THE RL1908 BLOG
News, Reviews & Opinion - Sean Fagan - RL1908.com
The
final minute of Game III of the 2009 State of
Origin series gave us a fleeting glimpse of tactics
from rugby league's past.
With
emotions bubbling over, the Maroons hoisted a
kick upfield, intent on letting the Blues have
possession. The Queenslanders wanted NSW to have
the football for the closing moments of the match,
just so they could tackle them with all the intensity
they were able to muster.
It's
a tactic that has little application and value
in the modern 6-tackles game. Seeing
it though gave us an insight into how the mighty
St George team of the 1950s-60s was so formidable.
Most
of us today imagine that Saints, playing in the
unlimited tackle era, wore down opponents by keeping
possession and using repeat bash-and-barge runs
from their forwards.
In
fact, St George often did the opposite...
Early
in games Saints would keep kicking the ball back
to their opponents, just to let them have the
ball!
Saints
would then proceed to belt and bruise the opposition
via their powerful and hard tackling forwards
for as long as possible.
As the game wore on, sooner or later the toll
finally told, and Saints' magic backline got the
better against their opponent's tired defences.
In
the NRL today, where the team in possession has
everything in their favour and tackles are limited
to six, the tactic doesn't really provide much
benefit.
However,
a close look at the successful methods of Manly
in '07 and '08 reveals they were often prepared
to kick early, handing the ball to their opponents.
Where other teams were wrestling to slow-down
opponent's attack, the Sea Eagles were using their
time in defence to hit their opposing players
as hard as possible; not only slowing down the
other team's attack, but also inflicting a physical
toll that meant Manly could attack against battered
and bruised defenders.
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