The Quickie

The quickie is by far the most common line attack move in touch.

It only requires 2 players, and can be executed against several different defenders. The quickie is a type of “static” play, meaning you can run it from basically a standing start, like a tap penalty. It also only requires a short pop-pass, so the chance of losing the ball is low.

On this page we’ll cover two different kinds of quickies to run on the defensive middles: the short-side quickie, and the open-side quickie.

📽️ The short-side quickie:What is the short-side quickie?Options from the short-side quickie:If the touching defender pulls “straight” (doesn’t corner):If the touching defender retreats towards his corner:❓ When to run a short-side quickie:✅ Tips to keep in mind when running a short-side quickie:📽️ The open-side quickie:What is the open-side quickie?Options from the open-side quickie:Assuming the touching defender pulls corner: ❓ When to run an open-side quickie:✅ Tips to keep in mind when running an open-side quickie:📽️ More on short-side vs open-side quickies from Touch Screen 📺 Further viewing: Pete Walters and Manu Wakely on quickie setup, execution, and finish 1. Short-side Quickie Set-up 2. Short-side Quickie Execution 3. Short-side Quickie Finish

📽️ The short-side quickie:

What is the short-side quickie?

The short-side quickie is a static play, designed to get the attacking middle running at the short-side of the offside, defending middle who made the touch. Here’s how it works.

3 (middle) goes down for 3 (middle). The dumping middle initiates the touch on the defending middle in the 32 channel, and steps back to quickly receive the ball on the short-side. This middle will be the striker runner.

The open-side 3 (middle) is dummy half. The half quickly pops the ball from the ground, into the hands of the dumping middle who has stepped back so he is onside.

The strike runner attacks the offside defending middle on his shortside (the 32 channel). If the defending middle corners hard, there may be an opportunity to step back into the 33 channel between the two middles.

After popping the ball, the dummy half steps out, and straightens up, to attack the 32 channel between middle and link on the open side.

Options from the short-side quickie:

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 (0:09 in the video above)

Strike runner steps to the short side, the defending short-side link shuts, strike runner passes to her attacking link to score (0:25 in the video above)

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. (0:41 in the video above)

Strike runner steps to the short side, then steps back to dive and score between both middles (0:52 in the video above)

If the touching defender retreats towards his corner:

The strike runner can step back to the open-side, which creates a 4 on 3, and the following open-side options might be on:

Strike runner steps back to the open-side, commits the defending open-side middle who is shutting, then passes off to the middle who was dummy half, who straightens up in the 32 channel to score. (1:32 in the video above)

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 was dummy half, so pass off to the attacking open-side link, who is running a “chop” line, to score. (1:47 in the video above)

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.

❓ When to run a short-side quickie:

When the defending middles are a little “loose” in the 33 channel, meaning there is a big distance between them. This means there might be an opportunity to step back and score in the 33 channel.

When the defending middle you are dumping on is slower and you think you can beat him on the outside.

If you get an attacking penalty close to the defending try line, a short-side quickie is a good option from the first or second touch.

✅ Tips to keep in mind when running a short-side quickie:

For the middle who dumps the ball (and is the strike runner):

make sure you drag the defending middle towards the 33 channel, ideally turning their hips “in”, before attacking their outside.

Initiate the touch, and place the ball down cleanly.

Make sure you make the touch on the defending middle and not the link.

After you dump the ball, you need to step back as quickly as possible. Step back diagonally, and then accelerate as soon as you get the ball.

Once you have the ball and are “live”, run straight at the offside defender.

If the defender corners, step back into the open-side. If he retreats straight, step him on his outside.

For the 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, step back out and straighten up to hit the hole in the 32 channel on the open-side

For the hole runners:

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

The short-side link should run an “out” line aiming at the heels of the defending winger

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.

📽️ The open-side quickie:

What is the open-side quickie?

The open-side quickie is a static play, designed to get the attacking middle running at the open-side of the offside, defending middle who made the touch.

3 (middle) goes down for 3 (middle). The dumping middle initiates the touch on the defending middle in the 33 channel, and steps back to quickly receive the ball on the open-side. This middle will be the striker runner.

The short-side 3 (middle) is dummy half. The half quickly pops the ball from the ground, into the hands of the dumping middle who has stepped back so he is onside.

The touching middle should corner to his short-side, so the strike runner has an opportunity to attack the saving middle “against the grain”. If he catches the saving middle off guard, there might be space on his outside. If the saving middle recovers well, the option to step back into the 33 channel will be on.

After popping the ball, the dummy half steps out, and straightens up, to attack the 32 channel between middle and link on the short side.

Options from the open-side quickie:

Assuming the touching defender pulls corner:

The strike runner steps back to attack the offside saving middle, there is a 3 on 3 “against the grain”:

Strike runner catches the saving middle by surprise and scores on his outside (0:01 above)

Strike runner catches the saving middle by surprise, then steps back into the 33 channel to score (0:26 above)

Strike runner catches the saving middle by surprise, attacks his outside (32 channel), and then passes to the middle who was dummy half, who is running a “ninja” or “trail” line into the 33 channel (explained at 7:40 in the video below)

❓ When to run an open-side quickie:

When the defending middles are “tight” in the 33 channel, meaning there is a small distance between them, and when they are programmed to corner hard after making the touch.

You should aim for the saving middle to be slower, because you will either beat him on his outside or step back to score in the 33 channel. So take the touch on the faster middle.

If the attacking team are expecting short-side quickies, open-side quickies are a good way to switch it up.

✅ Tips to keep in mind when running an open-side quickie:

For the middle who dumps the ball:

try and get both middles “up” and in the touch.

Initiate the touch, and place the ball down cleanly.

Make sure you make the touch on the defending middle and not the link.

After you’ve dumped the ball and stepped across, you’ve now swapped sides.

For the 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, stay where you are, delay, then straighten up to hit the 32 channel on the short-side.

For the hole runners:

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

The short-side link should run a “chop” line.

The open-side link should run an “out” line, aiming at the heels of the defending winger.

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

📽️ More on short-side vs open-side quickies from Touch Screen

📺 Further viewing: Pete Walters and Manu Wakely on quickie setup, execution, and finish