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Life-long Sydney Roosters fan Alan Katzmann has joined the Roosters.com.au team for the 2013 season and will contribute regular opinion pieces on subjects of interest to our supporters, and league followers in general.


A 12-year Member and Eastern Suburbs local, Alan is one of the tricolours most passionate followers and a proud member of the recently established Jack Gibson Club.



The Roosters head into their second bye of the season in a very strong position, having won 12 of their 16 matches, but most notable has been their remarkable consistency.


In each block of four matches played they have emerged with a 3-1 record, scoring at least 84 points in each block, and conceding no more than 62.


If the Roosters win three from four in their final two blocks they should finish in the top two at the end of the home and away season. During the Origin period, with one match against the Sharks still to play, the Roosters have won four of five. A win against the Sharks at home will be a great platform for the road to the finals.


Our NYC team has an identical record of 12-4, and they also have won three from four in each of their four-game blocks this season, scoring at least 94 points in each block.


Whilst our NRL side has had to cope with the difficult Origin period and its effect on line-up and preparation, our NYC team had had to cope with the absence of their star five-eighth Samisoni Langi for the same five-match period, and like their NRL colleagues, they have also won four from five. For the clash with the Sharks in Round 19, Langi, along with Willis Meehan and John Asiata, are expected to return, and our NYC team are well placed also for a crack at a vital top two spot, despite a tough draw.


Finally, our club has opened up a five point break on our rivals on the NRL club championship table, which we are attempting to win for the first time, since its revamp in 2009.


While our players take a well-earned break I thought it an opportune time to look at the 12 key personal statistical categories, and the leading Rooster players in each category. Statistics play a vital role in so much of the game and I know our coaches, like most others, use them extensively when assessing individual form and team selection.


One area that I tend to look at with player statistics is where each of the players sits, comparatively, for each 80 minutes played. Using season long stats, and stats per game, can be misleading; as a result of interchange, unavailability for selection or players failing to complete matches through injury. Surely players are best judged only by the minutes they spend on the field and therefore the only fair way therefore to compare players is to bring each figure back to an 80-minute base.


That is what I present today, for the first 16 matches of our campaign, and I do so for the 19 players who have played more than 80 minutes of NRL this season for the Roosters. These 19 players make up 98.9% of the time that Rooster players have been on the field this year. The seasons total for the five top players in each category is in brackets after the players name.


A former prime minster once said it doesn't explain everything, it doesn't explain nothing, it explains some things. Whilst not referring to these set of Rooster player statistics at the time, the statement would be just as appropriate when determining the relevance of the data below.


Most Runs Per 80 Minutes Played

21.48 - Jared Waerea-Hargreves (149)

21.40 - Luke ODonnell (160)

20.98 - Sam Moa (134)

18.29 - Martin Kennedy (131)

15.62 - Frank Paul Nuuausala (99)



Most Metres Gained Per 80 Minutes Played

188.63 - Luke ODonnell (1410)

186.09 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (1291)

181.92 - Sam Moa (1162)

176.06 - Martin Kennedy (1261)

139.33 - Frank Paul Nuuausala (883)



Highest Average Metres Gained Per Run Per 80 Minutes Played

11.48 - Michael Jennings (1688/147)

9.63 - Martin Kennedy (1261/131)

9.36 - Daniel Tupou (1348/144)

8.99 - Sonny Bill Williams (1547/172)

8.92 - Frank Paul Nuuausala (883/99)



Most Tackles Per 80 Minutes Played

52.35 - Jake Friend (636)

52.22 - Martin Kennedy (374)

49.73 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (345)

44.33 - Daniel Mortimer (210)

43.34 - Luke ODonnell (324)



Highest % Of Tackles Made Per Attempt Per 80 Minutes Played

97.75 - Isaac Liu (87/89)

97.40 - Jake Friend (636/653)

97.37 - Mitchell Aubusson (408/419)

97.30 - Luke ODonnell (342/333)

97.18 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (345/355)



Least Handling Errors Made Per 80 Minutes Played

0.00 - Daniel Mortimer (0)

0.25 - Jake Friend (3)

0.43 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (3)

0.47 - Frank Paul Nuuausala (3)

0.62 - Mitchell Aubusson (9)



Least Penalties Conceded Per 80 Minutes Played

0.14 - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2)

0.19 - Anthony Minichiello (3)

0.20 - Daniel Tupou (3)

0.26 - Boyd Cordner (3)

0.31 - Sam Moa (2)



Most Tackle Busts Per 80 Minutes Played

3.86 - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (56)

3.12 - Aiden Guerra (19)

3.07 - Michael Jennings (46)

2.81 - Shaun Kenny-Dowall (45)

2.57 - Sonny Bill Williams (37)



Most Line Breaks Per 80 Minutes Played

0.96 - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (14)

0.67 - Michael Jennings (10)

0.62 - Sonny Bill Williams (9)

0.60 - Daniel Tupou (9)

0.50 - James Maloney (7)



Most Line Break Assists Per 80 Minutes Played

0.84 - Daniel Mortimer (4)

0.67 - Mitchell Pearce (10)

0.64 - James Maloney (9)

0.62 - Sonny Bill Williams (9)

0.53 - Michael Jennings (8)



Most Try Assists Per 80 Minutes Played

0.93 - Mitchell Pearce (14)

0.64 - James Maloney (9)

0.63 - Daniel Mortimer (3)

0.58 - Jake Friend (7)

0.35 - Sonny Bill Williams (5)



Most Offloads Per 80 Minutes Played

2.50 - Sonny Bill Williams (36)

2.45 - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (17)

1.34 - Luke ODonnell (10)

1.26 - Frank Paul Nuuausala (8)

0.78 - Sam Moa (5)


NB: The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Roosters.com.au, the Sydney Roosters and its board of Directors or staff.
Acknowledgement of Country

Sydney Roosters respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.