HarryAllan7
QCup Player
- Jul 20, 2017
- 888
- 3,909
Suppose we should study how exactly we could get the W against the rapidly improving Storm.
With Patty missing, a lot of our link play to get Arey into his best positions is missing right now, but TMM return couldnt have been better timed..
Not much going on until Arey gets the ball with RIki running off his hip. This brings TMM in and, though its simple, a early ball to allow Staggs to wind up places plenty of issues for the Newcastle backline.
Now we see the threat pure speed is for any defence..
This is our area of focus, the right side. However the best combo for the Storm is on the left hand edge with Olam and Coates defending there. Its the right hand side where the newer combo is (Nofoaluma & Tunamaipea).
Someone ealrier mentioned the runs out of yardage form Staggs and Cobbo. Big difference here lately.
Its not just the power behind these runs but the guys pick out in defence to run at. This allows Staggs to find his front quickly, play the ball quickly and then Cobbo steams in and continues the momentum with another strong run.
Just keep hitting the same area again and again, all of a sudden we gain 40 post contact metres.
Haas played a lot of minutes last week; heres one reason behind why.
This what Arey wants, time and space to organsie shape and position behind strong runs like this.
You can see the diamond shape around Reynolds here, but instead he shows Kobe inside who almost breaks through here..
But the idea is to draw defence in to the right hand side before shifting left.
Now theres no shape around Arey but instead acres of space out wide.
Watch closely how Arey bites into the defensive line and shapes to kick just for a moment before throwing a long ball out wide. See how Newcatsles defence stops just for a brief momemt. He is coaching the defence here to expect something but then delivers something else - top stuff.
Then the next set of 6 this happens.
Kobe plays the Patty link role here with a face ball across Haas dummy run. But its not really threatening UNTIL TMM gets the ball and digs right into the defence before delivering the ball where Mam wants it to burst through. He then combines with his fullback and scores a fantastic old-school Broncos try.
Oh and Capes runs a far more threatening line into the defence to hold it up than Haas did..
Notice no Arey in sight? Hes on the other side of the ruck. This is why TMM right now just offers another dimension to our structure.
In the meantime Areys doing his thing on his side of the offence.
Best is circled here. Two more link passes from our middles which again arent really threatening anyone but once Arey gets it he shapes to bring Riki on his inside but identifies Best to run to. He holds his attention long enough for Staggs to now get on his outside and then its simply a matter of draw and pass.
Then we see the variation in our game next up.
The shape is deep on the right edge. Haas the link man but in fact he doesnt need to dig deep before passing, cause Newcastle only have eyes for the long shift. Note how they have their line intact, coming up together with good even spacing between them.
This is how you defend a long shift. Only thats not what happens.
Agian Arey has coached the defence to expect something thats not coming. He shapes to pass, again Riki runs the inside line (are you seeing why Reynolds wants him on the edge now every game?) but the kick over gives Cobbo a huge tram line to catch and score.
Our completion rates over the whole season is 4th best (79%). In this game it was 69% and filled with errors. Can do against the Knights, cant do against the Storm.
Patty returning is just so important now. Its a shame we are losing TMM, but hes been great for us this year and deserves to choose where his career goes next; good luck to him.
This off season we really need to find someone who can do the little link things that Patty does for us. Haas, Flegs and Kobe "do it" during games because thats the system, but its hardly convincing. Someone else needs to be found who can do 80% of it.
Sorry, its a long post....maybe i should have broken it up...?
Great post - Would love to see alot of this structure and these shapes run out against Melbourne to isolate their weak spots.
But to be honest, I would be happy with just line speed, strong defence and minimal errors / penalties. We haven't been able to manage ANY of those in the past few weeks (especially the line speed) and until we get those fundamentals under control again, I don't think all the well-structured formations and attacking plays in the world can help us.
Maybe controversial, but I would rather we lose a close one (but re-establish a solid, quick-advancing defensive line and minimal errors) than sneak a win by getting lucky in a messy shootout where we aren't building a foundation for the finals... even though the thought of losing to the Storm again makes me physically ill.
