The Chad
Well-known member
Just for something a bit different to the credentials of Utoikamanu etc.
One thing I've noticed these last few weeks in particular, but over the course of the season, is that our forwards are generally doing lower hit-up counts & for less metres than the opposition.
I think last night might highlight one of the significant reasons why.
When the Tigers force a kick at the end of a set of 6, our first 3 hit-ups following are nearly giveaways.
Bula, who I will defend every week, isn't a power runner & presents the only real threat on early hit-ups after a kick.
Staines, and most in particular last night, Lobb, do not generate any real metre gains on their 2 hitups either.
Which means that, by tackle 4, whoever the most energetic of our forwards might be, gets to run into the opposition teeth from somewhere between our 20-30m mark. 2 overly difficult forward hitups followed by a kick, if we are lucky, somewhere around halfway.
That just doesn't offer any momentum.
Now, if I'm going to defend someone, I have to be critical as well. This is where I believe Adam Doueihi lets the team down most. I think he needs to take that 2nd or third hitup & attack the line with his size & speed combination that Staines doesn't have & that Lobb just cannot generate. Olam does this when he is on the field, acting like a suedo-forward. Doueihi needs to do the same.
But while we are at it- this is where Sezar & Galvin could shine. Instead of being a cardboard cutout attack & trying to do what everyone else does- Sezar & Galvin could have space to attack. Run at the line. Look to draw Bula in on support, or Staines & try to use his speed more.
If we cannot generate consistant attacking metres through generic hitups through smaller or slower players- STOP TRYING TO DO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES.
The Tigers didn't win in 2005 playing like everyone else. Why has the club fallen into the cookie cutter style of nearly every other club, when we don't have the same type of personel?
Whatever the plan- more return metres need to be found, and quickly. I believe Turuva WILL help with that.
Where I will repeat myself- we do not win any physical battles, in attack or defence, but most importantly in defence, particularly through the middle. Very rare to see our forwards STRONG enough to put another player on the ground in a one v one type scenario. We are more often than not 3-4 players in & sometimes getting dominant.
We need stronger players. More physically dominant. Not bigger. Not faster. Not harder running. Stronger. Guys that stop the opposition run. Asserting dominance through the defence in the middle. Exactly the way JWH, Collins & Radley do for the Roosters.
If losing Utoikamanu means the club adds one or 2 more rugged, hard head players that inflict damage- I'm ok with it.
Bateman & to a degree Sam Fainu are our best 2 forwards for this right now. Klemmer has it in him. Pole & Sione Fainu are ball players & gap runners. Twal is an interesting mix of the skills needed. Seyfarth is potentially the best middle we have for this kind of thing.
We lack a Bryce Gibbs, if you want to put a name to it. But he had O'Neill, O'Donnell, Heighington etc dishing out hits as well. That is where we constantly lose. The opposition run through our middle quite easily, particularly as the game goes on.
I could put names to the guys I'd suggest, but I'm sure you all have your own ideas on who could be those guys.
Anyway- that's my observations & thoughts on why we see what happened last night.
One thing I've noticed these last few weeks in particular, but over the course of the season, is that our forwards are generally doing lower hit-up counts & for less metres than the opposition.
I think last night might highlight one of the significant reasons why.
When the Tigers force a kick at the end of a set of 6, our first 3 hit-ups following are nearly giveaways.
Bula, who I will defend every week, isn't a power runner & presents the only real threat on early hit-ups after a kick.
Staines, and most in particular last night, Lobb, do not generate any real metre gains on their 2 hitups either.
Which means that, by tackle 4, whoever the most energetic of our forwards might be, gets to run into the opposition teeth from somewhere between our 20-30m mark. 2 overly difficult forward hitups followed by a kick, if we are lucky, somewhere around halfway.
That just doesn't offer any momentum.
Now, if I'm going to defend someone, I have to be critical as well. This is where I believe Adam Doueihi lets the team down most. I think he needs to take that 2nd or third hitup & attack the line with his size & speed combination that Staines doesn't have & that Lobb just cannot generate. Olam does this when he is on the field, acting like a suedo-forward. Doueihi needs to do the same.
But while we are at it- this is where Sezar & Galvin could shine. Instead of being a cardboard cutout attack & trying to do what everyone else does- Sezar & Galvin could have space to attack. Run at the line. Look to draw Bula in on support, or Staines & try to use his speed more.
If we cannot generate consistant attacking metres through generic hitups through smaller or slower players- STOP TRYING TO DO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES.
The Tigers didn't win in 2005 playing like everyone else. Why has the club fallen into the cookie cutter style of nearly every other club, when we don't have the same type of personel?
Whatever the plan- more return metres need to be found, and quickly. I believe Turuva WILL help with that.
Where I will repeat myself- we do not win any physical battles, in attack or defence, but most importantly in defence, particularly through the middle. Very rare to see our forwards STRONG enough to put another player on the ground in a one v one type scenario. We are more often than not 3-4 players in & sometimes getting dominant.
We need stronger players. More physically dominant. Not bigger. Not faster. Not harder running. Stronger. Guys that stop the opposition run. Asserting dominance through the defence in the middle. Exactly the way JWH, Collins & Radley do for the Roosters.
If losing Utoikamanu means the club adds one or 2 more rugged, hard head players that inflict damage- I'm ok with it.
Bateman & to a degree Sam Fainu are our best 2 forwards for this right now. Klemmer has it in him. Pole & Sione Fainu are ball players & gap runners. Twal is an interesting mix of the skills needed. Seyfarth is potentially the best middle we have for this kind of thing.
We lack a Bryce Gibbs, if you want to put a name to it. But he had O'Neill, O'Donnell, Heighington etc dishing out hits as well. That is where we constantly lose. The opposition run through our middle quite easily, particularly as the game goes on.
I could put names to the guys I'd suggest, but I'm sure you all have your own ideas on who could be those guys.
Anyway- that's my observations & thoughts on why we see what happened last night.
