First time I've watched Gannon play on the weekend. He scored a solo try one off the ruck (albeit against some pretty tired players in the 79th minute) showing a quick turn of foot and a step to beat a defender from about 15-20m out. For the first half of the game he was quite involved, ran well and broke a few tackles and got a few offloads away. Seemed to drift off a bit in the second stanza. His stats were - 109m gained, 1 LB assist, 3 offloads, 1 try, 5 tackle breaks. 29 tackles, 6 missed.
Small sample size but overall was impressed with his speed, ability to bend the line and break a tackle. Looked dangerous on most possessions he had.
Definitely see why he is being discussed as a ball playing lock. Nice passing game. Got a good offload away around the corner of a defender to get a LB assist.
6 Missed tackles 2 games in a row is a worry
This post was in the recruitment thread. I decided to watch myself and do a play by play (not every tackle, not every run but most of it).
From the replay of Leeds Vs Warrington Wolves yesterday (two big name clubs in the Super League).
Our man Gannon's club Leeds have had the wood on Warrington however lost their last clash again'st them.
Leeds coached by Brad Arthur, Warrington coached by Sam Burgess.
Gannon named to start in the second row wearing number 16.
Match highlights per my sideline eye:
(note a break down of his missed tackles in bold).
00:00 Leeds kick off, Gannon is part of the chase pack that gets to the receiver 1st, almost gets done by the receiver in the same Fashion Barnett gets done on kick chase but helps herd the runner into the other two tacklers, makes a tackle from behind.
Missed tackle 1.
01:40 Gannon gets caught by his team dropping the ball on attack, Warringtons number four steps him clean, Gannon throws out a desperate arm clocking up a missed tackle. To be fair it was an impossible position to defend.
Gannon settles into his work, making his share of stock back rower tackles.
0:530 Leeds half comes from the right side of the field in a Taine Tuapiki styled against the grain run, looking for runners, Gannon comes flying up in support, unfortunately is used as a decoy (he was in the clear) but Gannons run it sets up the next runner to tear off down field.
Kid has a big footy IQ. in the same passage of play pops up on the inside of the runner looking for that pass again no pass....or would have been Try time Gannon.
Very good game overall, Leeds line speed is good. Gannon with a bit of footwork at the line, goes nowhere but he can move on his feet, throws a wild stand in the tackle offload...been a busy period for him.
0:930
Gannon is the main target for their halves as far as their left side raids go, they keep looking for him, gets a pass, stands in the tackle and passes it around the back of the player, pretty slick. I thought there was a hint of it drifting forward, Refs say no flat pass.
He is not a Dylan Walker on this limited evidence, he is more a ball playing offloading type (Sonny Bill and no I am not saying he is the next SBW, just playing style).
Missed tackle 2
10:00
Gannon dives at the ankles as third man in, helps trip the player who is finished off but Gannon bounces away. So nothing wrong with his tackling there, it was desperate grass cutter dive that made the contact needed.
11:59 Big front on spot tackle, I thought his mate did as much damage, commentator calls for Gannon BIG SHOT.
12:10 Charge down by Leeds, our man Gannon catches the loose ball, good one percent play there.
13:00 Leeds continue to look for Gannon who takes a good meter eating run.
13:10 kicked on the last, Gannon gets to the receiver and drops him near their try line
16:10 The Leeds right Center Harry Newman does another Taine Tuaupiki, looking for runners as he cuts from right feild to Gannons left edge, Gannon puts himself in the passing lane, takes the pass, spins in the tackle, gets a lovely ball away to his left....Rhinos go down town threatening in attack....Gannon proving to be very cocky with second phase gambles.
16:35 Gannon used as a link man for the left flank stands and passes a couple in the Oppositions red zone, Leeds on attack, Gannon tackled after a short run, gets in between the tacklers enough to ensure a fast play the ball, Leeds go close to scoring off the next play (cut down short).
18:03 Missed tackle 3.
Gannon puts his hands on an already tackled player and decides to let him go and get back in the Defensive line instead. Nothing to see on this one either.
21:45 Gannon with a legs tackle that stops a try under Leeds posts.
25:30 Leeds having survived eighteen plus tackles on their line (Gannon making his fair share) counter attack from within their half, Gannon screams up looking for the pass, while running a slight angle to beat his man, Gannon looks left and right, sees support player on his left, hits the target with a conventional pass.
Final minute of the half, a Tradesman run, good post contact meters quick ptb. Last five seconds gets a ball, beats his man with footwork, dragged down just short of the line, gets hit with a high shot, penalty Leeds.
All in all a pretty busy half for Gannon who plays the full forty (has been a bench player). Looks good out there, a key player in this Rhinos attack.
Half Time.
Missed tackle 4
Early minutes after half time....
Gannon comes in as third man decides to let go of the players legs before held called so he can get back to the defensive line because two players have them held up top.
42:50
Gannon hits a hole looking for the pass, gets used as a decoy. Goes into dummy half and passes back in field. Looked threatening if they had of put a flat ball in his lane.
A much quieter half since the Thirteen for Leeds came on and took over as the dominant ball playing forward (name is Cameron Smith) can see why this Smith has the gig over Gannon, he plays through the middle third with Sam Lisone, and scores two Try's.
59:30 Gannon on the burst, gets stopped on the spot, takes a bit to get him down. I can see why he can offload, he holds his feet well in contact. Will be something when he is older and more muscled.
59:50 Warrington drop the ball but get a boot to it before it hits the turf, ricochets off Gannon's foot and fly's upward, Gannon with good hands takes the loose ball and flicks it on instantly to his left setting up a sweeping play for leeds down the left touch line.
63:50
Leeds with a left edge shift Gannon with a linking touch to send the ball on.
64:35
Leeds kick chase beaten by the Warrington receiver, makes a half break before being cleaned up by Gannon.
68:10
Kick chase Gannon makes a dominant tackle leaving the fullback on his back after driving him back a meter
69:50 Missed tackle 5
Gannon comes in as third man, nowhere to grab on and stick so his arms come off the back of the player, recovers and takes his legs out.
Another 'technically' missed tackle that is a non issue.
78:20
Gannon takes a ball in the opposition red zone at speed, left foot step shreds a tired poor looking Warrington defence to score a try.
Missed tackle Six:
Hell if I know, couldn't find it, might be when he touched a held players shoulder before the Ref had called held.....
Conclusion:
Good player, good game, loads of skill, very young, only his third game this season.
Brad Arthur doing us a favor by playing him at left edge backrow meaning he played eighty minutes.
As noted above, quiet half apart from that nice Try, frustrating in a way but I can see why they changed the game plan to go through the front door with Cameron Smith and Sam Lisone.
He won't get a resting second half of a game in the NRL (not his fault Warrington were cooked and running down the other side of the field plus the game plan switch that he is not part of).
