Unlocking Jaime Chapman
The Gold Coast Titans snuck away from NRLW Round 6 with a 23-22 win over the St George-Illawarra Dragons, thanks largely to the increased involvements of left centre Jaime Chapman.
It took the Brisbane Broncos a few weeks to get the best out of Mele Hufanga but it’s been smooth sailing ever since, with the big centre scoring eight tries in her last four games.
Chapman is every chance of doing something similar if the Titans continue to play towards her in attack.
She’s listed at 176cm and 76kgs but in all likelihood is even bigger. Strong, fast and mobile, Jaime Chapman is a daunting prospect one-on-one and that’s exactly how the Titans played to her in NRLW Round 6.
Both Chapman’s tries came from set starts which is further evidence that the Titans are practising for her during the week.
Her first started with two carries right through the teeth of the Dragons defence:
Jessika Elliston and Shannon Mato are arguably the best front-row pair in the NRLW and they generate momentum on plays one and two here. A nice tip option from Elliston gets Georgia Hale in behind the line before Mato backs it up with another strong carry.
From the middle of the field, Lauren Brown fires the first shot at St George’s right edge:
The size and power of Chapman is evident her as she bends the line with two defenders hanging off her. Note those two defenders; Shenai Lendill (5) and Raecene McGregor (7) both make their first defensive effort in this set.
From Chapman’s quick play the ball, Brown works the Dragons right edge over again:
It’s Keele Brown (3) and Jamilee Bright (12) this time who make the stop on Destiny Mino-Sinapati, before McGregor is dragged into her second tackle when Elliston lays one on the tram line.
Gold Coast have now hit the Dragons right edge twice to open up the far side of the field. The wide angle shows us how St George react on their try line:
Teagan Berry has got her numbers all wrong here but it’s not entirely her fault. Quick play the balls from Chapman and Elliston gave the Dragons no time to arrange themselves in defence, and they’re hopelessly outnumbered back down their right edge.
So that’s exactly where Brown goes:
Another good short-ball option sends Chapman right between Browne and Bright who can’t win their second tackle in this set. Lendill is out of position and McGregor offers no pressure from the inside, allowing Brown to play direct at the line.
That’s smart footy from the Titans to use Chapman in these areas. For her to have two touches in this set suggests there was a concerted effort to get Chapman on the ball here, and she comes away with four points for her efforts.
Her second try was even better though.
Again from a set start, the Titans lay one to the middle in preparation for a shot through Chapman on the left edge. It’s Mato who starts things off here, keeping her feet and playing the ball before the Alexis Tauaneai (13) can peel from the tackle.
With Tauaneai late into the defensive line, St George’s spacing around the ruck is all wrong and that’s exactly where Brown sends a flying Chapman:
Brown nails her involvement here. Her first movement is straight towards the line before a subtle bounce overs turns Bright’s hips sideways. Bright can’t recover in the line when Brown drops Chapman back underneath, and the markers can’t close the space back on her inside.
Chapman still has some work to do though. She shows wonderful balance to leap through the line before burning Teagan Berry on her way to the in-goal.
Just imagine this coming at you…
Chapman has all the physical attributes to put up Mele Hufanga numbers each week for the Titans this season. It will all come down to the work of her teammates on the inside though.
If her half can consistently isolate Chapman one-on-one, she’ll score more often than not.
She’s played wing, fullback and now centre in her four NRLW seasons so far and might’ve stumbled on her best position in 2023.
There’s Always Next Week For…
… the Cronulla Sharks
I tipped the Sharks to challenge Newcastle this week on the back of their improvements in NRLW Round 5.
Cronulla rank second in the NRLW for total run metres and first for general play kick metres. They dominate in yardage and slowly win the field position battle thanks to the boot of Tayla Preston.
From there, the growing involvements of fullback Jada Taylor and five-eighth Emma Tonegato usually turn field position into points.
In NRLW Round 6 though, the Sharks shot themselves in the foot.
With just 70% completions (that numbers was below 50% at halftime) and a player in the bin for 10 minutes, Cronulla barely gave themselves a chance in this one.
When a second half try was contentiously disallowed for obstruction it was clear this wasn’t Cronulla’s day, and when Newcastle went the length in the next set and scored off a fumbled catch just five tackles later the result was decided.
The Sharks can take some positives from this loss though.
Far from their best, Cronulla came very close to a late comeback against the second best team in the NRLW. Clean up the errors and get to their kick and the Sharks are a completely different prospect.
NRLW Round 6 Shout-Outs
Caitlan Johnston
Regular readers will know Johnston is one of my favourite players in the NRLW and she reminded me why in Round 6.
Johnston started the year on an edge but returned to the middle in her last two games. Big, mobile and skillful, Johnston is a natural front rower who can skittle the defensive line as well as she can compress it.
This tip option to send Yasmin Clydesdale over was all class.
Look at how the defensive line folds inwards when Johnston takes possession. Three or four defenders turn in to make the tackle, leaving Clydesdales in an acre of space one channel wider.
That’s lovely hands from the big prop.
Cassey Tohi-Hiku
I gave Tohi-Hiku a wrap last week for her vision and smarts in attack. She’s quick and deceptively strong enough to win one-on-one matchups that Tohi-Hiku creates for herself with the ball in hand.
I clearly forgot to mention her smarts in defence though:
That’s a great read and an even better stop on Cowboys fullback Francesca Goldthorpe. If you’re going to jam in from the edges you need to wrap up the ball and Tohi-Hiku does just that here.
The Eels face an uphill battle in the NRLW this season but players like Tohi-Hiku can help set the standards and lead the way for the building club.
Hayley Maddick
I’m still not sold on Maddick as a first-choice fullback in the NRLW.
She’s quick across the ground but her smaller size makes her ineffective in yardage and on kick returns.
If she can keep picking passes like this though, I might have to change my tune.
Mele Hufanga is scoring tries for fun right now but can still positively influence Brisbane’s attack without touching the ball.
The Raiders defence is so focussed on Hufanga here that Julia Robinson is left wide open. A brilliant pass at speed from Maddick finds her winger unmarked and the Broncos are in.
The beauty of rugby league is that is accomodates for all body shapes and sizes. Maddick doesn’t need to be active in yardage if she can consistently bring this quality of ballplaying to the Broncos attack.
Hufanga and Robinson have the potential to be the best attacking left edge in the competition, and Maddick might have the keys to unlocking it.