Completion rate expectations

[King Salvo]

They are not a defensive team at all, they are the top possession team so they do far LESS defending - it's ridiculous the amount of sets they have the ball each game, it was over 50 against the Sharks a few weeks back, and another 47 last week against Melbourne.

The top 4 possession teams have been Penrith, Parra, Souths and Melbourne (I haven't looked over the data for the Broncos this season) since the rule changes and lets be honest they are the only 4 teams they have been close to winning the title since the rules have changed, the game is heavily skewed toward possession. We were winning comps in the high 40%'s possession, Penrith have been 50+ for each of theirs, usually around 53-54% from memory.

You must have a lot of possession now or you are ****ed, the data is pretty clear on this yet still we stick to high error football (and a lot in our own half) which is just death.

Bit of a fallacy that Penrith are not a defensive team though as they have been number 1 in least points conceded in 2020/21/22 and be number 1 again in 2023 - number 1 in most tackles for 2 of the past 3 seasons - 2021 and 2022.

Their grind game relies heavily on high set completions and defence to dominate yardage and field position - the Boa constrictors of the comp as Billy Slater rightly pointed out

Most tackles

2020

• Penrith (3) - 7930 - 82% SC (1) - 54% possession (1) - 11.9 points conceded per game / 26.85 points scored per game
• Roosters (1) - 8237 - 77% SC (13) - 49% possession (12) - 16.1 points conceded per game / 27.6 points scored per game

2021

• Penrith (1) - 9596 -79% SC (4) - 50% possession (4) - 11.91 points conceded per game / 28.16 points scored per game
• Roosters (3) - 8882 - 75% SC (16) - 48% possession (10) - 20.375 points conceded per game / 26.25 points scored per game

2022

• Penrith (1) - 9185 - 81% SC (1)- 52% possession (1) - 12.75 points conceded per game / 26.5 points scored per game
• Roosters (6) - 8422 - 75% SC (14)- 51% possession (6) - 18.08 points conceded per game / 26.45 points scored per game

2023 - 21 games

• Penrith (6) - 7102 - 83% SC (1) - 54% possession (1) - 13.76 points conceded per game / 25.85 points scored per game
• Roosters (1) - 7571 - 75% SC (17) - 47% possession (17) - 22.09 points conceded per game / 18.09 points scored per game

SC = Set Completions


Roosters premiership years

2013 - 53% possession - 2018 and 2019 less than 50% possession although only 3 teams in those years had 50% possession game stats

2013

• Tackles (3) - 8681
• Set Completions (6) - 75%
• Possession (2) - 53%
• 26.66 points scored per game
• 12.86 points conceded per game

2018

• Tackles (1) - 8884
• Set Completions (13) - 76%
• Possession (11) - 47% - Number 1's - Cowboys and Sharks - 50% - the rest under 50%
• 22.58 points scored per game
• 15.04 points conceded per game

2019

• Tackles (1) - 9021
• Set Completions (14) - 75%
• Possession (10) - 48% - Number 1- Storm with 50% - the rest under 50%
• 26.125 points scored per game
• 15.125 points conceded per game

[Rooster90]

Not sure if anyone watched Fox’s post game show , but it was raised that the Roosters have one of the worst completion rates in the league. Cooper Cronk said Robbo does not mind as he focuses on execution over completion percentage.

Not sure how I feel about this? It makes sense in theory, I guess our problem is therefore lack of execution?

What does everyone think?

You read about how Bennett/Bellamy teams will never beat themselves because they play simple high completion footy

With the Roosters Way, the good teams just have to do this for the first 20mins and the Roosters will give them an opportunity with a dropped ball or penalty every time...

[A Country Member]

High set completion coupled with a strong, long kicking game will aid yardage and limit the opposition. Sometimes you gotta play the hand your dealt and that may be to chance your arm and test the opponent’s defensive reads which in turn can lead to more turnovers