The ML: 33 short

The ML (”middle-link”) aka 33short, aka “Hammer” is a dynamic line attack play involving three players.

It’s popular in a lot of high level sides because it creates a big open-side 4 on 3, which if your strike runner has a great pass, and your team runs great lines, is extremely hard to defend.

Here’s what it looks like:

🐐 The 33short, explained by Pete Walters and Manu Wakely:What is the move?Another breakdown of the ML Options from this move:If the touching defender pulls “straight” (doesn’t corner), this creates a 3 on 2 on the short-side, and the following short-side options might be on:If the touching defender retreats towards his corner, this creates a 4 on 3 on the open-side, and the following open-side options might be on:✅ Tips to keep in mind when running a ML:❓ When is the ML effective?The Fake ML, aka “FML”The “Splitter”📽️ Video on the difference between an “ML” and a “Splitter” play:

🐐 The 33short, explained by Pete Walters and Manu Wakely:

What is the move?

The “Hammer”, or “ML” play, or the 33 short, is a higher-level move, designed to attack both middles.

It’s similar to

🐓

The Rooster play: the 32 short.

Here’s how it works:

3 (middle) goes down for 3 (middle). The dumping middle initiates the touch on the defending middle in the 33 channel, between both defending middles.

The 2 (link) on the short-side runs a “short” line, or a “J” line as the strike runner. The link attacks the offside middle.

The other 3 (middle) is the dummy half and pops the ball to the strike runner who receives it at full speed

After the 3 (middle) pops the ball, he wraps around the strike running 2 (link), to attack the gap between defending link and wing.

Depending on whether the defending middle pulls straight or pulls to his corner, the strike runner can either attack the short-side or the open-side

Another breakdown of the ML

Options from this move:

If the touching defender pulls “straight” (doesn’t corner), this creates a 3 on 2 on the short-side, and the following short-side options might be on:

Strike runner steps his defender to score on the short side (0:21 in the top video)

Strike runner steps to the short side, the defending short-side link shuts, strike runner passes to the wrapping middle to score in the 21 (link-wing) channel (0:27 in the in the top video)

Strike runner steps to the short side, the defending short-side link shuts, and the defending wing shuts: the strike runner passes the ball over the top to the attacking winger to score in the corner. (0:32 in the top video)

Strike runner steps to the short side, then steps back to dive and score between both middles (0:37 in the top video)

If the touching defender retreats towards his corner, this creates a 4 on 3 on the open-side, and the following open-side options might be on:

Strike runner steps to the open-side, commits the defending open-side middle who is shutting, then passes off to the middle who dumped the ball, who scores.

Strike runner steps to the open-side, commits the defending open-side middle who is shutting. The link is also shutting in on the middle who dumped the ball, so pass off to the attacking open-side link, who is running a “chop” line, to score. (0:42 in the top video)

Strike runner steps to the open-side, all the open-side defenders are shutting, so the long ball over the top to the attacking open-side winger is on. If you can pull this pass off, its an easy score in the corner (0:45 in the top video)

✅ Tips to keep in mind when running a ML:

For the middle who dumps the ball:

make sure you drag the defending middle away from their corner towards the 33 channel, ideally turning their hips “in”.

Initiate the touch, and place the ball down cleanly.

Make sure you make the touch on your opposite middle and not the other middle.

After you dump the ball, you’ve now swapped positions with your other middle. Take two steps to the open-side, and then hit the hole between link and middle.

For the middle who is dummy half:

Anticipate where the roll-ball will be, and get in position early.

Instead of facing forward, stand almost side on, and pop the ball to the strike runner.

After popping the ball, accelerate as fast as possible to get around the strike runner and hit the hole outside him (in the 21 channel on the short side)

For the strike runner:

run a “J” line and straighten up close to the roll-ball.

When you receive the pop pass, you should be running straight at the defensive line, almost at full speed.

Run at the retreating defender, and watch which way he retreats. Attack the space he leaves.

For the hole runners:

The short-side winger should stay wide and expect a long ball.

The open-side link should stay wide and run a “chop” line, running hard back inside between defending wing and link.

The open-side winger should stay wide and expect a long ball.

❓ When is the ML effective?

This move works especially well if you can make the touch on a slower middle and beat him on the short side. It’s easier to score the 3 on 2 on the short side than attacking the open side.

It also works well against strong teams who run a shutdown defence, if your strike runner has a great long ball towards the open-side. Strong teams running a strict shutdown defence will leave the open side wing free, and if you can reliably hit the winger with a 20m pass you’ll score a lot of tries.

The Fake ML, aka “FML”

Instead of popping the ball to the link running the “J” line, another option off the 33 platform is for the dumping middle to step back and receive the ball, in an open-side quickie, “against the grain” of the shutdown defence.

If the defence are expecting an ML this will really catch them by surprise, hence “FML”.

Check out

⚡

The Quickie for more details on the open-side quickie.

The “Splitter”

The Splitter is the same set-up as the ML/33short, but instead of dumping and splitting in, the dumping middle splits out to the short-side.

The link running the “J” line runs between the dumping middle and the half, to attack the open-side with a 4-on-3, against the grain.

We’ll eventually cover

🔜

The Splitter: 33 split here.