Expert Opinion
New laws stress need for speed
By Matthew Johns | March 17, 2008 12:00am
AS expected, round one this year was a lot faster than the opening round last season. The reduction on interchange forced big men to play longer and made possession all the more valuable.
The referees' crackdown on the ruck had players peeling off tackles quicker and this suited the faster, mobile packs.
Let's take a look at the first week.
Souths v Roosters
The Roosters dismantled the Rabbits impressively. They played fast and direct against the Souths pack.
The back-row for the Roosters, headed by Anthony Tupou, showed creative touches of class that took pressure off Pearce and Anasta.
The Rabbitohs never built the game they wanted to. The combination of Issac Luke and Craig Wing, looking to torture the Roosters through the middle, was cut in half when Wing left the pitch early.
Titans v Cowboys
The Titans were too fast and athletic in the middle third for the Cowboys.
The speed and footwork of the Titans' back-row, in particular, never allowed the Cowboys to control the Gold Coast ruck tempo and they were forced to defend in reverse.
The Cowboys' defensive worries were again in evidence last Friday night. Their big men looked vulnerable.
Eels v Bulldogs
A tale of two teams and two halves. The Dogs arrived after an off-season being fed on criticism and public pessimism about their chances.
But the Eels turned up sluggish and their resolve weakened after an off-season of praise and public optimism.
The Dogs are very much a side whose fortunes rise and fall with possession. In the second half, a much more focused Eels went back to the script and worked on denying it from them.
Knights v Raiders
Both sides really struggled to settle. The Knights did eventually, while the Raiders never really looked like it.
The Knights played with plenty of width and depth, using a pass-short or pass-long style of ball movement.
The Raiders did nothing to silence their critics who believe they are favourites for the wooden spoon this year.
Manly v Cronulla
What a sensational defensive display from Cronulla.
In the first 20 minutes Manly threatened to blow the Sharks away, but they hung on and the game turned.
The Sharks have a tremendous blend of players with fast, energetic forwards and big, strong outside backs.
Manly were the carbon copy of their 2007 selves in the first 20 minutes, setting a fast tempo with plenty of players in motion. From then on, however, they played frustrated and ventured outside their game plan.
Broncos v Panthers
The Broncos were super impressive.
One of the most pleasing aspects was that key player Darren Lockyer, a man who will again carry much of the fortunes for Brisbane, looked good when he came off the bench.
It was a typical Broncos display. They ran strongly and outmuscled a pack who on paper looked more impressive.
Along with the Raiders and the Dragons, Penrith put in the most disappointing display of the weekend.
There was a lot of hope surrounding them this season with new arrivals and talented players on the up. Yesterday, they were simply outmuscled and outclassed.
Tigers v Dragons
The Tigers built their game beautifully, with Robbie Farah operating as a hooker and a halfback rolled into one.
Farah tortured and tormented the big Dragon forwards with his skill and guile out of dummy-half.
The Tigers are fast, mobile and know how to wear a team down, but the Dragons were disappointing to say the least.
Their ball handling was terrible, their decision-making under pressure erratic and their defence structure around the ruck lacked energy and steel.
