I have been reading so many media outlets and watching the Fox footy shows ect, following tough losses against TOP 4 sides over the past 2 years and all opinions on how they shut Tom down - shut Manly down.
Talk is about how the opposition give an illusion of no space through the middle and push him wide, then converge.....which on theory is partially true, but not the catalyst for this situation.
I think first and foremost its about the opposition bashing us with the ball and creating "zero" attacking momentum, so by the time Tom T gets involved the defence is so well set, they can flood the area of the field Tom is set to attack.....really coming back to the "setup" of his involvement by working on a better, less predicatable go forward so the defence is not setting the terms and conditions.
The strangest part is my number 1 theory for not just the impact of Tommy T, but Manly winning more attacking space and time.....I flip the coin and call out the DEFENCE.....may seem a long shot but really feel this is where we need to lift.
Manly in these "TOP 4" games need to prioritise defence rather than thinking they cam "outscore" the better sides after beating Cowgirls or Dogs by 50 points the week before....
The line speed needs a Massive injection as does the control of tempo by slowing up that ruck, the gang tackles they copped from Storm, Souths and Penrith are in reflection, the blueprint they need to compare and inject more defensive numbers and have the opposition attack landing on their backs as more often than not are still standing or landing on fronts every tackle.
This leads to momentum and kicking on the front foot and owning the field position as a Manly side struggle 1 out from their 10m line and the calls of "Cmon Tom, do something" is a lost cause.
Tom T can and will destroy opposition with the right launching pad, but before even thinking or expecting Tom to rescue a side losing these other critical area's is a fairytail.
So in effect, the best way to help Tom, is to compete better defensively and earn better field position and mementum.....well that's my take...
Talk is about how the opposition give an illusion of no space through the middle and push him wide, then converge.....which on theory is partially true, but not the catalyst for this situation.
I think first and foremost its about the opposition bashing us with the ball and creating "zero" attacking momentum, so by the time Tom T gets involved the defence is so well set, they can flood the area of the field Tom is set to attack.....really coming back to the "setup" of his involvement by working on a better, less predicatable go forward so the defence is not setting the terms and conditions.
The strangest part is my number 1 theory for not just the impact of Tommy T, but Manly winning more attacking space and time.....I flip the coin and call out the DEFENCE.....may seem a long shot but really feel this is where we need to lift.
Manly in these "TOP 4" games need to prioritise defence rather than thinking they cam "outscore" the better sides after beating Cowgirls or Dogs by 50 points the week before....
The line speed needs a Massive injection as does the control of tempo by slowing up that ruck, the gang tackles they copped from Storm, Souths and Penrith are in reflection, the blueprint they need to compare and inject more defensive numbers and have the opposition attack landing on their backs as more often than not are still standing or landing on fronts every tackle.
This leads to momentum and kicking on the front foot and owning the field position as a Manly side struggle 1 out from their 10m line and the calls of "Cmon Tom, do something" is a lost cause.
Tom T can and will destroy opposition with the right launching pad, but before even thinking or expecting Tom to rescue a side losing these other critical area's is a fairytail.
So in effect, the best way to help Tom, is to compete better defensively and earn better field position and mementum.....well that's my take...
