Technical Coach said:
All this talk about defence winning games is over-rated in my opinion, yes it keeps you in games for a chance to win but if you lack a good attack all that effort will go to waste. Defence is mostly about attitude with the last 30% being good defensive structures that separate the good from the great defensive outfits.
Manly for the last 5-6yrs have had a good attitude so generally we tend to keep ourselves in games most of the time, the problem is we don't score enough points against a fresh defensive line in the early exchanges to put pressure on teams for the remainder of the game.
You judge an attack on how well it's structures can break through a defence in the early exchanges.(most of the first half and especially the first 20mins) Putting on points applies more pressure on the opposition to risk more, it takes a load off your defensive efforts and also builds confidence in your attack for the remainder of the game.
Picking up the intensity against a fatiguing outfit and scoring points is not an improvement in attack but i will say the intensity, speed and overall energy was lacking today. Combine the above with a poor attack and you get "the grind" that should not have been the case, very disappointing and a loss we will look back on big time at the end of the season.
On a side note nothing of sharpness or variation is evident up the middle, watching the amount of off the ball work Slater does in trailing the ball carriers on top of actually ball playing at the line is impressive to watch. It's not entirely on Bretts shoulders to offer this option in my opinion but damn he needs to inject himself more.
Lovely outside in running line from Symonds though off a short ball well timed and this kind of running is what makes defences commit to making a defensive move, not just slide all the time forcing us wide.
They did score early in the first 2 games against the broncos and the knights. Dare I say it almost looked too easy for them. I was hoping this game would not replicate this again as i didnt want Manly to expect early gifted points and not dig deep
The gold coast had a lions share of the ball early, through a couple of penalties, some excellent kicks and defence that secured consecutive sets of 6 from drop outs. Its difficult to score points without the ball even with your playbook.
Its early in the season, the humidity was high and manly only had 35% of the ball and had completed a massive mis match of defence early. In this time Manly's completion rate was quite high so it was a result of sustained pressure from the titans rather than poor, structure, discipline
To be 2 nil down at the break deserves praise rather than criticism
while we would all like to see teams putting on moves from the kick off, and scoring at will through master plans perfected with the salt shaker and sauce bottle as units, the greatest coaches believe ball security and not losing a match early rather than winning a game early secures the best results
Just curiously TC, are you tim sheens or brian smith, some of your methods seem to reflect their ideas. Dare i say either will not be remembered for their results
I would love to see you rate our defence, its structure and show us some proof that defence doesnt win games. History may show its not as over rated as you claim
