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There’s been a lot of media hype about Newcastle’s tactics of hitting opposition halves late, and hard. A lot.
Even here in NRL-remote Adelaide, it’s making the back page of the papers. And yes, even here, they are questioning what the NRL should do about it.
I’m sure one Mr J. Thurston, and one Mr P. Wallace will agree to hit a ball player late is a bit of a dog act. But, and this is a Sir Mixalot big but, it is legal for now, and it’s not something new.
Is it safe to have your 110kg-plus blokes running hard at an 80-odd kilo bloke, and belting them hard, after they’ve played the ball? Not at all. Is it fair? Never has been, and never will be. But it is smart, and it does work? Newcastle have proved yes, it does, by going 4-0.
That, according to many stats gurus, means they’ll be playing finals footy, and might actually win the comp.
I’ve wondered how’d they’d go if they weren’t allowed to use that tactic, and I’ve figured they’d have still won all four, but maybe by smaller margins. Penrith, even with Peter Wallace being smashed around, looked lost without James Segeyaro and Jamie Soward, and Api Koroisau looked like he was having trouble gelling.
The Cowboys are up a certain creek, in a sinking canoe, without any paddles, and could be beaten by that bloke Sonny Bill Williams ‘boxed’ in the NRL Fight Night a few months ago.
What’s new about forwards singling out playmakers for extra attention? Nothing. What should the NRL do about it? Nothing. However, should the teams feel it’s an issue, they should either strengthen their playmakers, or give them protectors.
Gorden Tallis, Shane Webcke, Corey Parker and Sam Thaiday were never far away from Darren Lockyer. They always ran interference, and often scored after too many defenders drew a bead on Lockyer only for him to throw an awkward pass or quick kick their way, knowing he was about to be sat on his backside.
Coaches should be saying, “Righto, they are going to single out our 6 and 7 for extra attention, so 1 and 9 need to come up in the line and be more creative. Take away some of the playmaking load, so if they do get hit, and injured from those hits, we’ve still got options.”
Hell, using Penrith as an example (they are my team, after all), I’ve no idea why Matt Moylan, Koroisau and Tyrone Peachey didn’t combine and run rings around the Knights; they clearly have the skills. Even Lewis Brown can fill in in the halves.
There’s really no excuse for any team to sulk about playmakers being hit, late or otherwise. I have to give credit to Wallace and Ivan Cleary for not griping about it, and complimenting Newcastle and Rick Stone’s tactics, because, to quote, “They worked, didn’t they?”
I can’t wait to see the Knights try it on the Bulldogs. Josh Reynolds will either snap and punch on, or have a blinder of a game and prove if you don’t let it get into your head, it’s a dodgy tactic that only works if you let it. And if you think James Graham will let it go, you’re daft.
Or the Roosters. Sure, Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney might crumble under those tactics, but, with their hulking forward pack, do you really think Jarrod Mullen and Tyrone Roberts will be left alone, or Beau Scott himself?
It won’t be too long before some team sits Scott and Co. on their rear before they get the chance to belt my playmakers.
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