Burgo Backs Bubba: Bathurst Boy's Bumpkin Beatdown- 2021 Round 4 (Cowboys)

[BurgoShark]

This week, #1 in your programs and a solid #9 or #10 in your hearts, William Kennedy.

This was a great game for following his attacking involvement and positioning, with a few sets from the Cowboys in the second half to watch how his defensive positioning is coming along. There's been plenty of talk about him having to grab hold of the #1 jersey with two hands. I think the first 4 rounds have shown us that he has one hand on it already and he's not going to be giving it up without a fight.

Some great play from the whole spine in this game. The opposition were pretty ordinary, but it's encouraging to see the 1, 6 7 and 9 all put in good performances.

Will break this one up in to four separate posts (just for formatting).

Enjoy

 

[BurgoShark]

First 22 minutes

- First set from kick off. Kennedy is Positioned in behind ptb (get used to that). He follows the ball through the middle but holds his position when they hit up to an edge. He is in position and receives an offload on tackle 3, and makes a few metres. He is in behind the ptb on the last, but isn't a genuine kicking option (Moylan is behind Chad on the other side of the ruck. Townsend bombs to a corner. WK doesn't chase the kick.
- Cowboys work it down and kick from around 45m out. Kennedy is on his 10 and moves forward to catch in on the 20 with no pressure. He is tackled after a 5m gain.
- Sharks penalty. They tap it near half way
- Kenedy sets up on the right from the tap, and they shift right to him on play 2. He uses Ronnie on the outside, before getting to dummy half. He passes to Townsend, who uses Woods underneath for the usual "get away from the side-line" play. While this is going on, Kennedy makes his way from near the right touchline to about 10m to the left of the posts
- On the next play he is third receiver and uses quick hands to Tracey - who then puts Hiroti over.

***
6-0 Sharks. Great work from the whole spine on the good ball set. Kennedy involved nicely on both sides of the park.
***

- Next set after the kickoff sees the Sharks rucking it out. Kennedy again sticks in behind the play the ball until tackle 3 when Chad shifts right from his own 30. Kennedy is out the back but Chad uses Dugan as the short runner. They immediately shift the other way. Kennedy this time stays in behind the ptb again, but moves forward with his eyes up tracking the play. On the last they kick, and once again Kennedy stays back and holds his fb position for the defensive set.
- 5th tackle the Cowboys are 25 out. Kennedy is in line with the ball. They kick to a corner and Kennedy is the first to the ball by a long way, but the ball goes touch in goal. Kennedy tries to retrieve it quickly, but the ball ends up over the fence and into the first row, so it's a slow restart.
- Kennedy is in behind the ruck again, and then drifts right to get in to position for a play 3 shift. Kennedy is out the back but Townsend again uses the short runner - this time Wilton - who beats one tackle and almost a second. Kennedy holds his position on the right edge and is an inside runner for Townsend, but he throws a no-look pass outside. Cowboys pounce and go 90m to score.

***
6-all. Obvious mis-communication between Townsend and Kennedy on that one.
**

- Sharks kick off. Near carbon copy of the Cowboys set a few earlier. They get close to half way and bomb to Kennedy who takes it confidently on his 20m line and is tackled by the kicker. He stays in behind the ptb on the next set and doesn't get involved. Townsend kicks to a corner
- Cowboys kick from half way and the ball holds up just inside the dead ball line. Great kick. Kennedy is quick to retrieve it though, and is tackled 5m out in front of the posts. Once again Kennedy sits in behind the ptb as the Cowboys aim up and keep the Sharks deep in their own end. Townsend kicks from 25m out.
- The next set is the Cowboys best field position of the game so far, but still not really a good ball set. They just play simple footy and bomb to Mulitalo on the last. Kennedy is on his try-line following the ball across, but isn't needed.
- On the next set, WK stays in behind the ptb. The Sharks do shift on this set, but Kennedy holds to the middle. Moylan is tackled. This looks like the "shift left, shift right for a kick" set. Graham almost messes it up by attacking the short side instead of shifting back to Townsend - but Dugan knows it is on and a good kick finds him. Kennedy was holding the centre field and is a dummy runner for Townsend prior to the kick.


***
16 minutes gone. Sharks 12-6

Kennedy is involved in plenty of what the Sharks are doing in good ball sets, but not really involved coming out of his end. Defensively his positioning has bee spot on and his kick returns/coverage have been great - but the Cowboys haven't had any quality possession yet so it's been pretty easy so far.
***

- Sharks field the kick off, ruck it out, and Kennedy again sits in behind the ptb.
- Sharks get a penalty and start a good ball set 40 out.
- Kennedy is setup on the far left, and they shift that way on play 2. Moylan finds Kennedy out the back. He dummies, engages two defenders and tries to pass to his winger but the Cowboys winger gets a hand on it. 50/50 whether they score there if it goes to hand. Hiroti would have had less than 10m to line line with nobody in front of him, but Holmes was coming across in cover.
- Kennedy is set up on the right from the scrum, but they go the other way. He then moves over to the left, so on the next play the ball he is setup as either a first receiver option or an out-the-back option for Graham on a short blind side. Again they shift the opposite way though, and Kennedy works his way back to centre field.
- On the 4th tackle, Dugan plays it to the right of the uprights. Townsend uses Uele short running between Wright and Hampton. This is the play they scored on later in the half. They are obviously targeting that combo. Uele drags Wright with him, but the cover arrives from inside just in time.
- Last tackle now, Kennedy is wide of Townsend, who grubbers to the in goal. Kennedy is there with a group of chasers, the Cowboys fumble and the Sharks will have 6 more.
- Oops, no they won't. Graham can't handle the short drop out. Kennedy works his way back in to position, but the Cowboys drop it one tackle later. Sharks scrum feed.
- Sharks go away from Kennedy on the scrim again, and Mulitalo beats a few tackles. Kennedy tucks himself in behind the ptb until the 3rd tackle, with the Sharks 20m out. They shift left on the 4th and Kennedy is outside Moylan, but the Cowboys tackle Moylan before the ball makes it out to WK. Townsend kicks and they tackle Holmes 1m out

***
22 minutes gone. Dugan busts his melon and is gone. Williams is now playing right edge, with Wilton playing right centre.
***

 

[bluey]

I love it and your sharkies passion Cheers

 

[BurgoShark]

18 Minutes up to Half Time

- Cowboys bring it out and end their set with a kick from close to the sideline, This means the Sharks near winger is up (Ronaldo) and the fullback and far side winger are covering half the field each. The ball goes to Hiroti.
- Kennedy stays in behind the ptb until tackle 3, when he again moves to the left outside Moylan. They use Kennedy out the back, and he has a good catch-pass to Tracey - who is tackled about 25m out
- Kennedy is at first receiver for the old "2 passes for an unders forward runner" via Brailey to Woods. Next play he heads centre field before Townsend bombs to a corner. Holmes is again tackled 1m out
- Again the Cowboys kick from close to a sideline (their game management is garbage) and this time Kennedy swallows it up on his own 10 and makes almost 20 metres on the return

***
24 minutes gone. Mulitalo leaves the field. This gives us a second re-shuffle in the space of 2 minutes. Left side is now Wilton (centre) with Hiroti (wing). Right side is Toby (edge), Williams (centre) with Tracey (wing).

Hess is on the field now. Looks like he is playing on the left centre. Time to start sending some traffic his way. Let's see if the ballplayers identify and adjust.
***

- Kennedy again sits in behind the ptb as they work it out. Townsend bombs to a corner, but only Williams chases because Tracey is still jogging across from the other side of the field
- The Cowboys get a half opportunity attacking the Sharks left edge, but Holmes throws a forward pass. Sharks scrum feed 5 their side of half way
- Moylan feeds the scrum. Kennedy is setup outside Townsend on the right but they use Williams.
- Kennedy makes his way left

***
Following this play, the Sharks trainer comes on to the field and tells Tracey to swap wings with Hiroti. He heads over, sends Hiroti back, and after a third re-shuffle we now have our edge configuration for the remaining 54 minutes (Graham / Wilton / Tracey on the left, Rudolf / Williams / Hiroti on the right).
***

- Tracey arrives just in time for a shift left, with Kennedy taking it from Moylan and trying to use Wilton short. Again the Cowboys get a hand on it to shut it down.
- Moylan feeds the scrum with an identical shape to before. Townsend, Kennedy, Williams, Hiroti on the right - and once again Williams takes an unders play. Brailey goes from dummy half, and Kennedy is nearby in support but not required. He then sprints left to get in to position outside Moylan for yet another shift left. He gets the ball from Moylan with a clear 3 on 2, and plays nice simple hands to Wilton. Teig does the same, putting his winger in to space, and Tracey beats the cover defence with a step back inside.

***
Nice involvement from WK there. He's there on play 1, he's in support on play 2, and he gets himself in to position 30m away to be an important part of a try on play 3.

29 minutes down. Sharks 18-6. Nice play from Wilton on that try too.
***

- Commentators start to wrap Kennedy. He sits in behind the ptb for 5 tackles and the Sharks bomb to a corner.
- On the 4th tackle of this set the Cowboys get outside the Sharks. They get numbers, get Williams interest in Holmes, and the Hammer gets on the outside of Hiroti. Kennedy is where he should be and gets across to the ball carrier. Townsend is covering on the inside, knocks down a pass, and saves a certain try. No one was really to blame here - let's put this one down to the makeshift edge. They played it "OK" but Toby was half a step late from the inside, which held the other players a fraction long, and Hiroti had to move in to help a sliding Williams.
- Townsend feeds the scrum. Kennedy (and nearly everyone else) are on the left, but they just hit it up through Wilton.
- Kennedy stays in behind the play the ball, and in tackle 3 Brailey kicks a 40-20. Townsend is leading the chase - which is something I have noticed. I think when Brailey kicks it is planned. Townsend always leads the chase, so he knows he isn't required for kicking on that set.
- After a hit up to the middle Brailey goes wide to Townsend and they run Uele at Wright again. It works this time and Moylan scores.

***
Just in case anyone doesn't know already, I think Blayke Brailey is going to be a frickin' superstar

34 minutes gone. Back to WK...
***

- Cowboys get a short kick off and start a set 40m out, but again we don't get to see WK in the picture defensively. The Cowboys run over the sideline on tackle 3. Sharks work it out and Kennedy stays in the middle of the field. The runners stay close to the left sideline, and they bring one to the middle before a right side shift (looks like they noticed Hess is out there)

***
Hess is playing in the centres, but defending 3-in. Drinkwater is defending in the centres.
***

- Sharks shift right, with Uele outside Townsend. Hess comes up out of the line and plants his feet with eyes only for Uele. The Sharks have 5 players outside Uele. The Cowboys have 2. Hess releases as the ball goes to Moyan, and gets on his bike, but by this stage Rudolf has Drinkwater interested, and he has to turn his feet in because Hess won't get there in time. Condon is working hard from the inside but there is another Cowboy standing still.
- The ball goes out the back to Kennedy. The Cowboys are in deep **** here. There is no way Hess is going to get across to Kennedy, and he has both the centre and winger in support. It's a clear 3 on 2 now.
- Kennedy plays it perfectly, goes around Drinkwater, finds Hiroti - who gives it back to him - and Kennedy is in. Great play by everyone involved, and great work by Townsend and Moylan to isolate Hess.
- Cowboys go short from the kick-off again and Kennedy fields the ball. He plays it and heads right again - they want another crack at Hess before half time. This time they don't go out the back to Kennedy though. Townsend uses Williams as a short runner and he makes great metres. Kennedy heads back centre field. The Sharks shift left but he isn't involved.
- The set ends with a bomb by Townsend. Moylan bats it back, Brailey kicks for the corner and Tracey has #2.


***
Half time 36-6 Sharks. Great half of footy by the whole team and by Kennedy. The one small blight is the miscommunication on the Cowboys try. His defensive positioning hasn't been tested this half. Let's see what the second half brings.

The Sharks have been pretty boring from scrums this game too. For all the talk from commentators about exciting scrum plays, we are only seeing it (from the Sharks at least) when they are 10-30m out from the tryline. Their scrums in the other 70m of the filed look just like scrums from the last 20 years.
**

 

[BurgoShark]

First 19 Minutes after Half Time

- Cowboys bring it out from the kickoff, get to the 30m line and bomb to the corner. Kennedy loses a contest with Hess, but ends ends up making the tackle. Zero tackle Cowboys.

***
I'm actually happy about this on the re-watch, because now we finally get to see Kennedy defends his line.
***

- He stays at marker for this tackle, but doesn't chase, making his way back towards the goal posts. The Cowboys work it to 1m out and Kennedy is nearby, but not required. Tackle 1
- Cowboys play the ball and pass left. Kennedy is in front of the man playing the ball, so gets on his bike and follows the ball. Williams tackles Holmes 10m in from the sideline. Kennedy is in line with the play, but back on the tryline. Tackle 2
- Once the tackle is made ,he shuffles a few steps to the left to get a head start on the ball coming back to the middle. They make it half way back to the posts and are tackled. Kennedy is again right on the spot, but doesn't get involved. He stands to the right of the ptb. Tackle 3
- Corey Jensen tries to barge over the top of Kennedy. Woods helps from inside and Kennedy does a great job to get his body under the ball and Jensen loses it in to him. Great defence.

***
A+ for defensive positioning on this set. He was where he needed to be, made a try saving tackle, and got the ball back. You'd like to think a bigger bloke could have gotten there to help a bit earlier, but it's encouraging that he made the stop. Corey Jensen is built like an MMA fighter; he's not an easy bloke to stop.
***

- Sharks get a penalty on the first, kick it out, and ruck it out from their own 30m line. Kennedy hangs around behind the play
- On the 4th tackle, Moylan is directing Kennedy to come left. He moves in to first receiver and shifts to Moylan, who then uses Wilton wide. Kennedy (with Moylan) is backing up close on the inside, but Wilton is tackled.
- The Sharks kick and Kennedy stays in position
- Cowboys get a set restart and attack the edges. Kennedy isn't needed, but is in good position behind the play.
- On the last, Kennedy is only a few metres behind the defensive line, filling in on the blind side and directing Sharks defenders to number up. Once they arrive he heads closer to the posts. The Cowboys bomb to Hiroti though, who fields it well. The Sharks ruck it out, with Kennedy again in behind the play

***
5 down in the second half. Magoulias is on the field now.
***

- Sharks kick down the middle. Williams whacks Holmes on the return, and a couple of tackles later Moylan gets a one on one strip. Magoulias takes play 1 with no support, makes a few metres and gets slowed down, so wins a set restart. Good ball set for the Sharks is starting just inside half way
- Kennedy is in behind the play, bit on tackle 1 starts talking to Graham and then heads out to the left. Sharks set up a shift left via Townsend (with dummy runners in Woods and Billy), then he finds Graham who has Wilton short and Kennedy out the back. He uses Kennedy, who makes a half break but is pulled down by Hampton. As expected, Sharks go 2 passes back to the middle for an unders play.

***
This works much better with Graham in the team, because not only does he make a really good left to right pass (not Moylan's speciality), it gives Moylan the opportunity to get setup on the other side of the field one play earlier. It's a really small detail, but this is a big way that Wade Graham provides value to the Sharks. By the time Woods catches the ball Moylan is on the right edge.
***

- Woods is able to offload in the tackle to Magoulias, who finds Tolman and then he finds Townsend. The shift is on to Moylan, but they jam in and stop him.
- On the last Kennedy is setup at 5/8 on the left, with both Sharks halves on the right, but Brailey kicks for Magoulias and they get a repeat set.

***
I'm watching Moylan a lot more closely this half. Instead of long shifts to the left like we saw in the first 35 minutes, he and Chad are pretty clearly trying to overload the right side of the field to take on Hess.

8 minutes gone
***

- Short drop out is caught by Woods. Magoulias drops it on tackle 1. Oh Billy!
- Cowboys feed the scrum. Kennedy is packed at lock and then heads in to position out the back, following the ball. Sharks have numbers and Cowboys go over the sideline. Kennedy is where he should be but isn't needed.
- From the ptb handover Kennedy sits in behind, but after play 1 he is setup outside Moylan on the left.
- Magoulias is used as a dummy runner again and they shift left. Moylan goes out the back to Kennedy and he takes on Hampton, beats him, and tries to slip the miracle ball to Tracey as he is going down. It was a very risky play, but if there is ever a time to throw that pass, it is when you are up by 30 and trying to setup your mate for his first NRL hattrick. Cowboys ball.
- Cowboys work it out through the middle. Magoulias heavily involved in defence. Cowboys bomb down to Kennedy, who takes it well and it tackled 26m out.
- Sharks ruck it out, Kennedy is in behind the ptb until the 3rd. He sets up outside Moylan on the left again. They come that way but Graham drops the Moylan short ball (50/50 - not perfect but should have been caught).
- Sharks get it back straight away though. Williams axes Condon and he spills it.

***
12 gone. I was really hard on Jack Williams in round 1. Since then, the guy has been great (except maybe for that kick against Parra).
***

- The Sharks bring it to the middle. Kennedy is again setup at first receiver on the left and they overload the right side with Chad and Moylan. A quick ptb from Magoulias sets up the shift. Townsend takes the tackle.
- Kennedy holds his position in the middle as Moylan makes his way back across. After a hit up, Moylan goes to Kennedy out the back, but the defence read it and he is shut down very quickly.
- Moylan kicks to a corner and they tackle the Cowboys just in front of their try line
- Cowboys bring it out. Good kick pressure from Magoulias on the last. Kennedy has it 10m out from his own line and uses Hiroti underneath in the middle of the field. Kennedy is on the right side as they work it out, but by tackle 2 is back in behind the ptb.
- Sharks go through the middle and bomb to a corner
- Cowboys come out through the middle and shift left. Kennedy covers and is half way between the posts and the sideline on tackle 5. Since the Cowboys are so close to a sideline, Kennedy and Tracey are covernig 50/50 again because Hiroti is up.
- They kick, Kennedy is in great position, fields it and then uses Moylan in the middle who has come back nicely. Kennedy sits in behind as they work it out through outside backs and then Rudolf (who is an edge player). Rudolf's run is a good one. He makes good metres and gets a quick ptb; the Sharks bomb to the corner yet again.
- Kennedy chases the kick this time, and makes the tackle. He backs up and makes tackles from marker on each of the next 2 plays. I'm not sure if something has changed here (maybe Moylan has dropped back) or if Kennedy has been caught out, but if it is the latter he needs to get his arse back to fullback.
- He sprints back, but the Cowboys drop it next play.

***
17 minutes gone. Sharks are bunching up a bit now on exit sets
***

- They setup again with Moylan on the right and Kennedy holding the middle - this time using Rudolf as the short runner.
- Moylan is heading back across, Kennedy is in the middle, and Graham is waving his hands calling for a kick across field. He has recognised that the Cowboys back rower has moved in field and the two players opposite him are short (Granville and Hampton). Townsend sees him, sends the kick in, and Wilton scores.


***
19 gone. A little window in the last 10 or so of minimal attacking involvement for Kennedy, but he's doing his job.
***

 

[BurgoShark]

Final 21 Minutes

- Sharks work it out, Kennedy sits behind the ptb, until the shift left via Billy and then Moylan. Kennedy is inside but Moylan takes the tackle.

***
Trindall is on for Brailey
***

- Cowboys next set the work it to 30 out. Good kick pressure from Magulias forces Drinkwater into a rushed grubber though the middle, and Kennedy is in perfect position to field it.
- Sharks work it out with outside backs, and the Graham. On the 4th tackle Kennedy gets in to first receiver and tips it on to Uele. Sharks kick down.
- Cowboys get it to 25m out, but again good kick pressure from the Sharks (Graham this time) leads to a poor kick and WK catches it in goal with no pressure.
- He gets it back to the 20 quickly and they make 25m on the first two plays.
- Kennedy sets up behind the ptb. One tackle later though Uele is stripped. Not to be outdone though, the Cowboys give it right back. Scrum feed Sharks on half way.
- Another pretty boring looking scrum formation. Kennedy is on the right with his outside men in front of him, and ditto no the left. Come on guys - half way! - Wilton takes a hit up.
- Magoulias makes 15m on the 3rd, and gets a quick ptb for a Uele hit up and then offload to Trindall. He cuts through and is tackled a few metres out.
- Kennedy is in the middle of the field, but sweeps right as the ball is played. Graham loops a long pass to Townsend, who kicks for the in goal and gets a repeat set

***
26 gone.
***

- Cowboys go short again. Graham taps it back to Wilton. On the second tackle Moylan heads to the right side. On the third, lazy bastard Billy Magoulias takes another hit up, makes good yards, and plays it 10m out in front of the sticks. As Magoulias is tackled, Kennedy heads to the right side. At this stage he is inside Townsend.
- Drinkwater is defending 3 in, with Hess defending in the centres.
- Rudolf gets Drinkwater interested, Townsend goes out the back to Kennedy, and Hess can't cover it up. Try time WK.

***
28 gone. Can't really put that one on Hess. The Sharks just had numbers. They showed them that same shape a few times, but this time they snuck WK in there. Nice play by Townsend, Rudolf and Moylan there. Great pass from dummy half by Trindall too.

48-6 Sharks

**

- Sharks bring it out, Kennedy assumes his normal position, they work it out, and then kick
- Cowboys get a couple of set restarts on their way down field. Kennedy tracks the ball nicely across as they make it to 15m out on the 2nd tackle, and then with them 10m out he is on his try line between the posts.
- Cowboys shift left and he takes off across field. The ball makes it to Holmes, who steps inside. Kennedy helps out in a 3 man tackle and the get back no his line as the ball is played. He's in one corner of the field, so Moylan has dropped back to cover the short bomb to the far post. Cowboys kick that way, and Moylan takes it nicely. Sharks bring it out.

***
Another A+ for positioning from both WK and from Moylan on this one.
***

- Kennedy heads out to the left on the 3rd tackle, but they don't shift, so he heads back in to the middle as they kick.
- Cowboys come back, and drop it on the third.
- Another scrum, and another boring shape. Williams take a hit up, with Kennedy positioned at right centre.
- The Sharks get a penalty a tackle later, and are tackled 25m out on the first close to the right touchline. Kennedy is no the far left close to Wilton. They shift early. Kennedy is next to the winger as Wilton takes the short ball. He heads back to the middle as Moylan goes to the right again. A poor pass from Rudolf leads to a bit of a shemozzle on the kick.
- Cowboys tap... followed by a tackle 1 penalty, means they are nowl 20m out from the Sharks line on tackle 1.


***
The one big criticism people have had of Kennedy is his defensive positioning in certain situations. It's been spot no so far this half, but he gets tested in this set.
***

- Josh McGuire plays the ball in line with the left had upright on tackle 2 10m out. Kennedy is to the left of the play the ball (farther from the posts than the ball is). Cowboys have 3 on 4 on that side of the field, though Rudolf and Trindall are still coming back. If he plays this properly, Kennedy should hold until Rudolf arrives on his right, and then take off following the ball.
- He plays this one well, but they shift right quickly, so now he is 10-15m from the ball. He gets on his bike and makes it across in time. He isn't needed for the tackle, but he is right there. Nice recovery.
- On play 4, he is a little to the right of the man playing the ball.
- Cowboys have numbers on the opposite side of the ruck and go that way
- Graham comes out of the line and actually makes a good play to turn a 5 on 4 into a 3 on 3. The Sharks should be able to cover this.
- Unfortunately, Moylan slips, Tolman can't get there in time, and WK sort of paddles across instead of taking quick early steps (he likely counted 3 on 3 and thought the threat was gone) so Holmes goes through and Kennedy isn't there to help Tolman.

***
You can't put this try on Kennedy. It's a defensive mistake by Moylan - but that is one of those little things that people point to when they say he needs to improve. 2-3 quick steps at the start of that play probably make the difference.

37 minutes gone
***

- Cowboys work it out, kick to a corner, Kennedy fields it confidently and brings it to about 15m out. The sharks make good metres and kick to a corner.
- The Cowboys play some hot potato, some more good kick pressure from Magoulias forces an awful chip attempt from Drinkwater, and the Sharks have it. Nobody is particularly interested in playing anymore, as Woods walks it to the Cowboys line and it is full time.

***

Very dangerous game in from WK, with the Holmes try, and the lost bomb contest and the attempted miracle play for Tracey being his only blemishes. He took a bit of a back seat to Moylan in attack during the second half, but was still involved in plenty of good plays, and got himself a second try. For all of the discussion around finding a fullback, I for one am happy to let this young bloke keep growing into the job. If the forwards win the ruck and the halves do their job I don't think we need to worry about our fullback. He's a good'un.

 

[egg]

Thanks Mate
I for one am happy to admit I got it wrong regarding Kennedy .
Starting to look a potential weapon on an upward protectory .
Who knows how good he might become , just gets better
Hats Off

 

[Sparkles]

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