NRL's Most Potent Backline

[veggiepatch1959]

The other night I was talking to some mates over a few beers about the best backline out of the six teams left in the finals race for 2013. I mentioned Manly and Newcastle. They all agreed that Manly are up there but laughed at my Knights suggestion.

So I applied a test based on expected players for this week's matches and Souths and Roosters last week's backlines through from 1 to 7.

Only tries scores were considered (goals and field goals left out) and the number of games played by each player.

Here are the results....

1. Sea Eagles - 14.09 points scored per game
2. Storm - 13.01
3. Knights - 12.13
4. Rabbitohs - 11.78
5. Roosters - 11.20
6. Sharks - 8.08

Just remember that regular squad players who are injured (such as Carney) do not figure in the calculations.

 

[oldmancraigy]

Shame you didn't take the Eels into consideration.

Eels backline 1.07 tries per game.

 

[macnaz]

How did u determine the stats? Is is based on actual backline tries or just team tries. If it is based on backline players try stats for the year thats a fair indicator although some could be from kicks I supppse.

 

[Dave_]

There is just no doubt based on individual talent and potency that Newcastles backline is the best in the comp and they are only going to get better. Manly has an ageing backline (albeit still great) and players such as Matai, Stewart and Williams will only decline from here on.

All the Knights backs still have their best footy ahead of them and are already the best in the NRL. One highlight will be seeing Joey Leilua and Dane Gagai go up against each other in origin for the next 8 to 10 years.

 

[Mr Angry]

Sharks forwards score our tries

 

[Frederick]

One of the guys in the knights forum did this recently, and this is what he came up with:

I'll do the 5 that scored the most and played the most for their respective teams.

So far we're leading..

Here it is;

Knights – 58

Broncos – 41
Bulldogs – 51
Raiders – 43
Sharks – 29
Titans – 44
Sea Eagles – 70
Storm – 57 – I did 6 players since mahe fonua didn’t play the whole season and blair started playing centre at the end)
Cowboys – 44
Warriors – 40
Eels – 33
Panthers – 39
Rabbitohs – 50
Dragons – 35
Roosters – 51
Tigers - 36

2nd only to Manly's outrageous 70!

Also as a little side note, I'd say the Roosters and Sharks score with their forwards more than any other team by far

 

[Moffo]

1.barba
2.ferguson
3.jennings
4.hodges
5.dugan
6.carney
7.lui

Would be a potent back line in the night clubs of Sydney haha

 

[veggiepatch1959]

How did u determine the stats? Is is based on actual backline tries or just team tries. If it is based on backline players try stats for the year thats a fair indicator although some could be from kicks I supppse.

Only tries scored by the backline were considered, regardless of how they were scored.

You could argue that a try scored by Shaun Kenny-Dowall off an SBW pass doesn't really constitute as a backline try. Sorry but I don't have time the time to analyse every individual try.

I calculated the points from tries per game by adding each individual players' points scored during 2013 and dividing that by the total number of games played by those players then multiplying by seven - the number of players in the backline.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

One of the guys in the knights forum did this recently, and this is what he came up with:

Thanks for that!

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Shame you didn't take the Eels into consideration.

Eels backline 1.07 tries per game.

The Eels are hard to work out since their backline changed more than a stipper's undies.

I went with Hayne, Sio, Toutai, Morgan, Roberts, Kelly and Loko as the players who played the most 2013 games (I think).

Their backline came up somehow with 7.59 points per match. Maybe its biased possibly due to the assumption that when the Eel's second string players are on the starting lineup, they don't score as many points. I just don't know.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

1.barba
2.ferguson
3.jennings
4.hodges
5.dugan
6.carney
7.lui

Would be a potent back line in the night clubs of Sydney haha

That would be a case of "lock up your daughters!"

 

[Rod]

Not to talk my own team up too much but I've thought for a while that us and Manly are probably the strongest 1-5.

The Roosters are the other one, they're a bit similar to us in that their best is still ahead of them. Similar to the case of Gagai and Leilua, another year under the belt for RTS, Tupou etc and they'll be flying.

 

[firechild]

Not really surprising that Manly are at the top considering Williams was equal top try scorer and Taufua was 2 tries behind (having not played the last 2 rounds). Matai and Lyon also reached more than 10 each. Surprising that Stewart was the worst of our back 5 for tries. Foran didn't contribute much (had the have the ball handed to him over the line by Snake to avoid a nudie run).

 

[Noa]

The thing with talking about how potent a backline is is no-one ever counts the backrowers and their always there, getting in the way, try to beat the tackle before passing, hardle ever passing before the line to give the a center space fist:.

 

[ceagle]

Not really surprising that Manly are at the top considering Williams was equal top try scorer and Taufua was 2 tries behind (having not played the last 2 rounds). Matai and Lyon also reached more than 10 each. Surprising that Stewart was the worst of our back 5 for tries. Foran didn't contribute much (had the have the ball handed to him over the line by Snake to avoid a nudie run).

DCE also has about 10 doesn't he? Which is pretty good for a half, scored more then B Stewart this year.


Also Knights would probably have more backline points if Aku didn't drop the ball over the line so much

 

[veggiepatch1959]

DCE also has about 10 doesn't he? Which is pretty good for a half, scored more then B Stewart this year.


Also Knights would probably have more backline points if Aku didn't drop the ball over the line so much

Yep he does....10 tries from 24 matches where Stewart has 8 tries from 17 matches.

Which means Stewart still has a better strike rate.

 

[bellyache]

The other night I was talking to some mates over a few beers about the best backline out of the six teams left in the finals race for 2013. I mentioned Manly and Newcastle. They all agreed that Manly are up there but laughed at my Knights suggestion.

So I applied a test based on expected players for this week's matches and Souths and Roosters last week's backlines through from 1 to 7.

Only tries scores were considered (goals and field goals left out) and the number of games played by each player.

Here are the results....

1. Sea Eagles - 14.09 points scored per game
2. Storm - 13.01
3. Knights - 12.13
4. Rabbitohs - 11.78
5. Roosters - 11.20
6. Sharks - 8.08

Just remember that regular squad players who are injured (such as Carney) do not figure in the calculations.

Bollox; Manly's backline has scored 88 trys.. Roosters 67..Storms 66.. Rabbitohs 55..Sharks 45.. that includes all trys scored by replacements covering for injury..

 

[bellyache]

Yep he does....10 tries from 24 matches where Stewart has 8 tries from 17 matches.

Which means Stewart still has a better strike rate.

Garbage. Manlys attacking plays are setup for trys out wide, thats why the wingers and outside backs score most of there points.. DCEs strike rate as a half is better..

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Garbage. Manlys attacking plays are setup for trys out wide, thats why the wingers and outside backs score most of there points.. DCEs strike rate as a half is better..

Thank you Captain Obvious.

Derr........

 

[DeeJ]

1.barba
2.ferguson
3.jennings
4.hodges
5.dugan
6.carney
7.lui

Would be a potent back line in the night clubs of Sydney haha

Need to replace Hodges with BJ/Joey Leilua from the Knights.