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Tigers defence needs to learn how to bite
Jason Taylor - SMH
April 8, 2011
The Wests Tigers don't like playing the South Sydney Rabbitohs. The Rabbitohs' style doesn't suit them. In last year's ''Heritage Round'', the Rabbitohs scored 50 points against the Tigers at the SCG. Souths also scored 34 points against them late in the year to win in extra time. That's 84 points in two games. As I said, the Wests Tigers don't like playing the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
On the back of their performance last year, big things are expected from Wests Tigers this year with many good judges tipping them to win the premiership. The Tigers are one of the best attacking teams in the competition. Their football is superb to watch, and enormously hard to defend against. On their day, they are almost unbeatable. From time to time, however, when it isn't their day and the passes don't stick, they can become an absolute walkover for their opposition.
Tigers coach Tim Sheens is aware of this and is looking for more consistency this year. Sheens has made comments recently regarding adjustments to the Tigers' style and how he wants them to play a more controlled, patient game. I am sure Sheens doesn't want them to put the razzle-dazzle on hold permanently, but he knows the NRL season goes for 30 weeks, and you can't possibly be at your best every game. What the coach is after is for the Tigers to develop a tougher style of football that they can look to when they aren't at their best and the passes aren't sticking. He wants his team to develop the ability to win when they don't play well.
There is an old saying that ''the best form of defence is attack''. When the Tigers are on-song, this saying definitely applies. They run teams ragged when they have the ball, and regardless of how many points are scored against them, the Tigers will score more. However, on the days when they need to rein in their attack and play the patient game, the best form of defence will be just that, defence.
The Tigers are down on troops for tonight's clash. Try scorers Lote Tuqiri and Chris Lawrence are missing along with halfback Robert Lui. Meanwhile, captain Robbie Farah will play with an injured groin. The maestro, Benji Marshall, will be there but, without some of the stars mentioned above, it looks as though the patience game will be required, and defence will be the order of the day.
The Tigers improved their defence markedly throughout last year, and coach Sheens will be looking for that consistency tonight. Like their attack, however, they can still have an off day in defence. When this happens they have a weakness in the middle of the field that continuously rears its head. The problem is a combination of soft defence and poor decision-making by their midfield defenders. This allows teams to make breaks and score tries directly through the middle of the field.
Souths have the most powerful forward pack in the game, and their game plan is to attack down the middle relentlessly. That is why their style does not suit the Tigers.
Picture one from last year's 40-point thrashing is a case in point. Souths winger Nathan Merritt has run from dummy-half, and is in the process of passing the ball to second-rower Sam Burgess. Believe it or not, Burgess, on receiving the ball, ran along the line of the arrow and made a clean break through the Wests defence. Burgess then drew the fullback, and passed the ball back to Merritt, who scored under the posts. The Tigers defensive line in picture one is not working together at all. As you can see, the players on the far side have moved forward about six metres from the referee while the near-side defenders haven't moved a muscle. This was a recurring theme as the Rabbitohs made breaks at will.
That game at the SCG last year was a season turning point for the Tigers' defence. The coach implemented some decisive adjustments the following week by getting the defensive line to move forward together at speed and by improving the decision making, both in the midfield and on the edges.
These adjustments served the Tigers well right through to the end where they were unlucky not to beat the Dragons on the penultimate weekend of the season. But, this is another year, and you can't rest on your laurels.
Picture two from last week is a scary sign for the Tigers for tonight's match against the hulks from Redfern. Roosters No.7, Mitchell Pearce, simply passed the ball to No.10, Martin Kennedy, who ran straight through the Wests Tigers line to score. Yes, it was big man (Kennedy) on small man (Farah), but the lack of help from teammates was alarming.
The Rabbitohs are coming straight down the middle tonight. I know it, you know it, Souths know it … and Wests Tigers know it. Question is, what are the Tigers going to do about it?
Jason Taylor - SMH
April 8, 2011
The Wests Tigers don't like playing the South Sydney Rabbitohs. The Rabbitohs' style doesn't suit them. In last year's ''Heritage Round'', the Rabbitohs scored 50 points against the Tigers at the SCG. Souths also scored 34 points against them late in the year to win in extra time. That's 84 points in two games. As I said, the Wests Tigers don't like playing the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
On the back of their performance last year, big things are expected from Wests Tigers this year with many good judges tipping them to win the premiership. The Tigers are one of the best attacking teams in the competition. Their football is superb to watch, and enormously hard to defend against. On their day, they are almost unbeatable. From time to time, however, when it isn't their day and the passes don't stick, they can become an absolute walkover for their opposition.
Tigers coach Tim Sheens is aware of this and is looking for more consistency this year. Sheens has made comments recently regarding adjustments to the Tigers' style and how he wants them to play a more controlled, patient game. I am sure Sheens doesn't want them to put the razzle-dazzle on hold permanently, but he knows the NRL season goes for 30 weeks, and you can't possibly be at your best every game. What the coach is after is for the Tigers to develop a tougher style of football that they can look to when they aren't at their best and the passes aren't sticking. He wants his team to develop the ability to win when they don't play well.
There is an old saying that ''the best form of defence is attack''. When the Tigers are on-song, this saying definitely applies. They run teams ragged when they have the ball, and regardless of how many points are scored against them, the Tigers will score more. However, on the days when they need to rein in their attack and play the patient game, the best form of defence will be just that, defence.
The Tigers are down on troops for tonight's clash. Try scorers Lote Tuqiri and Chris Lawrence are missing along with halfback Robert Lui. Meanwhile, captain Robbie Farah will play with an injured groin. The maestro, Benji Marshall, will be there but, without some of the stars mentioned above, it looks as though the patience game will be required, and defence will be the order of the day.
The Tigers improved their defence markedly throughout last year, and coach Sheens will be looking for that consistency tonight. Like their attack, however, they can still have an off day in defence. When this happens they have a weakness in the middle of the field that continuously rears its head. The problem is a combination of soft defence and poor decision-making by their midfield defenders. This allows teams to make breaks and score tries directly through the middle of the field.
Souths have the most powerful forward pack in the game, and their game plan is to attack down the middle relentlessly. That is why their style does not suit the Tigers.
Picture one from last year's 40-point thrashing is a case in point. Souths winger Nathan Merritt has run from dummy-half, and is in the process of passing the ball to second-rower Sam Burgess. Believe it or not, Burgess, on receiving the ball, ran along the line of the arrow and made a clean break through the Wests defence. Burgess then drew the fullback, and passed the ball back to Merritt, who scored under the posts. The Tigers defensive line in picture one is not working together at all. As you can see, the players on the far side have moved forward about six metres from the referee while the near-side defenders haven't moved a muscle. This was a recurring theme as the Rabbitohs made breaks at will.
That game at the SCG last year was a season turning point for the Tigers' defence. The coach implemented some decisive adjustments the following week by getting the defensive line to move forward together at speed and by improving the decision making, both in the midfield and on the edges.
These adjustments served the Tigers well right through to the end where they were unlucky not to beat the Dragons on the penultimate weekend of the season. But, this is another year, and you can't rest on your laurels.
Picture two from last week is a scary sign for the Tigers for tonight's match against the hulks from Redfern. Roosters No.7, Mitchell Pearce, simply passed the ball to No.10, Martin Kennedy, who ran straight through the Wests Tigers line to score. Yes, it was big man (Kennedy) on small man (Farah), but the lack of help from teammates was alarming.
The Rabbitohs are coming straight down the middle tonight. I know it, you know it, Souths know it … and Wests Tigers know it. Question is, what are the Tigers going to do about it?
