NSW don't have a terrible problem scoring points, defence is the bigger concern. Scott's a defensive centre specialist.
Beau Scott has made the most tackles of any centre in the NRL. Guess who is number 2, Chris Lawrence.
Beau Scott - 205 tackles, 19 missed, 25 ineffective, 20.5 tackles/game
Chris Lawrence - 196 tackles, 22 missed, 13 ineffective, 16.3 tackles/game
There is a fair bit between Chris and the next guy. So Beau seems to be a more consistent tackler, but you can hardly suggest that Chris is poor, in fact, stats call him one of the best defensive centres in the NRL this year. So let's compare their attack.
Beau Scott:
10 games, 1 try, 1 linebreak, 23 offloads, 23 tackle breaks, 9.8 runs/game, 79.1 metres/game.
Chris Lawrence:
12 games, 8 tries, 7 linebreaks, 5 offloads, 28 tackle breaks, 9.9 runs/game, 86.6 metres/game.
Beau has the most offloads of any centre in the league, his stats read like a backrowers. They really pale in comparison to the attacking stats (offloads aside) of Lawrence.
So basically, Scott is a slightly better defender, but a non existent attacking option. Wouldn't you rather the player with both attacking and defensive strengths?
Just for a variable. The other big name NSW centres are as follows.
Matt Cooper:
9 games, 9 tries, 7 linebreaks, 31 tackle breaks, 10.9 runs/game, 95.1 metres/game, 18.9 tackles/game (deserves his spot)
Timana Tahu:
11 games, 4 tries, 4 linebreaks, 22 tackle breaks, 9.5 runs/game, 71.7 metres/game, 15.2 tackles/game (doesn't seem to have the impact of the other nominees, in either defense OR attack)
Josh Morris:
11 games, 8 tries, 10 linebreaks, 35 tackle breaks, 9.6 runs/game, 88.5 metres/game, 14.5 tackles/game (better than Tahu, equal to the other options in attack, not in defense)
Michael Jennings:
12 games, 7 tries, 5 linebreaks, 56 tackle breaks, 11.2 runs/game, 103.2 metres/game, 13.3 tackles/game (the best attacking centre in NSW, not a noted tackler, but not poor either)
Beau Champion: (before tonights game)
11 games, 12 tries, 9 linebreaks, 22 tackle breaks, 8.3 runs/game, 81.5 metres/game, 12.8 tackles/game (getting to the tryline frequently makes him seem a bit better than he is, still not the worst option of our top line centres)
Jamie Lyon:
10 games, 5 tries, 7 linebreaks, 31 tackle breaks, 7.6 runs/game, 65.5 metres/game, 13 tackles/game (the few big plays he makes give him the illusion of superstardom, the truth is he IS a superstar and the low stats are as a result of him being given the opportunity to inject himself at opportune moments, has the most try assists of any centre in the league, his reputation as a defensive centre are unwarranted however)
Jamal Idris:
11 games, 5 tries, 6 linebreaks, 68 tackle breaks, 12.2 runs, 108.2 metres/game, 11.1 tackles/game (his critics are really for the most part unwarranted, his main issue is his ineffective tackles, he has more ineffective tackles than any centre in the league and ranks highly in missed tackles, his tackle breaking and metre eating is second to none though)
Just for posterity really. Reading these stats has changed my tune quite a bit regarding Jamal Idris, maybe having him come off the bench isn't the worst idea, especially if their plan comes good. Cooper certainly deserves his spot but Tahu does not. Lyon shouldn't really be a given either. In my opinion the top three centres NSW have (and I'm surprised these stats have given me this indication) are Cooper, Lawrence and Idris.
