Potential Game Plan to counteract Manly’s edge speed this weekend.
Defence
Defence wins the game this weekend. If we defend well and disrupt Manlly's attack we have enough points in us to defeat them. If we allow their attack to flow they have the capability to us.
Ruck Control
The forward battle should go in our favour this week. Manly's power forwards are out with injury; however, Bullemore and Lodge will still provide a threat and Simpkin will take advantage of any lazy defence in the middle. Control of the ruck, in the same manner as we controlled the Dogs is achievable given Manly have a less mobile pack. Controlling the ruck is the enabler; our edge defence is the key.
Edge Defense is Key
Manly have plentyof injuries; but, still spose a significant attacking threat with the speed of their outside backs and the kicking game of DCE. This is their strengths so they will regularly shift the ball or kick to their height and speed advantage.
We should use this to our advantage by applying constant inside pressure and slide defence in the middle third of the paddock to sun them out of room. A compressed defence will allow them opportunites to simply go around with their speed advantage. Defender 14, the sideline, needs to be well utilised.
The inside edge must be decisive in their engagement of the line as their commitment dictates and signals to the outside backs and Bula when they need to stup up or drift.
Disrupt Their Backline Rhythm
Manly's attack is based on timing. If DCE and Brooks are given time and space they, DCE in particular, have the ability to dig deep into the line and promote the ball at the ad line. Our line speed needs to cut time and spece and force hurried reads and rushed decsions.
We should jam the edge from the short side to force their play to follow our defnsive strategy. Api, AD and JL are critical as they will force the play and be postioned to defence agaisnt any directional changes.
Cover strategy. Middles must work off the ball and be prepared to privide cover back on the inside in case of a line break. The rotation of the edge forwards will be critical to maintain a fresh defensive edge.
Attack
In attack we need to control the tempo and territory. Our defensive strategy will put pressure on our edge defenders and our middles will not be far behind in fatigue levels. Our early set structure must be discipled to put perssere back on Manly defence and allow our edges and middles to 'rehydrate".
Build the Game with Ball Control & High IQ Attack
Discipline is key; limit errors and build the game through high IQ attack. Show them what they want to see in attack and then come back at DCE's inside shoulder. DCE's inside pressure is excellent; however, it leaves him off balance and susceptible to late changes of direction. JL/Sam F's play on Critta to get at Galvin will work equally as well against DCE.
Kicking strategy
Manly poses a fast and potent back three. Our kicking game needs to be disciplined. Kicking it too long provides broken field opportunities for their fast men to take advantage of. We either need to kick long to open field postions or only kick as far as the chase to enable a contest at recept.
Bombs to Hopoate, Saab and Turbo are not likely to be fruitful given their ability under the high ball. We should to focus on targeted kicks in an around the uprights or 3 in by flooding the kick with Bula/Taylan/AD and Sam F as targets.
Manly will probably try to limit our attack using a compressed defence due to their speed advantage out wide. This presents an opportunity to kick in behind the line and keep their outside backs from applying too much step up pressure.
Turbo positions himself on the long side so Manly are susceptible to short side kick threats. Api and JL should kick early to unbalance Turbo in order to better postion ourselves on our attacking kicks.
Leverage Manly’s Injury Situation
Manly is dealing with some tweaks: Turbo is back to fullback, Lehi Hopoate returning from injury onto the wing and their edges, particularly DCE's is fragile. This disruption to their defensive communication was exploited well by Canberra last week. We need to test, and be prepared to exploit any communication issue that is exposed during the game.
Summary
We need to be controlled in our defence, bold and play high IQ football in attack and stay focussed to win this game. With ball in hand we need to exploit the shuffled team and the coordination problem on DCE's side of the paddock. If we close down Manly's edges and force hurried decisons we can capitalise on ther mistakes to bring home the bacon on Sunday.
