The 2010 season may end with a couple of lessons for the coaching staff – “who dares wins” and “he who hesitates will not.” I wrote an article on the Roar earlier this year titled: Groundhog Season At St George Illawarra.
I was having deja vu due to the same tactics of “playing the percentages” on the back of solid defense and a good kicking game – just as in 2009.
It bothered me that last year’s lessons had not been learned. The crux of my article was based on a theory that great defense will get you to the semis, but that might just be all she wrote. If that’s all you got.
And this is not just about the Dragons.
The thing that seems to differentiate early season performances from later season is the fact that teams can rise to defensive challenges later in the season, with the natural shift in commitment and enthusiasm that comes with playing for survival or sudden death.
Defense can usually be ‘found’.
Attack, on the other hand, is another story. Good attack must be practiced and honed in game play throughout the season. You cannot just find it, it is not just attitudinal.
So, in other words, defensive advantages can be negated through sheer attitude and commitment. Attack cannot.
Teams that play with less pressure tend to play with abandon and often gather momentum at the pointy end. On the flip side, the guys at the top sometimes feel the weight of expectation and collapse under it by freezing in attack.
So some outsiders will attack freely and defend stoutly, whilst some more fancied teams will stick to the “percentages” routine and get trapped behind without a bag of tricks to resort to and without a reply.
Game over.
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The Crowd Says (5) | Page 1 of Comments
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August 8th 2010 @ 9:31pm
Rob C said | August 8th 2010 @ 9:31pm | Report comment
After today’s game with the dragons you might want to consider your position there. See I am of the position that defence wins the big games not attack. Have a look at the Roosters. Everyone raved about them because of their 5 wins in a row. Yes they blew teams away but their defense has not been great. Come up against a great defensive team and they suddenly come under pressure and look ordinary.
The dragons best asset is their ability to grind out wins. I am more convinced then ever that they are the real deal. The dragons will be premiers in 2010. No repeats of 2009 are likely!
August 9th 2010 @ 12:59am
polyglot said | August 9th 2010 @ 12:59am | Report comment
yes they were great in defense again. The full squad helped,but, but i wish as i was convinced as you. They had them on the ropes for ages and couldn’t put them away and if not for a brave effort from an injured Morris the Chooks may have scored the final try and won. Given their dominance and opportunities the Dragons should have sealed the deal much earlier, and with a more cohesive attack would have. But the signs are there for an improved attack coming. Lets hope. I appreciate your point re defense being more important, and i agree overall, even with moderate attack but with none, no. But great game of footy, eh.
August 9th 2010 @ 9:26am
Mushi said | August 9th 2010 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Based on all games played (including finals):
2006 the two best defensive sides played in the final,
2007 the first and third best defensive sides played in the final (they were 1 and 2 before the final was played).
2008 the top two defensive teams played in the grand final
2009 the top and the fourth best
August 10th 2010 @ 2:04pm
Terry Kidd said | August 10th 2010 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
I happen to believe in Bennett and he believes that the basis for a winning team is a good and effective defence pattern. The Dragons have that basis. I also believe that their attack has stuttered in recent weeks because they have been learning a few new attacking options and are yet to settle on the extra options …. God help the opposition when they decide its settled enough to unleash.
August 16th 2010 @ 9:05pm
Terry Kidd said | August 16th 2010 @ 9:05pm | Report comment
Manly found out tonight that the Dragons have a few new attackingn options plus their customary tough defence ….. 30-10 not bad for a stuttering attack against a fair dinkum finals aspirant.