How ‘super smart’ Trent Barrett is overhauling NRL’s worst 20-metre zone attack
by John Dean@johndean_
Penrith assistant coach Trent Barrett is bringing a new-found calmness and control to the Panthers’ attack as the side looks to overhaul their structures for 2020.
It’s no secret the Panthers were incredibly clunky throughout most of last season, and it proved to be their downfall as they missed the finals for the first time since 2015.
Foxsports.com.au sat down with a number of key players to find out where things went wrong, and the influence of Barrett and hooker Apisai Koroisau who have both returned to the club.
STIFLED ATTACK
Numbers provided by
Fox Sports Lab prove just how ineffective the Panthers’ attack was in 2019.
Last season they had more tackles in their opponent’s 20-metre zone than any team but still had the fourth worst attack, and the worst completion rate of any side (73.3 per cent).
On average, they needed almost 17 tackles inside their opponent’s 20 per try scored from this zone, the worst of any team.
“I definitely wasn’t happy with the 2019 season,” Panthers chief playmaker Nathan Cleary told
foxsports.com.au.
“There were definitely highs and lows and it was probably the biggest rollercoaster season I’ve had as a player so far. I’m hoping for a bit more smooth sailing this year and definitely on the up.
“It’s my fifth year in first grade now so I think I’m primed to take the next step. There’s definitely a lot that I’ve learned and I’m looking forward to taking that challenge on.”
BARRETT’S INFLUENCE
Before his 72-game head coaching stint at Manly, Barrett worked with as an assistant under Ivan Cleary at the Panthers and was head of the club’s halves academy.
It was in that role he worked with a number of the club’s current playmakers like Cleary, Jerome Luai, who will play five-eighth this year, and Tyrone May.
Cleary said he was excited to link back up with the former Illawarra, St George Illawarra and Cronulla star.
“Baz is super smart, especially with attack,” Cleary said.
“He’s been really pumped to get back into the coaching game.
“I was lucky enough to do a bit of work with him when I was 15 or 16 so it’s good to link up again.
“I’m just trying to pick his brain, he was obviously a great player and he’s got a lot of knowledge to pass on so it’s been really good.
“He’s just trying to get a structure in place at the moment so we can hit the ground running at the start of the year.”
Mitch Kenny, who will likely play a backup role to Koroisau this season, said there had been a noticeable change at the club this pre-season.
“I think there’s a lot more clarity around what we’re trying to do this year and we’ve got a lot better structures in place,” Kenny told
foxsports.com.au.
“Trent Barrett has been awesome for the club as well as our three buys Zane (Tetevano), Kurt (Capewell) and Api. They’ve all added something to the group and they all bring leadership qualities which have been helpful.
“Last year we found we were pretty frantic in attack.
“Baz brings a lot of calmness and clarity around our roles in attack. He’s put together some really good structures that we can sort of hang our hat off, but also let us play a lot of football and not being limited to being one of those really rigid teams.
“He’s brought a lot of creativity but he’s also brought some really cool, calm structures that we can always fall back on which I think we might not have had so much last year.”
KOROISAU’S RETURN
After his grand final victory with South Sydney in their 2014 triumph, Koroisau spent a year at Penrith before switching to Manly where he spent four season.
The 27-year-old has now returned to the foot of the mountains on a three-year deal where he will look to strengthen a position that the club has struggled to fill since Peter Wallace retired.
The likes of Kenny, Wayde Egan and Sione Katoa all spent time in the No.9 jersey last season, but the last two have since moved on to the Warriors and Canterbury respectively.
“Api’s been really good,” Cleary said.
“I think Wayde and Mitch – our two hookers last year – went really well but Api brings that experience.
“He’s won a comp, he’s been in really good sides so he knows a lot about the game and he’s a really crafty hooker.
“I think it will open up a lot of space for the people around him and it’s been really good to have him around.”
With Koroisau having 107 NRL games to his name, it’s expected he’ll take a senior role in the spine.
The club will also be hoping he’ll provide more clarity when it comes to individual’s roles in attack and look to take some of the pressure off Luai and Cleary.
“I’m really lucky, the boys in the team are amazing,” Koroisau told
foxsports.com.au.
“Nath’s an awesome player, he’s so level-headed so it makes my job a lot easier. At the same time I’ve got to try and help him out with just slowing the game down for him and getting to our points and when he needs it to speed up I’ll try and speed it up for him as well.
“We have really good front-rowers as well and boys who just want to do their job for the team so that’s going to help me a lot.”
— with Darcie McDonald
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...i/news-story/0afc0fbf04caef3c7d487fc597868414
