We've been officially exposed

[eggson]

All Manly fans have known about this for some time but Gus has just informed to the wider NRL community that we have major problems with our defence out wide.  He also bagged us and Allan Langer had absolutely nothing in that segment but that was to be expected. 

I wonder if our defence patterns will change, will other teams now exploit that or what?  Interesting times

 

[willstyles]

Gus said nothing that every NRL coach (including Des) didn't already know. Coaches and their support staff go though 100s of hours of tape every week trying to break down each team, I think they all would've seen that we are weak out wide (particularly on the right).

I think the best thing is that the only team that has really exploited it successfully is the Roosters. Most other games our structure and players have been good enough to recover when a break is made out wide. Needless to say I'd be much happier if we tightened it up a bit, but we've only really had one game where it has burned us.

 

[eagle_predator]

Were leading the comp and i'm confident we are going to win.

 

[mcatt]

Gould doesn't seem to rate us at all. We definately have a weakness there but pin pointing so many examples from the roosters game is misleading due to the number of players we had out. We had our entire backrow and Lyon out, who do plenty of defence out wider, which generally allow the centers and wingers to stay out further and not push in creating overlaps.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Was Gus secretly trying to coach us ?

by telling the world that we do have that weakness it may make the players sit up and take notice and rectify that weakness
just a different spin

 

[fLIP]

She'll be right. We were exposed out with thanks to a huge lack of communication and no idea from Robson. Bell didn't have a frigin clue if he was gooing in or out or rushing up or standing on the spot like a deer in headlights.

The full packs on field, I haven't seen a better defense this year. Sorry gus, 1 win over a weakened competition leader doesn't give you the right to keep bringing it up over and over and over again so everyone remembers.

 

[eggson]

Maybe...just maybe...he's helping us fly under the radar in a way by saying we're not as good.

Although maybe he's just trying to put us down.

Who knows

 

[Dan]

This 'weakness' only showed up in the last 5 games or so, I have a feeling we were deliberately showing the world this weakness and our defensive pattern will change or shift slightly for this match.

 

[The Wheel]

A a few of those tries shown were from pretty good passes - most teams will be exposed at some point by excellent play.

One he doesn't say is that how teams struggle making ground against our compressed defence. The fact that we have the best for & against in the comp suggests that our defence in general is pretty good.

 

[DSM5]

I've posted about this apparent weakness a few times, but I'm reasonably confident our covering can close down the wide pass, ala the Panthers.  They tried it a couple of times but went nowhere.  Okay, the rorters game was sad but the absence of choco and stewart allowed them to run out wide.  I'd be happier if Lyon was in the team for tonight but he isn't so the others will be aware of their responsibilities.  Williams is better than Bani in this respect so I'm not too worried.  I can see matai taking Inglis out of the equation with a crash into the ribcage.  I just hope he does it effectively and legally.   

 

[Canteen Worker]

Melbourne rely on running players and the kick to the corners rather than the cut-out so it will be interesting to see how they respond. Limit their field position by good kick-chase on Slater and then give them as little field position as possible to stop those bombs for Inglis and Falou. No mistakes in our own quarter will be important.

I would like to see us attack their edges - and use the inside ball. They have some lumbering slow men who could be exposed by the footwork of Choc, Stewie and Co.

 

[eggson]

I'm starting to worry if Choc plays with his not good knee - Storm would no doubt hit it hard constantly...Glenn with his shoulder will cop a lot of attention too... 

 

[Jatz Crackers]

A a few of those tries shown were from pretty good passes - most teams will be exposed at some point by excellent play.

One he doesn't say is that how teams struggle making ground against our compressed defence. The fact that we have the best for & against in the comp suggests that our defence in general is pretty good.

I agree with this point. There were two passages of play relevant to this point.

Firstly, the Parra Tony Williams try. Was a beautiful 3 cut out pass timed perfectly & dealt close enough for our winger to have next to no chance.

The second was the Penrith try (also on our right wing) which resulted in penriifs left hand winger scooting around our D Williams (who incidently lost his footing).

I saw both as being quality play by the opposition rather than being a difinitive example of our bad defense.

The 2 drizzle tactics that worry me for tonight are a) the cross field kick to wing for falouu/inglis (obviously) and b) the midfield short kick over the top towards our wing, turning us around. I get the distinct impression it confuses us & puts our defense off their game.