bayrep said:
Its interesting but I was thinking along the same lines over the weekend (And yes Taipan I did watch the other league games over the weekend). I thought the reason was that even though you have 2 more players on the field you generally get 5-6 players stuck in the last ruck or 8 players tied up in a scrum or lineout. This just creates more gaps for the backlines.
Wouldnt have anything to do with the field being 2 metres wider and the fact the teams on Saturday at Suncorp finally realised their is such a thing as a backline-maybe the Tuqiri,Sailor leaguies had a tad influence.Bayrep Id agree with you to a point if the damn fullbacks decided to run the ball on more occasions,and chance their ability,but unfortunately the expansive game seems only to be used regularly by the ABS and to a far lesser extent the Walls and way down the list the NH mob.You also must remember in a lot of the rucks and malls and lineouts the backs have plenty of time(and to a dgree rest) to set the attacking lines.Whereas in league ,the ball is in play longer and you dont have the breaks in play ,and with the constant running back and forth for the 10 metres,the game opens up more frequently.You take 4 men out of the defence with a gang tackle,before they can get back in positon leaves many gaps.
IMO The ABS use expansive play,the wallabies to alesser extent,and the vast majority of league teams do. Check the statistics for the highest try scorers in rugby league,they are backs by a country mile.Check the constant infusion of fullbacks,like Hunt ,Peachey,Minicello,Wesser,Shicsofske,Slater,Bowen,Stewart and then tell me that league backlines dont operate on a regular exciting expansive basis.