Player Stats Comparison - Anasta, Maloney, Sutton, BJ & Cordner

[Waylander]

Since it's been a quiet week, with no team selection to grab the razor blades over, I thought I'd invest some time doing some stats comparisons. I wanted to see exactly how our much-maligned captain stacked up against, firstly, the players (predominently) either side of him on the left edge. Then I added in Maloney, who, by his own admission is not playing as well as he was, and also John Sutton, as I wanted a comparison with a player who I felt was in a similar position, both on the field, and in tearms of where their team is at. I think Sutton is a good player to compare Anasta to, as they are similar type players - physically large, ball running 5/8's.

Of course, I couldn't get all the stats, in particular I would have liked to add in missed and inneffective tackles, but this is just what I could get easily off the Foxsports web site. I calculated Runs per Match (RpM), Meters per Run (MPR) and Tackles per Match (TPM).

The results are very interesting....

Stats.jpg


If anything, this highlights Anasta's low involvement rate, and also I think that his decision making is poor (his metres per run are the lowest of the group). I guess without the full set of stats we can't judge the full picture, but based on these, I think a convincing argument for Braith to the Jets could be mounted.

(I hope you can all see the stats properly.)

[Cockadoodledoo]

Thanks Waylander.. missed tackles, line break assists and try assists would be good.. This however doesn't support people who think it would be 'acceptable' for Anasta to play in the forwards.. His low workrate was an issue when he was there before.. He only played well in the last 10 weeks of 2010 and it wasn't through a high workrate but rather some good touches with the ball in hand.. He is back to providing his 'usual' contribution which really isn't much.. tbh I have no idea what position he really plays as he doesn't play like a traditional 5/8.. John Sutton is a very good comparison and he gets slammed here by many but in truth he is a much better player than Anasta.

[Guest]

Good stats.

Interesting to note BJ's metres/run are higher than Cordner. Considering much of this is from d/h runs, it is pretty impressive.

Put this bloke in the backrow!

[Pass the Ball]

Is it a missed tackle if you don't lay a hand on the opposition?

Anasta had a couple of those last week when that Taumalolo was running his way....

[Cockadoodledoo]

Good stats.

Interesting to note BJ's metres/run are higher than Cordner. Considering much of this is from d/h runs, it is pretty impressive.

Put this bloke in the backrow!

It cannot happen soon enough...

[Guest]

Sutton may be one of the laziest players in the NRL, however in attack he is twice as dangerous as Anasta. He can create a line-break on his own, whereas i can't even remember last time Anasta beat his man.

[Guest]

I honestly can't wait till we get maloney in our team. Played very well in his last game against Souffs.

His game reminds me so much of Carney's play. The way he is a natural ball runner, his speed and footwork.Add to that his amazing goal kicking.

His combo with Pearce will be awesome. I think Pearce is very hard done by, mostly by the media. Many people often forget that he is only 23 and yet he's played in Grand finals , origins etc. Add to that the amount he has had to endure with three different coaches, each with his own crazy thought process and he isn't that bad a footballer. I expect huge things of the roosters in 2013, one of them being a top 4 finish even if we don't buy SBW. I think most of our younger guys will have a lot more experience particularly if Evans, Moga and co debut this year.

By the way, I honestly cannot remember the last time Anasta has broken the line and run away more than 10m to score a try. I think calling him a ball runner because he has a crappy kicking game is incorrect. Just call him a "Goal kicking" 5/8.

[Guest]

Why is it impressive for an outside back to take more runs than a second rower?

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or serious here....

Eh ?

I was talking about average metres made per each run.

It's harder to make more metres running d/h on the first two tackles when the defence aims up than it is to hit the ball up on the 3rd/4th(usually backrowers take this run) when the set is already rolling.

[Pass the Ball]

It is also easier to retrieve a kick on the wing and run 15-20 metres before hitting the defence..

You can read stats any way you like...

[Guest]

Leilua as the left backrower would be good IMO. Could play a similar role to what Aubusson does on the right. I mean, he is playing left centre at the moment anyway, and although Taka is playing great at the moment, Leilua probably has a little bit more pace.

Then the question becomes, who do we put outside of Leilua? Tagive didn't really impress, Carney is solid at best, and U20's left fringe dynamo's Moga (centre) and Rokolati (wing) are untested.

Long term?

Left - Rokolati (wing) - Moga (centre) - Leilua (mobile backrower)
Right - Perrett (wing) - SKD (centre) - Aubusson (mobile backrower)

Would give us two smaller but fast wingers with good workrates, two giant strike centres with try scoring ability, and two backrowers with plenty of experience in the backs who can break the line, hit holes and score tries. To balance that out though, we would need one hell of a strong defensive lock.

[Rooster_6]

Eh ?

I was talking about average metres made per each run.

It's harder to make more metres running d/h on the first two tackles when the defence aims up than it is to hit the ball up on the 3rd/4th(usually backrowers take this run) when the set is already rolling.

Yeh I read your post wrong, deleted it but obviously not soon enough.

Although I still think it's some what of an irrelevant stat until put into context. I mean Cordner's asked to make 3x as many tackles so you have to factor in fatigue and outside backs benefit from the metres they make from linebreaks more than forwards do.

I too think BJ looks for all money a backrower but not based on those statistics because I'd be certain they'd change once he's played in the backrow and asked to make more tackles.

[Guest]

It is also easier to retrieve a kick on the wing and run 15-20 metres before hitting the defence..

You can read stats any way you like...

He is in the centres this year PTB.

[Guest]

Yeh I read your post wrong, deleted it but obviously not soon enough.

Although I still think it's some what of an irrelevant stat until put into context. I mean Cordner's asked to make 3x as many tackles so you have to factor in fatigue and outside backs benefit from the metres they make from linebreaks more than forwards do.

I too think BJ looks for all money a backrower but not based on those statistics because I'd be certain they'd change once he's played in the backrow and asked to make more tackles.

Good point regarding tackles made.

BJ tackle rate is fairly low, probably due to the fact that we do not need to hide Anasta in defence like a lot of other teams do to their halves.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Good point regarding tackles made.

BJ tackle rate is fairly low, probably due to the fact that we do not need to hide Anasta in defence like a lot of other teams do to their halves.

Anasta does a pretty good job of hiding by himself.. I love it when he lets the ball runner past him without touching him and the feined look of anguish on his face afterwards. BJ defends a lot on the Wing.. Carney has usually defended in the Centres.

[Guest]

Leilua as the left backrower would be good IMO. Could play a similar role to what Aubusson does on the right. I mean, he is playing left centre at the moment anyway, and although Taka is playing great at the moment, Leilua probably has a little bit more pace.

Then the question becomes, who do we put outside of Leilua? Tagive didn't really impress, Carney is solid at best, and U20's left fringe dynamo's Moga (centre) and Rokolati (wing) are untested.

Long term?

Left - Rokolati (wing) - Moga (centre) - Leilua (mobile backrower)
Right - Perrett (wing) - SKD (centre) - Aubusson (mobile backrower)

Would give us two smaller but fast wingers with good workrates, two giant strike centres with try scoring ability, and two backrowers with plenty of experience in the backs who can break the line, hit holes and score tries. To balance that out though, we would need one hell of a strong defensive lock.

1) perrett is not fast
2) i agree on lielua to backrow - the bloke is in the SBW mold once he stops growing and gets into the backrow - physical, mobile, skillful, strong fend, bust tackles, off-liad, athletic.
3) though impressed im not 100% sold on rokolati yet. think his defence may be something that prevents his progress into firsts along with ball security but a prospect nevertheless
4) is taka really playing that well? very very low workrate, doesnt dominate in contact as much as a bloke his size should. i think guerra should come back in and replace him this week.
5) my long-term backline would look something more like this:
1. Minichiello/Slaimankhel (mini till slaimankhel is ready)
2. RTS
3. Moga
4. SKD
5. Tagive/Oldfield
6. Maloney
7. Pearce
oldfield is a great finisher and i reckon we would get him for pretty good value. great centre/winger with blistering pace. a bit of brett morris about him on the wing and can play a matt cooper role in the centres. tagive is a better prospect than rokolati at this stage imo. has more height, more speed and is just as good in terms of finishing. im not writing rokolati off but i feel the backline above is what should be implemented from next year onwards.