Line speed and ruck area

[Top End Eagle]

I didn't see how GCKT was at all dynamic in that match. He picked up the ball, passed a few times, made a few tackles then went off for a HIA. No steps out of DH and no runs with the ball.

I'm not ripping into him because he just did his job... but I don't see how those 5 minutes are enough to assess him.

Watch it again and compare it with Lawton. Stood out like digs balls to me.

 

[nightster]

Scorpio said:
I didn't see how GCKT was at all dynamic in that match. He picked up the ball, passed a few times, made a few tackles then went off for a HIA. No steps out of DH and no runs with the ball.

I'm not ripping into him because he just did his job... but I don't see how those 5 minutes are enough to assess him.

Watch it again and compare it with Lawton. Stood out like digs balls to me.

I agree with TEE
He was hardly on long enough, and with a gassed team behind him when he did come on, to show too much.

 

[Top End Eagle]

Scorpio said:
I didn't see how GCKT was at all dynamic in that match. He picked up the ball, passed a few times, made a few tackles then went off for a HIA. No steps out of DH and no runs with the ball.

I'm not ripping into him because he just did his job... but I don't see how those 5 minutes are enough to assess him.





I agree with TEE
He was hardly on long enough, and with a gassed team behind him when he did come on, to show too much.

It's just an instinctive habit.

Here's a bit of a left field observation for you. If you're stopped at a crosswalk, you know with the green man and the buttons you pressed with your elbow in covid, wait until a crowd mills around and then take a step towards traffic before the man turns green.

Watch how many people will step with you unconsciously. It's like there's a herd-mind force flowing in that direction even though the man is still red.

Good hooker's get their team rolling the same way, Egan is currently the master of it and Cam Smith almost invented it, (though Chris Andersons flat play at the storm might have been the genesis with Swain at 9).

PS I also like starting applauses

 

[Top End Eagle]

Just another comment since I've had four shots of espresso,

Penrith have so much energy with their line speed because their front rowers walk back after an opposition kick down town. Not jog, slowly amble. They stay in their channel and make their way back for hit up two, three or four knowing Edwards, To'o and Tuiruva will run fearlessly forward into the line creating the space the big boppers would have made up by jogging and expending more energy.

Watch Manly return the ball from the back, it's sideways or passing or hot-stepping to find a hole or something less dangerous to run at before committing. There's none of that from Penrith it's full steam ahead and then see what happens. That's why you will see Leota and Fischer Harris still walking back through the opposition defensive line after play three. It's a massive conservation of energy that translates to their incredible line speed in defence.