Carrigan’s leg speed means he hits the line so hard and his late footwork allows him to wedge between defenders. Very effective as you suggest.
What’s also interesting about athleticism, is what it can do for a team’s defence. Brisbane and Penrith have really athletic and mobile forward packs, that cover the ground quickly in defence, alleviating pressure around the ruck. We all know ruck speed means the edges can be exposed, as the line struggles to set and defenders get sucked into the middle. The two benchmark sides rarely have these issues because their middles are so effective in defence.
I’ve been watching the Dogs closely to see how they go with a smaller, leaner pack. They still have some issues with their halves, but this smaller approach seems to have helped their defence. I still think they’ll miss the finals, but i believe their defence has improved because they’ve got a lean and athletic pack.