POST GAME Round 3 - Broncos vs Cowboys

[Wolfie]

Wallace has impressed me. He looked well out of his depth last season but this time around he is having a very good impact.

 

[Morkel]

But isn't that the point of a very good FB? He plays everywhere, and has the vision and instincts to be in the right place at the right time, separate to any specific strategy which may have had Kahu playing in any one position on the field

Yeah but he wasn't there because he was popping up like a good fullback. He was there because that's where he was positioned at the time. And again, it's not criticising, because he made it look easy when in fact the positioning, timing and execution needs to be millimetre perfect. But it's more a response to the concerns that Boyd is coming back in at fullback regardless of how Kahu goes. Because that being so, he can still be very good elsewhere. IIRC coming up he was considered a fullback/centre like Beale.

 

[Allo]

Wallace has impressed me. He looked well out of his depth last season but this time around he is having a very good impact.

Helps that he's not riding the bench for three games straight and then tossed on for 10 minutes and expected to be as good as the starters. FTR, I've always liked him.

 

[CaptainHook]

Extremely happy with the win. We were scoring genuine tries rather than fluking it. I thought we showed intent last night. Like we were there to play football - get to a lead and go on with it. It's quite a contrast to teams past where we looked like we couldn't wait to get off the field and find the nearest tattoo parlour.

I liked our support play. It's been non-existent the last few seasons. To see making forwards making breaks and having other forwards backing and scoring is awesome. We look dangerous when we pass the ball.

Only gripes really are the usual - slow starts to each half, a few too many errors and penalites

 

[redbur95]

With Kahu having his best game at fullback and Milford making two line-break assists, the debate regarding who goes at fullback and five-eighth should quieten down for a bit.

Auckland's always a tough place to travel to, and our defence will be more important in securing a win than our attack for this match.

 

[rnabokov]

Yeah but he wasn't there because he was popping up like a good fullback. He was there because that's where he was positioned at the time. And again, it's not criticising, because he made it look easy when in fact the positioning, timing and execution needs to be millimetre perfect. But it's more a response to the concerns that Boyd is coming back in at fullback regardless of how Kahu goes. Because that being so, he can still be very good elsewhere. IIRC coming up he was considered a fullback/centre like Beale.

Hmm, I am unsure that there is a difference. For mine he was "popping up" like a good FB. The point is he was the extra man in the line and unlike say Hoffman who also did "pop up" in either of his 2 roles last year, Kahu was "Jordie on the spot", and moved the ball at the right moment. In any case, the point I am making is that he is looking to be exactly what we need until Boyd returns and 2nd, he will be wasted on the wing yet, better to have him in the backline wherever he plays than anyone else at this stage.

I am looking forward to see how he handles and SJ and Tomkins.

 

[Morkel]

Hmm, I am unsure that there is a difference. For mine he was "popping up" like a good FB. The point is he was the extra man in the line and unlike say Hoffman who also did "pop up" in either of his 2 roles last year, Kahu was "Jordie on the spot", and moved the ball at the right moment. In any case, the point I am making is that he is looking to be exactly what we need until Boyd returns and 2nd, he will be wasted on the wing yet, better to have him in the backline wherever he plays than anyone else at this stage.

I am looking forward to see how he handles and SJ and Tomkins.

But he didn't pop up or be an extra man. He was there, where he's supposed to be, at centre.

 

[rnabokov]

But he didn't pop up or be an extra man. He was there, where he's supposed to be, at centre.

Point taken about the technicalities.

I'll choose my words more carefully. He was there, where he was supposed to be, in position to create or score tries ... something we haven't had in a FB for a long long time.

 

[Morkel]

Point taken about the technicalities.

I'll choose my words more carefully. He was there, where he was supposed to be, in position to create or score tries ... something we haven't had in a FB for a long long time.

Yeah, I get your point. I was getting close to sounding like 1910 wasn't I?

 

[Porthoz]

But he didn't pop up or be an extra man. He was there, where he's supposed to be, at centre.

He scored his try as a FB.

Regardless of those two assists, where he was technically a centre, he showed he can play the modern fullback game by passing when need be (and he's got skillz), or running the ball as he did when he scored his try. He also has a very underestimated kicking game, which will hopefully make an appearance soon, as he continues to gain confidence...

 

[rnabokov]

Yeah, I get your point. I was getting close to sounding like 1910 wasn't I?

good info ... without the attitude :)

 

[rnabokov]

He scored his try as a FB.

Regardless of those two assists, where he was technically a centre, he showed he can play the modern fullback game by passing when need be (and he's got skillz), or running the ball as he did when he scored his try. He also has a very underestimated kicking game, which will hopefully make an appearance soon, as he continues to gain confidence...

I'll have to watch the replays but wasn't Kahu's 1st try assist, the one where Maranta made the long break down field, because Hodges was left way back in our 20 and Kahu was in the right place at the right time following the play?

It's also interesting (and disappointing) that (from memory) the Cowboy's 1st try out wide had them 3 on 2 whereas ours, the one Kahu scored in the same position using a very similar style of play - the numbers were even. It was Kahu's positioning, the pass to him, and Kahu's running which made the difference, beating Thurston for pace, rather than just poor defence which led to the Cowboy's first try.

I also like the quick dummy half play from Niko which started it all. Now that is a whole other story ...

The more I think of it, the more I am starting to believe this Broncos team is coming alive, and I admit I am surprised after our 1st 2 performances. Can't wait for the Warriors to see if the progress continues.

 

[Danoz Direct]

I also like the quick dummy half play from Niko which started it all. Now that is a whole other story ...

Yeah I thought Kodi has had a really good impact on the game when he has come on in the last two games.

Love his speed out of dummy half.

 

[Splinter]

Where is AP this week? I am missing him

 

[mitch222]

The most satisfying part of this win was that all the haters and doubters have gone silent. Whilst we can still improve immensely we are getting better every game which is a positive. The bench looks good finally with Bennett actually utilizing it, Blair pulled up his socks this week and was good (barring that pass which I put down to being well in front so it didn't matter and I'm sure if it was a big game situation he doesn't throw it), our backline was slick and was given time to move and our attitude was on song. We may have conceded a couple of tries in the end but most of our leaders were off the field at that stage and youngsters were on the field so no harm done. I would also like to give a huge thumbs up to Jarrod Wallace. He has been immense these past few weeks and we are finally seeing the potential he has when given regular minutes. He is giving us a safe prop option off the bench now.

 

[john1420]

Classic Bennett really, if there's one thing he doesn't lack, it's confidence. He always seems absolutely sure of himself and the direction he's taking, which I think rubs off on the team because they all feel that confidence in them.

I'm seriously glad Bennett is back, for a long time it's felt like we've just been playing football but not really moving in any positive direction, I now believe we're a club on the rise and that's a great feeling to have as a fan. Having a coach that is brutally honest about our flaws, that is willing to speak to the media, and that has a clear vision and direction for where he wants the club to be this year and in a few years is wonderfully refreshing.

Griffin was our coach for a few years, but I never really got the impression he had a long term plan for the club, I also never got the impression he realised his flaws and tried to fix them, all his major moves seems reactionary (Barba to 5/8, Thaiday/Parker to prop, the co-captaincy), whereas Bennett knew exactly what he wanted from the get go, he knew it was one captain, who he wanted to play in the spine, which players would be playing where, quickly with no fuss let go of those he didn't want and quickly made some signings for players who he did want.

Bennett is not a tactical genius, but he has a few very strong attributes, he's a great man manager, he understands the fundamentals really well, and he has pulling power so we're less likely to lose players we want to keep and vice versa. All that ensures that while he's coaching us, we'll always be a competitive team. Choosing the right support staff (I'm hoping Walters in particular can be that) is crucial to us taking that next step to being a great team.

Bennett will never win us a premiership on his own, but he has arguably the most important attributes a coach needs, that with the right support staff we can be a genuinely great team again.

It finally feels good to be a Broncos fan again. I just hope the classic Bennett post origin slump doesn't make a return this year.

And even if some of those decisions prove to be errors, many others will be good, and the overall effect is still positive

 

[K-Style]

Good stats from J Wallace. 26min. 14runs (125m). 1 Tackle break and 1 offload. 25 tackles.

and fan favorite:

Lachlan Maranta 14 runs (198m). 5 Tackle breaks. 3 line breaks and 2 tries.

 

[Porthoz]

Good stats from J Wallace. 26min. 14runs (125m). 1 Tackle break and 1 offload. 25 tackles.

and fan favorite:

Lachlan Maranta 14 runs (198m). 5 Tackle breaks. 3 line breaks and 2 tries.

Maranta's stats very inflated of course by his run coast to coast.