Want some more stats that matter?
So far this season there have been seven shutouts. I’ll do the math, that’s one per round and we still have five games to go this weekend as I write this.
So what you ask? Well, we had five over the whole 2018 season and three in 2019.
Then an explosion in 2020 as we had ten over the 20-round season at a pace of one every two weeks or 16 games. Granted we might not have another shutout all the rest of season 2021 but I’m betting we do and could very well eclipse last season for frequency. Is it becoming easier to hold a team scoreless?
Well I wouldn’t have thought that was the ‘man of feathers’ (thanks Roy, thanks HG) plan when he introduced a method to speed the game up.
Shutouts are absolute proof of one team’s dominance over another in a game and used to be very hard to achieve considering rugby league teams have approximately 40 possessions per game – that’s a lot of sets to score off of. Further proof of the yawning gap in talent, coaching and application among the NRL clubs? Perhaps.
One other measure has been discussed in media circles lately and that is the points differential gap. As at Week 9 of this season we have five teams who have scored over 200 points in game so far and seven teams who have allowed 200 points scored against them.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
This could blow out to be ten teams allowing 200+ points over the first nine weeks depending on results over the rest of the weekend.
This might be further proof of a very recent trend. As best as I could figure going back over the previous six seasons up to Week 9 (so as to compare apples) this is the plus 200 and minus 200 ratio. 2015 2-2, 2016 5-5, 2017 4-4, 2018 4-5, 2019 4-6 and 2020 4-6.
It might not mean much but there is a slight upward trend in teams allowing 200+ points over the first nine weeks of the season, which I think we would agree is not a good look. 200 points against represents 22 points per game. That’s an awful good head start to overcome.
Just wondering if all that research into the need for six-again to be implemented considered this as an outcome.
Just so you know, my team is sitting pretty and managing quite well through all this. I just think the changes are favouring an unexpected few at the expense of many.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's still an extremely tough game though.
Walter Black
Guest
Agreed, and this is why I think that the problem isn't with the 6 again just that as well as speed, we need something that returns some of the toughness to our game.
GregM
Roar Rookie
well I did mention Rob Andrew & JW, 2003 was almost 20 years ago now. Ok ok - their number 10 has now learnt how to pass the ball))
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Oh please ????
criag
Roar Rookie
It's not just the teams. The goalposts have constantly been changing. New rules were hastily brought in that benefitted teams with certain types of players. Like I've said before, the NRL used band-aid solutions to address wrestling but they ignored the real problem.....WHY do teams wrestle? The quick play-the-ball strategy evolved in order to exploit the 10 metre rule and players had a hard time just keeping onside. Could you really blame them for wanting to stall the play-the-ball? The 6-again rule has exacerbated this, with defenders constantly back-peddling. Now it is hardly anything to go from one end of the field to the other in one set doing nothing special other than playing the ball quickly and catching defenders offside. THIS IS NOT WHY THE 10 METRE RULE WAS INTRODUCED! It was introduced to encourage creativity. Go back to a 5 metre rule and players would be forced to be creative, instead of just taking advantage of the extra space in this way.
GregM
Roar Rookie
because they got an Aussie coach
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I think your assessment on English rugby is extremely dated mate. They haven’t played 10 man rugby for decades. As a recent example the last time they toured here they ran rings around us.. won all 3 tests. They also beat the All Blacks pretty handily in the RWC semi last year.. not through kicks either.
GregM
Roar Rookie
agreed, but it is the English mentality, they had been known for 10 man rugby since the year dot (why else did the outside backs not need to wash their white jerseys after a game when standing outside Rob Andrew?), and the forwards followed it to a T – win the line-out, rumble the maul downfield, get the penalty – 3 points, & when they cannot breach the defense drop goal, another 3. Do that enough times & suddenly the opposition have to go for tries when in kick-able range to bridge the gap (much like when playing the AB’s but they score tries as well, the AB’s go bang bang bang 3 tries in 5 minutes). JW could do more but it’s what he is remembered for. To be honest – I think Martin Johnson deserved more accolades esp in the GF – huge ball winner, & the backs can’t do squat if the 4wds don’t give them good ball
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The penalties and lectures completely stopped the game and destroyed the hard won momentum. Now it's just play on.
elvis
Roar Rookie
You know what, I like a strategic penalty. I like the wrestle on the goal line as one side tries to slow the other up. I like that a team can weigh up the chance of a penalty vs giving it physically to the other side. Now any team that doesn't want to play tv friendly pseudo austag is 6 agained out of the game.
Muzz
Guest
Some games feel like you're watching the Under-20s.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
At the risk of being pedantic.. the Jonny Wilkinson trope about him just being a kicker is such a myth. As a long suffering Wallaby fan I watched Wilkinsons career with envy and awe.. he was a complete five eighth who did far more than just kick field goals. In 2003 RWC , it pains me to say the England side were by far the best in that competition and deserved to win it. by far more than the scoreboard suggested.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I don’t recognise the problem that you have described… i thought that the game was supposedly being slowed down by the wrestling itself not penalties and lectures. In fact most league fans complained about penalties not being awarded. If you’re happy with the result good for you.. I’m miles from being convinced that these new rules are positive
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Absolutely
Emcie
Roar Guru
Probably didn't word my comment the best. I meant that the shut outs are an extension of one sided halves as a result of momentum (just two halves that go in the same direction instead of one each way). But yeah, definitely an issue that would appear to be a direct result of the newest rules. If even the best teams struggle to organically regain momentum it's clearly not right
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Wow only 4 restarts and 6 penalties. That suggests a big impact in this match. It's weird I am feeling sorry for Cronulla and Souths. I don't think I'll be able to watch the Dragons v the Drizzle.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
Are one-sided halves further proof of the effect of the Six Again era being detrimental? As in team A receives opening kickoff and with field position and a couple of six agains dominates. Then team B gets the second half kickoff and momentum shifts? If that's the case, welcome to the under 7s !!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Average play the ball speed is highly deceptive. The defence used to slow the play the ball down most when they were under the most threat of conceding a try. They were hugely rewarded by the ref stopping play and giving a lecture and a penalty the attack didn't want, while the reorganize the defence, to do it all again. Giving the defence this power was leading to frustrated players and refs , now it's play on and good attack reaps the rewards they deserve. Fabulous stuff! Nobody can accuse the Storm, for example, for winning games on the back of wrestling. They are showing the way with the full range of skills and so are the Pennies.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Or just plain lucked out
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
I'm with you on the strip rule, it does seem a little unfair and my team is pretty good at it.