The Halftime Spray #5 (2014)

2014 is Cronulla's worst start to a season since 1969. Given their performance of the previous two seasons, you can't help but wonder why.

In the past few years they had become a team known for their ruthless aggression in defence above anything else. In 2014 they have lost their teeth and are leaking points far too easily.

Most notably is the immense change in defensive prowess on their right edge, most notably defenders Todd Carney and Blake Ayshford.

At the same time last year, Carney had played the same number of games, all in the same position. The glaring difference is that in 2013 he had missed 8 tackles. In 2014 he has missed 28 tackles.

Carney's poor defence has seen play being directed at him more which has also seen right centre Blake Ayshford make 132 tackles, which is 47 more than Cronulla's right centres made at the same point in time last year.

Ayshford has missed 23 tackles, which is 12 more than Cronulla's right centres after 7 games last year.

Because Ayshford is trying to cover for Carney, he is being isolated in defence and players are running through him, if they haven't already run through Carney. Between these two they have made 57 of Cronulla's 174 missed tackles in 2014 (32.76%).

This is the Sharks' epic weakness. Prior to Carney returning to first grade in Round 3 this year, Ayshford had made 33 tackles and missed just 3. This alone shows that Ayshford's defence has suffered only since Carney returned to the side.

With so much traffic being run at Carney, he's lacking in energy when he gets to attack and this is evident by the fact that the Sharks have scored just 87 points so far this year (the next worst attacking side is Penrith who have scored 109 points).

If the Sharks are to right their ship and start performing to a much higher standard that everyone knows they are capable of, then it's quite clear that Carney needs to be moved in the defensive line, and I believe the best place is closer towards the middle around much stronger defenders. It will provide a number of benefits:

• The right edge weakness in defence will be corrected
• Ayshford's defence will improve
• Attackers will have to run at strong defenders if they want to target Carney
• Carney will be more confident and less tired, helping him and the team when attacking
• Cronulla's defensive line will move more smoothly and effectively.

Carney's other issue is his decisions in defence. The same play can be run at him a few times every game and he will react differently every time, sometimes he'll rush up at the player in front of him, sometimes he'll run at the gap between the player passing the ball and the player he should be marking, sometimes he'll hold off and slide and sometimes he'll be in the defensive line but defending like a cover defender when he shouldn't be.

All of these issues cause his outside defender, Ayshford, to stay back which in turn leave's him flat footed and a target to run at. Because he isn't moving, he is easy to run through.

How Carney went from being capable in defence 12 months ago, to a confused weak defender is anybody's guess, but until he sort's out this issue, Cronulla will continue to languish at the end of the table.

The Halftime Spray #4 (2014)

All the talk this week has been around attendances and the lack thereof. So far this year, 747,246 people have attended the games from the first 6 rounds. In 2013, all records were broken by some 40 odd thousand over the same period. Crowds were getting bigger and more of the same was expected this year.

Instead what has transpired is quite the opposite. A whopping 135,568 less people have attended games this year compared to the same time last year. In fact, you have to go all the way back to 2006 to find a year whose crowds over the first 6 rounds were less than those in 2014. But in 2006, there were only 7 games per week, not 8 like today.

The last time crowds were this low for a season comprising of 8 games per round over the opening 6 rounds was back in 1999, a short time after the Superleague war brought the game to its knees.

The figures also show that it’s not just one or two bad weeks that has dragged the number down, it’s been an issue since Round 1.

Round 1, 2014 – 126,590 - The worst opening round attendance since 2003 (123,405 in 7 games)

Round 2, 2014 – 137,805 – The lowest Round 2 attendance of the past 3 years

Round 4, 2014 – 118,112 – The lowest Round 4 attendance since 2006 (103,791 in 7 games)

Round 6, 2014 – 107,821 – The lowest Round 6 attendance since 2007 (98,127 in 6 games)

Total attendance 2014 – 747,246 – The lowest attendance in 16+ team competitions since 1999 (737,806) and the lowest since 2006 (732,277 in 42 games – 6 less than in 2014)

First 6 Rounds total attendance:

2014: 747,246 (48 games)

2013: 882,814 (48 games)

2012: 836,111 (48 games)

2011: 838,732 (48 games)

2010: 846,273 (48 games)

2009: 841,476 (48 games)

2008: 857,869 (48 games)

2007: 838,649 (46 games)

2006: 732,277 (42 games)

With club memberships breaking the record set last year at the same time, one can only wonder why crowd figures are going in the opposite direction.

The game is faster, more open and exciting this year compared to past seasons. The results are more inconsistent. The game cannot be considered as boring by any means at all in 2014. The weather cannot be used as an excuse. It’s a winter sport. Rain happens.

Perhaps members aren’t going to games? Or maybe non-members aren’t going because of the cost of tickets? Is it scheduling?

Whatever the reason, the NRL needs to work out if they need to start making some changes to rectify this issue, sooner rather than later.

The Halftime Spray #3 (2014)

With the devastation of Alex McKinnon's injury from a spear tackle still very raw in the minds of every Rugby League fan, official, player, administrator and family members, one could understand that a crack-down on spear tackles and an influx of lengthy suspensions would follow to try and wipe the tackle out of the game for good.

And not one person would be angered or upset by that. In fact, it would have been met largely with open arms and support.

This past week we saw a number of dangerous tackles, most notably one by Dragons talented forward Jack de Belin against South Sydney's Sam Burgess, which saw Burgess fall head first into the ground with his feet pointing straight up. Burgess was able to roll himself so as to avoid a serious injury. Jack de Belin was put on report.

He wasn't sent off. Not even sin binned.

But the travesty doesn't end there. He was eventually given a Grade 1 Dangerous Throw charge, the lightest possible charge you could receive. This resulted in him copping a suspension for one week.

Wests Tiger's five-eighth Braith Anasta was suspended for the same amount of time for a lazy and careless shoulder charge. 

But in no way was Anasta's illegal tackle as dangerous as de Belin's was, yet according to the NRL's Match Review Committee, they were about the same.

Is it only possible that justifiably long suspensions for illegal tackles can be handed down only when the tackled player is seriously injured? What sort of a backward Mickey Mouse operation is this?

It's high time that lifting in tackles started getting very hefty penalties. So here's my idea. Scrap these 5 separate gradings, it allows for too much leniency. Three should be ample.

Grade 1: If a player puts his hand between a players legs and lifts - 1 to 2 weeks suspension.
Grade 2: If a player is lifted to the horizontal, not beyond it -3 to 6 week's suspension.
Grade 3: If a player is lifted and tipped beyond the horizontal - at least 7 weeks suspension.

It may seem excessive, but really, what would we rather see, spear tackles eradicated from the game, or more players who have to go through the ordeal that has tragically befallen poor Alex McKinnon.

The NRL is seriously lacking in consistency. On Tuesday the Bulldogs were handed an infraction for not following their new concussion guidelines, when they allowed Josh Jackson to play in Round 2.

While the decision against the Bulldogs and Anasta show that they can get these decisions right, the decisions against de Belin and other players who committed illegal tackles, especially over the last weekend (spear tackles, crusher tackles), which can cause very severe injuries have been given excessively soft penalties.

If the NRL continues with this stance, they are simply telling clubs that these illegal plays are tolerated. Is that what they want?

The Halftime Spray #2 (2014)

This year the NRL introduced new concussion rules to deal with the management of players who suffer head knocks, entirely for the benefit of the players. This is a great scheme and is long overdue.

However, it also needs some extra work.

Some clubs are sticking by decisions to omit players from a game if they suffered concussion the week before, while others are opting against this. Many over the course of the year will end up being inconsistent with this rule depending on who it is that cops the head knock.

The NRL should step in and say that, in the benefit of player safety, any player who has been deemed to have suffered concussion (whether it be mild or severe) is not permitted to play for the next 10 days. This rule would also ensure that diving is not condoned or promoted, as any player who tries to dive to get a player sin binned will not be allowed to play the following week.

Further to this, each club should be allowed to replace a concussed player with a fresh reserve from outside their starting 17 players, with no loss of interchange. I'd also only allow NSW Cup players to fill these roles.

If the players concussion is the result of an illegal play, the offender (if he hasn't been sent off) should be sin-binned for 10 minutes, put on report, his team penalised and the sin binning should count as one interchange when he runs off the field (despite not being replaced). This would prove to be quite a strong deterrent from high tackles. There is no purpose for players to tackle around a players head and if the NRL is serious about reducing the risk of head injuries, then they need to have a hard line stance across the board.

Mistakes and accidents do happen; they are unavoidable in a body contact sport.

Some have suggested that a sin binned player should be replaced, but I think this fails to be a punishment. Players need to know and learn that their actions impact their team very heavily so as to help promote safe and fair play and to reduce the number of illegal incidents that happen in the game, specifically those impacting a players head.

The NRL took a strong stance last year when they introduced the one punch rule. And as a whole, it has been a great success. My idea should be seen as an extension of that.

The time to act is now.

The Halftime Spray #1 (2014)

The Friday night clash between Wests Tigers and Souths was one that should be a great worry for referees. It was pretty clear that in the last 10 minutes, that the referees had lost control of the players. This was entirely due to the on-field referees being too timid about sending any players off the field.

Whether this fear is due to not wanting to make things unfair by allowing one side to have more players, or to avoid scrutiny by fans, or being a prominent factor in the result, either way, they failed.

Several players were put on report, 2 were sent to the sin bin (albeit one was for a professional foul not harming other players) and both fullbacks copped high shots, leaving Greg Inglis unable to play after just 5 minutes, and James Tedesco copping three heavy high tackles.

On Monday night, Melbourne Storm were penalised on several occasions in the first half alone for lifting in tackles, one of which went horribly wrong just seconds before halftime which has now left Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon in hospital with severe neck damage which could take between months and years to fully recover from.

Accidents do happen and that is the nature of the beast. However, I believe in both games, intervention from referees could have been vital in changing the players attitudes regarding their repeated infringements and thus changed the way the players acted.

Over the past few years there has been an immense increase in the number of players being reported for infringements and, compared to over a decade ago, a dramatic reduction in sin-binnings and send-offs for dangerous conduct.

I believe that if an incident is bad enough to be penalised and put on report, then it's bad enough to warrant at least 10 minutes in the sin bin.

If this policy was in place, it would make every player on the field, not just those on the team of the sin-binned player, to pull their heads in, as they know any illegal hits will mean that they are not only going to get ten in the bin, but it will also risk their team conceding points.

It will also allow referees to retain control of a game when things get heated after an illegal action.

And no one is going to complain when referees are making decisions based on the safety and welfare of the players, while also cleaning the game up and making it very clear that foul play will be dealt with immediately, which sends the right message to all involved.

As a side note, I'd like to send my best wishes to Alex McKinnon and I hope he has a full and speedy recovery. Right now, getting better and back on your feet is the only important thing.

Wests Tigers - Season Preview (2014)

In the space of just 18 months the Tigers went from being premiership favourites to narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon. Since 2012, the club has endured its most turbulent days in the last decade. It eventually lead to a swag of prominent first grade players leaving the club, the head coach getting sacked and the star player for so long, Benji Marshall, walking away from the club after salary negotiations broke down. But, much like in 2004, amidst all of this drama and chaos, a batch of exciting and brilliant juniors has made their way into the top grade.

2014 isn’t shaping to be a year that the Tigers will push for premiership honours, but it will be one where they plan to gain some consistency and form some solid combinations amongst the youngsters to secure the clubs success over the coming years.

Where they can win

Out wide. Boy do the Tigers have some firepower in the backline. James Tedesco is finally injury free and is looking faster than ever. Chris Lawrence is also free of his many niggling injuries and has shed some bulk too, so he will also be back close to his blistering speedy self. Throw in the exciting Tim Simona, the all-round power, skill and speed of David Nofoaluma, the exhilarating pace of Marika Koroibete, with the experience of Pat Richards and Keith Lulia and you can see that the Tigers backline is very impressive indeed. This coupled with the creative rookie Luke Brooks will see the Tigers playing exciting football once again.

Where they may struggle

In the middle. Up front. Anywhere there are forwards, the Tigers will struggle. While they have proven performers in Robbie Farah, Aaron Woods and Liam Fulton, there simply isn’t enough firepower, especially in the back row. Wests Tigers have recruited some decent toilers, but the club has been sorely lacking since Gareth Ellis departed and Adam Blair failed to live up to expectations.

Match winner

Robbie Farah. Arguably the best attacking rake in the competition as well as being a stubborn and tireless defender, Farah will have more responsibility on his shoulders in 2014 than ever before. He no longer has Benji Marshall to help him organise attacking plays. However, if he can form a solid combination with Tedesco and young half Brooks, then Farah could also be in for one of his best seasons, which will be key to the Tigers success.

Rookies to watch

Luke Brooks is the one who will have all eyes on him. After just one game (where he was Man of the Match on debut) he immediately drew comparisons with Andrew Johns. Massive wraps. He’d be best to try and ignore that and become Luke Brooks, not the next Andrew Johns. He has the skills required to make it, great passing game, a good short and long kicking game, solid in defence, a good step and quick off the mark. He just needs to get comfortable directing the team around and he will be all but certain of a great year.

The big plays

Brooks will form a lethal combination with Curtis Sironen, James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma and Tim Simona. They will link up often and in many various ways which will ensure that the Tigers won’t become predictable. Throw in the off the cuff attacking prowess of Farah and the Wests Tigers could prove to be a hard unit to contain when they get the ball out of the middle.

Best team

1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Tim Simona 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Pat Richards 6.Braith Anasta 7. Luke Brooks 8. Andrew Woods 9. Robbie Farah (c) 10. Adam Blair 11. Liam Fulton 12. Cory Paterson 13. Curtis Sironen
Interchange: 14. Keith Galloway 15. Martin Taupau 16. Ava Seumanufagai 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila

Season Preview - Cronulla Sharks (2014)

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2014 Preview

In 2013 the Sharks had assembled arguably the best pack in the comp coupled with improved backs and a halves combination that complimented each other well. The fact they made the finals was not at all a surprise. The ASADA investigation and the ramifications that stemmed from it should have been enough to see the club struggle to remain focussed and consistent. Surprisingly, they managed remarkably well to rise above those pressures as the season wore on.

An emotion charged first round victory against the Titans at home followed by a hard fought loss to Souths and a convincing win over the Warriors showed that the Sharks were serious. But as the off field dramas continued, the Sharks went on a 4 match losing run. They then won their next four games, the last of which was their most emphatic victory spearheaded by prop Andrew Fifita. The Sharks defeated Souths and Fifita’s performance was so strong it earnt him his first State of Origin jumper. The Sharks form would be like a see-saw for the remainder of the year, however they had done enough to finish 5^th.

After defeating the Cowboys in the first week of the finals in a game marred by errors by match officials, the Sharks, playing without injured playmaker Todd Carney, went down in a gallant battle with rivals Manly, thus ending their season.

The 2014 season looms as another that should see the Sharks finish in the top 6, especially given that all their recruits over the past few years have now had time to form good partnerships, coupled with the emergence of some bright young prospects coming through the ranks.   

Where they can win

Up front. This has been strongest part of Cronulla’s sides for the last few years. They have a game plan designed to force teams to slug it out in the middle of the park with them. If the Sharks pack dominates their opponents, it gives Todd Carney and fullback Michael Gordon room to move and create opportunities for their outside, especially speedsters Ricky Leutele and Sosaia Feki.

Five-Eighth Todd Carney is integral to the sides attack and he needs to get his outside backs more involved in games. He showed himself to be a true leader when the club needed him to be and has shown a commitment and passion for the game greater than before. In 2014, the coach needs to devise game plans that will allow Carney off the leash more often. Let him take some risks and make the Sharks a less predictable side and they will become more difficult to beat.

Where they may struggle

Out wide. But it’s not through not having the cattle for the job, but more so due to the game plan the Cronulla side employs. They have the power and straight running new recruit Blake Ayshford, the fast and agile Leutele and the all-rounder Jonathan Wright. And outside them are the speedy Feki and the safe hands of the reliable Beau Ryan. 2013 showed us that the Sharks back are quality but were starved of the ball and forced to play the game plan employed by the forwards. Carney had great combinations back inside with the likes of Fifita and Gallen, but out wide, the combinations aren’t as strong.

Match winner

Todd Carney. Obvious really. Not only is he the strongest attacking weapon the club has had in a number of years, but he’s also key to getting his backs more opportunities this year. His kicking game suits Cronulla’s game plan and his passing game is superb, especially when attacking close to the line and using his forwards. Carney works best with fast backs around him and with Leutele and Feki both on the same side of the field; expect him to run their side a lot more. He has also has Beau Ryan and Michael Gordon on the other side of the field who are great under the high ball, which provides Carney with an aerial option to the other side of the field.

Rookies to watch

Michael Lichaa is the cream of the crop as far as Sharks young guns go. The Junior Kangaroos hooker for the past two years will be seen as the replacement for the consistent John Morris. Creative and nippy, he will be seen as a future Origin player in the not too distant future. Playing in such a powerful and experienced pack such as the Sharks have will be the best environment for the youngster to make the step into the top grade. Other notable young players are back rower Tupou Sopoaga, utility back Fa’amanu Brown, big forward Junior Roqica, half Penani Manumalealii and back Jacob Gagan. With Origin duties taking a big chunk out of the Sharks forward pack and possibly Carney and Gordon, these rookies are a real chance of getting game time this year.

The big plays

With coach Shane Flanagan suspended for the year, it’s uncertain whether caretaker coach (and assistant to Flanagan) Peter Sharp will continue with the forward dominant style of play, or whether he’ll allow the side to play a more expansive style. As strong as the Sharks pack is, the simple game plan they employ is one which can cause risk in its lack of variation, something which the better teams are able to overcome, as evidenced by the fact that the Sharks lost 9 of the 13 games they played against the top 7 teams in the competition last year.

Ins and Outs

In: Tinirau Arona (Sydney), Blake Ayshford (Wests Tigers), Jacob Gagan (Manly), Eric Grothe Jr, Daniel Holdsworth (Hull FC), Matt Prior (St.George-Illawarra)

Out: Jayson Bukuya (Warriors), Jon Green (Brisbane), Stewart Mills (Brisbane), Tyrone Peachey (Penrith), Ben Pomeroy (Catalans Dragons), Ben Ross (retired), Mark Taufua (retired), Chad Townsend (Warriors), Matthew Wright (North Queensland)

Best team

1. Michael Gordon
2. Sosaia Feki
3. Ricky Leutele
4. Blake Ayshford
5. Beau Ryan
6. Todd Carney
7. Jeff Robson
8. Andrew Fifita
9. John Morris
10. Paul Gallen (c)
11. Luke Lewis
12. Chris Heighington
13. Wade Graham

14. Anthony Tupou
15. Isaac DeGois
16. Sam Tagatese
17. Matt Prior

**************this article appeared on the www.leagueunlimited.com website**************