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Fox Sports Stats show Wests Tigers are NRL's most attacking team
By Martin Smith
foxsports.com.au
April 09, 2010 EXCLUSIVE: Wests Tigers are one of the form teams in the NRL and figures compiled by Fox Sports Stats show that Tim Sheens's men have a serious case of white-line fever.
The game-breaking ability of Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah is feared by every defensive line in the competition and the numbers show that the Tigers' ability to cross the stripe is unparalleled.
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“ The Tigers ability to score a try from anywhere on the field is unrivalled. Seven of their 22 tries this season have been scored from further than 50 metres out from the try line. ” – The Tigers can cross the stripe from anywhere The Tigers have scored 22 tries in four matches so far this season, the most in the NRL.
They also have three players on the top-10 list of try assists, with Marshall (five), Tim Moltzen (four) and Farah (four) statistically some of the most dangerous players in the competition.
16 of their 22 tries have been finished off by their star-studded backline, with Marshall the top try-scorer with five.
The Tigers ability to score a four-pointer from anywhere on the field is also unrivalled. Seven of their 22 tries this season have been scored from further than 50 metres out from the try line, which was illustrated by the two length-of-the-field efforts against Canberra in round four.
Even more concerning for opposition sides is the news that hulking winger Taniela Tuiaki may be just eight weeks away from a return. The injured winger scored 21 tries in 2009 but while his return will add even more firepower to the Tigers' backline, it will create a selection dilemma for coach Sheens.
Tuiaki’s preferred position is on the left wing, which Lote Tuqiri has made his own since returning to the NRL. Tuiaki's return may force Tuqiri to make his anticipated switch to fullback, which will relegate the versatile Beau Ryan to the right wing.
The attacking style of the Tigers is in contrast to the competition’s current ladder leaders and 2009 premiers Melbourne Storm. Despite boasting the likes of Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Cooper Cronk in their side, the Storm have scored only 11 tries so far this season, half as many as the Tigers.
But Melbourne’s rock solid defence has been as mean as ever in 2010, conceding just six tries in four matches compared to the 17 let in by the Tigers.
Unfortunately, a match-up between the NRL's best defence and the competition's best attack is still months away, with the Tigers and Storm not facing each other until round 25.
Until then, keep an eye on West Tigers and their stunning backline. They might not have the discipline or the defensive steel of the Storm, but the Tigers will always score tries - and plenty of them.
By Martin Smith
foxsports.com.au
April 09, 2010 EXCLUSIVE: Wests Tigers are one of the form teams in the NRL and figures compiled by Fox Sports Stats show that Tim Sheens's men have a serious case of white-line fever.
The game-breaking ability of Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah is feared by every defensive line in the competition and the numbers show that the Tigers' ability to cross the stripe is unparalleled.
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“ The Tigers ability to score a try from anywhere on the field is unrivalled. Seven of their 22 tries this season have been scored from further than 50 metres out from the try line. ” – The Tigers can cross the stripe from anywhere The Tigers have scored 22 tries in four matches so far this season, the most in the NRL.
They also have three players on the top-10 list of try assists, with Marshall (five), Tim Moltzen (four) and Farah (four) statistically some of the most dangerous players in the competition.
16 of their 22 tries have been finished off by their star-studded backline, with Marshall the top try-scorer with five.
The Tigers ability to score a four-pointer from anywhere on the field is also unrivalled. Seven of their 22 tries this season have been scored from further than 50 metres out from the try line, which was illustrated by the two length-of-the-field efforts against Canberra in round four.
Even more concerning for opposition sides is the news that hulking winger Taniela Tuiaki may be just eight weeks away from a return. The injured winger scored 21 tries in 2009 but while his return will add even more firepower to the Tigers' backline, it will create a selection dilemma for coach Sheens.
Tuiaki’s preferred position is on the left wing, which Lote Tuqiri has made his own since returning to the NRL. Tuiaki's return may force Tuqiri to make his anticipated switch to fullback, which will relegate the versatile Beau Ryan to the right wing.
The attacking style of the Tigers is in contrast to the competition’s current ladder leaders and 2009 premiers Melbourne Storm. Despite boasting the likes of Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Cooper Cronk in their side, the Storm have scored only 11 tries so far this season, half as many as the Tigers.
But Melbourne’s rock solid defence has been as mean as ever in 2010, conceding just six tries in four matches compared to the 17 let in by the Tigers.
Unfortunately, a match-up between the NRL's best defence and the competition's best attack is still months away, with the Tigers and Storm not facing each other until round 25.
Until then, keep an eye on West Tigers and their stunning backline. They might not have the discipline or the defensive steel of the Storm, but the Tigers will always score tries - and plenty of them.
