More end of year stats for 2011
Follow up to Some end of year stats for 2011
Although the play-offs have only just got underway, as far as the regular Super League season and its records and statistics are concerned it is the end of the year. You can view loads of Opta stats on the Super League website and decipher them how you wish.
In many of the categories Salford are above or below average with the odd spike. For example in the metres gained category, although Salford rank a lowly 13th overall, Jodie Broughton is 9th best in the competition on 2948m while Ray Cashmere lies in 15th position on 2686m. The Reds are 9th in the league in regards to tackle busts but Luke Patten is the 9th highest individual on 70.
Jodie Broughton also topped Salford’s try tally on 14 (18th in the league); two departing players Stefan Ratchford and Mark Henry finished second and third with 11 and 10 tries respectively. Despite only playing in the last 6 matches of the season, Danny Williams managed to score 8 tries. That is a better try per game ratio than Super League’s top try scorer in 2011 — Wigan’s Sam Tomkins. Let’s hope Danny can keep his form for next season.
There are other categories that warrant a mention:
Salford’s goal accuracy is below 70%. Between 70–75% is probably expected from a handy goal kicker whereas over 80% is where you expect the best goal kickers to be: the likes of Michael Dobson, Pat Richards and so on.
Four men — Ray Cashmere, Vinnie Anderson, Luke Patten and Adam Sidlow — made almost half of Salford’s offloads last year. Cashmere was again highest on 47 (6th best in the league) with Vinnie Anderson making a credible 38 (15th in the league).
Last year, Salford lost two excellent defenders in Malcolm Alker and Luke Swain. Luke Adamson was the third of a trio with an insatiable appetite for tackling and he carried this work on into 2011 finishing 4th highest in the league for tackles made on 811. Salford City Reds 2011 Player of the Year Matty Smith finished 11th best on 728 — perhaps an indication of more game time at hooker or a maybe an identified target for the opposition. The Reds next highest tacklers were Ray Cashmere on 675 (21st best) and Stephen Wild on — fittingly for our club — 666 (22nd best).
Daniel Holdsworth clearly showed his worth at half-back making 26 try assists, 2nd highest in the league and only one behind Albert Goldthorpe Medal winner Rangi Chase. Australian compatriot Luke Patten also featured highly as 8th best on 19.
We’ll finish on 40-20s, an area that Salford has lead in the past two seasons. You could infer that Salford get stuck behind their own 40 metre line more often than most teams, facilitating the opportunity for 40-20s. However, players still have to make them, which is easier said than done. Matty Smith has kicked 7 40-20s in the last two years — three this year and four last year; Daniel Holdsworth’s three 40-20s were all made this year.
