We're not just dropping it in the opposition's 20, where dropping it everywhere. We're making it literally impossible for ourselves to build any type of pressure or get any type of fluency in attack.
The Bulldogs put on a masterclass in how to play effective attack on Sunday. They couldn't break us down initially but they didn't get inpatient and start throwing it around in their own end trying to strip us for numbers. They stuck to their plan until we eventually cracked. We're never going to be able to build any attacking pressure anywhere on the field until we can hold the damn ball.
You need to go back and watch our first half against the Dolphins - the only half of football this year where we didn't drop it a million times. After we'd held the ball consistently and built pressure on the opposition, we did start throwing it around in our own end. There was a nice passage where Ponga, Marzhew and Sharpe linked up out of our own end that lead to a try. You have to earn the right to do that though by building pressure on the opposition first.
Edit: re the Ponga at first receiver: I think we've looked best when he plays a combination of first and second receiver throughout games. He's too predictable just always sitting on the end of shape so I like him getting into first receiver, but at the same time you don't want him never being wider out with space either. The mixture of both makes him more unpredictable. It's all moot though - neither are going to be effective if we drop the ball before it even gets to him.
I agree with you there, but hear me out: our attack is putting us in positions where there’s a higher chance of making mistakes. That’s what I’m saying.
We carry the ball one-out every single time. Opposing teams know it. They rush our single ball carrier with three or four defenders, and they don’t even need to wrap the ball up because we never offload. Then we get a slow play-the-ball, the defense sets up again, and they smash us. If we played wider—getting Ponga the ball at first receiver so he can pass one man wider—it would keep the opposition guessing: will Ponga run it, or will he pass? That way, we wouldn’t have three or four defenders smashing our lone ball carrier every time. If Ponga was getting into first receiver all the time, then going the other way will be more effective that it is now.
Our main kicker literally can’t kick it long. Why does Cogger do most of our kicking? We keep handing the ball back in good field position, and our opponents finish their sets by kicking high to Marzhew. Everyone knows Marzhew struggles under the high ball. Even if he manages to defuse it, he’s bringing it off his own goal line against a compressed defense. Of course he’s going to make mistakes. We should build our game plan around handing the ball back deep in the opposition half, forcing them to kick long to Marzhew. Then he has time to wind up and make those barnstorming runs—he won’t be dropping the ball, he’ll be dropping opposition defenders. How is it to be the other winger in our team because other teams never attack or kick down that way.
Why aren’t we challenging kicks? What’s the logic behind that? Is AOB some kind of revolutionary? Is this how the game is going to be played by every successful team in 10 years? We have the worst attack in the NRL, while all the good attacking teams score heaps off high kicks. Look at Kiraz vs. Marzhew. Why is AOB being so stubborn? He’s sticking with this approach, but why? What's the logic behind it? Is this the hill he is going to die on?
Why aren’t we playing Ponga at first receiver literally every second play-the-ball? Why is the worst player on our team getting the most touches? Why do we play away from Ponga in the opposition’s red zone? Why do we have an amazing counterattacking weapon in Sharpe but never offload or promote a second-phase play? AOB didn’t let Clifford bomb the ball (even though that’s his best weapon), and he won’t let KPP offload (even though that’s his best weapon). Why do we keep sabotaging ourselves? Our lack of attack is piling pressure on our defense, which leads to more errors. Because we can’t score, we resort to low-percentage plays, creating even more mistakes.
I’m of the opinion AOB still has a job only because our defense is so good. It’s up there with the best. If our defense were shabby, we’d be losing every game by 30, and AOB would’ve been gone a long time ago. The only reason I can still watch our games is due to our defense. Was fantastic seeing Best get the better of Crichton the whole game. It's a pity that we defend so well 90% of the game then let them just breeze through the middle at least once a game.
The script’s already been written. We’ll win a game here and there, then make a big run at the end of the season and scrape into the eight. We'll make the run because we will start getting Ponga the ball more, try to offload more and stop being so conservative in attack. It'll allow our players to actually play the game. AOB will give in because he gives in to the pressure and loosen his grip on the squad which improves our attack. However, we’ll lose in the first round but still feel good because we made finals. AOB will be given another season because we’ve got Brown coming in, and it’ll all repeat.
Rant over. Thanks to anyone who read it.
