First of all i did not state "defence does not win you games" i stated that it is over exaggerated/over hyped in many instances. You have to treat each teams performance and look beyond the simplistic point of view, yes sometimes it is defence other times it is not.
Like i stated a good defence is primarily a good attitude and made great with good proactive structures with fast line speed and not staying back on your heels sliding all the time with the outside backs. Manly have had a good attitude for 5-6yrs and our defence has been one of the better well structured defences in the NRL setting structures and standards for others to follow.
The only concerning issues with our defence in my opinion was the size,mobility and age factor of our squad that really struggled under fast intense periods with fatigue and plugging up holes around the middle, both have been addressed this year to my liking. Our mobility and punch with our go forward is more direct and relentless this year also with added depth more leg drive and explosiveness in line with what i have stated in the past, Toovey is on the right track in this department great recruitment.
What I'm referring to with our attack is it's lack of clinical execution during our dominant stages in the early exchanges in the past and still evident.(but i can tell it has been worked on which is the encouraging)
Over the past few years many times we have dominated the start and struggle to crack a fresh defence.(will always be a challenge breaking fresh defences but the great attacking sides do)
I would rather be 10-0 after 20mins going into half time at 10-0 than 0-0 at 20mins and 10-0 by half time as to me if you can cut through a defensive line early it shows your attack is too good for even the oppositions fresh defensive structures.
With all the ball the Tigers had even in a rain soaked game they never looked like breaking our defence, yes our defence was excellent but the attack was nothing special. Some people will say in a general sense not just relating to this game that our defence made them look bad and i totally agree other times it is the combination of both.
If the Tigers cracked our great defence a few times it would have added pressure to our squad to perform, pressure increases the chances of more mistakes rushed execution and can lead to dominant field position and more points.
Attack is not just about the red zone but is everything with the ball in hand from good direct go forward good completion rates good kicking games and kick chase etc etc and we are not helping ourselves obviously in that department.
I'm just referring to though about our early attacking times in the red zone that needs to be more clinical with better structures and straighter line running.
For example after all that defence yesterday in the first half the crap play going through Brent Kites hands where 99% of the time he throws a second man play and in auto pilot it eventually goes to Taufua even when it was not on lacked composure and building pressure after all that defensive effort.
