Im finding it interesting that we're a team in the top 4 yet have a negative points differential (the only other team in the top 8 with the same is Souths sitting at 8)
How can this be? Can we read anything into this? I think we can glean quite a lot tbh
So the negative obviously comes from we've let in more points than we've scored. Yet we're the 6th best defensive side, apart from the first half blowout against the Storm our defence has been solid, its been a strong part of our game.
Attack however, we're sitting at 13th in points scored, only 3 teams have scored less. So how do we end up 4th?
Further searching and the telling stats for me is
- we're leading the comp in set completions
-we're the 3rd best team in making the least amount of errors
- the 3rd best team for holding possession
-.......and here's a stat that should blow u one eyed Warrior tragics....we're currently the least penalized team in the comp!!!!
To me that all just confirms my eye test that we're probably playing the perfect game to suit our stremgths and weaknesses. We're a team lacking strike out wide, we've got developing halves weak on breaking down defences (confirmed by being one of the leading sides for the time spent in the opposition 20 with nothing to show for it) so we have to play the territory and possesion game. And then we have to have the defence to back that up, and then the discipline to not let opposition off the hook with errors and penalties........basically we're scoring our points by playing the odds in giving ourselves the best chance through time and terriotry, and then a disciplined defence to hold teams out.
Is this tough grinding football sustainable over 26 rounds? Im not so sure, but we'll find out i guess. This does tell me tho Websters no fool (as if i needed confirmation) he knows where we're lacking, we dont have the cattle to play a Manly/Bronco expansive style of game so why try that, we have tough, no nonesense, workaholic middles......and we're building a disciplined game around that.