Quote: ninearches "I think if we had more attacking ,running threats in the opposition 20 , the lack of pace would not be a problem. We need to be slicker at creating gaps instead of relying on kicks to the corner which make life difficult for the goal kicker.'"
This relates to my point. While you call for slicker attacking, that comes on the back of creating space. Rugby League is number manipulation, it’s finding a way for you to have more attackers than there are defenders. This can be done by sweeping attackers from one side of the ruck to the other, but by far the simplest way is by taking people out of their defensive positions. Running harder, busting the line, leaving people on the ground takes numbers out, it then, makes defenders move in to patch the gap where that defender should be, moving in one by one, to plug gaps. It’s then a case of waiting for someone to not move in, or beating them on the outside.
Slick moves are great, but if it’s 6 vs 6 on one edge, the defenders just need to nominate and not miss their individual tackle. You need to find that extra man, or wait for a mid-read and punish it.
If we had a dominant pack, we could have Ratchford at loose with Clark and Ashton in the middle running riot, Austin would benefit also. It would be electric. But our pack just don’t give us that platform.