Re: 2022 | Head Coach talk : Mon Apr 04, 2022 5:51 am  

I don't disagree about try highlights, but I meant that even those do give you a good idea of where a defence is at, particularly if you see the plays before.

Peter Smith pointed out that if you take away the Wakefield game we're average just 9 points per game. Last year our hookers topped the try count, which is ridiculous. A lot of this is down to lack of forward power - you get a fair few easy tries over a season if props are regularly bending the line. Also complete lack of ambition on last kicks. Can't remember the stats but most teams score a lot of points through kicks. Not even bothering to try is just a recipe for not scoring. That seems to have been an Agar brainwave.

Re: 2022 | Head Coach talk : Mon Apr 04, 2022 7:07 am  

Once were Loiners wrote:

I don't disagree about try highlights, but I meant that even those do give you a good idea of where a defence is at, particularly if you see the plays before.

Peter Smith pointed out that if you take away the Wakefield game we're average just 9 points per game. Last year our hookers topped the try count, which is ridiculous. A lot of this is down to lack of forward power - you get a fair few easy tries over a season if props are regularly bending the line. Also complete lack of ambition on last kicks. Can't remember the stats but most teams score a lot of points through kicks. Not even bothering to try is just a recipe for not scoring. That seems to have been an Agar brainwave.

Interesting point on tries and last tackle plays. Our last tackle plays are shocking and have been for some time. It's, in my view, the worst part of Leemings game in terms of decision making, as he rarely finds a halfback on the last tackle close to the line.

I've watched a couple of NRL games this weekend. The top teams seem to mix really well the set plays where everyone is moving in attack together, and playing off the cuff, with quick players seeing what's in front of them and going for it. Most SL attacks are far too predictable, most lead runners aren't barely jogging forward and it's obvious where the ball is going. Some of the tries from the Melbourne and Paramatta this weekend were nothing short of incredible. It's like a different sport! Hopefully an austrlian coach can bring some of those qualities.

Re: 2022 | Head Coach talk : Mon Apr 04, 2022 8:41 am  

Trebor1 wrote:

Michael Maguire is on the list according to Jenna Brooks

Not sure I'd trust anything that the worst media presenter I've ever seen in RL has to say.

Re: 2022 | Head Coach talk : Mon Apr 04, 2022 9:19 am  

A lot of Agar's signings have left a lot to be desired it has to be said. Most have been a dissapointment... but maybe that's down to poor coaching..

Re: 2022 | Head Coach talk : Mon Apr 04, 2022 9:57 am  

Do people still think Agar leaves us in a better place than when he came in?

Not convinced myself.

Re: 2022 | Head Coach talk : Mon Apr 04, 2022 10:08 am  

FGB wrote:

Do people still think Agar leaves us in a better place than when he came in?

Not convinced myself.

No. He took over an average squad playing poorly battling relegation.

The next coach comes into an average squad playing poorly, battling relegation.

Re: 2022 | Head Coach talk : Mon Apr 04, 2022 10:42 am  

FGB wrote:

Do people still think Agar leaves us in a better place than when he came in?

Not convinced myself.

The results and performance suggests we're in the same sorry state as we were back then.

After listening to JJB's press conference, the culture and attitude sounds absolutely pathetic, just as it was back then.

So no, all the evidence suggests we'r no better off.

Re: 2022 | Head Coach talk : Mon Apr 04, 2022 10:52 am  

We looked better off mid pre-season. In fact we looked better off after week 1 v Warrington but at this moment in time we look probably worse off than at any point since 1996.

What the reason for that is i have no idea but it looks a mess right now.

New coach, few players back and it can start to look different tho. Lets hope so.

Re: 2022 | Head Coach talk : Mon Apr 04, 2022 11:28 am  

FGB wrote:

Do people still think Agar leaves us in a better place than when he came in?

Not convinced myself.

Nope, we looked like making some progress last year but look to have regressed badly this year.... utterly bizarre. Like Marty says, get a new coach in who's quality, and some key players back and we'll look a lot better imo.

Re: 2022 | Head Coach talk : Mon Apr 04, 2022 12:43 pm  

Marty Grrrrrrrrrr! wrote:

We looked better off mid pre-season. In fact we looked better off after week 1 v Warrington but at this moment in time we look probably worse off than at any point since 1996.

What the reason for that is i have no idea but it looks a mess right now.

New coach, few players back and it can start to look different tho. Lets hope so.

To be fair, I think Myler has been an even more significant injury than Newman in terms of our style of play. I'm not a massive fan of Walker, but his strength lies in his running game. Myler had become an expert in picking out the perfect pass on those edge plays, which I'm sure is how we'd set up all pre-season, which would have taken a lot of pressure from Austin and Sezer.

Still, top teams need to adapt to these scenarios, and that has been Agar/Longs undoing.