Re: "Walsh Watch" : Sat Jul 11, 2015 12:03 am  

The biggest issue in defence isn't Walsh, it's Turner. He can't read play/make decisions well at all. He ends up either planting his feet and getting beaten on the outside, or shooting in. Then half the time Walsh ends up having to defend a player he shouldn't, meaning either a passive tackle with a quick PTB, or a line break because there's a weak cover tackle which is broken, or a 3 on 2.

Re: "Walsh Watch" : Sat Jul 11, 2015 1:57 am  

SecondRowSaint wrote:

When you say the forwards cut down the space are you referring back to the start of the season when we were playing well and winning? If you are, we were still missing a lot of tackles down that left side. The combinations in defence down that side really need work on so that they can improve.

I'm referring to what our forwards WERE doing in defence at the start of the season which they ARE NOT doing now. I think it's reasonable to assume this might have some slight bearing on our performance.

Re: "Walsh Watch" : Sat Jul 11, 2015 2:02 am  

Saint #1 wrote:

The biggest issue in defence isn't Walsh, it's Turner. He can't read play/make decisions well at all. He ends up either planting his feet and getting beaten on the outside, or shooting in. Then half the time Walsh ends up having to defend a player he shouldn't, meaning either a passive tackle with a quick PTB, or a line break because there's a weak cover tackle which is broken, or a 3 on 2.

WTF?!! Turner's made mistakes, yes. But to seriously suggest Turner has been a bigger problem in defence than Walsh over the last two games is totally absurd.

Re: "Walsh Watch" : Sat Jul 11, 2015 6:57 am  

SecondRowSaint wrote:

When you say the forwards cut down the space are you referring back to the start of the season when we were playing well and winning? If you are, we were still missing a lot of tackles down that left side. The combinations in defence down that side really need work on so that they can improve.

Your right, it was poor on that edge at the start of the year but as we was winning and everyone thought we was the best thing since sliced bread that nobody noticed it.

That left edge is probably the weakest ive ever seen and probably the worst in super league in defence. It looks worse now with Walsh on that side snd teams are targeting thst edge more.

Re: "Walsh Watch" : Sat Jul 11, 2015 10:55 am  

Mugwump wrote:

I'm referring to what our forwards WERE doing in defence at the start of the season which they ARE NOT doing now. I think it's reasonable to assume this might have some slight bearing on our performance.

Yes, they're were doing it at the start of the season, but our left edge defence was still poor back then. It can happen you know, that the forwards do what you've stated they did but for us to still miss tackles on the left side of defence.

Re: "Walsh Watch" : Sat Jul 11, 2015 1:05 pm  

SecondRowSaint wrote:

Yes, they're were doing it at the start of the season, but our left edge defence was still poor back then. It can happen you know, that the forwards do what you've stated they did but for us to still miss tackles on the left side of defence.

I doubt there is a single team in SL which defends equally well on either side. In any case, performance is meaningless without some kind of context. The fact that going into last night's game ALL BUT ONE side in SL had a worse defensive record than Saints speaks volumes about the problems other sides have to worry about.

Given the injury craziness we've had to contend with this season it's nothing short of a miracle our defence is as good as it is. Let's see how well Leeds or Wigan or Huddersfield do when they're down to their 7th choice fullback, missing their best winger, second row, loose-forward and nursing a crocked scrum-half back to full fitness.

Re: "Walsh Watch" : Sat Jul 11, 2015 1:23 pm  

2nd best defence but think I read we've missed more tackles than anyone.

Re: "Walsh Watch" : Sat Jul 11, 2015 1:43 pm  

St pete wrote:

2nd best defence but think I read we've missed more tackles than anyone.

Hull KR 684
Saints 645
Salford 634
Catalan 625
Wakefield 613

Bottom of the league stuff. Still time to get the MIT award. Good chance of getting the PEN award we are no 1 offenders for that one.

Re: "Walsh Watch" : Sat Jul 11, 2015 2:05 pm  

You win no trophies for missing the least number of tackles.

I'm sure Huddersfield would trade the best defensive statistics in the competition for being where we are now in the league.

Re: "Walsh Watch" : Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:00 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

You win no trophies for missing the least number of tackles.

I'm sure Huddersfield would trade the best defensive statistics in the competition for being where we are now in the league.

The problem is we are making it very difficult for ourselves, if we can just improve 20% on our defence and conceding penalties we will most likely control the game for longer periods and perhaps go on to win more games.