I will never stop saying it..

[melon....]

I've only ever watched the first episode of it, the first 10 minutes made me cringe and I changed the channel. I don't know what segment you're referring to, but Wayne Pearce on a touch screen bumbling through his words like he has a clue doesn't really interest me all that much.

It's clear as day Soward stands deep, funnily enough, so too can someone like Pearce who has a long boot and speed, most just choose not to employ the tactic as they don't want to give up 5 or 6 meters. The forwards have little to do with that tactic.

Looking at the three forwards standing across the ruck in front of him, I disagree.

[Andrew Walker]

Looking at the three forwards standing across the ruck in front of him, I disagree.

He is getting the same type of protection a 1/4 back gets in NFL Actually even more as you cannot take these blockers out like you can in NFL.

[Guest]

Looking at the three forwards standing across the ruck in front of him, I disagree.

I challenge you to find anyone who has a kicker stand slightly deeper that does not have traffic in the way. They do not form an impenetrable wall in front of him, in fact they offer pretty similar traffic that one or two guys offer for regular kickers. The depth is the key, many players get around those forwards with ease.

[Andrew Walker]

I challenge you to find anyone who has a kicker stand slightly deeper that does not have traffic in the way. They do not form an impenetrable wall in front of him, in fact they offer pretty similar traffic that one or two guys offer for regular kickers. The depth is the key, many players get around those forwards with ease.

Around being the key word. Not through It takes longer to get around than go straight through.

[Guest]

He is getting the same type of protection a 1/4 back gets in NFL Actually even more as you cannot take these blockers out like you can in NFL.

Those blockers also can't take out the attackers in the NRL. What a massive stretch to suggest that blocking in the NRL is more difficult to beat than in the NFL.

[Guest]

Around being the key word. Not through It takes longer to get around than go straight through.

No shit, but it happens with kickers who have little depth as well, they always take the ball behind two blockers if going for a long kick, and if they aren't their team isn't playing smart, the dragons aren't alone in employing this tactic. But to suggest they give a kicker alot more time is an incorrect assertion.

[Andrew Walker]

Those blockers also can't take out the attackers in the NRL. What a massive stretch to suggest that blocking in the NRL is more difficult to beat than in the NFL.

You can bet your last dollar that when one of these Bennet blockers Has someone try to run staright through them they will immediately fall to the ground and more than likely a penalty will be awarded for taking someone out when not in possession of the ball

[Andrew Walker]

No shit, but it happens with kickers who have little depth as well, they always take the ball behind two blockers if going for a long kick, and if they aren't their team isn't playing smart, the dragons aren't alone in employing this tactic. But to suggest they give a kicker alot more time is an incorrect assertion.

Of course it gives them more time why else would they use them The kickers are now a protected species and cannot be touched so they are not there to souly protect them At NRL level its a game of inches everything is so tightly contested That the smallest amount of extra time is beneficail for the kicker

[Guest]

You can bet your last dollar that when one of these Bennet blockers Has someone try to run staright through them they will immediately fall to the ground and more than likely a penalty will be awarded for taking someone out when not in possession of the ball

Damn you're good at stretching the confines of reality.

In the NFL, blockers are allowed to deviate from their line, and tackle oncoming players. In the NRL, players are not allowed to deviate from their line and deliberately attack a player in a defensive move.

Now, where in 17 rounds of footy, have you seen any player penalised for running into one of these "Bennett blockers" ?

Everything they're doing is well and truly within the confines of the rule book, and they're the best in the business at it, but even if they weren't there, Soward is still standing so deep that most still wouldn't be able to get to him in time. From the time the hooker picks up that ball and fires it to Soward, from a standing start they have to cover 25-30 meters. That gives Soward at least 3-4 seconds, more realistically 5 seconds to put in a decent kick.

[Andrew Walker]

Damn you're good at stretching the confines of reality.

In the NFL, blockers are allowed to deviate from their line, and tackle oncoming players. In the NRL, players are not allowed to deviate from their line and deliberately attack a player in a defensive move.

Now, where in 17 rounds of footy, have you seen any player penalised for running into one of these "Bennett blockers" ?

Everything they're doing is well and truly within the confines of the rule book, and they're the best in the business at it, but even if they weren't there, Soward is still standing so deep that most still wouldn't be able to get to him in time. From the time the hooker picks up that ball and fires it to Soward, from a standing start they have to cover 25-30 meters. That gives Soward at least 3-4 seconds, more realistically 5 seconds to put in a decent kick.

I thought by the nature of what I said That its plainly obvious that I have yet to see anyone run into Bennets blockers so far Hence my original statement. However seeing Soward is standing so deep that in your words they re not needed then why put them there ? What is the purpose of it and what are they trying to achieve by it ?

I am going to leave this as we could go around in circles all afternoon with claims and counter claims Finally I will say this my initial staements in here were not meant in any way to detarct from Jamie Sowards playing ability.They were just an observation and me adding to anothers observation

[Guest]

I thought by the nature of what I said That its plainly obvious that I have yet to see anyone run into Bennets blockers so far Hence my original statement. However seeing Soward is standing so deep that in your words they re not needed then why put them there ? What is the purpose of it ?

I am going to leave this as we could go around in circles all afternoon with claims and counter claims Finally I will say this my initial staements in here were not meant in any way to detarct from Jamie Sowards playing ability.They were just an observation and me adding to anothers observation

They aren't needed in most circumstances, but they do provide that extra little bit of time, thats the difference between a coach like Bennett and Fittler. He'll get his sides doing that little bit extra to make all the key areas easier.

I just found your comparison with NFL blockers to be ridiculous, blockers in the NRL are only permitted to stand there, NFL can tackle blokes, yet apparently it's easier to get by them in the NFL.

[Andrew Walker]

They aren't needed in most circumstances, but they do provide that extra little bit of time, thats the difference between a coach like Bennett and Fittler. He'll get his sides doing that little bit extra to make all the key areas easier.

I just found your comparison with NFL blockers to be ridiculous, blockers in the NRL are only permitted to stand there, NFL can tackle blokes, yet apparently it's easier to get by them in the NFL.

I have worded my point wrong in reference to the blockers in the NFL My point is that in NFL you can contest these blockers to get to the kicker In the NRL you cannot

Finally I am overjoyed we both agree that these blockers do allow the kickers some extra time to get there kick away

[Guest]

I have worded my point wrong in reference to the blockers in the NFL My point is that in NFL you can contest these blockers to get to the kicker In the NRL you cannot

Finally I am overjoyed we both agree that these blockers do allow the kickers some extra time to get there kick away

Difference being I think the impact is minimal.

[Andrew Walker]

Difference being I think the impact is minimal.

Every fraction of a second counts though

[Guest]

Every fraction of a second counts though

Not when the players trying to charge down the ball are still at least 7 or 8 meters away.

As I said, they still have to cover so much ground irrespective of whether there are people in the way or not, Soward doesn't generally take any longer to kick than anyone else in the game, he just doesn't get pressured into making a poor choice as to where he should place a kick. The depth he stands at is the key, not the forwards. The only comparison that should be made for him between the NFL is that it's as if he's standing back for the shotgun pass.