@Big Tone - the huddle on the F50 arc you pointed out is something I think is pretty clever actually! The fact that no other side does it doesn't make it a poor set up, if anything it makes us unique. Its the best way to combat the zone defence epidemic going on in the league. Gathering our forwards in a huddle also gathers up all the would-be 'zoners' which breaks up their defensive structure & opens up the whole F50. If we gain a centre break the huddle can split & offer up a number of options with each lead going into clear space instead of running into 'zoners'.
Our iffy execution of the plan is one thing we can talk about, it all falls down if we don't get a clean hit out & clear possession in the middle (which comes back to our rucks effectiveness), but the huddle plan itself has merit IMO.
All the huddle does is let the opposition get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th man up if there is a quick kick out of the middle and a chance to block our leads. There isn't many times if any in a game where we get a clean clearance and have time to wait for a lateral lead from this huddle. I cannot remember any from Thursday nights game.
All most key position forwards want is a one on one contest. And it's a coaches job IMO to try and create that.
Even if what you say is correct, why not have someone leading from the goal square with room in front of him. It gives us a second option to that sideways lead. Even if it only one forward and his opponent. If an opposition side want to drop an extra guy back in front of him it creates an even number in the huddle as we play one short in our forwardline.
And lastly, our forwardline has been a problem for a long time now, I think most would agree, maybe just maybe this isn't helping even if it is unique. 17 other teams coaches think that way and it's not like we have just started doing this. They have had time to analyze it and copy it if it was any good.
Anyway just my opinion.
