This is just 1 factor that I feel reflects on giving away these BIG leads where you would expect us to hold on comfortably and it's happened many games in 2024..
As example, when we shot out to a healthy lead and they were on death row, a certain formula we lack, that the best teams use to dig the knife through the heart and twist it is playing direct.
We have a strength that is well known and that is speed and don't get me wrong - this is a great thing.
But the mindset to shift when we are on top and looking pretty, almost forgets the logistics of rugby league from day 1....to play through the middle and the shift will then offer more space after bashing down the middle door.
Now the important part, Penrith, Melbourne and Roosters as examples have To'o, Young, Tago, Warbrick, Manu, Teddy, pap,....who run an entire set while the forwards get back some air and punch the middle either 1 off, or dart from dummy half scoots and generally make massive ground doing this to simply setup for a good kick to win field position, or often even win a penalty with the quicker bodies and put the foot on the oppositions throat.
I know we seem to lack the punch of these other outside backs as far as metre eaters, but this is often due to the fact our outside backs run more from kick returns in general play, not from kickoffs after scoring a try....while these other teams are copping the bruises and punching through the guts, with these outside backs, we are playing pretty and shifting to the edges....yes we score the odd try or make breaks, but often like last night the winger like Lehi Hopoate is taken into touch or there's a dropped ball.
Just a thought, but really feel some of these outside men need to put hands up for a set now and then which will test the tired defenders with quicks coming at them and allow the forwards to regain gas for that next defensive set, to stop those lazy tackles that piggyback opposition downfield, along with being on the ground in back field while they play it and threaten every time from poor marker defence.
And if Seibold want to tell the entire team to stop getting "Bullied" when they are at marker would be great, they tend to let the bloke playing it walk 1-2m metres off the mark EVERY WEEK and sure it's on the ref, but hold your ground and there will be errors and penalties come our way and most importantly t,hey will not allow the line break up the guts, like the Api try last night.
As example, when we shot out to a healthy lead and they were on death row, a certain formula we lack, that the best teams use to dig the knife through the heart and twist it is playing direct.
We have a strength that is well known and that is speed and don't get me wrong - this is a great thing.
But the mindset to shift when we are on top and looking pretty, almost forgets the logistics of rugby league from day 1....to play through the middle and the shift will then offer more space after bashing down the middle door.
Now the important part, Penrith, Melbourne and Roosters as examples have To'o, Young, Tago, Warbrick, Manu, Teddy, pap,....who run an entire set while the forwards get back some air and punch the middle either 1 off, or dart from dummy half scoots and generally make massive ground doing this to simply setup for a good kick to win field position, or often even win a penalty with the quicker bodies and put the foot on the oppositions throat.
I know we seem to lack the punch of these other outside backs as far as metre eaters, but this is often due to the fact our outside backs run more from kick returns in general play, not from kickoffs after scoring a try....while these other teams are copping the bruises and punching through the guts, with these outside backs, we are playing pretty and shifting to the edges....yes we score the odd try or make breaks, but often like last night the winger like Lehi Hopoate is taken into touch or there's a dropped ball.
Just a thought, but really feel some of these outside men need to put hands up for a set now and then which will test the tired defenders with quicks coming at them and allow the forwards to regain gas for that next defensive set, to stop those lazy tackles that piggyback opposition downfield, along with being on the ground in back field while they play it and threaten every time from poor marker defence.
And if Seibold want to tell the entire team to stop getting "Bullied" when they are at marker would be great, they tend to let the bloke playing it walk 1-2m metres off the mark EVERY WEEK and sure it's on the ref, but hold your ground and there will be errors and penalties come our way and most importantly t,hey will not allow the line break up the guts, like the Api try last night.
