MrRobot
NYC Player
- Jul 21, 2017
- 146
- 428
You’re exactly right.This, Slater became a better weapon when he was alive around the middle of the ruck. You don't need him being available for hit ups on exit sets you want him up and about on tackle two/three on quick play the balls, off an offload or change of angle pass. Splitting defence wide open and creating half breaks and broken defence where you can capitalise on play four and five.
It's the great thing about Teddy, he is always alive around the ruck waiting for any type of scraps to fall from the table and will make you pay if you miss him sniffing about.
When your popping up in plays in good ball and bad ball areas the defence becomes terrified of where you will be. At the moment good sides have worked out when Reece will pop up. The above would give Reece more opportunities at broken or ragged defensive lines. We also need to be prepared to allow Reece to go down with the ball. Another possible mind issue he has, " I can't go down with the ball because I am needed the next play,". The Broncos need to have more options to allow Reece to play freely and not be thinking of the next play he must be live for.
It could explain why he has also moved away from some of the play from last year. The chance runs on fifth tackles down the short side for example. I honestly think that facial fracture took a bit out of him and he is covering up being a bit gun shy, while also feeling he has to be available on every back line play. He has been blistering at times but not himself.
I have faith he and the club can work it out. We have enough weapons, to give Reece some piece of mind.
I always thought Walsh would be way more dangerous if he just continually pushed up through the middle of the park more - looking for offloads and tired forwards. He has at times, but seems to prefer receiving the ball two passes wide. And fair enough, he’s pretty good at that.
My concern is, IIRC he’s been working with Darius Boyd (*vomit*) at the club. Boyd was NOT a fullback who sniffed around the middle. Ever! He was exclusively a sweeping type fullback.
I hope Walsh isn’t being turned into a Darius-type fullback (but faster and with more heart/brains) and is getting a more varied education. I can’t wait for him to work with Slater again. He improved after origin last year.