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NRL 2026 Four Point Focus: Scrum Play Double Bluffs
As one team creates a new trend from a scrum start, the rest of the NRL plots ways to expose it, just as the Roosters did to the Panthers in Round 7.
Jason Oliver
January 08, 2026
The Four Point Focus breaks down a try from every round of the 2025 NRL season, highlighting the context, shape, trigger and the lessons learned. It’s viewed with an eye on 2026 as we look for trends, breakout players and hints of what might be to come next season.
This is an off-season series for Premium subscribers who choose to support my work over the break.
Point 1 - The Context
We’re into Round 7 as the Sydney Roosters take on the Penrith Panthers.
Understrength and out-of-form or not, the Panthers are always one of the best-prepared sides in the NRL. They preview the opposition with great detail and are rarely caught off guard. However, the Roosters pulled off the double-bluff to score from an excellent scrum play in this one1 .
Point 2 - The Shape
The Roosters presented a 5:1 split off the scrum. They’re looking for what the defence does in response and making their move from there. By putting the scrum on the scrum line, they give themselves options on both sides to have plenty of space to shift on the long side without cutting out the shortside entirely.
Having seen the Panthers mirror in defence, the Roosters made a late switch by bring the winger in to feed.
We’d already seen the Wests Tigers pull off something similar in Round 2.
Watch it again, and you’ll notice the Parramatta Eels winger doesn’t move. He has his head down, assuming a shift to the long side and takes the opportunity for a breather, unaware that the player in front of him moved in to feed the scrum.
The Panthers wouldn’t be caught out in the same way…
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