I think Storm are good at it because of those in the middle controlling the game. There is nobody better (other than maybe JT) at reading the game and adapting than Smith. Having Slater out the back reading his thoughts with every move helps.
It would have been interesting to see if we did adapt to the Warriors and Panthers whether they would have been able to adapt. I'd suspect maybe Panthers would have because of Maloney - and I think he was the key to the Sharks adapting. I don't think they adapt as well as they used to.
For me it comes down to the capability of the player.
It also comes down to the coach having faith in the players.
Our "bash em" in the forwards mentality works to a point until someone bashes us, then it breaks down and this is the main gripe people have with our coaching at the moment.
We see fleeting glimpses of the wonderful counter attacks and running game and we all wonder why that style is not incorporated or encouraged in the main game plan.
Langlands and Smith were as one as are Smith & Slater & also Cronk when he was there, so we need to develop that amongst Dufty, Hunt, Widdop & Mc Innes and that surely has to be part of the training drills and at the behest of the coach.
Unfortunately I see very few planned / set moves or the instant switch on of the players radar when we make a break.
Watching the Widdop try off the Dufty kick was sublime and was something the Storm would have been proud of and we simply need to see a lot more of that instinctive style of play.
A great old adage is the more I practise the luckier I get.
