The coach had worked with the centre at second-tier Saxons level and come to admire his bravery, efficiency and hard-headedness in erecting and manning the barricades: not just in terms of one-on-one tackling, but in the wider organisational disciplines that lie at the heart of any successful side.
It was "time to separate the men from the boys," and this meant a one-on-one tackling drill.
There's always two, three, four, five, six guys on one tackle".
In two preseason games, Robertson, who has played about 40 snaps, has assisted on one tackle.
5.31pm GMT 31 min Going back to the try, Burrell did beat his man in a one-on-one tackle.
Early in the second half Hayne drove Warriors' star Johnson onto his back in a big one-on-one tackle, the Kiwi international spilling the ball from the impact.
He talks with me about work-rate and defence, sticking with the defensive system, making decisions quickly, dealing with the high ball and making one-on-one tackles.
Instead it was the Titans who grabbed the vital points before halftime, taking a 16-2 lead into the break when Delouise Hoeter missed a simple one-on-one tackle on James Roberts.
The pivotal moment of the first half came three minutes before the break when Tomkins not only brought down the Leeds winger Ryan Hall within sight of the line but stole the ball in a one-on-one tackle.
Reading the game, attacking hard on the opposition side of the gainline, effective communication, keeping a tight shape and maximising performance in the one-on-one tackle area... all these things will be vital, with the last perhaps being the most important.
According to football folklore, in the 1980's a waiter wandered into a British hotel suite, where a sloshed Best and two female admirers were locked in a two-on-one tackle, surrounded by bottles of Champagne and winnings from the previous night at the casino.
