I read Nathan Brown’s thoughts on NRL 2014 with great interest. It’s good to know he is keeping an eagle eye on footy down under as I feel he is going to make a tremendous contribution to our competition in the near future.
His interpretation of how the game has changed this season is largely based around ruck speed. I think many of us would agree that change has been apparent in most games to some degree.
To read more Brian Smith, outside The Roar, check out his website SmithySpeaks.
He is spot on in stating that most clubs have adopted a ‘Storm-style’ of attack in the past decade, despite lacking players with the skills of those at Melbourne. I reckon this is very ugly footy, and it can be very ineffective.
Adopting certain styles of play is a feature of Australian rugby league that has been going on for a long time. It’s one of the reasons for our country’s dominance of the world scene for so long.
If something is working in one club, whether it’s in attack or defence, other clubs are onto it as quickly as possible. In Super League it tends to happen as well, but not as quickly and almost always with a strong emphasis on the attacking aspects only.
“If you really understand how and why an attacking principle is so good you will also know how to counter-act it with your defence” is a measure of a coach when being interviewed for a position on staff.
Perhaps the Storm are feeling the heat a bit more this season for defensive reasons with this increased ruck speed.
Rather than hurting other teams through such a great dummy half in Cameron Smith, maybe they are now struggling in defence because they practiced for so long against the best dummy half. Only now it’s all changed.
Moving at that quicker speed from the tackle to marker and centre of the ruck defensive positions in 2014 is what they need to adjust to as this season goes on. They are certainly leaking plenty of points at present which is most unlike them.
I think Brownie is also right about some teams and players being more suited to taking advantage of the changes in the 2014 season. I was a bit surprised he didn’t emphasise the role of dummy halves, and their ability to capitalise on increased ruck speed.
Perhaps the Roosters are not scoring points this season as they have not adapted their attacking play. I rated Jake Friend’s role in the Roosters’ premiership as huge. But this season he seems less focused on his own attacking opportunities. This is limiting the variety of his side’s attack. It could be what’s missing to re-ignite their season.
That ad-lib type play that Brownie was pretty good at himself is being rewarded much more this season, so those players who have developed that awareness as youngsters have a great advantage in this type of attack.
Daly Cherry-Evans is definitely one of those who backs himself in his attacking play to take advantage and create opportunities for himself and teammates. The Chris Sandow and Jarryd Hayne combination is creating and executing some tremendous plays at Parramatta. Rookies Luke Brooks and James Tedecsco are generating try-scoring plays for the improving Tigers; less structured, more reactive and way more effective than the grind.
These creative players are utilising not only the improved ruck speed, but the attitude to attack that their coaches employ.
I did some stats recently on how many passes opposing teams throw in head-to-head situations. Manly, for example, made a truckload more passes than the Roosters in their big game recently.
In fact the deeper stats showed the Eagles were passing from the start of the match, from inside their own 20, from early plays in their sets and all without great risk or committing errors. The Roosters were rattled by it (penalties ensued) and also fatigued. They were out of their rhythm in both attack and defence.
Parramatta appears to have beaten both the Broncos and Roosters using a similar strategy. This is Brad Arthur and his Eels adapting more quickly to what works in 2014. But it is also what works against teams that were very good defensively in footy without much passing, but aren’t so comfortable when the attack is different to that old-school Storm style.
Any team willing to move the ball in those situations as Manly dared to on a wet night against Roosters deserves success. Let’s see which other clubs dare to be different as the season unfolds.
so so funny...
Guest
The Titan's are also bucking this trend IMO. They have been playing a to a very Storm like structure with little ambitious or creative ball movement during the first 60 minutes of each game, yet are sitting on top of the table. Could it be that the Storm's 'Big 3' are just getting a bit old? Or perhaps their slow/sluggish start is a hangover from a very long 2013 season (RLWC inclusive)? This RLWC hangover theory could also apply to the Bunnies, Eagles and Roosters. The next 6 weeks will demonstrate that fundamentally, little has changed in 2014. This being that- the teams with the highest rates of completions and stronger defensive stats will be our Top 8 Teams. Then as history shows, the finals are won off the back of tough, uncompromising defence and by the big name players putting on the big plays. Star Power. What is obvious though is that the faster ruck brings the quicker men into the equation a lot more and as result we will continue to see a much more entertaining product in 2014. I remain convinced though, that over the full course of the season a team needs to balance attacking flair with high completion rates to launch a serious tilt at the title..
Muzz
Guest
I don't think any coach has their finger on the pulse just yet.Plenty of educated guesses as there is no blue print.I think some teams have had success purely by luck.Their enthusiastic talented young bulls aren't limited by heavily structured systems and are running a muck.Where seeing big roll ons which fuel confidence and is very hard to defend against. Would agree that plenty of passing, change of angles,quick play the ball and dummy half runs are gassing and stretching Ds. My observation on the Storm - They will concede an average of approx 25 points this season and won't be able to rely on their D and grinding out wins.To counter that they will have to score around 5 tries a game which should see them play a much more expansive game than normal.A little like the last 20 minutes of Monday nights game. On the Roosters - I think Robinson is holding them back in order to peak at the pointy end of the season and avoid burn out.Things should take off on Anzac Day. Where also seeing some great combos come together.Brooks and Tedesco have some freakish telepathic thing going on.Again not limited but encouraged to push the envelope.
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
Go manly
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Hey Brian, The Bulldogs are bucking this trend as they dont pass, but maybe because they keep striking raining and or wet matches and big forwards hitting up the middle third is the way to go. Im keen to see how they go on a fast track.
BCH
Guest
The penalty count in last years GF was 5-2 in favour of Roosters (with a further penalty try to Manly) - hardly a decisive count!
Haradasun
Guest
Agree penalties are decisive. But they were the same last year. Just look at last years' grand final!!
Gonads At Large
Guest
Penalties seem to carry a lot more momentum under the new rules. When a team gets a run of penalties, it turns the game on its head. For example, it was 2 all at halftime between Penrith and Souths. The Rabbits got the first 3 penalties of the second half and suddenly the score was 12 to 2 and the game was in the bag for the Bunnies. It seems to be the pattern in games. Even a team behind by a big score with 15 minutes to go, if it gets a run of penalties then winning is achievable. Perhaps this is why the Roosters are struggling this year. The heavy penalty count against them punishes them more than last year.
haradasun
Guest
So the eels are copying Manly? Got it. Though seriously, I think coaches are evolving to develop a gameplan based around the skills of the players at their disposal rather than as I have witnessed in the past, creative players being shoe horned into highly structured roles that aren't suited to them. Maybe it's just that the new roles allow that kind of flexibility? Though having said that Dessie had a great forward passing gameplan previosuly that took advantage of the Bulldogs' and especially Graham's great ball playing skills. You would think the Warriors could turn things around as they have some damaging broken field players so it will be interesting to see where McFadden takes them
Scrubbit
Guest
That's all well and good smithy. But I want to know if you're throwing you hat in the ring for the warriors job.
Drew
Guest
I agree that it has sped up the game, however the refs also seem to be very whistle happy. This is slowing down the game in general and RL needs to be careful that we dont go the same way as union. Some of the penalties leave me scratching my head.