Wrestling

[aqua_duck]

Just watched the game again (not sure why I put myself through that punishment) and to me it's pretty clear we are below average in the wrestling department. A lot of people are wondering why we're giving away so many penalties and put it down to bad discipline and whilst discipline has something to do with it but most of our penalties come in the ruck as a result of trying to slow down the play the ball as a result of being on the back foot from a late offload or quick play the ball the previous tackle.
When you look at things in perspective, we've got probably the most experienced team and most experienced coach in the business, I'm sure they don't go out there to deliberately give away penalties. Unfortunately we've got one of the most immobile forward packs and can't afford allow quick play the balls more than most teams, IMO our below par wrestling allows too many quick play the balls.
Another worrying sign is how many offloads we're allowing, we've been out-offloaded in every game this season except the tigers and cowboys game, many times we've conceded 10 or more offloads a match. Watching the match tonight, the late offloads stood out, there were a few occasions where there would be 3 tacklers in there and we were conceding very late offloads to the extent where the ref had called helled, there is no way we should be allowing offloads in 2 man tackles let alone 3 man tackles if our wrestling was up to par. I'd probably be abit more encouraged if it were opposition players breaking tackles and offloading to a support player on the burst but to me it's quite worrying that the first up contact is satisfactory but we still can't prevent the late offload which puts us on the back foot.
Does anyone actually know if we have a full time wrestling coach and who he is?

 

[cisco]

Wow its great that super coach chose the Knightmare retirement village ENJOY YOUR SUCKSESS LOL

 

[Noname36]

I'm pretty sure I remember hearing that when Bennett first arrived he sacked our wrestling coach because he didn't like that aspect of the game but he was rehired pretty quick after that.

So we definetly have one.

I noticed tonight a lot that Saints were able to hold us down for a long time without the refs blowing a penalty. It's certainly an area we need to look into. That and our ruck speed were pretty ordinary.

 

[Noname36]

Wow its great that super coach chose the Knightmare retirement village ENJOY YOUR SUCKSESS LOL

This is what I hate about Saturday night. Too many kids are allowed to stay up well past their bedtime.

 

[aqua_duck]

There are teams who are experts in slowing down the play the ball with good wrestling, obviously Storm and Manly come to mind, they control the ruck very well and even though they walk a very fine line mat of their good work is done during the tackle as opposed to holding down, we're conceding a mountain of penalties from stuff like hold on to the leg and hands on the ball as well as not releasing quick enough.
If what you said us true about Bennett not being a fan of the wrestling aspect of the game I think that's a major problem. I know in the 80's when Wayne started coaching wrestling was not a factor at all but the fact is its 2013, wrestling can win you games.

 

[Jono078]

I actually thought as a team we are good at stopping offloads. Not sure if stats back it up. But I think we're good at wrapping up those who are known for offloads.

 

[aqua_duck]

We allowed 14 offloads tonight, not including 2 that were called back because the ref called held, just a comparison, last night the eels who are a terrible defensive team only allowed 3 offloads against the roosters, and 2 of those were from SBW.
The game against the warriors we copped 18 offloads, that's about the total the storm would concede in 3-4 games

 

[Yosh]

When we try to win the ruck we just give away penalties lol!

I think it's something WB hates but it's something he needs to address. Teams like the Storm always put players on their back and slow down the ruck so they are always set.

 

[aqua_duck]

Exactly, there's a way to slow down the ruck without copping a truck load of penalties, unfortunately we can't do it. Others teams slow down the ruck with good wrestling, we slow it down with holding on too long, and it's absolutely killing us

 

[Misanthrope]

Wasn't this Pika's job? :lol:

 

[Apey]

I think so. I don't think he was rehired though?

 

[Noname36]

I think so. I don't think he was rehired though?

I'm going off what Joey said on the footy show last year. Unless he's muddled it up and we sacked Pika but hired someone else.

 

[slotmachine]

The Dragons got to lay in the ruck all night because they had three men in every tackle.

That's pretty easy when everything is one out or dummy half runs.

 

[Whats Doing]

The Dragons got to lay in the ruck all night because they had three men in every tackle.

That's pretty easy when everything is one out or dummy half runs.

Thats very true. If it is one out football, the defenders can line you up and get 3 in the tackle. Where you move the ball or run at angles, you try to get tackled between 2 defenders which means quicker play the balls as there are less defenders.

Pretty simple really.

 

[macavity]

Great minds think alike, just posted much the same.

Pika wasn't re-hired when Bennett came on, as WB has a "philosophical" objection to wrestling coaches as wrestling shouldn't be part of the game. We have regressed massively in this area since he left.

WB stands on principles while the team burns around him.

 

[aqua_duck]

Bennett needs to wake up and smell the f**king roses, maybe wrestling shouldn't be part of the game but the reality is wrestling is a massive part of the game

 

[Bring it home Knights]

I'm pretty sure Bennett is aware how important that wrestling is and I'm sure he doesn't shy away from it. Bennett complained the other day about players getting held up by 2 people then someone diving at the legs. Bennett said that this move needs to be outlawed, however he said that he coaches his Team to do it otherwise the knights would have a disadvantage. I find it hard to believe that he would not have a wrestling coach. Sure remove one, but then replace him with another.

Also I'd like to add that wrestling has been a problem for the team for many years. I find it becomes obvious by when we sign new players. Even if the new player turns out to be a dud buy, they always out wrestle the current players.

 

[aqua_duck]

Bennett has the chequebook, he needs to go out and recruit the best wrestling coach he can in preparation for next season

 

[The Showstopper]

Craig Smith has been forwards coach for the under 20s for 8 werks. They are six wins from their last seven games. I think Wayne may want to play close attention because by all accounts Smith is a very clever football brain. Best signing Hages made.

 

[Misanthrope]

Great minds think alike, just posted much the same.

Pika wasn't re-hired when Bennett came on, as WB has a "philosophical" objection to wrestling coaches as wrestling shouldn't be part of the game. We have regressed massively in this area since he left.

WB stands on principles while the team burns around him.

I figured that might have been the case. Hadn't noticed him around here in a while and definitely don't see us doing anything resembling the kind of wrestling a team with a full time trainer should do.