5th tackle option

[The Axe]

Anyone who has viewed trials, do you think we'll see more of the same or anything different this year?

Appreciate thoughts

[milanja]

Hopefully Friend lets us get to a 5th tackle option😜

[ROC181]

Hopefully Friend lets us get to a 5th tackle option😜

Friend, like most, work under the instructions. If Robbo doesn't say anything, then he should be responsible on Friends wasted kicks on the 3 or 4th.

[stringaz]

Pretty sure we're sick of the bomb ending every set. I know why it's used but barring friendys short side plays it would be good to run it on the last a bit more.

Without being stupid about it no doubt

[Johnny Tobin]

I'm still happy with the bomb to the corner giving us field position.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

It's a bit hard to judge from the Pearce-less trial. We (mainly Keary I think) put up some lame bombs with no opportunity for contest.

Given our long history under a number of different coaches the hit n hope bomb has been used consistently. Unlikely to change unless Robbo has had a flash of insight off season.

Personally I like the default of getting a recount by finding the in goal if close enough...the tries will come with pressure and smarts. Use bomb as more of a shock weapon but ensure its contested.

I'm also a big advocate of default short kickoffs making them a contest for possession each time....on another point.

[roosterproud]

If we persist with the 5th tackle bomb, the least Trent could do is to train the runners, TIMING.Either hit the ball catcher as soon as he lands or when he is on the ground with the ball and smash him. Going up to contest the ball is less than a 50/50 chance of winning the ball back (unless its 2poo v wolfman). and plus add in being run of the ball by the defending team

[Arties Pie]

Friend, like most, work under the instructions. If Robbo doesn't say anything, then he should be responsible on Friends wasted kicks on the 3 or 4th.

Seriously Friend is a professional who has been playing for a long time I don't think he needs his hand held to tell him that kicking on the 3rd or 4th tackle is a no no (unless it's a set play), the guy was obviously gassed from all the tackling he has to do which makes for poor decision making .

[Tommy Smith]

20m tap 7-tackle sets are game changers. It's a stupid rule but whilst it's in play I think coaches recognise that they're even bigger momentum changes than penalties.

So I don't care what we do so long as we don't kick the ball dead. I'd much rather run it on the last and hand over possession inside their own 10m line.

[Guest]

Keeping the ball away from Friend and Pearce would be a start

[top_joe]

Just give it Latrell and tell him to do his best.

[Mickie Lane]

It's a bit hard to judge from the Pearce-less trial. We (mainly Keary I think) put up some lame bombs with no opportunity for contest.

Given our long history under a number of different coaches the hit n hope bomb has been used consistently. Unlikely to change unless Robbo has had a flash of insight off season.

Personally I like the default of getting a recount by finding the in goal if close enough...the tries will come with pressure and smarts. Use bomb as more of a shock weapon but ensure its contested.

I'm also a big advocate of default short kickoffs making them a contest for possession each time....on another point.

This.

[Mickie Lane]

I have said it before that I believe Pearce is in for the season of his life & I think we may see him put grubber kicks into the oppositions in goal on the 4th or 5th getting repeat sets. And I also have a feeling that the Pearce/Keary combo is going to work a treat . If Robbo has Watson interchanging with Friend I can see Watson causing havoc on the last close to the opposition line as well.

[bondi paul]

The days of finding touch on the last tackle long gone.The Pearce bomb so predictable. Should Matterson be on the field with Pearce I would like to see variety in kicks from them. Keary and Watson being on the field the same time will add much needed speed to the 2017 team - our lack of speed was a glaring negative in 2016.

[ism22]

I have said it before that I believe Pearce is in for the season of his life & I think we may see him put grubber kicks into the oppositions in goal on the 4th or 5th getting repeat sets. And I also have a feeling that the Pearce/Keary combo is going to work a treat . If Robbo has Watson interchanging with Friend I can see Watson causing havoc on the last close to the opposition line as well.

I feel it's a matter of vision rather than technique. Pearce's kicks are all pin point. However, he needs to think about what's going on. Example:
- If the opposition have some big carnts lined up to take out Toops then you're aiming for the ball to go to SKD/Fergo/Gordon instead (assuming there is space for a bomb)
- If you have chasers lined up and the opposition fullback is either alone or getting up from the last tackle (e.g. on the 4th) then you don't even need to do a 'surprise' grubber... make them pay for being out of position.
- Look for gaps and in particular senior players being marked by junior players. Example... if Cords is running a line and is being marked by a smaller back (or a tubby reserve) then he gets the ball. DON'T be like Hastings and bomb it over to Toops when you coulda pulled off an easier pass.

IMO half our problem is that we trick ourselves by trying to force 5th tackle options. I swear that guys like Smith and Cronk NEVER do cheeky/sneaky/risky 5th tackle moves. Their secret is that they do all the prep BEFORE the 5th tackle so that their attacking weapons (often inexperience but fast/large players) have space and out-match the size/pace of their defenders. There's no behind the back flick passes or rolling of the dice... they just put their opponents in positions where there's space and the pigs don't have time to get there.

Edit: I'll clarify that Smith in particular regularly achieves this by illegally taking out defenders (since there's a different book of rules for him) but there's other ways to do it. IMO we need to focus on creating 5th tackle options rather than the execution of them. I have no problem with Pearce's speed of delivery, kicking accuracy...etc.