Was really thinking of having an option to hit nikora, go out the back to the fullback or say swing it straight across to the centre. We just seemed to just run that nikora play over and over and defences never had to guess what was coming. Just a second of uncertainty was all he ever needed
Yeah because it is predictable, but he does it well, tendency is to run him on that line to hold up defence slide and create space out wide and unlikely he will actually get it.
Even though he is often more of a decoy as a result that's not really my issue with him, a decoy run has its place and if SJ (or whoever) give him the odd ball when they make a read then great. Them predicting that he will be charging that line hurts his chances of getting the ball but helps our fb/centre/winger have better opportunities.
While a great unders line still very much a part of many second rowers games seeing a lot of teams using more of a straighter runner to target inside gap of centre and their own centre to target between centre and winger to try and force defensive decisions by opposition centre & winger, a play we got beaten by many times. Nikora isn't really as much of a threat on this line as he is too easy to tackle one on one in a straight on tackle. As an edge runner he lacks the size and power to be a threat in this kind of play.
