General Are our opponents stepping up against us?

[wizards rage]

Across the last few rounds most teams average high 70% completion and 10+ errors per game.

In the 4 games I expected us to win going into the match our opposition has gone:

Knights 91% completion 4 errors
Cowboys 84% and 8 errors
Manly 84% and 7 errors
Tigers 90% and 7 errors

Top quality stats from our opponents.

In all 4 games I felt the standard has been high with neither side having a shocker. Typically against lower teams it’s so poor that whoever controls the ball can win! Our opponents have been up for the fight

So question - have we met teams that have all performed very well and played above average against us (we are unlucky) or is our level so ordinary that the opposition isn’t having to push themselves against us?

 

[JaggedJ]

2 things...

1) In defence we never attack the point of the ball. We smother, we don't hit or fold the opposition in half. We don't force mistakes.

2) Teams know if they don't beat themselves they will most likely win.

 

[Aman]

But whats so special about this? of course your going to step up against a team your not intimidated by. If we forced errors and hit them hard like some others have said they could panic but man we've also been real soft against these teams and let them get away with so much shit.

 

[Beastmode]

Across the last few rounds most teams average high 70% completion and 10+ errors per game.

In the 4 games I expected us to win going into the match our opposition has gone:

Knights 91% completion 4 errors
Cowboys 84% and 8 errors
Manly 84% and 7 errors
Tigers 90% and 7 errors

Top quality stats from our opponents.

In all 4 games I felt the standard has been high with neither side having a shocker. Typically against lower teams it’s so poor that whoever controls the ball can win! Our opponents have been up for the fight

So question - have we met teams that have all performed very well and played above average against us (we are unlucky) or is our level so ordinary that the opposition isn’t having to push themselves against us?

These stats tell me we don’t put them under any pressure when they have the ball

We just stand and watch

So no, they don’t step their game up.

Our defensive strategy is flawed.

 

[wizards rage]

I think these stats tell us everything that has been wrong and why we have lost...

 

[mtsmart]

Warriors defense has always been passive. It just seems like when opposing teams start a set inside their 25, they reach the Warriors 25 with 1 or 2 tackles remaining whereas the Warriors appear to struggle to make it to halfway in a similar situation. Is there a stat which says how many metres teams make post-contact? Just seems like the Warriors tacklers really find it difficult to stop the ball-carrier.

 

[ArtySubs]

I reckon a better question is why does every average kiwi/Tonga/Samoan/ex warrior player seem to step up against us?
Average for 25 rounds then play the warriors carve up SKD latest example on weekend.

 

[tajhay]

Is there a stat which says how many metres teams make post-contact?

Many more team stats on the NRL site.

Teams

Teams

www.nrl.com

In particular look at the Decoys, Support, Lines Engaged Stats for our team in comparison with others. Its not the defense that is bad, our attack is pretty woeful(especially last tackle options/kicks) which results in us having to do more defense than other teams.

 

[nhl capitals]

Laughing at us

 

[jonno]

Our defense is soft against the weaker teams. We only win when they don't show up ready for a fight.

It's almost as if they are getting on drugs before the "easy" games, and they straighten up for the "hard" games.

 

[Fearmuss]

2 things...

1) In defence we never attack the point of the ball. We smother, we don't hit or fold the opposition in half. We don't force mistakes.

2) Teams know if they don't beat themselves they will most likely win.

3) Penalties against us don't count as errors.

We have been lazy in defence, trying to only commit 2 in the tackle, 3 comes in too late so it is never dominant - also a tackler peeling off before the tackle is even properly complete.

 

[snake77]

Opens up the forum sees the question asked in this thread title.

Answers yes. As false belief that we are so good that the other teams need to be at their best to stop us helps me through the week until game time.

No need to thank me all we've been through this for 20 years. Besides the few where the opposition did have to actually step up against us.

 

[gREVUS]

Opens up the forum sees the question asked in this thread title.

Answers yes. As false belief that we are so good that the other teams need to be at their best to stop us helps me through the week until game time.

No need to thank me all we've been through this for 20 years. Besides the few where the opposition did have to actually step up against us.

Actually i think you have it the wrong way round, the warriors used to be Giant killers, remember the days. Then they would get their arses handed to them by bottom dwellers. Its like they only wanted to step up for the big games. Admittedly in the last five years that trend has been going the other way and they have just gotten their arse kicked by everyone.

I would love to compare todays speed of the game against that of the early 2000's but its not doable with all the rule interpretation changes. IMO the stats become meaningless, even as recently as last year there is differences affecting the way the game is being played. To me its all subjective. And subjectively IMO its the forwards getting rolled thats creating the drama. Bring back the days when the warriors used to hurt the opposition.