We can fantasise all we want about the Hook dropping either Norman or Wallace but it won't happen until next year. Coaches should only drop players for lack of effort (or if an understudy is playing out of his skin) and you can hardly say either of those criteria are ticked.
It is also so much easier to critise and bitch than it is to suggest areas for improvement. Easier to knock down a barn than it is to build one, as they say.
So rather than drastic unrealistic changes, what other suggestions can the BHQ mind come up with as to the cause of Wallace and Norman's problems, which, IMO are indicative of the team generally.
I do not think (heaven forbid) that our halves are the sole (or even substantial) cause of our poor performances at the moment.
I genuinely believe you can pin down our current performances vs. earlier in the year almost entirely to injury, fatigue and subsequently players out of position. It's like the team is at pre-season trials, learning their inside and outside man BUT every week it changes.
This is reflecting poorly on the team's performance because it is no longer structured, and especially on the halves as we all look to them to organise and create opportunities.
1. DEFENCE
We leaked 42 points against the worst team in the comp. This is not due to Wallace and Norman.
Your traditional defensive structure (and one that I believe the Broncos stick with generally):
2 -3 - 6 - 11 - 9 - 10 -8 - 13 - 12 - 7 - 4 -5
Last night, we were all over the place.
Due to injuries, both Norman and Wallace are defending outside irregular/injured/out of position players (e.g. last night Gillett at 11 and Thaiday who is carrying a shoulder injury). Gillett was woeful last night. I don't know if it is fatigue or a mental issue but he was mentally sapped by about the 50 minute mark. This is not unexpected, he usually comes off the bench and replaces Thaiday who coincidentally defends outside Parker, who is pretty much our lock and key and sweeper on the right side and allows Gillett to use his "throw out the arms" tackling technique.
On the left, Thaiday is making more ineffective tackles than ever due to his shoulder injury.
We have Glenn and Te'o defending 1 further out than usual in the centres. This allows oppositions centres and opporunity to get outside our second rowers, creating space inside unless Wallace/Norman put the effort in to close the gate inside.
This is causing more pressure to be placed on Wallace and Norman (the constants in the defensive line) to keep pushing in.
I can't remember how many times I've seen Wallace take down forwards one on one this year. OK when you have to do it occasionally, energy sapping when you have to do it once a set.
Possible solution: While we have so many backrowers defending in our backline, push 6 and 7 out one wider. Lock down the extreme edges and force the opposition to go around 6 and 7 and or run their big men one wider. No loss for us because our 4/12 are backrowers used to defneding closer to the ruck.
2. ATTACK
It is trite but if you look after defence, attack will take care of itself.
The Broncos at the moment need to move away from the fast, flat ball at the line structure that worked well because they are too tired and disorganised to effect it properly.
This team has built itself on lockdown defence, basic meterage and percentage play scoring raids (i.e. short balls at forwards on the line, kicks to wingers). We no longer have Yow Yeh or Reed in the air. Gillett and Te'o are currently work horses or playing out of position.
Capewell actually had the energy to run support tonight and looked likely a few times.
In the opposition 20 on the line we always run this play:
X
9
7
6
1-> 8 12
4 5
Critical to this are the decision making of 1 and 6 being in tune.
The obvious issue with Norman in this case is he is running far too much, and my gut instinct watching the way he has developed since last year is that Hook has coached him relentlessly to "if in doubt, run". The problem is, he is always in doubt due to the lack of depth at which he gets the ball. Subsequently, he waits until the last moment before "run" is not an option and then gives it to Hoffy who dies with the ball.
Hoffy should be the one deciding whether to
- Kick early to 5 if the defence has rushed up:
- Go yourself if opposition centre/wing have committed to 4,5
- Throw cut out to 4 if opp. winger has compressed
- Give it to Hodgo if he is 1 on 1 with opposition 6/7
X
9
7
6 (8) (12)
1
4 5
KHunt was the master of it. Hoffy lacks the ability or this season the opportunity to attempt anything other than give it early to Hodgo.
Possible solution - I would like to see Norman running at 1 in this play. Not wearing the number 1 or playing fullback but given the ball with options rather than feeding it to Hoffman or the short ball to the 8 or 12.
I would like to see Hoffy having a go at kicking every once in a while
I would also like to see the Broncs do this at depth.
