NRL Analysis: 3 Takeaways from Storm v Panthers

The Melbourne Storm put on a show in Round 1 to instantly put themselves among the genuine premiership contenders. Meanwhile, the Penrith Panthers produced a performance that stunned the NRL world in being upset by the Sydney Roosters in Round 2.

As if it wasn’t already a must-watch game, the contrasting form guides added to the intrigue in Round 3.

Unfortunately, Nathan Cleary's leaving the game early took the sting out of it. Injuries to the Storm's right edge forced a reshuffle and change to their shifting approach in yardage that proved so successful. Still, the game lived up to the billing and kicked the weekend off with a bang.

3 Takeaways

• 1. The good & bad of an unsettled opposition

• 2. Yeo steps up

• 3. That scrum try

1. The good & bad of an unsettled opposition

The Penrith Panthers came into the game understrength and lost their best player after only eight minutes. I won’t have been the only one to have seen “game over” pop up on the group chat. However, the Panthers system consistently produces regardless of who wears the jersey. In hindsight, and following comments from Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Craig Bellamy, the chaos and element of unknown around the Panthers spine played a big part in the result.

Grant and Bellamy spoke of complacency. There was a ‘relief’ to seeing Nathan Cleary go off the field, while Bellamy also considered his decision to take the two and go 14-0 up as a turning point. His side took their foot off the gas from there. Grant backed that up further when suggesting two rookie halves standing opposite them triggered a change in their approach following a dominant first 20 minutes.

Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney discussed how one player's taking it easy or showing complacency can affect the whole side in their podcast Sixes & Sevens last week³ . Based on the comments from their captain and coach, the Storm provided an example of that in this one.

But Munster gave us an example of the positives around an unsettled opposition spine.

“We knew they’d lost Dylan Edwards. He’s an integral part to their team, especially defensively. He’s really good at his numbers and spots… There was a couple of times we’ve seen him [Thomas Jenkins] out of position and we were lucky enough to execute.”

The “numbers” he speaks of are Penrith’s defensive splits. How they spread their defence across the field, which side of the ruck they fill first, and how many defenders they stick on one side depending on where they consider the most potent threat to be at the time.

It’s a difficult area to analyse, given the limited vision of a TV broadcast, but the Storm showed how a second of uncertainty from a defending fullback can produce points.

“The other two were planned with Eli and Paps. We did a little bit of homework, and I was just happy they finally came off for me.”

Per Rugby League Project, Thomas Jenkins hadn’t been named at fullback for any of his 87 NRL or reserve grade matches before this week. He had a week to prepare for a new role, and while Penrith named Daine Laurie there for as long as they could, Craig Bellamy and company only needed a day or two to exploit his inexperience.

Premium members dug into fullback positioning last week. There are opportunities against even the best fullbacks in the NRL. Melbourne made sure to move Jenkins to spots on the field where he might not be familiar before kicking into the space behind the line.

The Storm shift to the edge for the Eli Katoa try. At first, Cameron Munster is trying to get himself into first receiver. However, likely seeing Jenkins ten metres from the sideline and having spoken about the play earlier in the week, Ryan Papenhuyzen pushes Munster out.

It’s 4th tackle and the quick pass suggests that the Storm is running the ball. Katoa and the right edge know what is coming, though. The backrower steams onto Munster’s chip kick, and Jenkins is unable to cover the space after such a wide start.

The second is almost exactly the same.

Again, Melbourne has shifted the ball. Jenkins has become involved in the tackle in the left corner, again providing an opportunity to kick in behind the line on the other side. It’s Jahrome Hughes making that quick pass this time. Like Katoa earlier, Papenhuyzen saw the play ahead of time and beat a scrambling Panthers edge to the ball.

The position of the play-the-ball is slightly different between the two, but where Jenkins is standing on the field is similar. There is simply too much ground for him to cover when the kicks are inch-perfect.

How should he have defended it?

His third man is late out of the tackle in the first example. Had he been in the line, Jenkins could have positioned himself closer to the middle of the field. On the second, he would want to get himself out of the tackle earlier, and for the two that remain to earn him an extra second to get in the line.

He’s in a tough spot, but Melbourne nailed the plan here. It might be referred to as “eyes up”, but none of this is an accident. They’ve drawn it up and executed it to perfection.

2. Yeo steps up

Nathan Cleary gives the Panthers a chance to win any game from any position when he’s on the field. Isaah Yeo gives them a chance when he’s not.

After Cleary walked off on Thursday night, Yeo stepped up into the role of organiser without missing a beat. He finished with 44 touches and played a leading role in guiding the Panthers around the field and steering their comeback.

It isn’t the case for every team in the NRL, but the lock position can be called part of the spine in some cases. Yeo would undoubtedly be involved in all of their meetings throughout the week. That allowed him to fall straight into the role, which was best displayed in Penrith’s first try.

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