NRL Repeat Set: Round 11

Recap the latest round of NRL action with the Repeat Set: Talking points, highlights, lowlights and the Play of the Round.

Here’s your Repeat Set for Round 11 of the 2021 NRL season:

• How the Warriors attack is improving to help Walsh
• Things I Liked
• A round to remember for…Matt Burton
• A round to forget for…Parramatta Eels
• Play of the Round: Melbourne Storm
• Graham Annesley’s Briefing Summary

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How the Warriors attack is improving to help Walsh

I’ve talked about the Warriors attack a lot this season and the struggles they’ve had to consistently score points. I’ve talked even more about repeatable actions across the NRL and ‘good’ points as opposed to scoring tries against the run of play or without any build up that can be executed again the following week.

While scoring 30 points will please any fan base, it’s how the Warriors scored their points in Round 11 that is most promising. They trained the defence into moving one way before moving the ball elsewhere themselves. Consistent and repeatable shapes used in a variety of ways became too difficult for the Wests Tigers left edge defence to handle after the visitors failed to make the most of early dominance.

The Warriors exposed a frail Wests Tigers left edge defence early on but didn’t force the issue as they worked into the arm-wrestle. A strong start through the middle and some pin-point Luke Brooks kicks to end sets had the Tigers on the front foot. Still, the Warriors set themselves up for success later in the match.

They ran similar exit sets throughout the opening ten minutes to set up points later in the half.

Working to the left edge on 4th tackle before swinging it right, Tohu Harris takes a settler in the first instance as the Warriors try to work away from their own line following one of those perfect Brooks kicks.

The second is similar, but this time, Harris tips a pass onto Bunty Afoa who draws the three and four-in defenders, exposing a big gap between the centre and half while the winger sat too far back in the defensive line.

The Tigers had been the better side up to this point but hadn’t been able to capitalize. The Warriors, on the other hand, managed to identify and create a try-scoring opportunity while absorbing pressure.

Although this isn’t a silky right-edge shift, the opportunity for Tuivasa-Sheck to take possession of the ball with room to move isn’t an accident. They have seen how compact the Tigers defensive line becomes as the pack work up the field. Nikorima is under pressure but always has it in his head that this is the time the Warriors get the ball wide. Tuivasa-Sheck beats the first man as he so often does and manages to send Murchie over the line with an excellent pass.

This next example of a well-worked and repeatable action offers real encouragement for the Warriors moving forward, though. It ends with Reece Walsh scoring in the corner and filling post-match headlines, but it’s the work of Kodi Nikorima and Jack Murchie in the build up that created the space for Walsh to provide the highlight play.

Another right shift on 4th tackle starts in the same spot. Jazz Tevaga feeds Nikorima out the back who plays short to Murchie. The Warriors backrower takes the space and releases an offload as Walsh follows up in support.

Three minutes later, the Warriors again go right. Harris is the middle forward feeding Nikorima this time, but the result is similar. Murchie hits the ball at speed and is able to push through a Tigers leg tackle with his arms free, promoting another quick play-the-ball.

All of that work by Nikorima and Murchie then paid dividends as the Warriors once again attacked the Tigers left edge in good ball. The right shift starts in the same spot as the two prior. Having seen his halfback fail to make the stop on the Warriors lead runner in back-to-back sets, Joey Leilua creeps in as three Tigers defenders crowd around the ball as Nikorima engages the line. Euan Aitken takes Leilua’s inside shoulder and Walsh is presented with a massive gap.

Walsh is lightening quick and would have made the Tigers pay for presenting him with a gap even half as big. However, what we saw in the build up to this try suggests the Warriors improvements in recent weeks are just as much to do with the developing structure of their attack as it is the introduction of this superstar in the making.

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Things I Liked

It was another frustrating week in rugby league as the poorly planned crackdown on high-tackles generates confusion on the field and in the stands. In an attempt to avoid becoming one of those footy fans, I want to point out a few things I liked this week to remind myself why this is still the greatest game of all.

A try on debut

Heilum Luki scored on debut. Get in, son! If the NRL wants to rush in another rule change, make it compulsory for young fella’s playing in their first game to dot down.

Hunt is good

Ben Hunt has been on the receiving end of some unfair criticism over the last few years. I think he will cop a little bit more soon if the Dragons tumble down the ladder as I expect them to by the end of the season. So, I want to get in early with some positives, starting with two try-savers in ten seconds.

He first makes the sweeping cover tackle on Matt Moylan before jumping to his feet, squaring up at marker, and disrupting Blakye Brailey’s pass that was almost certain to end with a Sharks try.

Panthers: A Pleasure

I had been reluctant to put the Panthers up with the Storm and Roosters in my totally made up ‘Pleasure to Watch’ ladder simply because the Storm and Roosters have done it for so long. They can’t be kept out of the elite group any longer, though. They’re must watch television every week and will be for a long time.

This try here – the X shape out in front of Luai especially – is beautiful rugby league.

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A Round to remember for…

Matt Burton returned to Dubbo with the Penrith Panthers and put on a show for his hometown.

He scored three tries, broke five tackles, handed out a try assist and ran for 152 metres as the Panthers thumped the South Sydney Rabbitohs 56-12 at Apex Oval.