Rightio the Saints impecable defense.

[The Brain]

Saints have a reputation of having the best defense in the comp and rightly so.
Its built largely in the second half by way that nearly in every second tackle the player tackling will lie in the play the ball flat on his back about a foot behind thus making enough room for the dummy half to get in there but it will take the dummy half 3 times longer to complete his play.They dont do that much in first halves due to the game been fresh and the refs been alert .
Their whole GF performance was based on this tactic and so was the game this morning WCC.
Now with these new ruck rules how will they perform ? will they get penalised or will Bennetts prescense ensure they get past the post.
I dont condone a good cheat tactic every coach and player looks for a way to stretch the rule and Bob Fulton was the innovator.
Stuart and his mentors came up with the gang tackle that worked for a few years until they changed the rules again.
Im more curious as to why oppositioned coaches havnt complained about the Saints tactic.
Besides in the second half they did it about 40 times this morning - not one penalty.

[supermario]

i know a good way to get around that tactic, give them a mouth full of studs.

A good old stomp on the jaw will make sure they don't use that tactic again ! Just get one of the more expendable players to do it and we are set !

[TheLoneRooster]

Hadn't noticed this so I'll have to pay more attention in future.

[elo]

It's a piece of art their exploits in defence, it was great being able to see more of it in action too with the zoomed out Pommy camera view. The men either side of the referee are the key too it all, they clamp in nice and tight to him and block his view across the defensive line - a defensive line that is never onside and pushing up before the ball is even played. The grubby ruck tactics (you are spot on Brain) where they conveniently become entangled with the man playing the ball as he rises to his feet is rather lame. (but clever as it slows everything down dramatically) Put your money on Harrigan's "clean" ruck not doing shit about any of this either.

[Andrew Walker]

i know a good way to get around that tactic, give them a mouth full of studs.

A good old stomp on the jaw will make sure they don't use that tactic again ! Just get one of the more expendable players to do it and we are set !

Was it Adam Macdougal who did this to Geof Toovey in the 97 GF for something very similar to waht Brain is talkjing about. Iremeber at the time people screamimng blue murder at what Mcdougal did to which I rfeplied that wil ensure Tovver doesnt lie around in the ruck anymore

[The Brain]

What amazes me is that the Saints blokes lie there with their hands in the air like saying "i cant get up or out of the way sir" "Im only accidently offside " dont penalise me ...please.
The commentator did mention a few times that the Wigan shouldve got a penalty for it.
You see there defense is based on timing - the attack becomes way slow ,the ball is played by the time the dummy half picks it up. the whole saints side is on the opposition line before it clears the ruck.

[Guest]

Was it Adam Macdougal who did this to Geof Toovey in the 97 GF for something very similar to waht Brain is talkjing about. Iremeber at the time people screamimng blue murder at what Mcdougal did to which I rfeplied that wil ensure Tovver doesnt lie around in the ruck anymore

I remember that- Toovey got up with his face screwed up shouting "he steped on my f*cking face" and i bust a nut laughing. One of MacDougals best efforts on a footy field.

[Guest]

i know a good way to get around that tactic, give them a mouth full of studs.

A good old stomp on the jaw will make sure they don't use that tactic again ! Just get one of the more expendable players to do it and we are set !

Sign me up on a $1 contract for the game against saints.....I'm you're man

[Spirit of 66]

Spot on, Brain.

[Guest]

i know a good way to get around that tactic, give them a mouth full of studs.

A good old stomp on the jaw will make sure they don't use that tactic again ! Just get one of the more expendable players to do it and we are set !

My sentiments exactly. Without R. Finch championing their cause they just might get brought back to earth.

[Guest]

It wasn't just Steroid Roy (McDougall) that did it, the whole team kicked the crap out of Geoff Toovey during the 97 grand final.

[Spirit of 66]

The other famous Bennett ploy is to stand 7 or 8 meters offside after they've kicked to the opposing fullback. They just do it for the first 2 tackles (while the ref is still catching his breath) but it is enough to handicap the opposition and, sometimes, force an error.

[Guest]

Saints have a reputation of having the best defense in the comp and rightly so.
Its built largely in the second half by way that nearly in every second tackle the player tackling will lie in the play the ball flat on his back about a foot behind thus making enough room for the dummy half to get in there but it will take the dummy half 3 times longer to complete his play.They dont do that much in first halves due to the game been fresh and the refs been alert .
Their whole GF performance was based on this tactic and so was the game this morning WCC.
Now with these new ruck rules how will they perform ? will they get penalised or will Bennetts prescense ensure they get past the post.
I dont condone a good cheat tactic every coach and player looks for a way to stretch the rule and Bob Fulton was the innovator.
Stuart and his mentors came up with the gang tackle that worked for a few years until they changed the rules again.
Im more curious as to why oppositioned coaches havnt complained about the Saints tactic.
Besides in the second half they did it about 40 times this morning - not one penalty.

they dont call u the brain for nuthn aye brain , good observation, where are the movies vre u were supposed to come round today next time im just gonna take them off u and leave u the kiddie 1s hehehe

[Guest]

The other famous Bennett ploy is to stand 7 or 8 meters offside after they've kicked to the opposing fullback. They just do it for the first 2 tackles (while the ref is still catching his breath) but it is enough to handicap the opposition and, sometimes, force an error.

This where they get their greatest advantage. It starts from when Soward kicks the ball. He never kicks at the line he is always behind the line, most of their players are off side.

Also can someone on here explain the "down town" rule to me.

[Guest]

This where they get their greatest advantage. It starts from when Soward kicks the ball. He never kicks at the line he is always behind the line, most of their players are off side.

Also can someone on here explain the "down town" rule to me.

when a player kicks the ball, those in front of him can’t proceed past the play-the-ball until the ball has gone over their heads