I wonder how much of Toutai's defensive issues are bred, and how many are taught? He just plants his feet and grabs (Joseph Paulo is a big time plant and grabber too) --> but we were full of plant and grabbers the last few seasons. One has to wonder if they could have the rubbish coached out (or if it is too late and the habit has established itself?)
I don't think there's anything wrong with Toutai's tackling technique - he knows how to hit. It's his decision making and lateral movement that seem to be the problem.
Agreed Paulo has defensive issues, but planting one's feet is necessary at some stage of completing a front-on tackle. The trick is getting your feet in the right position in the first place. His footwork is fine; he lacks strength and aggression.
To compare him with two similar sized players who also defend in the middle:
Paulo: 265 tackles, 16 ineffective, 16 missed
Fensom: 326 tackles, 11 ineffective, 5 missed
Harrison: 272 tackles, 10 ineffective, 15 missed
Fensom also managed more tackles than Paulo and Ash Harrison, despite playing one less game. Harrison played one game in the halves, making 18 tackles, 0 ineffective, 0 missed.
So we can see Fensom is far superior to both Paulo and Harrison. Between the latter two, their stats are comparable, with Harrison's fewer ineffective tackles likely down to playing in a side with taller, stronger props helping wrap the ball up (something Fensom also benefits from). There isn't much between Paulo's defensive stats and those of Ashley Harrison.
But Harrison is retiring this year.
