Roosters horrendous defence stats in the middle of the park !

[Steakface]

On the back of the lackluster go-forward performance last year from our props, this article just popped up on middle of the park defence from last year

- https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/02/20/...ng-the-middle/

We were the WORST in the league in 2017 for tries scored through the middle of the park (as a % of total tries scored against) and 2nd WORST for number of tries scored through the middle.

Who's responsible? Robbo partially, also anyone else who defended in the middle such as JWH, NAPA, FRIEND, TITSVANO, EVANS and LIU.

What's worrying me, is that we are relying on COLLINS, BUTCHER etc to step up rather than spending money where we should have - on a Lillyman-esque middle forward. And let's get real, we all know how much of a step up defence is in 1st grade. Perhaps the grand plan is to move SST from the 2nd row to prop, but i haven't heard anything to that effect.

Look, i'm really excited about our backline and our attacking prowess, but we are going to have massive problems leaking points in 2018.

[Moose]

Our defence will be fine

[Rooster_6]

It's an interesting one, we weren't great defensivley last year but we certainly weren't loose either. We managed to concede the third fewest points so you could make the argument - does it matter where the points are scored?

I'd be interested to know how many running metres we conceded last year or how many rucks we won/lost compared to the other NRL sides. That would give a bit of a clearer picutre on it all.

And you probably haven't heard much about SST moving from second row to prop because he doesn't play in the second row.

[ism22]

Do we know why? Like... were most of our tries conceded off penalties and silly errors?

Or, did we consciously condense the atack of other teams, forcing them to go it down the middle rather than allowing overlap...etc?

Any theories?

[Kelby]

Do we know why? Like... were most of our tries conceded off penalties and silly errors?

Or, did we consciously condense the atack of other teams, forcing them to go it down the middle rather than allowing overlap...etc?

Any theories?

We were stretched all the time because we were worried about our centres and wingers fu^king up on defence. If we had confidence in their defence we could tighten the ruck up. Also Friendy playing 80 mins doesn't help.

[Arties Pie]

You would have thought these players would have the defensive skills down pat by the time they reach first grade.. Manu is just downright terrible and Fergo's reads and his constant leaving his position is just as bad. I suppose for what they cost there is always going to be a downside so we can afford the Cordner's, Cronks and Tedesco's.

[The Brain]

Nickers in a knot for nothing...... we finished second on the table which means our defence was pretty good considering a few flaws .Its the reason we didnt win the comp.
Its a minor tweak attitude adjustment to bring it up another level.
Thats why our coach will and should be developing the teams defence while the new combinations gel naturally.
If Collins and Farmersilly step up to the plate then minor problem solved .If not ....tough luck.
You cant buy farken everyone you have to give your junior program a go.

[Louis N]

I have liked what little I have seen from Lindsay Collins. He impressed in junior SOO, was a goer in last years trials and did enough to get a first grade run in his initial season. So he's already a good buy and hopefully he will build on that this season. Still very young and yet to cope with the constant pace and power of first grade. This season will also be the tester for Poasa Faamausili. He showed good go-forward in the U-20's and it's his motor that needs testing. An explosive player. The rumours of Venakuce being released may well have to do with the preference for these guys and back-rower Porter. I would have thought they would require an old hand to guide them, but if we are exploring the Tolman option that would explain everything.

[dice]

We were stretched all the time because we were worried about our centres and wingers fu^king up on defence. If we had confidence in their defence we could tighten the ruck up. Also Friendy playing 80 mins doesn't help.

+1. Some people don't get it. When we signed Jennings and our defence improved many experts thought it was 100% attributed to super coach. Similarly, they don't get it that if you have speed in attack the opposition too afraid to compress their defence. Put in two second-rowers in the centres and then wonder why our forwards and halves look second rate.