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.
tim
Guest
7- If your team is trailing, call in a bomb threat so the match will be replayed. 8- Have a couple of your starting players run to the opposition bench, pick up a player and carry him onto the field so your opponents lose two competition points for having 14 on the field. 9- When a scrum is forming, two players should carry a large tree stump onto the field and drop it on the opposition's forward pack. Six HIA's right there. 10- Teams should have a octogenarian who can take a tackle on their bench. If they're leading, they can wind down the clock by a good 10 minutes just with a slow play-the-ball by the octogenarian. They would also be responsible for feeding any scrums.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
6/ Instruct your team to NEVER kick the ball on the fifth tackle No grubbers, bombs, 40/20s, clearing kicks ever again. Instead, on the last, Instruct your players to run at the defence, and in the last split second, duck down so the tacklers catch you high -- with an arm, shoulder etc. Remember, any contact with the head is illegal, so a penalty will be given. Repeat this tactic the whole game, you are guaranteed to win.