We Cannot Defend

[PeeGee]

Fact. We can't defend. Both edges are Shyte. Simple set plays kill us.

Don't be fooled by the close scores. As I keep saying ,,,,,,in many of the close losses, the opposition just shuts shop. We seem to always be chasing points at the back end of games.

Until we improve our defence, we can forget being a force in the NRL. No matter how wonderful we look on paper, and how much 'potential' we have.

[Mad_Rooster_in_GraceLand]

Lol I think u need a rest man.

It's one of those seasons man.

I'm at the point I just don't care anymore.

It works for.my sanity.

[Mickie Lane]

Defence reads or lack of it this year has been the teams biggest problem. You cant let in 24 to 40 points a game & think your going to win.

[Intercept]

I can't imagine they are not working on it. So, why no improvement? Is it that hard to fix? The final 3 on each edge need to sort it out. Surely Pearce can grab Fergo and SKD and come up with a plan? Goodness knows who is the leader on the other side but someone needs to step up and own it.

[Guest]

Its almost like anytime a team spreads the ball to either the left or right edge they are guaranteed to score against us. Its becoming embarrassing.

[bondi-boy]

Fact. We can't defend. Both edges are Shyte. Simple set plays kill us.

Don't be fooled by the close scores. As I keep saying ,,,,,,in many of the close losses, the opposition just shuts shop. We seem to always be chasing points at the back end of games.

Until we improve our defence, we can forget being a force in the NRL. No matter how wonderful we look on paper, and how much 'potential' we have.

Defence was our key in 2013...SBW, LOD, Mini, well the whole team really.

Our forwards are too small, our team is full of kids from the 20s, our wingers are 'never' home in defence [guarding the sideline], etc etc etc
Add the referees...

How are we going to ever win another game in the next two years.

[Game Fowl]

Defence is an attitude.

You need to be confident in the actions of the players around you this is hard to achieve with the amount of positional changes we have had to make.

[Pass the Ball]

Reminds me of the late 90's when I would go to the SFS each week...

Anytime the opposition would get the ball in our 20-30 you just knew it was try-time...

[ism22]

Defence is an attitude.

You need to be confident in the actions of the players around you this is hard to achieve with the amount of positional changes we have had to make.

I think it's both. You've gotta want to defend, and communicate with your mates. But... you also need the skills/experience.

IMO it's like high-speed chess. A good defender will be able to read what the opposition's doing at least 3 tackles before it happens. Right now we're just scrambling to tackle the guy with the ball... while we are committed, we have NFI what's happening next so get caught out of position.

Mini was a good reader and was a rockstar because he'd sit there as FB, decoding the other team's tactics and telling all his backs what to expect. Like an experienced chess player... he knew all the moves so there were no surprises for him. IMO we are gonna be expecting Gordon to do that...

Our problem right now is that you learn this stuff through experience and we don't have and role models to give people the RIGHT experience. Mitchell, Copley, Fergo and Toops all have the skills and bodies to defend, but somebody needs to mentor them in the correct problem-solving techniques to use in defence. Jennings, RTS and (I suspect) SKD allowed Toops and Fergo to defend without having to think 3 plays ahead of themselves. IMO it's a big learning curve for the current lot...

[Waerea-Beast!]

I think a lot of the defensive frailties are due to having a rookie full back, who due to circumstances wasn't eased into first grade.

The modern fullback plays an active organising role defensively as they generally have a better view of the entire attack. This is a part of Mitchell's game that will need to develop and is very possibly why our guys are struggling big time out wide.

RTS had a couple of years to learn from Mini (who by all accounts was very good at this part of the game) and Latrell hasn't had the same opportunity.

Just my opinion..

[novice chook]

You are spot on W-B and that's why Michael Gordon has been signed for next year - to give Latrell the same on field lessons Mini gave to RTS. It's all well and good for Mini to mentor Latrell off the field, but that means jack shyte when the kid is under pressure in the heat of the game.

It will take all of Michael Gordon's experience, skills, guile and patience to get the likes of Toops and Fergo to follow his instructions though, as they both seem to be on a different planet ...

[Johnny Tobin]

Reminds me of the late 90's when I would go to the SFS each week...

Anytime the opposition would get the ball in our 20-30 you just knew it was try-time...

We had some shocking sides.

The amazing thing is that the loss to Melbourne a few weeks back is our worst on that ground ever.

[Maxy Walker]

Reminds me of the late 90's when I would go to the SFS each week...

Anytime the opposition would get the ball in our 20-30 you just knew it was try-time...

Late 90s we were a top 4 side every year. Fittler's heyday. Perhaps you mean early 90s.

[bondi-boy]

Commentator last night;

"The Cowboys' right side defence is rock-solid"

Our defence could be rock-solid too...if our wingers would stay on their wings and not allow opposition players to get past them on the outside.

[Mad_Rooster_in_GraceLand]

Commentator last night;

"The Cowboys' right side defence is rock-solid"

Our defence could be rock-solid too...if our wingers would stay on their wings and not allow opposition players to get past them on the outside.

U r a well meaning dude but defence has moved on from the days of junior footy.

Slide and up and in are the mantra nowadays and these formations can change throughout a set depending on the position u are in.

Anyway thanks for your contribution and wishes it was as simple as wingers staying on their man and no tries be scored but it just ain't that simple.

We should catch up for some cones.