- Joined
- Jan 7, 2006
- Messages
- 5,218
- Reaction score
- 3,768
Probably posted already if so delete
DES Hasler’s numbers have often been his strongest defence.
But with a 42-12 hammering by Brisbane consigning Canterbury to all but a mathematical chance of making the finals, even Hasler’s beloved science and statistics are turning against the career coach.
Lies, damned lies and statistics can be used to justify just about anything, with varying degrees of accuracy.
LIVE stream the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week Foxtel Now trial and start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW
But these are the cold, hard Fox Sports Lab figures that have Hasler in the crosshairs once more, and the latest shift that should have him nervous despite signing one of the most scrutinised contract extensions in recent memory.
LOSING HABITS
— Hasler’s five previous seasons at Belmore have delivered finals appearances in each of them, 2012 and 2014 grand finals and an impressive 59.7% win percentage.
— Thursday’s capitulation at Suncorp Stadium was however, Canterbury’s 11th loss for the season, and leaves them slumped in 12th place with just six games remaining.
— This is the fifth consecutive season the Bulldogs have lost 11 or more games.
— Only once before in their proud history have Canterbury lost 11 matches across five straight seasons — going back 58 years to a lean trot between 1954 and 1959, when they lost more games than they won each 18-game season.
— With a 7-11 record this year, Hasler is tracking for his first losing season at Belmore.
— The Bulldogs have now lost seven of eight away games in 2017, and their last five road trips have ended in defeat. It is their worst away streak since 2008.
— Canterbury have now lost nine of their last 10 games in Queensland, with a 2015 win over the Broncos at Suncorp all they have to write home about.
JUST CAN’T KICK IT
— The Bulldogs are last in the competition for average points (14), tries (2.5) and line breaks (3.4) per game.
— Not since 1989, when the blue and whites could only manage 12.7 points a game, and their premiership defence ended in a seventh placed finish, have they offered so little in attack.
— Canterbury also have the worst red-zone attack in the game, scoring a try every 15.9 tackles in their opponents 20 metre-zone.
— Unsurprisingly, they have scored only three tries from kicks in 2017, six fewer than the next worst team and rank 14th for forced dropouts with just over one per game.
— The Bulldogs are also the slowest starters in the NRL, averaging just 4.1 first half points, and never going into halftime with more than 10 points. Opponents are outscoring them 190-76 in the opening half.
SAVING GRACE SLIPS AWAY
— Until Brisbane put 40-odd past them, the Dogs were in typically reasonable nick defensively. Going into the game they ranked equal third for points (17.6) and tries conceded (2.9) per game.
— They also conceded the least amount of line-breaks (3.5) and missed the second fewest tackles (22) per match.
— The Broncos blew those records out of the water with their 26-point second half blitz as Canterbury leaked seven tries, seven line breaks and missed 33 tackles.
Which is where the rub gets particularly prickly for Hasler. Defence has always been the best barometer of a side’s attitude, and Hasler’s teams have always turned up without the ball in hand.
Brisbane’s 42 points were the second-most conceded by Canterbury during his six seasons at the club, and come in a season where 36 and 38-point thumpings from Manly and Penrith have built up intense pressure.
The Dogs have now lost seven of their last nine matches, beating only last-placed Newcastle and an out-of-form St. George Illawarra.
The club is almost certain to miss the finals for the first time since Hasler arrived in 2012, and not since his debut season in charge of Manly in 2004 has the 56-year-old sat out the semis.
For a club that’s grown accustomed to success, and been spending through the nose of late to rediscover it, the numbers are a long way from adding up.
DES Hasler’s numbers have often been his strongest defence.
But with a 42-12 hammering by Brisbane consigning Canterbury to all but a mathematical chance of making the finals, even Hasler’s beloved science and statistics are turning against the career coach.
Lies, damned lies and statistics can be used to justify just about anything, with varying degrees of accuracy.
LIVE stream the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week Foxtel Now trial and start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW
But these are the cold, hard Fox Sports Lab figures that have Hasler in the crosshairs once more, and the latest shift that should have him nervous despite signing one of the most scrutinised contract extensions in recent memory.
LOSING HABITS
— Hasler’s five previous seasons at Belmore have delivered finals appearances in each of them, 2012 and 2014 grand finals and an impressive 59.7% win percentage.
— Thursday’s capitulation at Suncorp Stadium was however, Canterbury’s 11th loss for the season, and leaves them slumped in 12th place with just six games remaining.
— This is the fifth consecutive season the Bulldogs have lost 11 or more games.
— Only once before in their proud history have Canterbury lost 11 matches across five straight seasons — going back 58 years to a lean trot between 1954 and 1959, when they lost more games than they won each 18-game season.
— With a 7-11 record this year, Hasler is tracking for his first losing season at Belmore.
— The Bulldogs have now lost seven of eight away games in 2017, and their last five road trips have ended in defeat. It is their worst away streak since 2008.
— Canterbury have now lost nine of their last 10 games in Queensland, with a 2015 win over the Broncos at Suncorp all they have to write home about.
JUST CAN’T KICK IT
— The Bulldogs are last in the competition for average points (14), tries (2.5) and line breaks (3.4) per game.
— Not since 1989, when the blue and whites could only manage 12.7 points a game, and their premiership defence ended in a seventh placed finish, have they offered so little in attack.
— Canterbury also have the worst red-zone attack in the game, scoring a try every 15.9 tackles in their opponents 20 metre-zone.
— Unsurprisingly, they have scored only three tries from kicks in 2017, six fewer than the next worst team and rank 14th for forced dropouts with just over one per game.
— The Bulldogs are also the slowest starters in the NRL, averaging just 4.1 first half points, and never going into halftime with more than 10 points. Opponents are outscoring them 190-76 in the opening half.
SAVING GRACE SLIPS AWAY
— Until Brisbane put 40-odd past them, the Dogs were in typically reasonable nick defensively. Going into the game they ranked equal third for points (17.6) and tries conceded (2.9) per game.
— They also conceded the least amount of line-breaks (3.5) and missed the second fewest tackles (22) per match.
— The Broncos blew those records out of the water with their 26-point second half blitz as Canterbury leaked seven tries, seven line breaks and missed 33 tackles.
Which is where the rub gets particularly prickly for Hasler. Defence has always been the best barometer of a side’s attitude, and Hasler’s teams have always turned up without the ball in hand.
Brisbane’s 42 points were the second-most conceded by Canterbury during his six seasons at the club, and come in a season where 36 and 38-point thumpings from Manly and Penrith have built up intense pressure.
The Dogs have now lost seven of their last nine matches, beating only last-placed Newcastle and an out-of-form St. George Illawarra.
The club is almost certain to miss the finals for the first time since Hasler arrived in 2012, and not since his debut season in charge of Manly in 2004 has the 56-year-old sat out the semis.
For a club that’s grown accustomed to success, and been spending through the nose of late to rediscover it, the numbers are a long way from adding up.
