By Alan Nicolea -
July 13th 2009 @ 12:50am
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Jamie Soward – from scapegoat to NRL’s best
Jamie Soward was officially recognised as one of the hottest Rugby League prodigies in years when he led the Sydney Roosters Jersey Flegg side to a 2004 premiership victory over the Cronulla Sharks, breaking numerous records in the process.
Many thought he would be the kid to take over retiring Brad Fittler’s shoes at a Roosters club, that back then, was the most consistent NRL side in the competition.
Soward’s time as a senior player at the Roosters however was marred with injury and a lack of confidence that saw the young five-eighth crumble as fast as he rose during his teenage years.
The Roosters eventually released Soward halfway through the 2007 NRL season to join the St George Illawarra Dragons.
It was here where Soward started to find some stability at a club that was going through a period of constant change both on and off the field.
His first one and a half seasons at the Dragons proved to be great stepping stones in accomplishing his status as a capable first grade footballer.
After a 2008 off season which saw the Dragons welcome former Broncos mentor Wayne Bennett, Soward’s game experienced an evolution that many thought would arise three years earlier at Bondi Junction.
Now, Soward has gone from being an NRL scapegoat to find himself as the finest player in the Telstra premiership so far this season.
With the aid of a dominant Dragons forward pack, Soward has masterminded a Dragons attack that has become one of the most clinical in the NRL.
He arguably possesses the most dominant boot in the competition this season, as emphasised by his statistics so far this year.
Soward is the leading goal kicker and point scorer in the NRL this season, not to mention he has also produced the most kicks in play.
His performance against defending premiers the Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday afternoon also showcases why he has become the most dominant player in the competition.
Soward scored 20 points (one try and eight goals), and was constantly the architect for a Dragons team that is probably experiencing its best run of form since its merger back in 1999.
Although many will argue that Soward’s terrific form is based on the great forward by the Dragons, players such as Darren Lockyer, Brad Fittler, Andrew Johns and Matt Orford all benefited immensely on the back of great go forward themselves.
Indeed Orford ending up winning the Dally M award and a premiership last season, playing behind a pack that still features premiership stars Brent Kite, Glenn Stewart, Anthony Watmough, Josh Perry, Adam Cuthbertson and Jason King.
Indeed one suspects that Soward may just find himself replicating Orford’s efforts and receive a Dally M medal and a premiership ring before season’s end.
If he does lead the Dragons to their maiden grand final win, no doubt a NSW Origin jersey will also follow.
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Mushi said | July 13th 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
If you look at the 15 players with 100 kicks or more in general play two things stood out for me.
One that he takes on the line as often as Prince and Thurston, and gets greater yardage. Now that needs to be taken with a grain of salt given the dragons forwards have been a better.
The other was his defence. His tackling % actually put him above similar players and yet he cops a consistent beating for his tackling. Here’s the drum just about every natural half is typically a poor tackler because they get targeted on the burst by bigger guys.
More importantly though, all the statistical analysis I’ve done over the last few years suggests the teams which have the best defence (ie fewest points scored per game) aren’t the teams which tackle the best (though if I had better stats my gut feel is that cover tackling would prove important – still not the half/five eights role) instead they are the ones which gain the most metres by runs, kick returns and kicks.
By this measure soward it can be argued that he is actually the best defensive player at his position given. But it depends if our definition of defence si making tackles or stopping points…
alan nicolea said | July 13th 2009 @ 10:47am | Report comment
Mushi you raise good points about his defence. Indeed it is not all but tackling but also his terrific positioning which has allowed him to defuse countless grubber kicks, chips and bombs from the opposition. Soward always seems to be at the right place at the right time, evidenced by the numerous counter attacking raids the Dragons have put on this season. They did it against the chooks last week and Soward did it again against Manly. Indeed many give Soward’s defensive game a hard time due to the fact Inglis put on a marvellous fend against him in round 1 this year to score a try. But those Soward doubters obviously must miss the point that Inglis himself possesses the best fend in the game. He can beat any player in the NRL let alone Soward 8 times out of ten with that magic fend of his.
Tom Alexander. said | July 13th 2009 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
Age or size shouldn’t be an issue. Alan Langer if i remember correctly was 17 when he made his debut at the cauldron, the QRL seems to believe, if you are good enough you are old enough.
Mushi said | July 13th 2009 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
Langer definitely wasn’t 17 (just looked it up then, was just shy of 21). The other thing is I think Langer is a very poor comp for sowrad given langer was short but actually relatively stocky for a half back.
Skull said | July 13th 2009 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
I think the improvement in his game is doen to the way Bennet has him positioned in attack especially on the last tackle. He is usually about 15 metres behind the dummy half so has a mountain f time to get his kick in or if someone rushes out of the line to put on pressure he has the option of running it. Very much like how Lockyer plays.
Soward is also benefitting from having Hornby playing in his rightful position each week instead of fullback one week then half the next etc.
As much as it pains me to say, this is a very good Saints team this year, but as always there is going to be a question mark against them until they get results in the big end of season games
Mushi said | July 13th 2009 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
He was a 17 yo first grader which might be why that stuck out for you
alan nicolea said | July 13th 2009 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
Skull
Indeed the Saints were great in 2005 and 2006 yet they were ambushed by eventual premiers the Tigers and the Storm respectively. When the finals come, its a whole different ball game, and its one the Dragons are yet to master. In saying that, they have a different look about them this season that bonds well for premiership success.
westy said | July 13th 2009 @ 11:21pm | Report comment
Soward was the highest point scorer in the U/20’s at the Roosters. Remember it was the Roosters who did not serve him well. Soward has always had the goods just not the opportunity until now.
Tom Alexander. said | July 14th 2009 @ 12:12am | Report comment
Gotta give some credit to Bennett, he seems to have a way with players where he manages to draw the best out of them. he also gives a lot of blokes a second chance, Sailor and Costigan are good examples of that.
Terry Kidd said | July 14th 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
I saw a couple of games Soward played in first grade at the Roosters and liked what I saw then although it was obvious that he lacked confidence. Injuries obviously took a toll but I was astounded when the Roosters released him in 07. Soward just needed someone to believe in him and Bennett has obviously told him that he is the play maker so get out there and do your stuff …. the results have come, the confidence has grown. I also like the support he has from his peers in the team, they all say he is a seriously nice bloke, that says a lot for respect and team harmony.
I think Bennett has done well for the Dragons and Soward. Did you notice on Friday night him speaking to both Soward and Hornby at halftime? The Dragons were a different team in the 2nd half but both those blokes run the side. Try watching Hornby in both attack and defence …. he is constant talk. I think Bennett is using both of them brilliantly …. Hornby the communicator to organize, Soward the gifted playmaker to run the offence.
IMHO we are seeing the premiers and the Dally M winner right now.