Rugby league is moving quickly at all times in the tactics department, with plays like the short line drop-out, holding the ball in the scrum and wingers going aerial adding to the entertainment.
I’ve got a pretty pragmatic approach to my tactics and want to eke out any (legal) advantage. Here are my top five tactics NRL teams should start using today to start enjoying wondrous success.
1. More field goals
The scenario: Your team is lousy in attack (maybe you’re the Eels) and you have the ball ten out from goal straight in front. Sure, if you’ve got a better than one in six chance of scoring, spin it wide, but otherwise – bang – one point.
2. Quick goals from right in front
The scenario: Your team has just scored (or has a gimme shot for two). Instead of giving the defence a breather for two minutes while you go through your ‘routine’, pop it over quickly and get the ball back.
3. Less one-out hitups from five metres out
The scenario: Your team has the ball on tackle two, five metres away from the tryline. Please, for the love of god stop sending your prop in with no support all the time. Every now and again, sure, but in 2018 this play is not scoring a lot of points.
4. Kick the ball dead with 30 seconds left
The scenario: Your team is in front and got the ball back deep at your own end of the field with about 30 seconds left. Most teams will run a few blokes from dummy half hoping not to get stripped of the ball and these few tackles are a waste of time.
Instead, you will kick the ball dead and wind the clock down not taking the drop-out before the siren sounds (if this sounds like the end of an NFL game, well spotted).
5. Work out your tactics before the game
The scenario: Your team has won a penalty 20m out from the tryline near the posts. Instead of everyone looking at the sideline as though it’s the under 10s, just work out a plan before the game.
Kick the goal, take the tap, I don’t care, just look like you know what you’re doing.
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