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Tigers take on risky approach
Steve Jancetic
March 25, 2011 - 5:19PM
AAP
Veteran coach Tim Sheens concedes Wests Tigers are "dicing with death" with their new emphasis on offloads as they buck the trend of conservatism that has gripped the NRL.
With their NRL rivals falling over themselves in a bid to emulate the safety-first approach of Melbourne and premiers St George Illawarra, the Tigers have gone the other way in a bid to topple the superpowers of the competition.
The worst offloading team in the NRL in 2010 with just 10 a game, the Tigers have nearly doubled that figure with a league-leading average of 17 offloads over the opening two rounds of the season.
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"We wanted to get a little bit more second phase in our game, but you're dicing with death a little there, encouraging it too much at this early part of the season, the ball on the ground can mean mistakes," Sheens said.
"It can work against you too, we're just tweaking it a little, we want to be better that way."
The Dragons and the Storm both average in single figures for offloads, while Parramatta - with former Melbourne assistant Stephen Kearney at the helm - are coming up with just six per match.
The Eels, the one-time ad-lib kings of the NRL, came up with a staggering zero offloads in their season-opening win over the Warriors as players made no secret of their desire to emulate the style of the two sides who have dominated the NRL in recent years.
But Sheens fears imitation could spell doom for other sides in the competition, with the Storm and Dragons possessing two of the stingiest defences in the league.
"Second phase is an important part to break up a good defence and the Melbourne and St George defences are well known for being very strong," Sheens said.
"To beat sides like that I think you've got to have a little bit of second phase in your game."
With the added dimension to their attack, the Tigers could emerge as the most potent offence in the game with Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah pulling the strings at the ruck.
Farah denied the added emphasis on offloads would lead to a more haphazard style, claiming the new approach could produce more controlled attacking opportunities.
"With us, the reason we probably don't offload as much is because we play before the line … you could probably say that trying to offload is being more conservative by taking the ball into the line," Farah said.
"We're not talking about silly offloads, just throwing it out the back, but clear chances where you can get your arms free, just promote the ball and try and break down team defences that way."
Steve Jancetic
March 25, 2011 - 5:19PM
AAP
Veteran coach Tim Sheens concedes Wests Tigers are "dicing with death" with their new emphasis on offloads as they buck the trend of conservatism that has gripped the NRL.
With their NRL rivals falling over themselves in a bid to emulate the safety-first approach of Melbourne and premiers St George Illawarra, the Tigers have gone the other way in a bid to topple the superpowers of the competition.
The worst offloading team in the NRL in 2010 with just 10 a game, the Tigers have nearly doubled that figure with a league-leading average of 17 offloads over the opening two rounds of the season.
Advertisement: Story continues below
"We wanted to get a little bit more second phase in our game, but you're dicing with death a little there, encouraging it too much at this early part of the season, the ball on the ground can mean mistakes," Sheens said.
"It can work against you too, we're just tweaking it a little, we want to be better that way."
The Dragons and the Storm both average in single figures for offloads, while Parramatta - with former Melbourne assistant Stephen Kearney at the helm - are coming up with just six per match.
The Eels, the one-time ad-lib kings of the NRL, came up with a staggering zero offloads in their season-opening win over the Warriors as players made no secret of their desire to emulate the style of the two sides who have dominated the NRL in recent years.
But Sheens fears imitation could spell doom for other sides in the competition, with the Storm and Dragons possessing two of the stingiest defences in the league.
"Second phase is an important part to break up a good defence and the Melbourne and St George defences are well known for being very strong," Sheens said.
"To beat sides like that I think you've got to have a little bit of second phase in your game."
With the added dimension to their attack, the Tigers could emerge as the most potent offence in the game with Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah pulling the strings at the ruck.
Farah denied the added emphasis on offloads would lead to a more haphazard style, claiming the new approach could produce more controlled attacking opportunities.
"With us, the reason we probably don't offload as much is because we play before the line … you could probably say that trying to offload is being more conservative by taking the ball into the line," Farah said.
"We're not talking about silly offloads, just throwing it out the back, but clear chances where you can get your arms free, just promote the ball and try and break down team defences that way."
