I always have a particular match, trend, team, or player in mind to focus on heading into each round of the NRL season. This week, I’m diving deep into one tackle to highlight how the smallest aspects of tackle technique can have a big impact.
These are meant to be short and sharp articles to introduce the weekend, but they can sometimes become full features. If you like what you see, pass it on.
Recent:
- A round of opportunity
- Breaking down simple yardage sets
- Getting nerdy over scrums
- Reading an NRL debut: Maiu’u, Sanders, Armstrong & Alaimalo
The Parramatta Eels looked a lot better in Round 13.
They ran hard, took their chances with the ball, and what had previously been a poor defence improved with the attack. You can read my review of that match here if you missed it on Tuesday.
Within that improved performance came a single carry that I think does a good job of highlighting how the smallest elements within a tackle can have big consequences. How running straight at a defender impacts the defence differently than splitting two players does. Or how the initial contact can make or break a play.
What is a rather stock-standard Wiremu Greig carry led to Maika Sivo scoring in the corner last week. Parramatta made it look easy. But if we go back to the Greig carry off a tap start, we see how it became easy by the time Sivo took possession on the left wing.
Greig charges straight at Jack Williams off the tap. The big Eels prop wins the contact and knocks Williams back just a touch. By running straight at the defender, Greig isn’t hit with dual contact and is able to half-spin out of Williams’ initial effort.
That brings Teig Wilton and Oregon Kaufusi into the tackle. Greig is able to stay standing and moving forward through the contact which makes things messy for the Sharks. Tom Hazelton isn’t able to find the space within three teammates to get at his legs, and as he falls off, Wilton drops to finally bring Greig to the ground.
While Williams manages to lock up the ball in the end, Kaufusi isn’t able to add any weight to the tackle. Greig is free to get to his feet quickly and beat Hazelton and Wilton into the line.
Hazelton manages to get back at A, but Will Kennedy can’t get across to the open side. It looks as though Kennedy is holding the short side, waiting for Wilton to get out of the tackle. But Wilton being forced to take the legs late has slowed down Kennedy flipping.
With Kennedy now a step behind getting to the long side, Hazelton isn’t able to adjust his spacing. The first pass from dummy half puts Mitchell Moses onto the C defender. One more has Dylan Brown on the three-man (Daniel Atkinson) – perfect.
It’s a simple block inside the two-man from there and Clint Gutherson ices the opportunity.
One strong carry, winning contact and earning a messy tackle for the defence on the right edge saw Sivo go over on the left untouched.
If those with the means want an interesting NRL stat to dive into, play-the-balls leading to tries is one place to start.