“Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships”. An exciting offense may indeed sell tickets (as the 2016 Raiders did, attracting their highest crowd average since 1995), but does defense really win championships? Some hacks put it forward as assumed fact without question (as we ourselves did in our 2016 Finals Preview). Others claim it’s a self-perpetuating myth. So, which is it? Do elite defensive teams really outperform elite offensive teams? And if so, why? Let’s take a look at the Melbourne Storm to find out.
The Greatest Game of All: Tigers defeat Warriors
The Tigers went across the ditch and ended the Warriors’ finals hopes. The Obstruction Rule looks at how it went down, as well as reviewing the Tigers’ performances sans-Robbie Farah and turning the microscope on their opponents’ coach, Andrew McFadden. [Read more…]
Related NRL News & Posts:
The Greatest Game of All: Dragons defeat Sharks
The Obstruction Rule discusses the week’s most surprising upset – the hapless Dragons defeating the 2nd-placed Sharks. [Read more…]
Related NRL News & Posts:
The Greatest Game of All: Storm defeat Cowboys
Without a major upset in Round 21, The Obstruction Rule turns its eye to the battle of the premiership heavyweights – the Melbourne Storm and the North Queensland Cowboys, in this edition of The Greatest Game of All. [Read more…]
Related NRL News & Posts:
The Greatest Game Of All: Panthers defeat Broncos
The Obstruction Rule takes a look at the biggest upset of the round – the Penrith Panthers defeating the Brisbane Broncos, and asks how it happened and whether we could have seen it coming? [Read more…]