2023 Blowouts

[Exsilium]

I reckon there is a lack of depth in quality head coaches. You look at Bennett at the Dolphins. One of the most improved players this year has been Jeremy Marshall King. Bennett continues to get the best out of his players. Not sure other coaches do likewise.

JMK has been great. I watched a lot of the Bulldogs games between 19-22 and he always looked comfortable in the role. When JMK and Meaney left, I was a little surprised because they were their most consistent players.

JMK has a lot of vision and I'm happy to see him in the 17 most weeks.

 

[SBD82]

This thread could see some traffic tonight.

 

[Theknightsrule7]

Momentum in games has changed alot now in recent seasons.

I personally think the 6 again rule has contributed to this.

I wouldn't be surprised in the next few seasons we see a team score 80 points in a game because it's going that way.

 

[pantherz9103]

It’s been a closer comp in the top half or so than any since 2018 I believe but the lesser teams like the Dogs, Dragons and Tigers that clearly aren’t finals material are starting to lose touch now that their seasons, (yet again) are pretty much over. The current bottom 3 are looking pretty hopeless now but earlier in the season they were all reasonably competitive even if not winning often. Due to off field dramas, poor depth and losing cultures, they are now cannon fodder for more talented and far more motivated teams who are battling for top 4 and top 8.
Those factors are compounded by the 6 again rule and ruthlessness of the good teams to take advantage of that.

 

[Dogs Of War]

JMK has been great. I watched a lot of the Bulldogs games between 19-22 and he always looked comfortable in the role. When JMK and Meaney left, I was a little surprised because they were their most consistent players.

JMK has a lot of vision and I'm happy to see him in the 17 most weeks.

JMK can't pass very far. So for him to work you need a good forward pack who can either just rumble up the field or can ball play cause he needs a 10m window to pass to. He can take advantage of a quick play the ball, but the Bulldogs rarely gave him that.

 

[jk13]

players overall don't earn enough to be thoroughly professional. there is also not enough talent to knock out the amateur (mentally and physically) players that fill spots. also its a tough game, i know i don't turn up to my job 100% every week

 

[The Lounge Lizard]

Too many clubs.

The inclusion of the Dolphins.

 

[Diesel]

If we had a 10 team competition we’d still get blow outs, will also happen when we have 18, 20 teams

factors: long season, injuries, players rested for origin or personal reasons.

 

[Angry_eel]

Coaching.

Sheenius clearly lost touch with the meta of the game.

I watched the Panthers 03 season highlights a week back and was amazed at how less intense the contact in defence was.

Every tackle now is a battle to be won with flow on effects.

The well coached teams play every tackle like it could be the last.

That attitude against even a slightly poorer one will only end one way.

Agree with this. The game has turned into an x number of individual wrestles. Most tries come off the back of penalties.

 

[kdalymc]

One team plays really shit and the other plays heaps good.

 

[flippikat]

I reckon there is a lack of depth in quality head coaches. You look at Bennett at the Dolphins. One of the most improved players this year has been Jeremy Marshall King. Bennett continues to get the best out of his players. Not sure other coaches do likewise.

I think you've got a good point here - and you can argue that there's just not 17 great coaches, so SOME clubs are going to suffer for that.

The Dragons, Knights & Tigers (Sheens not being what he used to be) have suffered for that, but there's additional factors at other clubs.

Take the Bulldogs. It's well documented how badly structured their squad was, and how much of their cap was being wasted - a huge restructure is needed, and that takes time. Add to that a new coach that's only just stepped-up from being an assistant, and there's a rebuild there that'll take anywhere up to 2-3 more seasons to see results.

However, I think they're getting their ducks in a row - head office, coaching, squad management, and Gould's work on pathways - and I wouldn't be surprised to see them as true contenders in 2025-29. (If I was to guess at a window).

 

[yakstorm]

There has always been blow out scores in League ever since the decision was made to give the ball back to the team that just scored.

The momentum that causes alone has seen most seasons full of blow outs, especially in the later third of the season.

Adding the Dolphins hasn't contributed to that and even if you look at 2001, which had the benefit of taking the top players from 22 clubs and putting them in 14, you still had the Storm beating the Wests Tigers 64 - 0, Newcastle beating Brisbane 44 - 0, Parramatta beating Melbourne 54 - 10 or Parramatta beating Newcastle 40 - 0 (Newcastle won the competition as well).

It's not something new, so far this year it's less prevalent than many other years and ultimately it's how we have built the rules for the code.

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

Disagree. There's enough playing talent to go around.

Whether there's enough talent in the boardroom though, well that's up for debate.

there's not in key potions like in the halfs and thats where it matters most

 

[Perth Red]

Origin is a two team comp and often one team dominates. Go figure!

 

[Vibing]

there's not in key potions like in the halfs and thats where it matters most

The vest system in jnr football was only bought in ... about 5 or 6 years ago so won't produce its expected outcomes for another 5 or 6 years

some of the boys in mod football back then are only hitting Harold Matts in 2023

 

[Apey]

Not every team can be as good as the Newcastle Knights.

 

[Perth Red]

players overall don't earn enough to be thoroughly professional. there is also not enough talent to knock out the amateur (mentally and physically) players that fill spots. also its a tough game, i know i don't turn up to my job 100% every week

If you only had to turn up and give 100% 24 days a year I bet you would though?

 

[snickers007]

If you only had to turn up and give 100% 24 days a year I bet you would though?

f**k this is a massive over-simplification of what being an elite rugby league player involves.

 

[Vibing]

f**k this is a massive over-simplification of what being an elite rugby league player involves.

idiots tend to be idiots

 

[Perth Red]

f**k this is a massive over-simplification of what being an elite rugby league player involves.

haha we arent judging them on what they get up to the other 6 days a week!