I can’t be the only one who saw it.
Halfway through the seventh minute, Xavier Coates receives a crafty flick pass from Dane Gagai and finds himself in all sorts of space.
He sprints forward and flips his six-foot-four body over an invisible high jump bar, with the ball palmed in his outstretched arm.
He plants it millimetres inside the touchline. ANZ Stadium gasps, Queensland roars, and comparisons to Israel Folau are made in living rooms around the country.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
But did he need to do it?
Coates caught the ball well on the outside of his opposite number Daniel Tupou with James Tedesco flying across in defence.
He appeared to jump for the line roughly a metre out. His vertical leap was spectacular but certainly delayed the time it took him to plant the ball over the line.
Had he stayed low and pushed the ball forward it seems reasonable to assume he would have got it down sooner, a safer option with the only defensive pressure coming from the left side.
There’s no doubt it was an amazing display of acrobatics and a truly spectacular try, but it looks like Coates had much more space than he knew and didn’t need to jump like that at all.
It was a fast-paced, split-second decision but it was probably the less safe option and might have been a demonstration of inexperience – a quality he would go on to demonstrate on a few occasions at ANZ Stadium.
I can’t help but think had he put that ball down on the touchline or lost it in the air, his decision to flip rather than dive forward would have been a bigger talking point.
Still, as a Blues fan, Coates’ skill and athleticism definitely has me worried, and at 19 years old he’s got plenty of time to find his composure at this level.
Bring on Game 3!
Wayne Heming
Guest
I don’t get your point. Yes it was more risky than going in low and diving but he scored the try and in the processes thrilled his fans. Wingers scoring tries with their bodies outside the field of play are the norm. I could see your point had he boomed the try.
Aitee Vee
Guest
Agree with you big Pat . What was the point of the article? Most winger do it, clearly aware, of the oncoming cover defenses , and it don't get reported as unnecessary, until now ? How about the writer, write an article for post try somersaults, as unnecessary.?
Big Pat
Guest
For you it may be unnecessary but for us up here, it is another demonstration of PNG athleticism and pride. :thumbup:
Rob
Guest
LOL. Do you see that too. But I’ve been told Sami had been doing it also. Do they check the players sprigs anymore? Teddy slips over a lot. Ducking and diving is probably also why Blues supporters claim he gets tackled high all the time.
matth
Roar Guru
Unfortunately Sami wasn’t as clever to avoid Ado-Carr’s forearm/elbow to the face every time he was tackled.
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
Nope, he was destined for the sideline, this was necessary.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I love seeing Wingers score tries like that.
Rob
Guest
I think he might have been thinking he was going to wear a Tedesco Knee to the Mellon. He’s a fast learn I reckon. Fortunately he had time to see what was coming if he dived in low.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I could understand the sentiment if the try was under the goal posts but the wing is a whole different beast these days. I've seen more "certain" trys go begging 'cos the player got pushed over the sideline then from fumbling after a leap. And as someone in the plus 6" range, getting the ball to the ground at speed isn't always as easy as it looks, going for a forward somersault looks easier then trying to go low with limited space. I think you might be being a bit conservitive with your "20 more times" bit though
Pickett
Roar Rookie
I thought it was necessary because Teddy could have pushed him out if it was a 'conventional' dive.
mushi
Roar Guru
Um no, pretty common now that they either jump up or out over the sideline to avoid the cover defence.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
If you’d written this about Vunivalu’s in the GF, for sure, he’s a lair and unlikeable. But Xaviers an adorable young Qld fighting patriot, nothing but admiration for his game the other night.
Rubbish Surf 69
Roar Rookie
Who's making comparisons to Folau? Your maltese terrier? He scored the try. What a waste of an article.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Think you may be underestimating at what point he has to make the decision on his put down technique. If Teddy comes in shoulder first he’s every chance of getting Coates into touch if he goes low. Plus, if you’re good enough to do it then it’s the higher percentage play every time.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Diving like that takes away any chance of the defender sliding across and knocking body or legs over the sideline In the Bulldogs v Souths game late in the season, Souths’ Paulo was in for all money but the defenders managed to knock his legs over the sideline Coates’ effort probably wasn’t entirely necessary watching it in slow mo, but players train to put the ball down like that now and I’m sure muscle memory takes over
Nat
Roar Rookie
Strange article. It looked dramatic but in that split second he took his large body out of play while keeping the ball in. Now if he can do that about 20 more times in the next 5yrs...
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
I agree with you, Cameron.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Nah mate, by the time he caught the ball and faced forwards he was two steps from going over the dead ball line on the angle he was running. The aerobatics were just to keep the ball in play, and it worked.