Fascinating stat i heard last night mentioned on 2GB, we have only held 2 teams, Newcastle and St. George Illawarra, to less than 16 points. Only 2 out of 17 games where the opposition has scored less than 16 against us. Put it in context where last year by round 18, we had kept 11 teams to 16 points or less. In 2020, though a different kind of year with COVID and shortened year, we held 12 of our first 17 games to 16 or less. 2019 where we only started hitting our stride as a club under BA, we still held 8 teams to 16 points or less. Stats show to win in the NRL you need to conceade on average no more than 14 per game.
So this our worst defensive season since 2018 by far, has David Kidwell leaving hampered that? Well not really as by the time he left we were still under what we were in prior season. It is something to keep an eye on, especially in semi's, cannot go with the 05' Wests Tigers approach in that if they score 20 we will score 21 or if they score 30 we score 31 approach, we need to pride our defence's, in last 20 years only one team has won the premiership not having a top 3 defence, the 05' Tigers. Currently there are 11 teams that have conceaded less points then us, which makes the fact we have 11 games pretty impressive. Even better that usually 12 wins was the magic number to make the 8, we have 11 wins with 7 games to go. But with 6 of the last 7 in the top 8 as we speak, that against record needs a quick overhaul, and fast.
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It's no secret the team has defensive flaws, the bulldogs a bottom 4 team have conceded less points 355 compared with us on 371 - BA is out of his depth in this department, Fitzy with less time to implement standard, systems and culture has the sharks in the top 3 defensively.
BA defensive structures have been shit always other than that one season recently where we were up there in the top 4 teams defensively.
I think players just lost concentration or don't care once we get a lead to close out teams. It's very embarrassing..
I know a lot of people say our attack is bad (at times this includes myself) but overall we are the 4th best attacking team points wise in the NRL.
It is definitley our defence that is terrible.
We sit in 12th when it comes to poor defence.
There are only 4 teams in the comp that are worse than us defensively.
They need to figure out the why and what's causing it, so they can actually do something about it. Quickly. We're running out of time.
Bottom line, to date Arthur, his coaching staff and other support staff, their sports scientists etc - and the playing group - have not found the solutions as to why we switch on and off. The Jeckl-Hyde.
Collectively, top to bottom, they are missing something causing it.
Not sure good attitude, or being more motivated, or more focused will be enough to change built in habits and things done in the process that led to all this.
Or maybe that is simply who we are and it's the best we can hope for. More of the same. Which means we'll get knocked out in week 1 or 2 unless we're really lucky.
I mentioned this a few weeks back and everyone told me i was an idiot 🤷♂️
I do not remember that John, but if you did say it great spotting.
LB , I bet that sort of diplomatic reply has been regularly practised by you . However you should remember that John B. may not be one of your primary school students Lol .
i havent noticed it so give credit where it might be due Driza.
Yes LB , I agree you should give credit when due. Do you have one of those rubber stamps with the stars on it to stamp on the back of John B. 's hand as reward for being a star spotter lol . Sorry I couldn't help myself .
Haha, John, LB, Driza, Mack - classic. Lol
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