Learn from the best : Tue Mar 24, 2015 2:06 pm
Look at South Sydney/Sydney Roosters, how they play and structure the team, yes they have some world class stars who we don't but we could learn so much from their team structure and they play the game. First 20 mins is the arm wrestle. We lose the arm wrestle v Leeds, only fast hands through the backs allowed use to score our opening try, before than Leeds' forward pack were driving us back meaning their 5th tackle kicks were attacking kicks not defensive clearance kicks, ours were.
How do you win the arm wrestle? Keep it simple for the first 20 only really working through structures in the oppositions 20, maybe 30. Quick PTB from the dummy half, getting the forwards to roll on making yards, ideally you want 50+ per set. Players can alternate through the drives but you expect more from your pack, ideally props. To share the work load, have 3 props on the pitch (8,10,13) all players who can make the hard yards. I'd also expect the SR and 9 and backs to add to the drives. Dummy half runs are crucial as they keep the opposition guessing, will the 9 scoot or pass, a scoot can easily pick up 10-15 with quick PTB catching the markers not square.
I don't see why props are being substituted after 20 if they haven't grafted and put in the hard yards. The 13 is crucial, can often be expected to play like a prop but take on longer mins.
The second part of winning the arm wrestle is the kick chase. We need halves who can pick the opposition into their own half with a fast chase to pin the opposition into their own half, forcing their kick to be a defensive clearance.
Third part is no penalties, they gift field position, I don't mind aggressive play, but don't risk giving way a pen, it can throw away the hard work instantly.
Then when in key territory:
FB (fast, a footballer, I want the FB not just linking out wide but on occasion shadowing the forwards when they take it up, looking for the offload, the responsibility to be shared with a fast half)
Wingers fast, good size, can pose a threat at catching the high ball on cross field kicks, and good for covering back, can also help out with the workload on the drives, like Tupou or SKD.
Centres with fast feet and quick hands. split the team into 3 units, middle and two sides when the SR moves the ball to either centre we need centres who can attack with real speed and quick hands on the edges, they need to link up with the fb and wingers, as Dylan Walker does at Souths and Jennings at Roosters, not the biggest of men, but very quick and illusive.
half backs who bark out the orders, can move the pack around the pitch and very importantly can kick. Kicking is so important in the modern game, when Reynolds left the field v Roosters his kicking was badly missed, as through kicking you can control where the game is played.
Props/13 who are making 10+ per drive and tacking and who has an offload to mount second phase play.
SR, such an underrated position they are the pivot on the edges of the middle unit who pivot out to the backs. Souths now have two ball players who play in the SR (Sutton and Stewart) who don't just run the ball down a channel, but can move the ball around linking well with the halves and more importantly the centres, fb and wingers.
So how can this be applied to Wigan?
Bowen? Not quick enough, not illusive, don't scare defenders when he attacks out wide and doesn't chase up the middle as a support player (think Radz or Billy)
I'd try Manfredi there. Odd shout, but he has the size, quick feet and illusiveness to pose a genuine threat when attacking out wide, you want your FB to inject pace into the team when they hit the line. Second to this I'd go with Rocky, although Rocky seems to have issues under the high ball and in defence, of which I haven't seen from Manfredi.
Our wingers are good, on their day; excellent. Both Charnley and Burgess are quick, good size. If you put them in the correct field position they will score.
Our centres are good, Sarg especially, quick feet, can offload and pose a genuine threat when breaking forward in attack. If the right centre became available I'd look at them over Gelling, I want someone quick, lacking this against popular opinion I thought Joel was doing very well in the centres.
Halves and 9. Major issue. McM poses minimum threat from dummy half, rarely scoots, has little pace, doesn't keep the opposition guessing and doesn't put the other team under pressure with quick PTB to a fast moving pace. I seriously think this is one of the major areas of concern as we are seriously lacking when it comes to 9s. I'm sick of people talking about how he 'fit our style of play' our play would be massively improved with a scoot, quick PTB and even a solid kicking game from 9. Would Roby or Clark have won MOS with out scooting? I don't think so. McM has many qualities, but a 9 he is not.
No leadership or spark in the halves, kicking game can be poor wasting the hard work the props have provided to set the field position not giving players the chance to score with attacking kicks.
Props/13, its simple, make your 10+, then look for an offload, the 6 or 1 should be waiting to take the offload developing second phase play. Props should be working the hardest to warrant an interchange in attack and defence.
SR ball players as well as making the hard yards. Put the centres/FB into space for them to run onto it.
Manfredi
Charnley Tomkins Sarg Burgess
Powell Smith
Mossop Williams Flower
Lockers Bateman
Clubb
Ball playing SR, 3 props, fast backs, halves with a kicking game who can lead around the park.
