I think there's a snowball effect with our forwards.
Our forwards are tired defensively from having to do way more rucking it out of our own end than they should.
In 2024 you need your back 3 to ruck you out of trouble to give your forwards a rest.
Watch Penrith - their forwards don't even bother retreating back into their own 40m in attack, they wait for Edwards and To'o and co. to catch up to them. They then have the energy to maintain high line speed, win the ruck defensively, and on it goes. It's a domino effect.
Our forwards this year are generally making more metres than their opposition. They're running too much and are very tired defensively.
Edwards and To'o.
Katoa and Mulitano.
Coates and Warbrick.
Suaalii and Tupou.
Staggs and Mariner.
All the top teams have at least 2 outside backs who are great at rucking the team out of trouble.
@Brownrabbit has been banging on about it for years (even if we disagree on AJ, 'cause I think he's fine as long as our 1 and 5 can make those metres).
Fix our backine issues and watch the forwards improve.