2013 and the changing pattern of Wests Tigers scoring plays

[stryker]

So far these are the tries we have scored this year…
Round 1 v Newcastle
Try 1 = Farah to Blair 5 meters out.
Try 2 = Marshal to Moltzen 3 meters out.

Round 2 v Penrith
Try 1 = Farah to Marshal 2 meters out.
Try 2 = Miller individual effort from 8 meters out.
Try 3 = Farah to Woods 3 meters out.
Try 4 = Farah to Woods 5 meters out.
Try 5 = Benji attacking kick for Koro try from 12 meters out.

Round 3 v Parramatta
Try 1 = Marshal to Lawrence 8 meters out.
Try 2 = Farah to Lawrence 5 meters out.
Try 3 = Ashford scores from 5 meters out.
Try 4 = Marshal catches Parra with pants down and runs 70 meters
Try 5 = Moltzen scores opportunistic try from Parras in goal area.

Round 4 v Manly
No tries.

It seems weird that apart from Marshals cheeky try we haven't run the ball from more than 10 meters out for a score. Even last year we were scoring from 40 plus meters but this year we are really struggling to score at all. Our defence has always been atrocious but at least we could rely on the fact that our attack was potent from anywhere. I hope our main men regain their confidence soon as we are looking just as poor with the ball as we usually do without it. Anyway thought this was an interesting stat.

 

[tig_prmz]

our attack has been struggling for quite a while, not just this season imo.

our attack is just really over rated, esp when marshall is not in form

 

[Peaches]

Teams are just sliding with those block plays that all the teams run and our fringe runners aren't punching hard enough. Anasta isn't a hole runner and Fulton not so much either. Murdoch Masilla can do this but hasn't been on the park too long and the centers apart from Lawrence vs Sandow haven't caused the opposition too many issues as of yet.

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[mtd]

Teams are just sliding with those block plays that all the teams run and our fringe runners aren't punching hard enough. Anasta isn't a hole runner and Fulton not so much either. Murdoch Masilla can do this but hasn't been on the park too long and the centers apart from Lawrence vs Sandow haven't caused the opposition too many issues as of yet.

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[WestsSupporter]

Argh! I hate how everybody is suddenly calling them block plays.

Allan Towle has a good point.

 

[happy_tiger]

Really easy answer to this

We are too slow and apart from Moltzen ,Special K and Teddy no one could score a try from 20 metres out

 

[Tigerpete]

Yep. All this does is highlight a lack of speed and power. A lack of ability to put the opposition under serious pressure. It relies generally on Benji or Robbie using their vision to take advantage of something they see.

 

[innsaneink]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers-coach-mick-potter-likes-to-see-a-little-flair-but-only-at-the-right-time/story-e6frexnr-1226581438158
MICK Potter doesn't want to take the fun out of Wests Tigers exciting brand of football - but the new coach says players must earn the right to play an expansive game. …...
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http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/03/30/it-takes-a-tiger-time-to-change-his-stripes/
The Wests Tigers of 2013 would be more measured in their brilliance, more selective in their choice of style over substance......
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http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/wests-tigers-coach-mick-potter-wants-to-see-his-teams-flair-but-only-at-the-right-time/story-fn2mcuj6-1226581647927#.UV3KH1dZ4ek
Mick Potter doesn't want to take the fun out of Wests Tigers exciting brand of football - but the new coach says players must earn the right to play an expansive game.

 

[Tbone]

Not only is the backline slow, but the backline movements have been so cumbersome that they haven't been creating space or overlaps even for the slow guys. On the plus side, lots of room for improvement. I thought we'd struggle in the forwards but the backs have been worse so far.

 

[Pokies]

It's not a new problem.

In 2010 and 2011 we were either the leading or in the top 3 teams for tries scored beginning from our own half.
In 2012 we regressed in this and were down towards the bottom of the rankings.

Drop off coincided with a few things:

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[Pokies]

To go with my post above-

Both centres have been way down on their top form.
Loss of good halfback whose strength was with the ball in hand
Overall backline speed

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[Paris_Cobbs]

Yes, this phenomenon was evident last season. It's worse this season because of the loss of Beau Ryan, who was always 'awake' to what Benji might do.

I agree that our three-quarters, without Koro are as slow as a wet week. Moltzen can still make a break and run. I think we might find Curtis Sironen in the centres soonish, which will help.

 

[barra]

Also 2012 coincided with Benji moving into #7\. And Utai on one wing.

But mostly I agree with the slow backline sentiments.

I mean, what team would look at our right side attack and tremble in their boots? Ayshford and Reddy are a non-threatening pairing - and for that, without Koro outside him Lawrence is easily contained on the left too.

Time for some more dynamic runners out wide. Yes, Reddy is 'safe' but in reality he's a plodder. It would be great to get some speed outside Ayshford but will he pass to him? It's great to see Blake make some metres but seriously have we ever had a more boring pairing?!

We need to threaten on both sides of the park otherwise we will continue to struggle. Koro's return will help but what to do on the right side??

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Expect more of the same I feel… once we have 4 Good Props available, I'm certain Potter will be sending them down the centre of the park to build our Sets.

Those Tries from outside our 40 were 'cream'... To be serious contenders, we cant rely on them to win games?!

 

[simonthetiger]

Its definitely a change in style.

I think peeps are reading way to much into it.

Potter wants us to get into their 20,and maintain pressure,hoping that the opposition will crack.
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I dont like it,or agree with it….....but we will have to wait and see whether it ends up working for us.

PS....if we are gonna play this style,we need blokes like BMM on early and running wide off Bunji/Farah close to the line....not our lightweight backrow.

 

[tigerlogic]

Argh! I hate how everybody is suddenly calling them block plays.

Allan Towle has a good point.

It's what they are! It's just a part of league metalanguage now.. Taught from Harold Matthews

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[jirskyr]

Can I just say this is a really good thread. Lots of analysis, different insights, no name-calling. Good reading.

 

[Demonborger]

2010 was the last season our attack was dynamic, creative and energetic. It was still ok in 2011 but losing Lawrence affected it. In 2012 it was terrible. Maybe ok against rubbish teams but against contenders it is terrible.
We don't look like we can't score against organised defense. We can't mount attacking pressure dynamically either.
There is no consistent scoring strategies that work. No even the curving away grubber is working (which it did for a chunk of 2012). How many tries early in 2012 were scored by Beau grubbering to himself down the wing?
Partially this is caused by lack of impact runners as many have alluded to, losing Dwyer, Ellis, Fafita and fit Lawrence and Tuqiri has wrecked us here.
Another problem is lose of Lui who was a third creative influence - though this can and will be fixed at some stage (if not Miller then Teddy, Sironen or Brooks eventually will, you'd think).
Additionally (and this i think ended around 2009/10 in terms of consistent presence in our team) we do not seem to have as many bodies in motion. Instead we see one off running or turning to ball inside to a forward to get smashed 3 on 1 while everyone else watches. This is a pre Potter problem too.

Recruitment takes time. Developing players takes time. But we should be seeing some structural improvements in attack. More players in motion, better 2nd phase (Teddy would help here considerably) and some patience is what we can do now. If we can't brut force away through defenses we need to isolate defenders with ball playing, good lines and numbers in key places. To do this Benji is going to have to run it a lot more than he does currently.

 

[Shooshmeister]

2010 was the last season our attack was dynamic, creative and energetic. It was still ok in 2011 but losing Lawrence affected it. In 2012 it was terrible. Maybe ok against rubbish teams but against contenders it is terrible.
We don't look like we can't score against organised defense. We can't mount attacking pressure dynamically either.
There is no consistent scoring strategies that work. No even the curving away grubber is working (which it did for a chunk of 2012). How many tries early in 2012 were scored by Beau grubbering to himself down the wing?
Partially this is caused by lack of impact runners as many have alluded to, losing Dwyer, Ellis, Fafita and fit Lawrence and Tuqiri has wrecked us here.
Another problem is lose of Lui who was a third creative influence - though this can and will be fixed at some stage (if not Miller then Teddy, Sironen or Brooks eventually will, you'd think).
Additionally (and this i think ended around 2009/10 in terms of consistent presence in our team) we do not seem to have as many bodies in motion. Instead we see one off running or turning to ball inside to a forward to get smashed 3 on 1 while everyone else watches. This is a pre Potter problem too.

Recruitment takes time. Developing players takes time. But we should be seeing some structural improvements in attack. More players in motion, better 2nd phase (Teddy would help here considerably) and some patience is what we can do now. If we can't brut force away through defenses we need to isolate defenders with ball playing, good lines and numbers in key places. To do this Benji is going to have to run it a lot more than he does currently.

Agree

 

[coopy]

it is no coincidence that our 'sizzling' attack was at its peak when we had a true halfback to offer both a realistic option to benji and provide added structure. in 2012 defence knew that benji's side was the side the ball was going to. To be effective you need to have defences in two minds

I really hope Braith steps up tomorrow night and provides the balance we need. I do think he will do a lot etter than Jacob simply on experience alone