Edge Defence Thread

[Eelementary]

Can see in the first frame Niukore for whatever reason isn’t marked up on his man (Hastings in this case), then because of the angle the centre(?) runs, Penisini has to cheat towards Moses to help cover. The gap between Penisini and Simonsson was then too large and Simonsson has to make a choice and has to time that choice.

The basic options are:
1. Attack the ball carrier with the ranked outcomes being making the tackle, pressuring the carrier enough to make a mistake, pressuring the carrier enough he can’t just pass down to the carrier being able to draw and pass. Reasons why the winger makes this choice is worst case (up to the point of them scoring) is it forces one more pass which is riskier than not passing even if it’s a simple one and it provides a bit more time (at the expense of distance) for cover to get to his man.
2. “Stay on your man!” with the ranked outcomes being the cover gets to the carrier in time to force a pass to the winger so Simonsson has a 1 on 1, the carrier has a brain explosion down to the carrier attacking the hole and the cover having to make the tackle on the try line. Reasons why winger makes this choice are it takes the opposition winger out of the play (at the expense of himself) and cuts down the distance the cover have to… cover… (at the expense of time to do so).

It’d be simplistic if I echoed Pou and said the issue here is the middle defence (Niukore who wasn’t even playing middle on the play) wasn’t quick enough to properly number up. In this case so close to the line, Simonsson was in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation that was always going to rely on someone else to stop the play.

IMO though, when we are defending further away from the tryline (with the occasional “throw a different defensive shape at them”) we should be willing to concede more ground than we do on our edges, with a hold and slide defence, at least on our right side. Our cover isn’t quick enough to cover the distance from 3rd man in to wing as it is, so we should be looking to shorten the distance required rather than maximising the time allowed. Even though he is quick enough, the way Holmes defended Penisini in Darwin is almost the blueprint.

I wasn't trying to have a go at Simonsson, or Penisini, BTW - just pointing out that our right edge defence is shot from further infield.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

).
It’d be simplistic if I echoed Pou and said the issue here is the middle defence (Niukore who wasn’t even playing middle on the play) wasn’t quick enough to properly number up.

I’ve never said edge defenders aren’t capable of f**king up, but in this case you can see in the first screenshot that there are very big gaps on either side of Niukore. That means we were too tight in the middle. That might be nobody’s fault but really I think we are too ‘disciplined’ and somebody should’ve slowed the ruck down. That’s what the best teams all do.

 

[84 Baby]

I’ve never said edge defenders aren’t capable of f**king up, but in this case you can see in the first screenshot that there are very big gaps on either side of Niukore. That means we were too tight in the middle. That might be nobody’s fault but really I think we are too ‘disciplined’ and somebody should’ve slowed the ruck down. That’s what the best teams all do.

My fault, I meant inside defence, not middle defence.

Heaps of people say we should just slide defence, but slide defence requires everyone sliding. If some inside defender doesn’t, it’s just as bad, if not worse (scoring under posts instead of in corner) than our current setup.

I think what the shots show are structures are only as good as the merkins building them

 

[Eelementary]

How good is the merkin who provided the photos, though? A real rugby league savant.

/joke

I actually have been wanting to post photos of our defence for discussion for some time.

 

[yy_cheng]

Grade 2 Rammy - I’ll be out for 3 weeks

Backchat to Gronk and get another week

 

[hindy111]

you sucked hiney's dick ?

f**king disgusting. How do I report you. Failing to specify which Hindy is just not on.

 

[84 Baby]

How good is the merlin who provided the photos, though? A real rugby league savant.

/joke

I actually have been wanting to post photos of our defence for discussion for some time.

It’s awesome work. Stills really show what structures are in place. If I was any good at it, I’d smash out heaps of analyses

 

[Eelementary]

It’s awesome work. Stills really show what structures are in place. If I was any good at it, I’d smash out heaps of analyses

I think your analysis was bang on, mate.

 

[Eelementary]

@Twizzle - I credited the NRL app; is that OK?

If not, I am happy to have the post deleted.

 

[84 Baby]

I think your analysis was bang on, mate.

I’m still confused over why we haven’t adjusted but. Can you do some stills of BA doing his instructions?

 

[Twizzle]

@Twizzle - I credited the NRL app; is that OK?

If not, I am happy to have the post deleted.

that's OK in this case

 

[hindy111]

that's OK in this case

What if I did it?

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

 

[Gary Gutful]

What if I did it?

No chance of it surviving Hiney.

 

[forestfan]

f**k sake

 

[eel01s]

Back to square one.

 

[Gazzamatta]

From behind the posts watching tonight our D did look different. Our spacing was definitely better but that meant fewer in the tackle. Its different but against a team more prepared to get the ball away it could backfire. The issue remained however that our wingers rush in even when its man on man. Crazy stuff really. Nice to see a change tonight but it might take a while.

 

[hineyrulz]

It's easily fixable, and our structures are fine.

 

[eel01s]

It's easily fixable, and our structures are fine.

Might take another 9 years

 

[hineyrulz]

Might take another 9 years

Can't expect miracles overnight mate, he's still working out how to use a bench. Edge defence might take a little longer.