There's a'rumblin that the game is too slow with 151 more penalties so far this year than last.
Plus the wrestle, etc.
www.smh.com.au
ARL chairman Peter V’landys will raise concerns over the speed of the game and the impact of wrestling on the sport’s most potent attacking players at Tuesday’s Commission meeting.
There is a growing feeling of discontent around the wrestle creeping back into the game in 2022, which will be explored when the directors catch up.
It comes after a report in The Sun-Herald which outlined concerns from a leading NRL coach that the game’s most exciting players are being strangled by defence and the wrestle as time-wasting resurfaces in the game.
V’landys confirmed to the Herald on Sunday that there was a concern over the trend in the opening four rounds of the season.
“We are noticing that the wrestle is working its way back into the game,” V’landys said. “The Commission has previously given an edict to eradicate the wrestle and make sure players aren’t slowing down the ruck, but it’s sneaking back in.
- because the refs are incapable of doing a non - biased job correctly, and should be replaced with turnips.
www.smh.com.au
Leading coaches are privately fuming at the way the game’s most exciting players are being strangled by defence and the wrestle as time-wasting resurfaces in the game.
It seems like only yesterday that the buzzword in rugby league was “fatigue”, as the NRL looked to eliminate the wrestle, stoppages and free up the best attacking players.
The findings are surprising and include:
■ There were 319 more runs made by players in the opening three rounds of 2021 compared to the first three rounds of 2022;
■ Total metres made were 2456 more in 2021 compared to 2022;
■ Total line breaks were 12 more in 2021 compared to 2022;
■ There were 28 more offloads in 2021 compared to 2022, indicating there are more players in tackles;
■ There have been 151 more penalties in 2022 compared to 2021 following the change to the six-again rule, which is the big difference in the way the game is being played. That’s 151 more stoppages. Each penalty takes about 30 seconds from the time they are blown to play restarting, so that’s 75 minutes extra time lost in the first 24 games of the season. There has been an average of 12 penalties a game in 2022, adding up to about six minutes of wasted time each game;
■ There were 159 six agains in the first three rounds of 2021 compared to 87 in 2022, a difference of 72;
■ The GPS data is perhaps also revealing, the document showing fullbacks and hookers are running about one kilometre less each game in 2022 compared to 2021, and halves are running about 800 metres a game less.
“It’s very early to be drawing conclusions about trends based on the data after just three rounds,” NRL head of football Graham Annesley said.
But I will now use three rounds of data to prove I am doing a great job by saying:
“However, on what we have seen so far, the average time the ball is in play is marginally up on last year and the number of play-the-balls is pretty much the same, so any suggestion there has been a significant deterioration in the flow and continuity of the game would seem premature.
- add to that, I can't do my job unless it is to find minor stats to prove I am doing a great job. I'm totally ineffectual and would quit but I like smoothies derp de derp.
“It’s also relevant to note that average game margins across the first three rounds have been closer than at any time since the formation of the NRL 25 years ago.”
The coaches I spoke to conclude that, because of the increase in penalties, defensive lines are set and the fatigue levels of players have been reduced, resulting in increased line speed. Coaches also believe the lack of fatigue is making the wrestle more effective. All of which means the best attacking players are having less impact.
Plus the wrestle, etc.
‘The wrestle sneaking back in’: V’landys worried about speed of game
The Australian Rugby League Commission boss will raise the issue this week as Cowboys coach Todd Payten’s comments about the rub of the green going to fancies teams was shot down.
ARL chairman Peter V’landys will raise concerns over the speed of the game and the impact of wrestling on the sport’s most potent attacking players at Tuesday’s Commission meeting.
There is a growing feeling of discontent around the wrestle creeping back into the game in 2022, which will be explored when the directors catch up.
It comes after a report in The Sun-Herald which outlined concerns from a leading NRL coach that the game’s most exciting players are being strangled by defence and the wrestle as time-wasting resurfaces in the game.
V’landys confirmed to the Herald on Sunday that there was a concern over the trend in the opening four rounds of the season.
“We are noticing that the wrestle is working its way back into the game,” V’landys said. “The Commission has previously given an edict to eradicate the wrestle and make sure players aren’t slowing down the ruck, but it’s sneaking back in.
- because the refs are incapable of doing a non - biased job correctly, and should be replaced with turnips.
Simply the rest: Slow game angers NRL coaches
The NRL has taken some big strides backwards in 2022, where the best players are being suffocated out of the game, according to research from one of the game’s top coaches.
Leading coaches are privately fuming at the way the game’s most exciting players are being strangled by defence and the wrestle as time-wasting resurfaces in the game.
It seems like only yesterday that the buzzword in rugby league was “fatigue”, as the NRL looked to eliminate the wrestle, stoppages and free up the best attacking players.
The findings are surprising and include:
■ There were 319 more runs made by players in the opening three rounds of 2021 compared to the first three rounds of 2022;
■ Total metres made were 2456 more in 2021 compared to 2022;
■ Total line breaks were 12 more in 2021 compared to 2022;
■ There were 28 more offloads in 2021 compared to 2022, indicating there are more players in tackles;
■ There have been 151 more penalties in 2022 compared to 2021 following the change to the six-again rule, which is the big difference in the way the game is being played. That’s 151 more stoppages. Each penalty takes about 30 seconds from the time they are blown to play restarting, so that’s 75 minutes extra time lost in the first 24 games of the season. There has been an average of 12 penalties a game in 2022, adding up to about six minutes of wasted time each game;
■ There were 159 six agains in the first three rounds of 2021 compared to 87 in 2022, a difference of 72;
■ The GPS data is perhaps also revealing, the document showing fullbacks and hookers are running about one kilometre less each game in 2022 compared to 2021, and halves are running about 800 metres a game less.
“It’s very early to be drawing conclusions about trends based on the data after just three rounds,” NRL head of football Graham Annesley said.
But I will now use three rounds of data to prove I am doing a great job by saying:
“However, on what we have seen so far, the average time the ball is in play is marginally up on last year and the number of play-the-balls is pretty much the same, so any suggestion there has been a significant deterioration in the flow and continuity of the game would seem premature.
- add to that, I can't do my job unless it is to find minor stats to prove I am doing a great job. I'm totally ineffectual and would quit but I like smoothies derp de derp.
“It’s also relevant to note that average game margins across the first three rounds have been closer than at any time since the formation of the NRL 25 years ago.”
The coaches I spoke to conclude that, because of the increase in penalties, defensive lines are set and the fatigue levels of players have been reduced, resulting in increased line speed. Coaches also believe the lack of fatigue is making the wrestle more effective. All of which means the best attacking players are having less impact.
