Team v Dolphins

[JJ]

And yes, it’s absolutely a flaw of Webster’s game plan that he has Ford touching the ball twice as often as Niukore.

Should he just play in the middle? Tbh I’ve never underwent we signed him

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Should he just play in the middle? Tbh I’ve never underwent we signed him

I think they planned for Niukore to play in the middle last year but the plan switched to Ford doing it instead.

I think they must’ve realised that out of the two, Ford was more suited to the middle. Unless we change our whole structure that means Niukore inevitably won’t get that many touches.

 

[JJ]

Just ftr this was from a screenshot a mate sent me, I don’t go for looking for anti-Ford stats and nor did I just make it up just think it’s interesting cos at the same time I acknowledge his metres per hit up and post contact metres tend to look decent. I still reckon rugby league stats don’t tell you a whole lot

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Would be useful to know distribution ls too, but JFH ain’t the biggest, but he’s effective no mistake

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Just ftr this was from a screenshot a mate sent me, I don’t go for looking for anti-Ford stats and nor did I just make it up just think it’s interesting cos at the same time I acknowledge his metres per hit up and post contact metres tend to look decent. I still reckon rugby league stats don’t tell you a whole lot

View attachment 104596

Geezus, that's stark. Can we rely on that? Demetric at 2.46s, a full second and a half less than Ford! Makes sense though, with Egan - a small body - having a slow play-the-ball and a lump like Niukore high as well.

To be fair, I've seen Ford with high stats there before, and wondered if the post contact metres are beneficial or detrimental

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Would be useful to know distribution ls too, but JFH ain’t the biggest, but he’s effective no mistake

He's not the biggest but look at him, he is a physical beast. His biceps are insane. I imagine he's winning the wrestle more often than not

 

[Meth]

The quality in contact from JFH, Clark, Vaimauga and even Stowers Smith is generally excellent.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yeah there's a player in TSS. I like his physicality

 

[Penrose Warrior]

This one frightens me....Phins with a red hot left side attack and plenty of points in them, us with a right side D that leaks like nothing else, and they're coming off a 14-day break so will be fresh.

Do love the 6pm AEST time slot on a Friday though

 

[Grizzman]

While we talk about Ford a lot, why doesn't one of our back rowers, probably the biggest guy in our side, get as much of a mention?

Marata Niukore, most weeks, is a plodder. Yet never gets mentioned.

He made 6 runs for 37m last night. And made 39 tackles. Is he Alan Tongue? Except that Tongue, Lucky etc used to play in the middle and make 50+ and do all the dirty work, while Marata just makes the tackles he's required to.

I can't think of a guy in the NRL who plays below his weight more, apart from maybe David Fifita who isn't in the NRL right now

He's had the occasional decent week but is never in the votes, hardly dents the line, regularly goes missing.

If I was Webby I'd be playing him at prop for shorter stints and say if you can't play there and produce impact, you're a NSW Cup player

Absolutely all of this. I can't believe a guy that big and that menacing looking can be so ineffective. He rarely breaks the line.

 

[Meth]

And yes, it’s absolutely a flaw of Webster’s game plan that he has Ford touching the ball twice as often as Niukore.

This,

Again, as with CHT, the rate that Niukore touches the ball is not due to a disinterest from Niukore in touching the ball. The players who touch the ball are the players that Webster wants touching the ball.