you don't think it's significant for forwards???
Nope.
More important then how many metres made is how those metres a made.
Are they getting quick play the balls.
Are they bending the line
Are the forwards getting back for early tackle count sets
Are forwards getting the ball into the positions the halves want them to be in
Are they breaking tackles, therefore draining the energy of opposition defenders
Are the targeting opposite halves and increasing their work load.
Are the running hard enough to attract 3 or 4 defenders, therefore leaving the defence short.
Are they running with the option to pass, opening more attacking options.
Are they running decoys lines. If they are, are they selling those decoy runs to the defence.
Are there runs creating energy that gives the rest of the team a lift
So many more factors go into making an elite forward, that sometimes a player who runs 100m per game is more productive then a player who's running 150m+ per game.
Look at some of the gun second rowers of the last 5 years, guys like Lewis, bird, proctor, thaiday, scott etc and you'll find that their metres made isn't always impressive, it's the other qualities that they bring to a team that's important. And that's not even getting started on defence.
The biggest example i can give that metres made and tackle counts don't mean much is from the rabbitohs around 2012. Sam and dave taylor both 2nd rowers at the time, were both making roughly 140m per game and 30ish tackles each but the differences in their games was astounding. Taylor refused to run at other forwards, he never ran before the 4th tackle and only ever ran at backs. He refused to get into the rough stuff. His 30 odd tackles would include about 25 flops on centres and halves. Sam would often be the first forward back, he'd take on forwards and still provide fast play the balls, he'd physically intimidate the other pack in attack. His defence was always in the middle. He would regularly put on good hits on the opposing teams forwards leaders.
Now if you only look at the stats you would of thought both were equal, but one player was a dud, cast aside and now in the super league, while the other become one of the best forwards in the game, and one of the leaders in our March to premiership 21
