user118245
Well-known member
Prayer
Wests Tigers - Defence - How to fix
- Thread starter Spartan117
- Start date
balmain boy
Well-known member
Fitness. Our scrambling defence was good first half but they were too tired to do it in the second half.
The same game plan for the past 15 years still works against us. Pin us deep, win territory and we can't win.
The same game plan for the past 15 years still works against us. Pin us deep, win territory and we can't win.
Speed2burn
Well-known member
Line speed
If you meet them you can beat them. Give them no room to move
If you meet them you can beat them. Give them no room to move
watersider
Well-known member
Yeah, but you can only set up line speed with dominant tackles and far too often on tackle two or three we have defenders falling off tackles and opposition pushing through the tackle. You can't get line speed or do anything defensively if you don't have strength in the contact, particularly those early tackles. They bulldozed us and we clung on. We actually did a very good job of clinging on, but this is no recipe for winning games.
Yes pole is not currently a decent 1st grade player. Maybe you bring him on for 10-15 minutes of impact running, but he simply can't handle the defensive work yet.
The Bulldogs missed tackles are because of the structure of their defence. They often have a player shoot out of the line putting immediate pressure on the first receiver. This shooter is usually easily beat and therefore a missed tackles is recorded each time. However they slow down/confuse the attack, often the ball is tipped on to a lesser player (either in playmaking ability or someone not moving forward on to the ball). Whilst ideally the shooter would make the tackle the reality is they are more there simply to disrupt the attack and force the rest of the defensive line to move forward. Their missed tackles don't result in line breaks and 'scramble'.
Compare that to our missed tackles where it is so often a straight forward miss and linebreak conceded. They are not equal, and it is structure more so than attitude that is the difference.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
yeah.. you nailed it … depressing to think
Newcastle played poorly that first half…but eventually managed to hang onto the ball enough in the second to get the two tries for the win …
It’s the same every year, we’re smaller, not as strong, and can’t dominate tackles.
It’s not sustainable to be scrambling every game. We scrambled prey well last night. But that’s just covering up missed tackles and poor contact.
I don’t know how a club can never get basic first up contact right
It’s not sustainable to be scrambling every game. We scrambled prey well last night. But that’s just covering up missed tackles and poor contact.
I don’t know how a club can never get basic first up contact right
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
Had the worst fragmented night's sleep with thoughts of how to prevent so many tacklers losing grip of the opposition it has always been a problem help me out Jolls, Vicious or Bat it's just doing my head in.
orange&black
Active member
Looking at our backs in Galvin, AD, Faataape, Mason they are all either young, small, slow, or not particularly strong. First contact is often simply not tough enough against guys like Best, Marzhew, Gagai, Ponga etc
This was the difference between the two teams. It was obvious before the season started. When we release Klemmer they must get a centre with speed. Also hope Makasini can make the leap later in the year. Otherwise we will struggle against fast teams.
I agree but I'm more concerned about how easily we get carved up the centre third.
Pole is just an incompetent tackler though often gets himself where needed. Twal is lazy at marker and provides no inside pressure. That is 2/3 starting middles that are not good enough. Our back rowers don't tie in to cover their inside shoulder further breaking down the middle whilst Da Silva still struggles with the physicality.
NZTiger
Well-known member
tbh, the only way I can see the Tigers getting some wins this season is if they can take on that '05 motto of 'if you score 30 we'll score 31'. The attack wasn't very clinical & hopefully with the new signings, it will get better....big hope.
Defence is going to take a lot longer to sort out given we short of class in some areas, we are going to have to rely on effort, desperation & belief for a while yet....
Defence is going to take a lot longer to sort out given we short of class in some areas, we are going to have to rely on effort, desperation & belief for a while yet....
Why does our team look smaller against others. Always feel like our team gets dominated.
Line speed and hard aggressive hitting. People give the Dragons crap but their line speed and ability to rip in defence is just what we need.
orange&black
Active member
Good question- Dragons are a bigger , stronger side in most positions than us. Teams like them and the Raiders have regularly smashed us. I expect it has a lot to do in recent times with the age and lack of NRL experience of many of our players. A lot have not even had much time in KOE cup against other men, only playing against boys in their age groups.
With a couple of exceptions I think we only look smaller. Why we look smaller is because we can't defend so most the time in most games the opposition runners have the momentum going into contact making them look more powerful than our retreating defenders.
Line speed and hard hitting matters but it can only work if the defensive system is working well, otherwise you are retreating and in no position to up the line speed or attempt a hard hit.
My biggest concern is that most of the squad don't seem to know their assignment. As an example I often (and recently) highlighted Twal as a lazy defender. The question however Is he actually lazy or has he not been coached where he should be working to?
I personally put it down to coaching. I don't care if it is Marshall, Morris or senior players to blame. The amount of players that come through this system and consistently miss their assignments in defence is to many for me to not think it is a coaching issue.
Your right. Tbh I never noticed Twals defence around the ruck much. Great one on one defender but like his attack can't move laterally very good.
He shouldn't be in the 13 anyway. Need a decent lock, a 2nd row and two good centres. That takes care of the defensive abilities of the players but in regards to the system I have no idea. I do know the players arnt on the same page. The line is all over the place. Is that because they are unfit, lazy or what? The Newcastle backs consistently had a straight line that was up in the face of our outside backs. They had their inside shoulder facing the Tigers attack.
I honestly think we just need a few better players. The system will work itself out if we have players that arnt reserve graders which we have at the moment
Been saying it for years - even when we’re in front, it never looks like we’re on top without the ball.
Always looks like we’re just holding on, and fragile.
scramble had its moments - but shouldn’t be scrambling for most of the match!!
Tucker
Well-known member
Yes this does seem our only hope.
Lots of offloads and everyone keep alive.
This won’t win you a gf in this era. It may get you into the finals(and given where we have been that would be great) but most likely end up 9th.
