Huge difference between Seyfarth or anyone in the front row missing tackles or not slowing down the play at contact vs a halfback not being able to tackle.
I just wonder, LB we really trained him up not to be a turnstyle and get his defense under control. Well he did, but he never developed as a halfback.
Ofcourse we should expect our halfback to be able to tackle when needed. At least hamper the guy a bit till more defenders can come.
Ofcourse we don't expect our halfback to be in the wars like Liam Fulton or Nigel Plum... Tommy R was a once only. Man Nigel Plum... I hate to think how he is going in retirement.
We do need our halfback focused NR1 on kicking, positioning the team and leading the attack.
Yes there are hours where they can up their defense. I just want them doing the halfback job first and getting the tackling right second.
There’s no difference . Each has a job to do . The only allowance is on contact and losing ground . But actually initiating first contact with your shoulders , and giving your teammates an opportunity to help you effect a tackle . Sorry but there’s no difference .
Seyfarth dropping off tackles after getting a hold of them is also unforgivable .
These are standards . The things you walk past are the things you accept . If you make allowances for one person you make individual allowances for others .
People make mistakes . And no one should be crucified for mistakes as shit happens . But I’m not talking about mistakes I’m talking about technique .
People bring up Reynolds . But Reynolds knows he needs to jam up early and limit the time and space of the guys running at him . You always see his edge move up quickly . And when they don’t he gets exposed . But he’s learnt to get up early. . Madden has to do the same.
As for we need our halfback doing one thing or another . That’s nonsense . The game is 50% defence . He needs to simply not be a liability in defence . Thats literally the standard . Of which he’s not meeting . And it shits me to be honest how many people are willing to make excuses and allowances because really when they see him they see something familiar and it’s reassuring . “Conventional half” .
I couldn’t give a shit about that personally . It’s nrl . The best League comp in the world . Everything you’re saying is Sydney Cup level . At nrl the expectations are and have to be higher. I think a centre who is comfortable at defending at right centre like averillo , and really a confident non injured toa , should help here .
I’m huge on defence . I don’t mean big hits . I mean moving up getting your body weight lower driving through your arse , initiating contact , getting a hold of them , holding him up , allowing the second man in to collapse around the ball , third man in to get his legs / torso , spin him on his back , wrestling him on the ground driving your weight into his sternum so he can’t move , looking up at the ref to say get him off him twice . Then get up.
It doesn’t always mean your going to not get driven back as first contact , but if you initiate first contact , and at least look to have some control over the ruck , the blocked around you can help with the rest. There’s a couple of guys who forget thier technique under fatigue , which is understandable , I never made it to nrl or even cup , all I’m saying is to improve consistency around this from guys like madden and Seyfarth even Fonua and Sione is the only way this team can do damage in September and October .
