Round 18 - Storm Vs Knights (Homecoming)
Centre is a specialist position and our centres are killing it, although none of the opposition has thrown much at us. Leave them as they are and play the wingers, whomsoever. This may be deemed heresy but does Paps walk straight back in?, personally I don't think so. Same as Harry. Is there two bench spots, one each for Paps and Harry? Maybe Paps can be the medical sub?, dunno, glad I'm not a coach. What does worry me is due to the length and the severity of Paps's time off is he going to be more susceptible to the head knocks? (I'm really hoping, to use the boxing terminology, he doesn't have a glass jaw)
One of the biggest changes we have seen over the past two years - but particularly this year, is our ability to play off-the-cuff footy and create opportunities. We went through a number of years where our attack formed almost exclusively around set pieces, sweeping backline movements with block plays. That is dead and once again, we have reinvented what it means to attack in the NRL in 2021.
They guys have that free reign to play what is in front of them, then rely on their effort in support play to turn half opportunities into points. The boys have been crediting Marc Brentnall in a lot of interviews.
Take this past week as an example.
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1st Try - Olam - Beautiful line running from both Hynes and Olam. Hynes skipped to the outside of the Knights defender and as he did, Olam also changes his line. As Kust Mann turned in, Hynes hit Olam and it was straight through. Really loved this try.
2nd Try - Munster - Brandon scheming out of DH, finds Hughes. Some fancy footwork and he is away up the middle, finds Munster in support.
3rd Try - Jennings - Beautiful ball from Hynes in a set play. He had to catch and pass quickly but still executed the cut out pass, right onto the chest of the right option.
4th Try - Hughes - One could argue we got lucky with the bounce. Others could argue that it was a well placed kick, made even better by an excellent kick chase that applied pressure. Hughes followed up his own kick to make sure he could be there in support and finish off.
5th Try - Hynes - A backline movement saw Olam get one-on-one with Kurt Mann who he got rid of with a big fend. He puts a kick back inside for 3 teammates who were backing up on the inside. He didn't even look.
6th Try - Smith - Hughes collects the ball on our try line and thinks he is a fullback once again, carving the Knights up through the middle before finding Reimis in support. The pass from Hughes to Smith is as good as any pass you will see all year. Extremely hard to not throw that pass forward but he executes brilliantly.
7th Try - Jennings - Backline set piece. Nicho floating the cutout pass to his winger.
8th Try - Olam - Munster out of DH darting in behind the ruck. Breaks them open and finds Olam in support.
5 out of the 8 tries did NOT come from set plays - 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th tries.
They guys have that free reign to play what is in front of them, then rely on their effort in support play to turn half opportunities into points. The boys have been crediting Marc Brentnall in a lot of interviews.
Take this past week as an example.
----------
1st Try - Olam - Beautiful line running from both Hynes and Olam. Hynes skipped to the outside of the Knights defender and as he did, Olam also changes his line. As Kust Mann turned in, Hynes hit Olam and it was straight through. Really loved this try.
2nd Try - Munster - Brandon scheming out of DH, finds Hughes. Some fancy footwork and he is away up the middle, finds Munster in support.
3rd Try - Jennings - Beautiful ball from Hynes in a set play. He had to catch and pass quickly but still executed the cut out pass, right onto the chest of the right option.
4th Try - Hughes - One could argue we got lucky with the bounce. Others could argue that it was a well placed kick, made even better by an excellent kick chase that applied pressure. Hughes followed up his own kick to make sure he could be there in support and finish off.
5th Try - Hynes - A backline movement saw Olam get one-on-one with Kurt Mann who he got rid of with a big fend. He puts a kick back inside for 3 teammates who were backing up on the inside. He didn't even look.
6th Try - Smith - Hughes collects the ball on our try line and thinks he is a fullback once again, carving the Knights up through the middle before finding Reimis in support. The pass from Hughes to Smith is as good as any pass you will see all year. Extremely hard to not throw that pass forward but he executes brilliantly.
7th Try - Jennings - Backline set piece. Nicho floating the cutout pass to his winger.
8th Try - Olam - Munster out of DH darting in behind the ruck. Breaks them open and finds Olam in support.
5 out of the 8 tries did NOT come from set plays - 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th tries.