Canberra’s stripping obsession began in wrestling sessions late last year and now they’re ready to steal from the susceptible Sydney Roosters again in the NRL grand final.
Renowned as the best in the league at the one-on-one steal, the Raiders will come up against one of the most frequent victims in the competition on Sunday.
Canberra’s pickpocketers have pulled off 28 steals this year, by far the most in the competition and more than double most teams in the NRL according to Fox Sports Stats.
Notably too, the Roosters are at the other end of the scale, having been stripped 12 times this year – the equal-second most in the premiership.
Encouraged by a change in the interpretation of the rule last year, Canberra began working on pulling players out of tackles and stripping the ball late in 2018.
Now, the likes of Englishman Josh Hodgson (14), Elliott Whitehead (4) and John Bateman (3) are among the best in the league, having pulled off more strips in 2019 than the whole Roosters team combined.
“It is something we worked on,” Whitehead said.
“We had Steve Babic who used to be the wrestling coach. He brought that in. It’s worked for us and we won’t go away from that.
“It started at the back end of last year. We didn’t use it as much back then. We really focused on it this year knowing it was the rules and it could benefit us.”
Babic is no longer at the Raiders and moved to Canterbury during the pre-season after a nine-year stint in the nation’s capital.
But the tactic has continued in Canberra.
The Raiders have a secret codeword they yell out to tell other defenders to drop off a tackle before one stays on and takes the ball away.
The play has been met with some criticism too – with no opponents more vocal than the defending premiers.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson earlier this year complained about the rule after a clash with Canberra, as he argued what it had brought to the NRL and claimed it slowed down the ruck.
“I don’t think a lot if teams like it if you take the ball off them,” Whitehead said.
“They like the ball in their hands. If it benefits us then that’s all we’re bothered about.
“We’re not bothered by what the Roosters think.
“If it’s working for us and part of the rules we’re allowed to do it.”
And there’s little doubt it has worked for the Raiders.
In Friday’s preliminary final alone, Josh Hodgson stripped the ball from Ethan Lowe in the lead up to Canberra’s first try.
He then stopped a South Sydney try with a more-traditional one-on-one rake in the first half to deny Cody Walker.
“It’s just natural instincts. We’ve got so many players in this team that have natural rugby instincts,” Bateman said.
“When you’re in a position to do it and you feel comfortable, you just do it.”
BEST IN THE BUSINESS AT ONE-ON-ONE STEALS:
Teams:
Canberra: 28
Melbourne: 19
Warriors: 13
South Sydney: 10
Parramatta: 7
Newcastle: 6
Canterbury: 6
Cronulla: 6
St George Illawarra: 6
Brisbane: 6
Gold Coast: 5
Manly: 4
Wests Tigers: 3
Sydney Roosters: 2
North Queensland: 2
Penrith: 2
Players:
Josh Hodgson (Raiders): 14
Brandon Smith (Storm): 5
Elliott Whitehead (Raiders): 4
Kenny Bromwich (Storm): 4
Cameron Munster (Storm): 4
Connor Watson (Knights): 4
(Stats: Fox Sports)
