Cowboys must dominate the halves to dominate the hosts
By Roy Masters
September 23, 2005
THE COWBOYS
Eels halfback Tim Smith is the key to this game. Eighty per cent of his attacking kicks are short kicks to the right-hand side. Even if he shapes left, he kicks it off the outside of his right boot.
His contribution to the Eels' tries is similar to what Brent Sherwin's was at the Bulldogs. However, opposing teams worked Sherwin out and he has lost effectiveness.
The same fate could follow Smith. St George Illawarra got to him in the first half of their win at Kogarah and he was quiet. Smith drops out of the play when monstered. He stands two or three in from the sideline. In attack, the Cowboys must run at Smith and John Morris to extract their attacking juice.
Spot PJ Marsh in the middle of the field when he comes on as a replacement; keep the ball in play to tire their big forwards; don't kick to the sideline and give them restarts where they can have a break and begin a rehearsed attacking routine. Completing each set is critical to tire Paul Stringer, Nathan Cayless and Piggy Riddell. Remember, the Eels had a soft second half against Manly and haven't played since.
Run at the inside shoulders of their outside defenders. They play an up-and-hold defence, meaning you can come back on their inside.
Kick to Luke Burt and pressure him. His game can fall apart if he makes an early error. Play to your strengths. The show-and-go routine of Johnathan Thurston, Matt Bowen and Aaron Payne will frustrate their big men. The two-man-wide kick will also worry them. This is the tactic of passing the ball from dummy half to a first receiver who sends it to a kicker standing in the line, thereby forcing a defence that has rushed up to turn and chase the ball. In defence, the fullback and left winger must always be alert to Smith's in-goal kicks to the Eels' right; winger Eric Grothe will try to outjump his opponent for a try. They will try a lot of plays with their big wingers one on one with the Cowboys' smaller flankers. Grothe is also a dangerous dummy-half runner. Move up in the centres and chop the ball off. (The Cowboys have the slowest centres of the four teams left).
Be aware of numbers and show good line speed to snuff out the attack of Timana Tahu and Ben Smith. Be alert to Riddell and PJ Marsh, who work well as replacements. Riddell is surprisingly swift over three steps and is a good impact player. Marsh is quick and can set something up out wide.
Cowboys markers have been guilty of bludging. Parramatta have some of the fastest play-the-ball men in the NRL. Daniel Wagon, Burt and Tahu are in the NRL's top five. The Eels have five in the top 50. A fast play-the-ball is from zero to two seconds, a potent attack, particularly when followed by a dummy-half run. Get them on their backs to cut the speed of their ruck.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/cowboys-must-dominate-the-halves-to-dominate-the-hosts/2005/09/22/1126982178846.html
