a strong defender inside him.

Blake played left and Right at the Riff its not about if can defend you done play 100 plus games of 1st grade without knowing how to tackle. It's his defensive reading that get's him in trouble.

I like many think his future lays on the wing with Penisini the likely long-term centre
Poupou Escobar May 18, 2021 at 11:28pm

And have Blake defending outside Moses again? No way. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Eelectric Power May 19, 2021 at 8:18am

Never weaken a position to strengthen another.
Coach Jim May 19, 2021 at 4:23pm

This weeks game will show how Waqa is going this season. Manly will be attacking and kicking to that side all game.
Nitram May 19, 2021 at 5:20pm

I wouldn't be surprised if this happens mid game as we scramble for ideas if turbo has listened to des in their video sessions.
MontoEel May 19, 2021 at 6:41pm

No, just wait until Niukore has completed his suspension and put him back and send Blake back to the Riff
Blue Eel May 19, 2021 at 9:32pm

Crystal Ball

Waqa v Manly - 7 missed tackles , 3 penalties / six agains/ given, tackle efficency 74%. 3 or more tries let in on his right edge, race out of the defensive line 2. Bumped off tackles 2. Out of position in defence 3. Arm grabs / clean air tackles 1.

Following week the question should be " Should Penisini debut and swap Waqa back to Regies.