One of the reasons I used per play the ball rather than per game to analyse this is because the number of PTBs for each of the eight finals game has varied widely: 332 321 340 301 342 267 267 330
I just find it amusing that penalty rates are similar but set restarts get thrown out of the window
Some data on the avg number of play the balls per penalty or set restart awarded, split by regular season/finals for each referee who officiated a finals game in 2024. Added Adam Gee's regular season numbers for reference.
More finals Bootwatch updates: Jarome Luai is wearing the Canterbury Speed Infinite Elite. Only the second NRL player I've seen wearing them, joining Spencer Leniu Luai was previously wearing adidas boots.
Rounds 1-3 and Rounds 23+ Asics Rounds 4-22 Under Armour Might be a weather/conditions thing for the cooler months? Only other player I've seen change brands like this mid season was Tom Burgess.
Eli Katoa wearing Asics boots tonight, hasn't worn Under Armour since Round 22. Also started the season wearing Asics. Melbourne's record for each boot brand he's worn this season: Under Armour: 13-3 Asics: 6-1
Looking at Brisbane's points conceded against expected as a percentage, it's clear that 2023 was the aberration, not the norm. Also went from 5th in tries conceded 50-20m out last year (9) to 2nd last (20) this season. Tries allowed from own half were up from 2 to 9 as well.
Brisbane allowed 7.5 more points/game in 2024 vs 2023, from defending similar possession & field position (+1.6 in expected points conceded). Goal line defense deserted them this year. From that perspective hard to argue that Walters was still the right person for the job
The 2024 NRLW regular season is over & I've had a look at the efficiency landscape leading into this weekends finals matches. Just how different are Cronulla from the rest of the NRLW top four? www.rugbyleagueeyetest.com/2024/09/26/n...
With the NRLW regular season completed and finals starting this weekend, it’s time for and Eye Test efficiency update. And like the NRLM, the women’s competition this season featured a pretty obvious ...
In fact only four sides have made the grand final without a "Dominant" defense. The other two were the 2022 Parramatta Eels and the 2023 Brisbane Broncos.
