That game was won through very fast play the balls and running from dummy half. It was the first time we'd played like that and we tore them to pieces. Still only won 24-6 though. We had 61 runs from dummy half in that match

For me GOB is an instant choice and also if the kicking was left to him I think our kicking game would be a lot better. GOB is not a brilliant kicker but is good enough and getting better, but Wheeler and Myler need a lot of work to get there. This is one of the problems with having split halves. watch all the good teams they have one dominant kicker and he is used most of the time (Shaun Johnson, Cooper Cronk, Danny Brough, Adam Reynolds, Jonathan Thurston ect) these guys don't miss the kick as its not on there side. They make sure they are there regardless of field position.
Make GOB the main kicker and things will improve.

Monaghan and Higham tore them to pieces around the ruck.

Most games on that winning streak were down to Monaghan and Highams brilliant form at the time.

Indeed. But look at the stats, there were about eight different players who ran from dummy half - Russell had nine, I think - others were Bridge, Ratch, Ormsby (remember him?), Myler (who came off the bench).

Myler was the best player on the pitch second half if my memory serves me correctly?

Well, i've not gone into this when duckie keeps harping on about bridge and ratchford at halves, but thats why i've always disregarded/argued against it.

As stated, when they were the halves and when we went through that purple patch, it was on the back of dummy half running, which whilst effective against lower half teams and teams off the boil, isn't gonna cut the mustard against teams like wigan(which it wasn't) who can negate the quick ptb and control the ruck.

Its also incredibly one dimensional which while it can work, does actually make us very limited in terms of attack.

Now, arguably ratch's best work is when he picks up and goes, which he can do best with a light touch from FB on occasion, which leaves 6 and 7 setting up outside when the gaps are appearing when the defence is getting pulled in. He doesn't work as well as an orthodox 6, so (sorry to harp back to it) when RD wants him picking up and going, you're heading back to when you had leon pryce at stand off for GB, just because of his DH running, which was useless against an organized defence.

I don't want us to end up with the stats stated above on every game, or worse if we can't get that going.

It works when it is a surprise as much as anything - that game against Leeds, the 2009 SF is another classic example. I agree I wouldn't want it full time. I want the spine of the team to be Ratch, GOB, Myler, Russell with Higham and Wheeler off the bench. When Grix is back at 13, that adds another variant.

that was a perfect game plan for the game in hand, it was ideal, however go back to the start of the season, and we were all lamenting lowes' tactics to start the year off, higham had just joined, it was him and clarke DH running and the forwards were all just one pass off, it was route one up the middle and was a waste of time.

Since when we're Leeds and Saints a lower standard team?
They were both battling the top of the league if my one dimensional thinking serves me well!?

If the answer is about dummy running then that's great.
So why isn't that the case now?
Where has all the dummy running gone, long time passing.

Our dummy half scoots are the reason we are much more effective attacking the line from 20/30 or even 40 yards out & when we we have 2 hookers on the field we tend to rip defences apart. Sadly many of our problems appear within 10 yards of the line when sometimes we look short of ideas to break a defence. What i would like to see us do instead of the desperate kick to the corner for the winger would be what Australia were doing in the 2013 World Cup , namely a kick from the wing towards the posts & that way it would bring our whole centrefield attack into play & make any conversion attempt easier.

The incredibly frustrating thing with GOB is we all know he has it in him to be better than he is.

He's brave, very brave in fact, he'll keep hold of the ball right to the line.
He can pass well
He can take on the line and although not the quickest as a good initial burst of pace.
His bombs are very high
His place kicking is better than Ratchfords (Why he gets the gig over GOB?)

GOB for me needs to lead, he needs to find ironically 'a gob'.
He needs to think more with his kicks rather than just sticking snow on them, he's capable (better kicking coach?)
He also needs to think a bit sharper, the single most frustrating thing is the fact that we all know he has all the attributes to be very good but just isn't quite there.

I differ only on GOB's bombs. I think he doesn't put enough snow on them.
You need to give a fb something to think about. The longer it lingers the more time the fb has to hesitate!

If his kicks aren't high then Mylers under 9's efforts are really put into perspective.
I've seen higher 15 year olds in Orford Park.

Bridge is back in tonight at 6 I hear.

A lot of kicks from hand are about field position and none of our half backs have it in their locker to get the ball in positive positions for Wire often enough. I think it's the worst part of our game as a team. GOB can kick excellently from the tee, Ratchford is decent enough at that too, GOB can kick reasonably high, none of the others can and Gaz's aren't anything special.

Our lack of a kicking game will be our downfall this season IMO.

The club have known about our dodgy kicking game since Mr Briers pulled on his boots for the last time which is over 12 months ago. A dodgy kicking game should no longer be a problem for the Wire.....it should either have been rectified by now or we should have a winning game plan that doesn't rely on kicking so much.

I agree 9A

Whilst I agree with your sentiments and think that a good kicking game is desirable, we weren't so far off last year admittedly with M. Monaghan on fine form, so perhaps we did have a none kicking, winning, game plan. Get Clark operating at his best and the whole team on the front foot we won't be far off again IMO NTW

LESSON LEARNT!!


The difference already in the middle with Ratchford at pivot with Bridge and GOB.

We must stick to this hb partnership. It works and Bridge isn't even 100% fit yet.

i think the lesson learnt is no Wheeler until he sorts his defence out.

and also possibly that we dont miss Myler at all

Thought Bridge was pretty anonymous tonight.
But i was in an out of the game missed swathes of it.

no, its a fair assesment.... he didnt really do much.... found touch with a decent kick.. didnt do much more.

another lesson to be learnt from tonight is Ratchford is our FB for probably the rest of his career.

I can't believe this thread is still going. FFS If you think this is a grand final winning half back combination, then you have the combined rugby league knowledge of; my hamster, my dead grandmother, and the entire population of Peru.