“Heads In!” Round 5
Unpacking the scrum each week in the NRL
There’s a player merry-go-round in the NRL this week, as coaches are racing to adapt to the new rule changes. With a shortened season, they only have so long to get it right.
Whether you’re searching for an edge in the workplace tipping comp, or just desperate to talk some footy, you’ve found the place. Join me as we unpack the scrum that is the NRL each week.
Centre-Field Scrum
What’s centre-frame in the Rugby League lens this week?
Selection Scandals
All the talk this week has been around a raft of player selections and positional switches across the competition, as coaches race to manage form slumps, injuries, suspensions and — most significantly — how the new rules have changed the game.
We’ve already seen bigger bodies like Jarrod Wallace and Shannon Boyd at the Gold Coast Titans dropped, as the faster, fatigue-effected game demands more mobile forwards.
“He is a bit off the pace of the game at the moment…” — Justin Holbrook on Wallace
Further north, Cowboys’ club stalwart Jake Granville has made way for Reece Robson as creativity from the hooker position becomes increasingly important.
And with ball-playing locks like Victor Radley being so effective through the middle this season, Rabbitohs’ Cameron Murray returned to his favourite #13 jumper last week and immediately improved Souths’ go forward and good ball sets.
So it came as a surprise to many when Benji Marshall, who’s instinctive attacking style of play has fit hand-in-glove with the new rule changes, was dropped by Tigers coach Michael Maguire this week.
To those claiming it was a decision based on defence — hold that thought.
Since 2018, Marshall has averaged 15.1 tackles per game for 3 misses while playing five-eighth. His replacement in Josh Reynolds has a 14.8 tackles per game average for 4.2 misses playing in the same position.
Sure, Reynolds might be viewed as the more aggressive, physical type who is better suited to defending against Canberra’s powerful running game this week.
But his lack of match fitness and non-existant combinations with fellow defenders doesn’t put Reynolds in much better stead than Marshall, who has been a consistent member of the squad over the last two years.
Is Maguire sending a message to his troops that no one is safe?
Has he really risked creating a divide in the playing group as the media has suggested?
Maybe he wants to give a finally-fit and highly-paid Reynolds some game time amidst speculation over his future?
The honest truth is that if Reynolds performs on Saturday night then all these questions will be forgotten and Maguire will be praised a tactical genius.
Without an off-season or trial period for the new rules, coaches are racing to adjust their team’s style of play on the run.
Don’t be surprised if there are more than a few eyebrow-raisers on Team List Tuesday’s in the coming weeks.
Right Scrum-Line
Who is feeling the pressure this week?
Baby Broncos
You don’t have to be an NRL fan to know that the Brisbane Broncos are in the pressure cooker right now.
Over their last five games, the Broncos have conceded an average 38.5 points, while playing out two full matches without registering a point themselves.
The excuse of injuries and suspensions to key personnel is a fair one — to some extent.
Any NRL side missing six starting players would be expected to struggle, as new players in new positions are forced to learn together on the run.
The importance of combinations is significantly understated in the NRL, both with and without the ball.
Knowing how the player beside you defends is crucial to presenting a cohesive defensive line, and this only comes through repetition.
Wayne Bennet is well known for his “pick-and-stick” philosophy — rather than select or drop players for individual performances, he trusts that a cohesive team unit will be built over the course of a season, if players are given the time to learn together.
The four best defensive teams in the comp so far this year (Storm, Eels, Manly & Roosters) have all more-or-less selected the same 17 players each week. Most of these combinations go back further into last season.
So it may come as a surprise to see Anthony Seibold make mass changes to his team this week, particularly in regards to positional changes;
- Joe Ofahengaue and Corey Oates start in the second-row for the first time in their careers.
- New wingers Herbie Farnsworth and Xavier Coates link up with Jamayne Isaako who is still learning the fullback position.
- Rookie hooker Corey Paix starts again with no genuine back up on the bench.
- Six-year NRL absentee Ben Te’o is immediately called into the squad to provide some experience and leadership.
Due to injury, suspension and questionable roster management, the Broncos have found themselves lacking experience and combinations across the park, and the results are clear to see.
I won’t pretend to have an answer — in fact, many in the game are looking at Brisbane and scratching their heads — but coach Anthony Seibold needs to decide quickly what he wants his team to look like moving forward, and commit to it.
A proud showing tonight against the Manly Sea Eagles would be a good place to start.
Left Scrum-Line
My left-field thought on the NRL this week
The Hoo-King in the North!
Andrew McCullough made me look good last week when he took a leading role in the Knights’ win over Canberra Raiders, confirming my prediction that he would become an integral part of Newcastles’ finals hopes this season.
His experience on the ball takes pressure off Mitchell Pearce as a game manager, while his calm and consistent playing style is the perfect foil for Kalyn Ponga’s attacking flair.
The hooker position has arguably become more important this year than any other with the rule changes, and teams are adjusting their attack accordingly.
For the North Queensland Cowboys, promoting rake Reece Robson over club stalwart Jake Granville is a tough decision, but the right one.
“[Robson] has been good both sides of the footy. He has got a calm head about him and he picks his times when to run.” — Paul Green, NRL.com
All due respect to Granville, who has featured in a minimum 24 games for the club per season since 2015. But the durable hooker lacks a precision passing game, and his once dangerous running game has slowed somewhat.
In comparison, Robson’s service from half has been superb this season, while his incisive running game has already netted him two tries this season:
He sees Jarrod Wallace is slow to position at marker and knows there will be space behind the ruck if he can sell the dummy.
Sold.
While the form of new arrivals Scott Drinkwater, Esan Marsters and Valentine Holmes has been the talk of the town, Robson’s elevation to starting hooker could be the final step towards an exciting new era for Cowboys fans.
Round 5, begin!
The Battle of the West on Friday is set to be a cracker.
Nathan Cleary returns for the Panthers and is up against a potential rival for his NSW #7 jersey in Mitchel Moses, who has been in fine form this season.
How far will Cleary go to converting field position into points for the Panthers? And will his combination with Apisai Koriasau become one of the most dangerous hooker-half pairings in the NRL?
Josh Hodgson and Jack Wighton might have something to say about that as they look to bounce back against a revamped Tigers squad. Benji Marshall will be sitting out a tough game on Saturday night…
Goodluck to your teams, your tips and your punts!
Glory Glory.
