2023 NRL Round 26 Newcastle Knights v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, 4:05PM Sunday 27th August @ McDonald Jones Stadium

[Proud Shark]

You’re wrong

Halves have a preferred side of the field no matter what jersey or position they are.

Sean O’Sullivan, Sam Walker and Luke Brooks are three guys who usually play 7 and prefer the left side.

Burton always plays left but sometimes switches jersey numbers.

In lower grades, both Nicho and Tricky have predominantly been “right side” players regardless of position. Tricky 90% and Nicho maybe 70/30.

Ahh I had O'Sullivan and Walker being right-sided players, I remember Keary playing a lot down that channel. Brooks is one I didn't think of though.

I knew that it didn't have anything to do with position or number, just thought it may have been a bit of a quirk of coincidence. Still pretty strange that the majority currently conform to 6 left and right 7 given complete freedom of choice.

 

[CHOGM]

Watching the game again, how was Crosslands tackle on Nikora not a shoulder charge? The one that led to us losing our challenge. Crossland leads with his shoulder and arm by his side. Makes no sense.

 

[CHOGM]

Colquohuns strip on Dom Young was dumb. I would drop him for that. Get that **** out of his game.

 

[CHOGM]

The difference in that game, IMO, was Gamble and Trindall. Gamble was very good. Made all the right moves. Trindall looked like what he is next to Gamble. A young half who still hasn’t put it all together.

 

[bort]

Ahh I had O'Sullivan and Walker being right-sided players, I remember Keary playing a lot down that channel. Brooks is one I didn't think of though.

I knew that it didn't have anything to do with position or number, just thought it may have been a bit of a quirk of coincidence. Still pretty strange that the majority currently conform to 6 left and right 7 given complete freedom of choice.

one factor likely relates to most players being right hand dominant? If your 5/8 is being picked largely as an attacking threat* their right to left pass is more important than the halfbacks string side pass.
Probably not the only factor

*Luai, CWalker, etc are all attacking specialist whose biggest impact comes from 20m out making good pass selections.
SWalker is a ‘halfback’ but likes a big pass over the top a lot which he will be better at right to left

 

[Proud Shark]

Watching the game again, how was Crosslands tackle on Nikora not a shoulder charge? The one that led to us losing our challenge. Crossland leads with his shoulder and arm by his side. Makes no sense.

I haven't watched it back, but live I thought that too. Reverse the roles and Nikora is probably looking at 2-3 weeks.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Watching the game again, how was Crosslands tackle on Nikora not a shoulder charge? The one that led to us losing our challenge. Crossland leads with his shoulder and arm by his side. Makes no sense.

I was surprised Tricky didn't get pinged for a high shot when saving that first try.

Didn't think it was bad at all, but you know....NRL.

 

[Proud Shark]

one factor likely relates to most players being right hand dominant? If your 5/8 is being picked largely as an attacking threat* their right to left pass is more important than the halfbacks string side pass.
Probably not the only factor

*Luai, CWalker, etc are all attacking specialist whose biggest impact comes from 20m out making good pass selections.
SWalker is a ‘halfback’ but likes a big pass over the top a lot which he will be better at right to left

Maybe, but wouldn't your left to right pass be as important for a right side player?

 

[bort]

I haven't watched it back, but live I thought that too. Reverse the roles and Nikora is probably looking at 2-3 weeks.

thought it was similar to Ramien’s, just enough arm action. Haven’t rewatched though

 

[BurgoShark]

Ahh I had O'Sullivan and Walker being right-sided players, I remember Keary playing a lot down that channel. Brooks is one I didn't think of though.

I knew that it didn't have anything to do with position or number, just thought it may have been a bit of a quirk of coincidence. Still pretty strange that the majority currently conform to 6 left and right 7 given complete freedom of choice.

It doesn't mean they never play the other side. It's just their preference. Keary has switched at times. I think he played left when Cronk was there. Seems like older bloke wins in a lot of cases. I think Walker has played both sides in the last 3 seasons.

one factor likely relates to most players being right hand dominant? If your 5/8 is being picked largely as an attacking threat* their right to left pass is more important than the halfbacks string side pass.
Probably not the only factor

(left handed) Scott Drinkwater was good on the right when he played halves for this reason.

I've found in my coaching that players who favour their right-to-left pass tend to drift on that side (crab their edge) while they cock it / wind it up. I actually prefer to put them on the other side so that they play straighter, and then use that long ball for coming back to the middle or starting long shifts. Just my preference though... and you don't get too many kids with a super accurate pass on their "bad" side (I've coached one ever).

Sometimes it's not even tactical. Ask two players, one has a preference and the other doesn't... so OK, easy decision

 

[bort]

Maybe, but wouldn't your left to right pass be as important for a right side player?

Yeah but if both players are equally ‘bad’ (little bit worse than passing other way) at that then you’d prioritise the more attack focused player in their better side

Cody Walker and Ilias probably both pass better right to left but one is the focus point of the attack needing great pass selection and tight execution so you are more likely to play him on his stronger side.

Some teams, in attacking shapes, will use more like halfback as a central player and 5/8 left, fullback right - fullback probably gives up a bit of pass quality but likely makes up for it as more of a running threat

 

[bort]

It doesn't mean they never play the other side. Keary has switched at times. I think he played left when Cronk was there. Seems like older bloke wins in a lot of cases.


I've found in my coaching that players who have a good long pass to the left tend to drift on that side (crab their edge). I actually prefer to put them on the other side so that they at least play straight.

Sometimes it's not even tactical though. Ask two players, one has a preference and the other doesn't... so OK, easy decision

Yeah that’s pretty common in my experience. I never played halves (or centre) but otherwise was always happy to let the other blokes pick a side, didn’t worry me. If I was in halves though I’d have preferred to be on left.

 

[BurgoShark]

Yeah but if both players are equally ‘bad’ (little bit worse than passing other way) at that then you’d prioritise the more attack focused player in their better side

Cody Walker and Ilias probably both pass better right to left but one is the focus point of the attack needing great pass selection and tight execution so you are more likely to play him on his stronger side.

Some teams, in attacking shapes, will use more like halfback as a central player and 5/8 left, fullback right - fullback probably gives up a bit of pass quality but likely makes up for it as more of a running threat

Yeah - depends who you've got. Some teams use the hooker for this, some use the lock, and some fullbacks are great passers.

 

[Wiz]

Watching the game again, how was Crosslands tackle on Nikora not a shoulder charge? The one that led to us losing our challenge. Crossland leads with his shoulder and arm by his side. Makes no sense.

Yep

That’s what he was complaining about at first but because it was the Newcastle show the refs missed it

 

[CHOGM]

I was surprised Tricky didn't get pinged for a high shot when saving that first try.

Didn't think it was bad at all, but you know....NRL.

Ditto. Around the neck. Probably saved by little guy on big guy and the big guy didn’t flinch.

 

[Sparkles]

Yeah - depends who you've got. Some teams use the hooker for this, some use the lock, and some fullbacks are great passers.

Might be an impression I've formed based on having just thought about it, but I feel we play the left side more of a 'shorter: side. The right having more of the sweeping plays (based on the Nicho/Moylan dream team).

 

[Proud Shark]

It doesn't mean they never play the other side. It's just their preference. Keary has switched at times. I think he played left when Cronk was there. Seems like older bloke wins in a lot of cases. I think Walker has played both sides in the last 3 seasons.

I'm aware. I was just simply pointing out an interesting coincidence that most of the 6's defend on the left, and most of the 7s defend on the right. Walker and Keary do also, so I think the only examples were O'Sullivan and Brooks.

 

[BurgoShark]

I'm aware. I was just simply pointing out an interesting coincidence that most of the 6's defend on the left, and most of the 7s defend on the right. Walker and Keary do also, so I think the only examples were O'Sullivan and Brooks.

I meant "players don't always play on their preferred side", like Walker atm.

Hastings defends on the left too. Started the year on the right and he and Gamble swapped at some point.

I'd say "interesting coincidence" is the right thing to call it.

 

[CrazyMatt]

I was very pessimistic going into this game so I was prepared for a loss, but this is still very deflating, they just blew us away in that second half.

 

[bort]

I was very pessimistic going into this game so I was prepared for a loss, but this is still very deflating, they just blew us away in that second half.

If they lost Ponga and we kept Hynes we probably could have done it to them