And Sims is better on an edge than in the middle as well.
Apart from Bird and de Belin the wrong way around (Bird second row, de Belin lock) I like that pack and bench a lot. Excellent balance in my opinion. Woods and Molo aren't going to get through so much work but have McCullough, de Belin, Bird and Sims to do that. de Belin has impact and a good work rate. So coach has him on the bench! How does that work?
There's always been a belief with some coaches that you try and nullify a bigger pack by using a more mobile pack to tire them out quicker. The issue here is if you don't get your fair possession of ball then the plan quickly unravels. I very rarely did not use my big men to start a game if they were available.
One could argue it's a smart strategy that has proved deeply flawed in practice the last 2 games. Arguably the last 3.
It seems no one has any idea what's going but the coach must have a plan. If a lightweight pack fails for the 3rd time in a row, it's time to turn on the coach but until then, let's see what happens. One win from the first 4 rounds won't quite leave the season in tatters but it won't be looking good.
Personally in my day the club president would quickly make a beeline for you and questioning you why is the biggest players in the team not starting . Don't forget this was before unlimited changes and when you had only 4 reserves 2 fresh and 2 you picked from your reserve grade who had already played. Once replaced that was it for the match so you never did not start your best 13 when they were available. My belief is that games are won by the forwards the backs decide by how many.
Without knowing exactly I would suggest that our biggest players just aren't match fit hence off the bench. I hope I'm wrong but we could cop another hiding if the starting 13 isn't changed before kick off
In my day you put your best defensive forward at lock . He was usually more mobile than the rest of the engine room. No way would I swap Bird and Debelin positions in my humble view. In fact Debelin would be selected 1st in my team.
There isn't really any reason for them not to be match fit. At least not any less than Parra's heavyweights. Unless they weren't trained properly in the off season. Woods only missed one week, Sims has been back since round 1 but is being played in the middle for 30 min rather than an edge for 80..... Which correct me if I'm wrong, would further diminish the ability to go with big players like Burgess on the bench.
De Belin would also be my first picked. Hunt and De Belin are proving to be the best players (again) but in Sullivan, we have a capable backup for Hunt. For De Belin we have a second rower playing out of position in order for De Belin to be on the bench...... Go figure!
Sorry, I meant the opposite. I guess you mistakenly stated:
I like that. In fact, I like it a lot and believe it's infinitely better than what they have selected this weekend. But it suggests without explicitly stating Bird is lock and de Belin in second row.
According to the first 3 games this season, your belief is as true now as it was when you were a coach.
Burgess could be lacking match fitness. He has only played about 20min in the NRL in a few years. Did he play in the NSW Cup last week? No excuse at all for Woods and de Belin not to be match fit. No indication they aren't.
At least the St George bench is almost as heavy as the Parra bench. Would be pretty much the same except we'll have Mbye on the bench and McCullough starting. So the pack will be even lighter than the team named.
Not a bad idea but if the other team is constantly on the attack due to dominating field position, can put in attacking kicks and force mistakes or get repeat sets. It makes the belief you outlIned untenable.
I fear you are right. I'm of the firm belief the starting line up is going to be quite different from the team named. At least I hope that's the case. If the starting teams remain as are listed, I think Parramatta might stream-roll right over the top of out little pack.
In my day the bigger packs the better good defence caused not only handovers but kicking from around your 25 yard line and no further up the field than the 10 yard line prior to the half way. It does work believe me especially in wet weather football
They will
The basics of the game haven't changed just the pace has increased exponentially you need to get those basics right the rest will develop
Yeah, I agree a bigger pack, within limits of course, is better. Especially in the wet. Shonkies proved it last week. We had Jackson Ford coming on and they had Andrew Fifita coming on.