I've said it for years that the typical Salford way of long left from the KO was just useless. Also said that the Ipswich Jets have used some very unusual tactics and one is virtual continuous short kick offs which have led to a 70% retention rate. (www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pre ... 7585011553). Don't see why we don't mix it up next year, once saw a lad playing amateur league toe end the ball at a player from a re start and it ricochet backwards. If we started varying the kick off you've see opposition teams then struggle with player placement.

I've said it for years that the typical Salford way of long left from the KO was just useless. Also said that the Ipswich Jets have used some very unusual tactics and one is virtual continuous short kick offs which have led to a 70% retention rate. (www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pre ... 7585011553). Don't see why we don't mix it up next year, once saw a lad playing amateur league toe end the ball at a player from a re start and it ricochet backwards. If we started varying the kick off you've see opposition teams then struggle with player placement.

Yawn.

Those that watched David Watkins play will know that he utilised the short kick-off for Salford. I think a lot of this either comes from the playbook, i.e. the kick-off is set to play the percentages, or the nous and skill of the player kicking the ball. I mean, you could have Danny Brough playing for you but if the coach wants the ball in a certain place all the time, then he’d have to do it.

I don't know why it isn't utilised more often, I remember when we played Saints at home at The Willows we kicked off short and that took them by surprise as we retained the ball.

If I remember correctly we won that game, we shook the tactics up like Ipswich Jets are doing and it payed off.

I think it's a real shame that there tends to be such a herd mentality amongst top flight RL coaches. One of the reasons the NRL has been so interesting IMO over the past couple of years is that we've seen coaches trying to use some different (if not entirely radical) ideas to find an edge. Look at how the skill of wingers has evolved in being able to sneak in at the corner from five years ago, or to attack the ball as it hits the dead ball line and scoop it back. The way the likes of Canterbury, Brisbane (and this year) Leeds utilise their props has changed dramatically. There has been something of a resurgence of the smaller crafty player, a la Rob Burrows down under. It's great to see and hopefully it's a trend that will take on over here more radically. You'd hope as a former half back Ian Watson is full of such creative ideas.

Exactly, I do wonder which team from the NRL or SL will call on the Walker Brothers from the Ipswich Jets as this is the philosophy they manage with.

The use of the props makes me wonder if Krasniqi will become a very astute signing, don't forget the reduction of the interchange numbers will mean a change in tactics.

Sounds like something Paul Rowley would utilise at Leigh. For all their failings in the 'Qualifiers' they played some excellent expansive RL this season, which went well beyond the norm. I loved the way they'd throw the ball wide in their own 20 to make the necessary metres, rather than relying on the old fashioned scoot it up the middle or give it the big men to trundle up. They also kicked from a scrum in their own 20 (might have been against Wakefield at home) and scored from it, again a play we should be using more with speedsters like Greg Johnson in the team.

I'm all for it.