Tweet
The Roosters head into their second bye of the season in a very strong position, having won 12 of their 16 matches, but most notable has been their remarkable consistency.
In each block of four matches played they have emerged with a 3-1 record, scoring at least 84 points in each block, and conceding no more than 62.
If the Roosters win three from four in their final two blocks they should finish in the top two at the end of the home and away season. During the Origin period, with one match against the Sharks still to play, the Roosters have won four of five. A win against the Sharks at home will be a great platform for the road to the finals.
Our NYC team has an identical record of 12-4, and they also have won three from four in each of their four-game blocks this season, scoring at least 94 points in each block.
Whilst our NRL side has had to cope with the difficult Origin period and its effect on line-up and preparation, our NYC team had had to cope with the absence of their star five-eighth Samisoni Langi for the same five-match period, and like their NRL colleagues, they have also won four from five. For the clash with the Sharks in Round 19, Langi, along with Willis Meehan and John Asiata, are expected to return, and our NYC team are well placed also for a crack at a vital top two spot, despite a tough draw.
Finally, our club has opened up a five point break on our rivals on the NRL club championship table, which we are attempting to win for the first time, since its revamp in 2009.
While our players take a well-earned break I thought it an opportune time to look at the 12 key personal statistical categories, and the leading Rooster players in each category. Statistics play a vital role in so much of the game and I know our coaches, like most others, use them extensively when assessing individual form and team selection.
One area that I tend to look at with player statistics is where each of the players sits, comparatively, for each 80 minutes played. Using season long stats, and stats per game, can be misleading; as a result of interchange, unavailability for selection or players failing to complete matches through injury. Surely players are best judged only by the minutes they spend on the field and therefore the only fair way therefore to compare players is to bring each figure back to an 80-minute base.
That is what I present today, for the first 16 matches of our campaign, and I do so for the 19 players who have played more than 80 minutes of NRL this season for the Roosters. These 19 players make up 98.9% of the time that Rooster players have been on the field this year. The seasons total for the five top players in each category is in brackets after the player’s name.
A former prime minster once said “it doesn't explain everything, it doesn't explain nothing, it explains some things.” Whilst not referring to these set of Rooster player statistics at the time, the statement would be just as appropriate when determining the relevance of the data below.
Most Runs Per 80 Minutes Played
21.48 - Jared Waerea-Hargreves (149)
21.40 - Luke O’Donnell (160)
20.98 - Sam Moa (134)
18.29 - Martin Kennedy (131)
15.62 - Frank Paul Nu’uausala (99)
Most Metres Gained Per 80 Minutes Played
188.63 - Luke O’Donnell (1410)
186.09 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (1291)
181.92 - Sam Moa (1162)
176.06 - Martin Kennedy (1261)
139.33 - Frank Paul Nu’uausala (883)
Highest Average Metres Gained Per Run Per 80 Minutes Played
11.48 - Michael Jennings (1688/147)
9.63 - Martin Kennedy (1261/131)
9.36 - Daniel Tupou (1348/144)
8.99 - Sonny Bill Williams (1547/172)
8.92 - Frank Paul Nu’uausala (883/99)
Most Tackles Per 80 Minutes Played
52.35 - Jake Friend (636)
52.22 - Martin Kennedy (374)
49.73 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (345)
44.33 - Daniel Mortimer (210)
43.34 - Luke O’Donnell (324)
Highest % Of Tackles Made Per Attempt Per 80 Minutes Played
97.75 - Isaac Liu (87/89)
97.40 - Jake Friend (636/653)
97.37 - Mitchell Aubusson (408/419)
97.30 - Luke O’Donnell (342/333)
97.18 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (345/355)
Least Handling Errors Made Per 80 Minutes Played
0.00 - Daniel Mortimer (0)
0.25 - Jake Friend (3)
0.43 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (3)
0.47 - Frank Paul Nu’uausala (3)
0.62 - Mitchell Aubusson (9)
Least Penalties Conceded Per 80 Minutes Played
0.14 - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2)
0.19 - Anthony Minichiello (3)
0.20 - Daniel Tupou (3)
0.26 - Boyd Cordner (3)
0.31 - Sam Moa (2)
Most Tackle Busts Per 80 Minutes Played
3.86 - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (56)
3.12 - Aiden Guerra (19)
3.07 - Michael Jennings (46)
2.81 - Shaun Kenny-Dowall (45)
2.57 - Sonny Bill Williams (37)
Most Line Breaks Per 80 Minutes Played
0.96 - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (14)
0.67 - Michael Jennings (10)
0.62 - Sonny Bill Williams (9)
0.60 - Daniel Tupou (9)
0.50 - James Maloney (7)
Most Line Break Assists Per 80 Minutes Played
0.84 - Daniel Mortimer (4)
0.67 - Mitchell Pearce (10)
0.64 - James Maloney (9)
0.62 - Sonny Bill Williams (9)
0.53 - Michael Jennings (8)
Most Try Assists Per 80 Minutes Played
0.93 - Mitchell Pearce (14)
0.64 - James Maloney (9)
0.63 - Daniel Mortimer (3)
0.58 - Jake Friend (7)
0.35 - Sonny Bill Williams (5)
Most Offloads Per 80 Minutes Played
2.50 - Sonny Bill Williams (36)
2.45 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (17)
1.34 - Luke O’Donnell (10)
1.26 - Frank Paul Nu’uausala (8)
0.78 - Sam Moa (5)
In each block of four matches played they have emerged with a 3-1 record, scoring at least 84 points in each block, and conceding no more than 62.
If the Roosters win three from four in their final two blocks they should finish in the top two at the end of the home and away season. During the Origin period, with one match against the Sharks still to play, the Roosters have won four of five. A win against the Sharks at home will be a great platform for the road to the finals.
Our NYC team has an identical record of 12-4, and they also have won three from four in each of their four-game blocks this season, scoring at least 94 points in each block.
Whilst our NRL side has had to cope with the difficult Origin period and its effect on line-up and preparation, our NYC team had had to cope with the absence of their star five-eighth Samisoni Langi for the same five-match period, and like their NRL colleagues, they have also won four from five. For the clash with the Sharks in Round 19, Langi, along with Willis Meehan and John Asiata, are expected to return, and our NYC team are well placed also for a crack at a vital top two spot, despite a tough draw.
Finally, our club has opened up a five point break on our rivals on the NRL club championship table, which we are attempting to win for the first time, since its revamp in 2009.
While our players take a well-earned break I thought it an opportune time to look at the 12 key personal statistical categories, and the leading Rooster players in each category. Statistics play a vital role in so much of the game and I know our coaches, like most others, use them extensively when assessing individual form and team selection.
One area that I tend to look at with player statistics is where each of the players sits, comparatively, for each 80 minutes played. Using season long stats, and stats per game, can be misleading; as a result of interchange, unavailability for selection or players failing to complete matches through injury. Surely players are best judged only by the minutes they spend on the field and therefore the only fair way therefore to compare players is to bring each figure back to an 80-minute base.
That is what I present today, for the first 16 matches of our campaign, and I do so for the 19 players who have played more than 80 minutes of NRL this season for the Roosters. These 19 players make up 98.9% of the time that Rooster players have been on the field this year. The seasons total for the five top players in each category is in brackets after the player’s name.
A former prime minster once said “it doesn't explain everything, it doesn't explain nothing, it explains some things.” Whilst not referring to these set of Rooster player statistics at the time, the statement would be just as appropriate when determining the relevance of the data below.
Most Runs Per 80 Minutes Played
21.48 - Jared Waerea-Hargreves (149)
21.40 - Luke O’Donnell (160)
20.98 - Sam Moa (134)
18.29 - Martin Kennedy (131)
15.62 - Frank Paul Nu’uausala (99)
Most Metres Gained Per 80 Minutes Played
188.63 - Luke O’Donnell (1410)
186.09 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (1291)
181.92 - Sam Moa (1162)
176.06 - Martin Kennedy (1261)
139.33 - Frank Paul Nu’uausala (883)
Highest Average Metres Gained Per Run Per 80 Minutes Played
11.48 - Michael Jennings (1688/147)
9.63 - Martin Kennedy (1261/131)
9.36 - Daniel Tupou (1348/144)
8.99 - Sonny Bill Williams (1547/172)
8.92 - Frank Paul Nu’uausala (883/99)
Most Tackles Per 80 Minutes Played
52.35 - Jake Friend (636)
52.22 - Martin Kennedy (374)
49.73 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (345)
44.33 - Daniel Mortimer (210)
43.34 - Luke O’Donnell (324)
Highest % Of Tackles Made Per Attempt Per 80 Minutes Played
97.75 - Isaac Liu (87/89)
97.40 - Jake Friend (636/653)
97.37 - Mitchell Aubusson (408/419)
97.30 - Luke O’Donnell (342/333)
97.18 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (345/355)
Least Handling Errors Made Per 80 Minutes Played
0.00 - Daniel Mortimer (0)
0.25 - Jake Friend (3)
0.43 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (3)
0.47 - Frank Paul Nu’uausala (3)
0.62 - Mitchell Aubusson (9)
Least Penalties Conceded Per 80 Minutes Played
0.14 - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2)
0.19 - Anthony Minichiello (3)
0.20 - Daniel Tupou (3)
0.26 - Boyd Cordner (3)
0.31 - Sam Moa (2)
Most Tackle Busts Per 80 Minutes Played
3.86 - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (56)
3.12 - Aiden Guerra (19)
3.07 - Michael Jennings (46)
2.81 - Shaun Kenny-Dowall (45)
2.57 - Sonny Bill Williams (37)
Most Line Breaks Per 80 Minutes Played
0.96 - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (14)
0.67 - Michael Jennings (10)
0.62 - Sonny Bill Williams (9)
0.60 - Daniel Tupou (9)
0.50 - James Maloney (7)
Most Line Break Assists Per 80 Minutes Played
0.84 - Daniel Mortimer (4)
0.67 - Mitchell Pearce (10)
0.64 - James Maloney (9)
0.62 - Sonny Bill Williams (9)
0.53 - Michael Jennings (8)
Most Try Assists Per 80 Minutes Played
0.93 - Mitchell Pearce (14)
0.64 - James Maloney (9)
0.63 - Daniel Mortimer (3)
0.58 - Jake Friend (7)
0.35 - Sonny Bill Williams (5)
Most Offloads Per 80 Minutes Played
2.50 - Sonny Bill Williams (36)
2.45 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (17)
1.34 - Luke O’Donnell (10)
1.26 - Frank Paul Nu’uausala (8)
0.78 - Sam Moa (5)
Comment