First of all I don't think he should be dropped. The impact on the team (considering how close they seem as a group) would be too negative and potentially come out in other areas of our game. They seem to want him in the team and want to back him. So back him we should.
The problem is backing him will achieve nothing. There is nothing we have seen, absolutely nothing to suggest he will fix this spiralling/floating bomb issue.
I wonder if we just challenge them and get the captain to quote the rule book re the wall.
'If two or more players form a wall (side by side) next to the play the ball and don't allow the
opportunity for a defending player to move directly towards the player in possession, the referee
will penalise for obstruction.'
We would need to rely on Penrith having two blockers before clearly puts them up. I honestly can't think of any other way to beat them.
If a captain is clear with their challenge reason and quotes the rule book surely they can't ignore the rule.
Replies
Pressure Cleary and its game over.
We have seen in SOO what happens when you put lots of pressure on him.
We saw in the first finals game what he did to us when zero pressure was applied.
The problem is the players have worked so hard on avoiding a staggered defensive line. You can literally see it in our line and their movements how switched on they are when it comes to this. I wonder if now telling them to run out of that line will confuse them haha. It's a fine line and not as easy as just do kick pressure. Cleary is just as capable of breaking us apart if he sees some space between our defensive line.
The issue BEM is that Riff are one step im front of that rule, there men "two man blockers" are actually offset on an angle. Technical yes but the rule actually states side by side. The way the riff do it the marker must avoid the first one, and then weave at the wrong angle between the two or go around him which gives Cleary all the time in the world. Now they do take it a step further and the second man actually starts to move outwards on an angle if he suspects the marker is going to run around him, it makes the runner have to take another step or two to go around him. Very clever and all within the rules.
The pther way is someone out of the line rushing up but hey Cleary and Luai will tear us a new one if we leave any gaps in our line.
I think the answer is Gutho takes the right wing bimbs and the centre bombs, Sivo everything left of centre. Waqa s job to get behind Gutho to mop up defensively or take the first hit up.
The other alternative if Opacic is fit, Bailey plays Right wing.
I am all for Simonsson playing centre if Opacic isn't fit but Simonsson on the wing spells disaster.
Blake dropping a couple of bombs is nowhere near as destructive as Simonsson rushing in off his wing and leaving clear air to the try line.
Penref are very good at blocking for cleary but when Yeo does it he had a tendency to stick his leg out to put the chaser off. I would be tripping on that leg and taking the dive.
It is what it is, all we can do is ensure Waqa does plenty of catching practice this week in readiness. Apply plenty of kick pressure to Cleary (something that was noticeably absent in the first week of the finals). Get Gutho to help out as best he can. And if things go to shit with Waqa make the necessary personnel changes. Everyone knows what's coming.
Name me a winger that can catch them bombs ?
what about a fullback - Gutho went alright.. Sivo didnt drop one either.
I'd say to him to make an attempt if he drops it it's on the team to defend it if he let's it bounce and they score that's on him.
But yes pressure pressure on cleary
I agree.
If he drops the bomb and loses possession that's on him. If in the ensuing plays they score, that's on the whole team. Defend your mistakes.
Blake may well drop a bomb 20 metres out from our line but how many short goal line drop outs do we fail to regather 10 metres out from our own try line.
two wrongs never make a right mate. Catch the ball from bombs and Riff do not have any opportunity to score. Dont underestimate how much dropping those bombs hurts our team on the scoreboard. You are asking them to defend a full set up the park then race back and defend another set in their attacking zone straight away. When we should have the ball.
Make no mistake mate. It is imperitive that our back three either catch those bombs or have a plan to let them bounce with players behind the ball. Gutho and Sivo appear fine - Waqa does not. When the ball goes up if Waqa is under it the boys must get back , they should not trust Waqa to do his job in that situation.
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