What if we just played without props?

[D.O.W.]

The only way we will be effective in the middle with this current line up is if our speedy backs take a fair amount of workload coming out of dummy half with quick play-the-balls…. That way the defence is retreating when our smaller, less impactful middles take a carry and find their front…. Though issue with this is fitness to execute “fast ball” for 80 mins.

You look at a team like Penrith, albeit they have strong middles, they are making 40-50 meters in three hit ups through Turuva, Edwards and To’o.

Potentially we could manage this via, Critta, Fox and Kiraz??

At the end of the day, to be a serious contender, a team needs good middles, we literally have none… they are coming off the bench at most other clubs.
1 or 2 quality middles is massive for us, if we can manage to jag the caliber of a Saifiti, Taumalolo, AFB we’re in very good shape.

 

[TwinTurbo]

The only way we will be effective in the middle with this current line up is if our speedy backs take a fair amount of workload coming out of dummy half with quick play-the-balls…. That way the defence is retreating when our smaller, less impactful middles take a carry and find their front…. Though issue with this is fitness to execute “fast ball” for 80 mins.
You look at a team like Penrith, albeit they have strong middles, they are making 40-50 meters in three hit ups through Turuva, Edwards and To’o.
Potentially we could manage this via, Critta, Fox and Kiraz??
At the end of the day, to be a serious contender, a team needs good middles, we literally have none… they are coming off the bench at most other clubs.1 or 2 quality middles is massive for us, if we can manage to jag the caliber of a Saifiti, Taumalolo, AFB we’re in very good shape.

And Xerri and Skelton plus Kikau and Preston. Sharing the load is the way the game is played these days.

Hence the heavy emphasis on fitness, not only for the exiting players but the recruits for 2024 all have reputations as dedicated trainers, that's not a coincidence.


Always a Bulldog

 

[battered sav]

The only way we will be effective in the middle with this current line up is if our speedy backs take a fair amount of workload coming out of dummy half with quick play-the-balls…. That way the defence is retreating when our smaller, less impactful middles take a carry and find their front…. Though issue with this is fitness to execute “fast ball” for 80 mins.

You look at a team like Penrith, albeit they have strong middles, they are making 40-50 meters in three hit ups through Turuva, Edwards and To’o.

Potentially we could manage this via, Critta, Fox and Kiraz??

At the end of the day, to be a serious contender, a team needs good middles, we literally have none… they are coming off the bench at most other clubs.
1 or 2 quality middles is massive for us, if we can manage to jag the caliber of a Saifiti, Taumalolo, AFB we’re in very good shape.

Not sure the fox and critta enjoy the collision enough for that to work. Even To'o seemed to drop off in that department this year.
Whatever the plan is for the coming season it clearly has to reflect the squad we have. That didn't appear to be the case this year or perhaps it was just the quality wasn't there. I am still very hopeful that the club is on a winning trajectory.

 

[Hound Dog]

Eventually we will see more smaller bodies in the game (or more fit builds to be specific).

It's clear to see the NRL has been trying to make the game quicker.

The NRL admin itself is inconsistent, players don't benefit from 1 on 1 tackles and leg tackles, it contradicts itself, making and ruling things like six agains.

I still believe there'll always be a place for a couple big boppers. A simple game plan can draw defence and create second phase play, etc.

A lighter pack will have likely downsides like metres gained, but also likely to concede less six agains, a fitter d line will make less errors from fatigue.

You'd need a well oiled, trained, brave, disciplined team to succeed consistently with a lighter pack. Generally, it's simply easier having a big pack, it's not as risky. Players know their roles clearly, easily interchangeable, etc

 

[D.O.W.]

Not sure the fox and critta enjoy the collision enough for that to work. Even To'o seemed to drop off in that department this year.
Whatever the plan is for the coming season it clearly has to reflect the squad we have. That didn't appear to be the case this year or perhaps it was just the quality wasn't there. I am still very hopeful that the club is on a winning trajectory.

Critta is good for an early hit up but agree on fox, not a yard eater coming out of trouble - we were well short of quality and depth last year, we will see a massive improvement next season without troubling the top 4 and a lot has to go right for a top 8 finish including a quality middle forward pick up before round 1.

 

[SexBomb]

Eventually we will see more smaller bodies in the game (or more fit builds to be specific).

It's clear to see the NRL has been trying to make the game quicker.

The NRL admin itself is inconsistent, players don't benefit from 1 on 1 tackles and leg tackles, it contradicts itself, making and ruling things like six agains.

I still believe there'll always be a place for a couple big boppers. A simple game plan can draw defence and create second phase play, etc.

A lighter pack will have likely downsides like metres gained, but also likely to concede less six agains, a fitter d line will make less errors from fatigue.

You'd need a well oiled, trained, brave, disciplined team to succeed consistently with a lighter pack. Generally, it's simply easier having a big pack, it's not as risky. Players know their roles clearly, easily interchangeable, etc

Is why we require a mix of both.
We have the speed and agility, we just need a few big bodies or punishers in the middle.

 

[Kelpie03]

NRL Version of Total Football

"Total Football" where did you get that term from

 

[steeliz]

"Total Football" where did you get that term from

Total football - All players can play all positions, Invented by Johan Cruyff in the 70s



All the utilities we have signed

 

[Geoff Chambers]

I mentioned in another thread that we can potentially make our competitors nervous if we semi regularly pop passes to flying outside backs in the early stages of the tackle count. Even if we have a smallish pack to start next season, if we had Crichton, Xerri and Kiraz (or whatever combo is wearing 1, 3 & 4) looking for short passes or offloads until tackle 3, it will mean that rather than having three forwards trying to demolish out props they'd be less likely to number up. Might help our pack to make metres a bit easier. Might also mean we make some line breaks on early tackles.

I'd love to see Xerri do some really hard carries. He's plenty big and strong enough to be a handful

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Total football - All players can play all positions, Invented by Johan Cruyff in the 70s



All the utilities we have signed

Ted Lasso invented it

 

[steeliz]

Ted Lasso invented it

Love that show

 

[Hound Dog]

I mentioned in another thread that we can potentially make our competitors nervous if we semi regularly pop passes to flying outside backs in the early stages of the tackle count. Even if we have a smallish pack to start next season, if we had Crichton, Xerri and Kiraz (or whatever combo is wearing 1, 3 & 4) looking for short passes or offloads until tackle 3, it will mean that rather than having three forwards trying to demolish out props they'd be less likely to number up. Might help our pack to make metres a bit easier. Might also mean we make some line breaks on early tackles.

I think the Brian Smith Parramatta teams were pretty successful at that. "Settlers" would end up at the tram lines.

Tigers the last time they won was off a considerably lighter pack and there were some mean packs back then.