Our forward pack vs. Storm pack

[Tommy Magpie]

Our forward pack have been called lightweight, weak, soft, etc. This never gets said of the Storm who are considered tough and uncompromising, and provide a solid platform for their backs. But you look at the packs man for man, and we seem (mostly) to have the better players.

**Props** - I would have Woods and Galloway over Bromwich and Norrie. Woods is the best young prop in the game. Bromwich is very good, but so is Galloway on his day. Norrie is a toiler.
**Hooker** - Smith is the best in the game, but Farah is next best.
**Backrow** - Hoffman better than our two, but Harris is a newby.
**Lock** - Blair was a star in the Storm pack He is better then Hinchcliffe (but has struggled to show it in the tigers pack)
**Bench** - I would take our Buchanon, BMM, Pettybourne, Bell/Thompson over the Storm bench of Ryles, Setu, Vave and Moors. Ryles is too old. Moors couldnt get a start with us.

So overall, the Storm have a better hooker (but we dont lose anything with the world's second best in Farah), and Hoffman is the better back-rower, but other than that we are better man for man. So why are they perceived to be a superior pack.

Is it better coaching, do they play for each other more, are they stronger mentally, are our players worse than we think they are? If you put our pack in Storm jerseys, what would other teams think of them?

 

[BenjiMagic96]

Our backrow is just over rated…Anasta...Blair....

 

[pHyR3]

Blair is far from overrated, he was considered a massive flop last year. And I believe he has begun to rectify that, he put up quite a few tackles and if he got a few more hitups he would be alright.

But, I have no idea why storm's pack is so much better, or considered better. Perhaps they play to their strengths while we have kept a similar plan to when we DID have a far stronger forward pack with heighingon, gibbs, fifita and ellis.

I get the feeling that the players are convincing potter to do things a certain way because that's what they're used to…hopefully now potter can do his stuff.

 

[Adman]

They are so good because every player in the storm team focuses on their job and their job alone. Together, they work as a single unit with each player performing their duty perfectly, which in turn makes the overall storm machine so powerful.

Team effort.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

You can compare Centres/Wingers/Fullbacks against Centres/Wingers/Fullbacks on a one-on-one basis, but from 6-13, it is all about the Team Work/Structure.

Melbourne have a good Forward Pack simply because they work as a Unit… Each individual knows when its there turn to hit it up and it is usually executed like clockwork. Add to that, opposition defences cant rest against Melbourne as they always have bodies in motion.

We appear to have a plan, and have an idea where we want it to go, but we don't necessary know who is going to do the work?!

 

[stevetiger]

We have Fulton and Anasta starting at the moment, This was never going to work over the course of a season. It might work sometimes.

I think our pack can be really good if we play one of Fulton and Anasta from the bench. To me that should be Fulton not Anasta. Anasta goes to reserves.

 

[andrew 474]

after last monday night our pack may be changed in its starting line up and bench by the coach but i have a feeling the players would be very embarrised by what happened and play it real hard this week , Penrith had a win but we need to win , i think they will step up

 

[Basil_Tiger]

Yeah,big one v Penrith even after only 1 round.Stating the obvious but the next 2 games may define our season,if we don't beat the Panthers & Eeels and then cleaned up by Manly & Storm its going to be a long long year and will need a super effort to make the 8.

 

[tigerbenji]

Must agree BT the next two games will probably define our season, hope there is a big crowd @ Campbelltown on Sunday & they get behind the Tigers.

 

[TIGER]

They are steered better they work as a pack in both defense and attack. They're kicking game is a lot better which helps massively. The sooner the kicking duties are completely taken from Benji the better we will go he simply is hopeless.

 

[palms]

Simple…the direction and structure they receive from Cronk. They only have to focus on there job because Cronk (and Smith) tell them exactly where they have to be and what they are building up to as opposed to our play which generally seems to be off the cuff except for the odd second man play. We also run one out which puts a massive target on the boys heads and it is easy to shoot out of the line. The opposition defense doesn't have to make any decisions which is why we get so many shooters coming at our forwards and why we drop so much ball from heavy impact.

 

[happy_tiger]

Do you think the confidence in having Bellamy as a coach and Slater ,Smith,Cronk and Widdop steering you around the park helps

The other point is every player knows his role and it is drilled into them until it becomes second nature

Bellamy simplifies the game to the umpteenth level . Unlike some coaches who turn Rugby League into brain surgery

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

You can compare Centres/Wingers/Fullbacks against Centres/Wingers/Fullbacks on a one-on-one basis, but from 6-13, it is all about the Team Work/Structure.

Melbourne have a good Forward Pack simply because they work as a Unit… Each individual knows when its there turn to hit it up and it is usually executed like clockwork. Add to that, opposition defences cant rest against Melbourne as they always have bodies in motion.

We appear to have a plan, and have an idea where we want it to go, but we don't necessary know who is going to do the work?!

You cant compare Melbourne period.
Belly Ache is king.
This is a champion team not a team of champions.
Lets see what he does with this years roster.
They are robots Tiger Watto.
They are a machine.
Wests Tigers we are a football team.

 

[innsaneink]

I'd take Bromwich in an instant…Harris looks like hes got the goods...Id take hinchcliffe over blair for utility value
Of the bench Id keep pettybourne and swap the rest
chalk and cheese

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Harris does look the goods.

 

[Goose]

Playing with the best organising and kicking halfback in the comp and the best organising hooker in the comp helps.

They finish their sets amazingly with cronk, and normally start them amazingly with Slater, this makes the forwards job infinitely easier.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

the point being- they're no name forwards really. In other words the Op is saying that our forwards are better on paper than Melbourne's. Exclude Cronk & Slater. Just the forwards.

 

[innsaneink]

Playing with the best organising and kicking halfback in the comp and the best organising hooker in the comp helps.

They finish their sets amazingly with cronk, and normally start them amazingly with Slater, this makes the forwards job infinitely easier.

To an extent …it IS a team game afterall

Processes.

If the first step in the process isnt achieved, (in our case - go forward in attack & dominating in defense) the rest is all the more difficult...there are plan B's & C's but theyre usually more intricate, diffcult and high risk.....its a very simple game when its all done correctly.

I think Cronk Smith and Slater games would diminish behind our pack, where I reckon Miller Farah & Moltzs game would be soooo much easier

 

[happy_tiger]

Harris , he has a rugby background doesn't he ??

 

[Goose]

Harris , he has a rugby background doesn't he ??

Yep

most Kiwi's do!