FOWARDS GOING BACKWARDS, PLEASE!

[Bayside Dragon]

Forwards going backwards in the tackle..... way to go in the modern game!!!!
I see that some posters see backwards leg-drive is a cop-out. What meds are you all on??

Question: If you had to push a car uphill, would you push front on or turn around and 'put your back into it'? I know what I'd do.

If you people read my posts from last year, you'd see that I have been advocating this method for some time. Indeed, I believe the hit and turn method of forward play played a huge part in the Panthers run of 15 wins in a row last year. (they're not going too bad this year, either!)

When I saw big Paul Vaughn backing into the defence last weekend, I nearly jumped out of my chair with excitement!! There are so many upsides to this method that I could write a small book on it. just to recap:

Firstly, takes the pressure off the quads and engages the bigger hamstrings. Way more powerful.
.
Secondly, helps the player dig in his heels to hold ground and lessen the chance of being pushed backwards. ( wingers have been doing this since the game began to avoid being pushed over sidelines).

Thirdly, increases the chance of the player promoting second-phase play by passing out the back of the tackle. Or even better, a sneaky hand off (or teammate 'steal' - at which Alfie Langer was the master!!)

Again, the ball carrier can see where his support players are. Decide whether he needs a fast play-the-ball, or cleverly slow the play-the-ball down to wait for his dummy half to position -and/or allow time for the attack to organise itself.

In a game where the dominant fundamental is that the ball is played backwards though the hands, -the team that recognises backward vision of the ball carrier is important is going to be the team to prevail in the evolvement of the modern game.

Spoiler alert, folks: That team was Panthers. (As I observed last season, if you go through the archives) And how's that been going for them???

 

[Dragon David]

Forwards going backwards in the tackle..... way to go in the modern game!!!!
I see that some posters see backwards leg-drive is a cop-out. What meds are you all on??

Question: If you had to push a car uphill, would you push front on or turn around and 'put your back into it'? I know what I'd do.

If you people read my posts from last year, you'd see that I have been advocating this method for some time. Indeed, I believe the hit and turn method of forward play played a huge part in the Panthers run of 15 wins in a row last year. (they're not going too bad this year, either!)

When I saw big Paul Vaughn backing into the defence last weekend, I nearly jumped out of my chair with excitement!! There are so many upsides to this method that I could write a small book on it. just to recap:

Firstly, takes the pressure off the quads and engages the bigger hamstrings. Way more powerful.
.
Secondly, helps the player dig in his heels to hold ground and lessen the chance of being pushed backwards. ( wingers have been doing this since the game began to avoid being pushed over sidelines).

Thirdly, increases the chance of the player promoting second-phase play by passing out the back of the tackle. Or even better, a sneaky hand off (or teammate 'steal' - at which Alfie Langer was the master!!)

Again, the ball carrier can see where his support players are. Decide whether he needs a fast play-the-ball, or cleverly slow the play-the-ball down to wait for his dummy half to position -and/or allow time for the attack to organise itself.

In a game where the dominant fundamental is that the ball is played backwards though the hands, -the team that recognises backward vision of the ball carrier is important is going to be the team to prevail in the evolvement of the modern game.

Spoiler alert, folks: That team was Panthers. (As I observed last season, if you go through the archives) And how's that been going for them???

Well you certainly looked like you have done your homework and research Bayside Dragon. I just hope that our coaching staff has done the same and maybe ways to counter this.

The principle of running backwards in tackles a couple of times in sets I think a lot of teams do it and moreso by Penrith by what you say. Out of our forwards, I think both Merrin and Vaughn are doing this several times in a game. Blocker and Alvaro and Kerr are good front on runners of the ball same as Sims and Fui.

So if Penrith has won most of their games last year and so far this year by the forwards backing into the defenders with ball in hand, then other coaches will need to work out how to counter this effectively.

 

[boardlumps62]

Forwards going backwards in the tackle..... way to go in the modern game!!!!
I see that some posters see backwards leg-drive is a cop-out. What meds are you all on??

Question: If you had to push a car uphill, would you push front on or turn around and 'put your back into it'? I know what I'd do.

If you people read my posts from last year, you'd see that I have been advocating this method for some time. Indeed, I believe the hit and turn method of forward play played a huge part in the Panthers run of 15 wins in a row last year. (they're not going too bad this year, either!)

When I saw big Paul Vaughn backing into the defence last weekend, I nearly jumped out of my chair with excitement!! There are so many upsides to this method that I could write a small book on it. just to recap:

Firstly, takes the pressure off the quads and engages the bigger hamstrings. Way more powerful.
.
Secondly, helps the player dig in his heels to hold ground and lessen the chance of being pushed backwards. ( wingers have been doing this since the game began to avoid being pushed over sidelines).

Thirdly, increases the chance of the player promoting second-phase play by passing out the back of the tackle. Or even better, a sneaky hand off (or teammate 'steal' - at which Alfie Langer was the master!!)

Again, the ball carrier can see where his support players are. Decide whether he needs a fast play-the-ball, or cleverly slow the play-the-ball down to wait for his dummy half to position -and/or allow time for the attack to organise itself.

In a game where the dominant fundamental is that the ball is played backwards though the hands, -the team that recognises backward vision of the ball carrier is important is going to be the team to prevail in the evolvement of the modern game.

Spoiler alert, folks: That team was Panthers. (As I observed last season, if you go through the archives) And how's that been going for them???

Craig Young started doing it in 1980's I'm sure. Then he was criticized from memory have to watch a replay.

 

[kit66]

Forwards going backwards in the tackle..... way to go in the modern game!!!!
I see that some posters see backwards leg-drive is a cop-out. What meds are you all on??

Question: If you had to push a car uphill, would you push front on or turn around and 'put your back into it'? I know what I'd do.

If you people read my posts from last year, you'd see that I have been advocating this method for some time. Indeed, I believe the hit and turn method of forward play played a huge part in the Panthers run of 15 wins in a row last year. (they're not going too bad this year, either!)

When I saw big Paul Vaughn backing into the defence last weekend, I nearly jumped out of my chair with excitement!! There are so many upsides to this method that I could write a small book on it. just to recap:

Firstly, takes the pressure off the quads and engages the bigger hamstrings. Way more powerful.
.
Secondly, helps the player dig in his heels to hold ground and lessen the chance of being pushed backwards. ( wingers have been doing this since the game began to avoid being pushed over sidelines).

Thirdly, increases the chance of the player promoting second-phase play by passing out the back of the tackle. Or even better, a sneaky hand off (or teammate 'steal' - at which Alfie Langer was the master!!)

Again, the ball carrier can see where his support players are. Decide whether he needs a fast play-the-ball, or cleverly slow the play-the-ball down to wait for his dummy half to position -and/or allow time for the attack to organise itself.

In a game where the dominant fundamental is that the ball is played backwards though the hands, -the team that recognises backward vision of the ball carrier is important is going to be the team to prevail in the evolvement of the modern game.

Spoiler alert, folks: That team was Panthers. (As I observed last season, if you go through the archives) And how's that been going for them???

With the added bonus of getting the occasional penalty for the many crusher tackles caused by players backing into the defence.

 

[Bayside Dragon]

Well you certainly looked like you have done your homework and research Bayside Dragon. I just hope that our coaching staff has done the same and maybe ways to counter this.

The principle of running backwards in tackles a couple of times in sets I think a lot of teams do it and moreso by Penrith by what you say. Out of our forwards, I think both Merrin and Vaughn are doing this several times in a game. Blocker and Alvaro and Kerr are good front on runners of the ball same as Sims and Fui.

So if Penrith has won most of their games last year and so far this year by the forwards backing into the defenders with ball in hand, then other coaches will need to work out how to counter this effectively.

This style of attacking the line won't suit every player but will suit those that are confident of their ability to stay on their feet in the tackle.

Another team -apart from the Panthers - is Melbourne. I don't know how many times I've seem their big men run into the line, (not even trying to break it) - then turn in the tackle and lay the ball back close to the try line. Looks like a favourite, premeditated play to me.

Therein lies the trick. Can be a deliberate team play, or a reactionary response -requiring the player to
assess his options as the tackle is in motion. Does he stay forward-facing and try to burst through the defence, plough into the line expecting to have his head planted in the turf, or try to generate second-phase play out the back. The good players in well-drilled teams take the right option more often than the rest, I assume.

All I'm hoping for our blokes is to be mindful of the options- in every tackle. Maryball has had its day, in my opinion.

 

[epDragon62]

Craig Young started doing it in 1980's I'm sure. Then he was criticized from memory have to watch a replay.

He did it in the 1977 replay and passed to the half back

 

[Surfclub Saint]

Just watching the Storm v Panthers & the Storm forwards are master's at it. Every forward is capable of doing the reverse hitup. Obviously serious practice goes into it, and it is very effective