Nathan Brown to Depart at Season’s End

[D4L_Dave]

Fair argument. Sorry I misunderstood. .

I actually think it’s just another symptom of the same issue. Our halves are suffering from it too.

We have no shape. We have no structure. Good playmakers make good decisions about which player to hit. But they need options. We generally have 1 option of who is going to get the ball, too often there are no options and the playmaker is forced to run themselves. On the rare occasion that we have two options, the plays aren’t run enough to create doubt in the defence.

I’d like to see McInnes improve too, but I think he needs to also have players pushing up. As well as their forward options, Smith has Croft and Munster pushing up with him on either side of the ruck. And Cook has options from his forwards plus Walker who reads Cook’s game magnificently.

The best that McInnes ever has is two props running in tandem, or a forward running as a decoy with a half running an out line out the back. It’s just not enough to disrupt a modern defence.

You makes some good points there but consider this, Brown had Gourley & Bartrim and Mundaine. Mundaine wanted every play, but the beauty of that partnership is one McInness could learn from, which is Browns willingness to only give Mundaine the ball when he thought it needed to go there same as Smith/Munster, Cook/Walker. I am concerned that it is a skill hard to teach as it is at least part instinct, maybe worth giving Hunt more time at dummy half that reason

 

[SBD82]

You makes some good points there but consider this, Brown had Gourley & Bartrim and Mundaine. Mundaine wanted every play, but the beauty of that partnership is one McInness could learn from, which is Browns willingness to only give Mundaine the ball when he thought it needed to go there same as Smith/Munster, Cook/Walker. I am concerned that it is a skill hard to teach as it is at least part instinct, maybe worth giving Hunt more time at dummy half that reason

But because of our poor structures, the halves are only demanding the ball once per set (excluding 5th tackle). Brown had to make the decision, but McInnes basically plays to whoever is available because of his lack of options.

He might need improving in this area, but we aren’t going to know how good his decision making is until he has decisions to make.

 

[giboz71]

The reason we lack shape in any given play is because most of our attack is scripted along the lines of 4 hit ups/standard block play/kick strategy. It's a symptom of McGregor's high completion/low risk power game which worked at different times in 2015, 2017 and last year. When you have a pack as good as ours, it can be effective, but its not sustainable and good teams work out our predictable tactics, thus causing the late season fade outs when we don't adjust.

McInnes is actually pretty quick, but his dummy half snipes are ineffective as he lacks support and can't link with his play makers (unlike Smith, Hodgson and Cook). We're so busy preparing for the next play, we don't actually finish the current play so Cam finds himself on his own with no support.

Case in point, one of the Rabbits tries last week, Cook dart from dummy half, finds Reynolds who kicks for Walker to score. Reynolds and Walker knew when Cook was going to run and made sure they were in the right place to support.

That's Bennett coaching right there as compared to Mary.

 

[muzby]

But because of our poor structures, the halves are only demanding the ball once per set (excluding 5th tackle). Brown had to make the decision, but McInnes basically plays to whoever is available because of his lack of options.

He might need improving in this area, but we aren’t going to know how good his decision making is until he has decisions to make.

I don’t even know why the halves bother getting their hands on the ball on the 5th tackle..

According to our “coach” tries on the 5th tackle don’t count either..

We should be working hard to get a barge over try on play 2 or 3 IMHO..

 

[SBD82]

The reason we lack shape in any given play is because most of our attack is scripted along the lines of 4 hit ups/standard block play/kick strategy. It's a symptom of McGregor's high completion/low risk power game which worked at different times in 2015, 2017 and last year. When you have a pack as good as ours, it can be effective, but its not sustainable and good teams work out our predictable tactics, thus causing the late season fade outs when we don't adjust.

McInnes is actually pretty quick, but his dummy half snipes are ineffective as he lacks support and can't link with his play makers (unlike Smith, Hodgson and Cook). We're so busy preparing for the next play, we don't actually finish the current play so Cam finds himself on his own with no support.

Case in point, one of the Rabbits tries last week, Cook dart from dummy half, finds Reynolds who kicks for Walker to score. Reynolds and Walker knew when Cook was going to run and made sure they were in the right place to support.

That's Bennett coaching right there as compared to Mary.

I totally agree.

I’d also add that a basic game plan of 4 hitups then sweep is workable, as long as it has variation and options to put doubt in the minds of the defenders. One out hit ups work best when the defence has other options that they need to be ready for. When no one else is in motion, you lose the ruck every time.

It also needs key players to be able to overcall the play when they see an opportunity as happened in your Cook/Reynolds example.

It’s honesty baffling that there are so many armchair spectators on here who can see the issues, but whoever is responsible for our attack can’t make the necessary changes. It’s not rocket surgery.

 

[SBD82]

I don’t even know why the halves bother getting their hands on the ball on the 5th tackle..

According to our “coach” tries on the 5th tackle don’t count either..

We should be working hard to get a barge over try on play 2 or 3 IMHO..

Still a better plan than Dragons footy.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Point in question:

How many 40/20 have we kicked this year?

As far as I can see = 0

5 hit-ups, block plays and kick on the 5th. Opposition wingers and fullbacks know they dont have to start thinking of dropping back to cover this, simply because we dont.