Lukic's stat of the week

This week's topic is the defense and tackling efficiency of centres.

Over the first 5 weeks, there has been two standout defensive centre statistically. He is Joel Reddy, one of the finest of last season and has the ability to nullify most attacking raids down his side. Reddy possess an amazing tackling efficiency of 91.75%. Great numbers for a 3/4.

Adam McDougall is another great defensive centre, boasting a remarkable 91.66% rate of tackling this season, narrowly behind Reddy. The two would make an life very difficult for opposing halves, 2nd rowers and backs when trying to lay on points.

Dane Nielson is another great performer, with a tackling rate of 88.75%, placing him second of those who play centre fulltime or have played it in 2 or more games this season.

Following Dane Nielson are Chris Lawrence and Mat Cooper, Lawrence boasting a tackling efficiency of 86.5% and Cooper one of 86%, both very pretty numbers for a centre.

Well, that's it folks, my stat of the week regarding defensive centres. Stay tuned next week for another stat.

 

TIGERS FTW!1!111!!!1111

 

Not entirely, I was just looking through it and did it fairly. Part of it was to prove M_F wrong who continually hates on Lawrence's defence, but is was also part of the debate for the centres pairing of NSW, since there is such emphasis in shutting down Inglis. Reddy + Cooper + Lawrence + Scott are the best defensive centres in NSW.

 

Lawrence goes low very often and wraps the ball carrier by the legs. I'm sure you didn't see a tackle from Lawrence on Joel Reddy in rd3? or the tackle Lawrence made last year against the Storm on Proctor or Blair IIRC? His technique is fine, he rushes out a bit to early but that's because of the pressure of being outside of Benji. He's not a liability by any stretch, and is quite solid defensively.

 

Also, furthermore, the Tigers have had 3 tries scored down their left hand side out of 20. On that side the three outermost defenders are Lote Tuqiri, Chris Lawrence and Benji Marshall. Benji's improved as a defender and isn't as great a liability as he was. Tuqiri is still far from his best, only having just returned from union and yet to quite hit his straps and Lawrence.

Now Lawrence's poor technique would be highlighted way more if the Tigers conceded say... 8 tries out of 20 down that side? The fact they've conceded only 3 is an indicator of Lawrence's solid defence.

 

this thread had so much potential before i opened it.

 

Indeed it did, but no, someone had to come in and accuse me of Tigers bias.

If I said the Tigers have won 4 games and lost 1, that would be a bias statement because it has never happened and I'm making it up with irrational, one sided views.

 

Fact = Dickhead.

Good one champ. You do realise, as hard as you try to join the majority of the board in going against me, you do yourself no favours. You actually weaken their argument most of the time.

 

Facts is facts.

 

Less fobs tbh/