Part 2 – Shute Shield Shape of the Game 2024

SUFC STATISTICAL REVIEW

  • Shute Shield Key Statistical Metrics that influenced the game outcome in Season 2024
    • Kicked Metres
    • Gainline
    • Turnovers
    • Scrum Percentage

Thanks to Measure M, who provided this analytical data for the competition.

The margins and percentages were very close in this year’s Shute Shield, with no apparent standout metric outside of Kick Metres.

  • SUFC Score Per Game = 29.5 points, sixth overall in the competition. Traditionally, we have kicked to line to Maul from penalties. However, given the diminished scoring percentage from Mauls, strategic penalty kicks for goals will be crucial in 2025. This is a significant change in the tactical process compared to previous seasons.
  • SUFC Tries Per Game = Third in the competition of tries scored per game with 4.4, behind Easts 4.8, and Randwick 4.9 first.
  • SUFC Tries Conceded Per Game = Seventh overall 3.7, with Randwick conceding the least 2.6. This will be a strong development area for the squad in 2025.
  • SUFC Attacking Lineout = Second best-attacking success rate in the competition, 87.5% behind Warringah 88.2. This is a significant improvement from previous seasons.
  • SUFC Defensive Lineout = The third-best defensive lineout wins in the competition with 54.
  • SUFC Scrum Success Rate = This was a significant development area for us all season, as we did not have a grade tight-head prop for over a third of the season, and we spent the first few rounds of the competition adjusting to the referees. We placed ninth in the competition; however, the percentage margins between all teams are small, at less than 6%. Western Sydney had the best-attacking scrum in the competition. Tactically, we will make some little adjustments for 2025, which reaped the rewards with five pushover tries in the last six rounds of the 2024 Season.
  • SUFC Penalties Won Per Game = 11.1 per game – interestingly, West Harbour 13.4 won the most penalties in the competition – and East’s the least at 10.2.
  • SUFC Penalties Conceded Per Game = We conceded the most penalties, at 13.4, particularly in the early rounds, but then started reducing them as the season went on. This is a strong development area, particularly around our tackle height at speed and the scrum shape picture we present to the referee.
  • Opponent Carry Cross Gainline % = We were the best in the competition at stopping our opponent before they could reach the gainline at 42% of the time. This was mainly due to our line-speed and kicking game.
  • SUFC Effective Tackles Per Game = 68.8, fourth best in the competition, with Norths first on 78.6. Whilst this is a tidy statistic for us, we have a lot of growth in the squad in terms of tackling and defence in general.
  • SUFC Tackle Efficiency % = 2, mid-table of the competition. This was mainly due to our line speed and balance, a skill that, if we get it right, will be lethal in 2025. In general, we will have a lot of growth in defence in 2025.
  • SUFC Missed Tackles Per Game = We ranked sixth in the competition with an average of 24 missed tackles, while Norths were seventh with 25. The increased missed tackles across the competition were due to the introduction of the tackle height law, as players started to lunge low with their heads down. In general, our squad will grow a lot in defence in 2025.
  • SUFC Turned Over Opposition Possession = 15.2 per game – second best in the competition, only behind Eastwood and a big step up from the previous seasons.
  • SUFC Turnovers Conceded per Game = 14.1 per game. This is a development element for 2025 in balance, decision-making, and skills as we endeavoured to play with more Ball in Hand in phase play 2024. Note the increased number of turnovers at the Lineout across the competition.
  • 22 Metre Entries Conceded Per Game = We were the third best in the competition at denying our opponent entry into the 22m scoring zone 11.7 per game. This was due to our defence and kicking strategy.
  • Opponent Midfield Ruck Speed = We were equal second at ensuring our opponent’s midfield ruck possession was slow at an average of 2.80 seconds. Warringah were the best at 2.98 seconds.
  • SUFC Midfield Ruck Speed = We had the third-fastest midfield ruck speed in the competition, at 2.56 seconds, behind Warringah, which had the fastest, at 2.48 seconds.
  • SUFC Carry Cross the Gainline % = We placed equal third with Manly, and Warringah was top at 64%. This statistic will grow significantly in 2025, which is positive.
  • SUFC Clean Breaks Per Game = 9.7 placed fifth in the competition with Warringah first, Western Sydney second, Randwick third, and Easts fourth.
  • SUFC 22m Scoring Zone Entries Per Game = Equal first with Warringah at 14.6. This was due to our pressure and kicking game.
  • SUFC 22m Scoring Zone Conversion % = We placed ninth in the competition at 33%. This is tactically driven, as we did not take penalty kicks for goals and goal kicks are counted as a points conversion. Nonetheless, this area will be a tactical development area for us in 2025.
  • SUFC Kicks Per Game = 27.2, first in the competition and a key winning metric. This season, we changed our kicking strategy to attack more than just for territory, yet we still won the kick meters in the competition. Tactical kicking remains a development area for us in 2025.

 

Tune in next week to read part 3 of 4 of the season 2024 Grade Head Coach review.

 

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