If we ever needed Exhibit A in the case against the “attack” being employed by many of the teams in season 2013, last night’s Knights-Panthers game couldn’t have been more timely.
This was pathetic.
Yes, it must be conceded that neither of these teams are stocked full of attacking flair and brilliance, but Penrith’s play in the last five minutes should have the club’s fans searching for alternate entertainment next weekend.
Down by twp, I counted three sets in the last five minutes during which the Panthers rucked it out with one-out runs for FOUR of the six tackles. No offload, no spread, no searching for gaps in the defensive line. Nothing.
During the final set, Penrith once again played like they were in the opening minutes of the 1984 GF. Absolutely no creativity attempted.
This type of game terrifies me, and it is no salve to argue that Penrith doesn’t possess the talent to do more.
The offload should be more effective than ever, considering that opposition defences are resetting before the ball carrier is even held, so confident are they of the attacking team’s automaton-like approach with the ball.
Luckily the better teams continue to play outstanding games, as evidenced by the Broncos-Cowboys and Storm-Rabbitoh affairs.
Newcastle have no excuses. Wayne Bennett is either off-course or is not being heard.
Darius Boyd and Timana Tahu were rarely seen shadowing the ball carrier. Newcastle’s powerful forwards’ heads almost never turned laterally to check for support, preferring to die with the football with monotonous regularity.
And we’re left with 8-6 and no refund for the fans.
I’m assuming this will shift, as it always seems to in our game. Any more of this and god forbid, I might even start yearning for more scrums and the addition of a lineout.
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