Playing into our hands
Statistical analysis of the Broncos revealed two important flaws the Cowboys exploited to perfection
THIS wasn’t just another XXXX derby.
Having already secured two wins against the Titans and a convincing win against the Broncos at Suncorp earlier in the year it was a chance for us to go a perfect 4/4 against our Queensland rivals.
This game was also sold out weeks in advance, making the build-up just that little bit more interesting.
Form goes out the window for these derbies, but in this case both teams have been playing some great football this season.
From my point of view I think the Broncos have really improved since last time we played them.
For us, that meant we needed to go a step better and improve our performance as well.
Some of the key stats heading into the game were that the Broncos were 15th in twopass shifts and 15th in shortside raids in the NRL.
Being second last in both of these stats meant the Broncos were going to come at us straight down the middle off the back off their big, mobile forward pack.
Our pack was on notice with these stats and ready to meet them head on in the middle.
After starting the game with a weight of possession we completed the first 3 of 7 sets.
Not ideal to start the game, but we had a number of chances and didn’t execute what we needed to do.
Then we conceded a try against the run of play. However it wasn’t much after that we got one against the run of play back with Murray Taulagi taking a great intercept.
One of Murray’s huge improvements as the year has gone on has been his defensive reads and this one was a pearler.
After that first initial 3/7 completion rate to start the game we then went on to complete the next 20 sets in a row, forcing Brisbane to bring the ball off their own line and playing field possession, which has been something we have been prepared to do all season.
I want to quickly discuss Griffin Neame’s try under the posts in the second half.
Reece Robson and Griff practice this play after training every single day.
With a play-the-ball just right of the post Reece saw Griff nice and flat and running hard, off the back of a good play-the-ball.
Reece got out and hit Griff with a beautiful short ball. Griff, too big and too strong, did the rest.
Reece has been playing some great football this season and is worthy of his callup into the New South Wales 22-man squad for Game III.
I’ll finish with a few firsts for the club.
Saturday night was the first time in Cowboys history that we have scored 40 points against the Broncos.
We have broken the previous club record of 36 (2006) twice this season, having scored 38 points in our earlier meeting.
It was the also first time the Cowboys have been a perfect 4/4 against Queensland rivals.
The Broncos have done it twice, in 2010 and 2013, while the Titans have never achieved this feat.