The difference between contenders and also-rans is that contenders always find a way to win the close ones. This is a commonly held belief of commentators and fans alike and has been perpetuated year after year without challenge. But is it true? And if it’s not, what is the defining trait of dominant teams, or is there even one at all? [Read more…]
Connecting Coaches: Six Degrees Of Kevin Walters
When Kevin Walters was handed the reins of the all-conquering Queensland Maroons late last year, many rugby league pundits found themselves asking ‘Why Kevin Walters? How is he qualified to coach the greatest team of this generation?’. His supporters pointed to his experience as head coach of the Catalans Dragons in the Super League, and his time spent as an assistant at the Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos. But what if Kevin Walters earned this job long before he took up his various coaching positions? Long before he’d even hung up his boots? What if Kevin Walters earned his stripes the first time he stepped onto Seiffert Oval in 1987, and unwittingly into the centre of the rugby league universe?
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Film Study: The 2nd Man Play
In the 2nd Man Play (pictured below being perfectly executed by Queensland in State of Origin 1), the objective is to isolate a particular defender and attract him to the lead runner, before passing to the 2nd man (hence the name) and in doing so, create an overlap on the outside. Let’s break it down piece by piece.
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Loser Rankings: Comparing the NRL’s finest losers
The 2016 Newcastle Knights are bad. Real bad. As in, historically bad. In fact, if they fail to win 2 more games over the remainder of the season, they’ll surpass the 2003 & 2006 Rabbitohs for having the worst season record in NRL history. But, does that make the Knights the worst team of the modern era? And how can we measure the levels of ineptitude delivered by some of the game’s most awful teams? [Read more…]
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Tries from kicks: Where is Luke Walsh now, anyway?
While browsing the paper a couple of weeks ago, I came across this interesting little article in the Sydney Morning Herald about the impending selection of Adam Reynolds, and why specifically he should be selected.
In it, the author argues that Reynolds’ league-leading try assists per match, and more particularly his league leading total tries from kicks, “are the statistics which show why” Adam Reynolds was to be selected by New South Wales. The argument sounds very convincing. Unfortunately, it’s also baloney.