POST GAME Round 17 - Broncos vs Storm

[Unbreakable]

Have we won a single game without Reed? At this point I'm willing to re-sign him on a lifetime deal, we have LITERALLY no good outside back depth right now.

 

[Stix]

Have we won a single game without Reed? At this point I'm willing to re-sign him on a lifetime deal, we have LITERALLY no good outside back depth right now.

I think the fact that we re signed Reed is part of the reason we're in this situation... And now we're re signing Maranta?? I'm over it, buggered if I know how we've started settling for mediocrity

 

[talanoa]

Talanoa or 1910 or one of the insiders, is losing Walters having a greater impact than we realized? I obviously don't know the extent of his involvement last year, but he seems to be one major piece missing that was there last year.

for me i dont think the walters situation is the over bearing factor. you dont lose your skill and ability, you lose your desire first of all!!!
looking at our pack at present, mcguire is the only one showing any real desire and passion.
i still think our biggest issue is our base recruitment!!

 

[BruiserMk1]

Can you please elaborate on #6 [MENTION=8530]talanoa[/MENTION]?

 

[rnabokov]

Absolute pathetic performance. The only time they looked good was when Roberts scored. I'd like to see Milford link up with Roberts more often. Could really use a few games with a full strength side. Felt sorry for Nikorima.

Been saying that for months, or just Hunt and Milford "hunting" (or Milf-ing") together...

Anyway, as I posted elsewhere, everyone looks like they are no longer enjoying their footie, and playing footie is no longer fun. Can't win with that attitude.

Let's throw the ball around a whole lot more, let's try some fun set plays and please team, stop looking as miserable as we fans look when we watch you on the park look, well, miserable (and play miserable).

 

[Fat Gandalf]

That was the first game in my life I have ever left the ground early, and I wasn't alone, I left with 20-25 mins left and there were thousands leaving at the same time. Really hope we can pick it up for Corey's last season

 

[uptheguts]

We could really do with a big fast Fijian winger. Surly there are more where Vunilalu came from.

 

[Big Pete]

As far as the Broncos backline is concerned, there's obviously a problem there. A few players won't be around next year - Eden is definitely off to England. I'm unsure how much longer Anderson has with the club but given how he was never really spoken of as a candidate, I'd assume he's on the outer. And Elijah Alick probably won't have much of a career. Such a shame as well, he had plenty of raw talent but just had no time to develop and build on any of it. So I expect to see some changes come next year and I don't think it's impossible to see the Broncos pick up a couple of blue-chip signings. Let's not forget last season the club was able to snag James Roberts, Marion Seve and Jamayne Isaako in the same off-season.

The backline depth looks dire, but let's have a look at the outs we had last night.

No Reed
No Kahu
Lost Oates less than a quarter into the game
No Eden
No Opacic
No Anderson
No Alick
No Byrnes

Factor in Maranta and Te Rupe having long lay-offs and it's evidently clear to see why the club has struggled out-wide.

I have a big rap on the Cowboys and the way they develop players, but really the only players who are worth boasting about that have come through their 20s system is Taumalolo, Morgan and Feldt. It took Morgan four seasons to find his feet in first grade, Feldt was in and out of first grade until he hit some fantastic form that he's still currently riding and Taumalolo was a can't miss prospect much like Oates. Outside of that, you've got juniors that have been around since the prehistoric era, a couple fringe players and the odd prospect that hasn't had a chance to make a name for themselves.

And I'm not saying that to have a go at them, but just to put everything into perspective.

I think it's symptomatic of the coaching a lot of these juniors receive. I think there's cases where clubs are being very lazy with their appointments and are just throwing ex-players into the mix to give the old boys something to do. Some of them work out well - Ciraldo has been amazing at Penrith, John Morris is putting his experience as a Phys Ed teacher to good use but there's been cases where it just seems like they went with the quick and easy option. As such, we're seeing a lot of quality talents under-deliver. Guys who tend to rip up in Matts, SG, Cyril and Mal only to fall off the radar in the NYC. And that's always going to happen, but you would think it's something the NRL would be looking to improve upon. In a lot of cases, it seems to have stagnated, if not gone back entirely.

 

[abashii]

We have issues no doubt but I don't think we're as bad as last night's performance looked. Everything came together in a perfect storm - injuries before and during the game, some shitty calls from the refs at crucial times and the best halfback and hooker going round to capitalise on them.

Plus all night the Storm were getting three in the tackle and we only got a few quick play the balls all night. Conversely they found their front in every tackle, got a quick play and had a second run in the same time as our players were still trying to get up. No other team is as good at slowing down the ruck and they are especially good at just choking us out for 80 minutes.

Without the injury to Oates and three+ dodgy tries we were in with an ok chance, we probably would still have lost but in a much closer game. But on the early part of our performance last night I'd back us against just about any other team in the NRL. And I can easily see us going on a 4 or 5 game streak after the bye, no other team is nearly as good as the Storm at slowing down the ruck constantly. That's what stops us from playing our type or football more than anything else and we would have been a fair chance of beating any other team last night.

 

[jamesqld]

I have read a few mixed opinions on some individuals but here what stood out to me.

I thought Wallace was great. He really tried his hardest to make an impact when he came on, I loved it. I'm really liking where his development is heading. He is only 24 I think. He still has improvement in him.

Gilletts defence was awesome. He really stood out for me in the first half. I thought he really lead by example out there. He is essential to retain and could be our next Corey Parker.

Offa ran hard and was a handfull. He didn't have a massive workload but what he did was quality and showed he is still hungry to make his way back into the team.

TPJ & Su'A have been excellent considering their lack of experience. They still have so much development to do but are showing they can roll with the big boys already which is a great sign.

Glenn was really good IMO. He worked hard and was really involved. Got caught out of position a bit but that was bound to happen playing centre. Some people need to remember we can't have superstars in every position. Glenn is a solid all round back rower, would come at a fairly decent price and is the kind of guy you want around the club and wants to stick around rather than chase $$. Su'A may show more potential but is only 18, his time will come.

Maranta was hopeless. He could have caught that kick on the full but let it bounce for the storm player to score. Another try he sat on his line waiting for the player to run to him. If he rushed up he could have had a better chance to stop him from scoring. He is scared to put his body on the line and was getting dominated running out of our half. I was a fan of his last year but he clearly has a confidence issue coming back from injuries.

Blair needs to stand up.

Not going to comment on anyone else for now.

 

[Alec]

I dunno how Gillett and Sua were awesome or excellent. Gillett missed a buttload of tackles once again, and Su'a let in a bunch of tries/linebreaks. I hope this is the lowest we can get, and we'll only improve from here on. I don't think we are a real chance for a premiership though. Too many faults that I can't see being fixed with a couple of months to go.

 

[Mitch06]

If we learnt anything from last night it's that Wallace is a bench forward and should be for the foreseeable future.

 

[Kimlo]

When is Reed back? I want him back ASAP.

 

[winslow_wong]

No Cookies | The Courier Mail

Milf didnt want Lockys help at one point. I do feel we are lacking some spark. Is it the loss of Walters coaching?

Didn't want lockys help? The future immortal? Seriously? That's pretty cocky.

 

[Stix]

So our next game against South's... We should be close to full strength yeah? Aiming for a gutsy grinding win to go into the following week back at home, hopefully full strength to put in a big performance against the Panthers and get the season back on track. MUST win the next 2 and as much as I think they are f***ed a couple of solid performances at full strength will put us back on track... I just don't know where they are going to find another gear to go further into the finals because I think they will have to throw everything they have to just getting there at this stage... BUT you never know, we might just need to get there and then put some faith in Bennett the almighty

 

[Porthoz]

I dunno how Gillett and Sua were awesome or excellent. Gillett missed a buttload of tackles once again, and Su'a let in a bunch of tries/linebreaks. I hope this is the lowest we can get, and we'll only improve from here on. I don't think we are a real chance for a premiership though. Too many faults that I can't see being fixed with a couple of months to go.

I have put myself through the game, and that is absolute bullshit, but that doesn't really surprise me coming from you, since neither of those players have Parker or McGuire as surname.

Su'A had one bad read indeed, but given the circumstances on that left side, quite good while on field.

Gillett was the best defender on the field in the first half, by a fair margin too, and only after desperation and frustration took hold, did he end up faltering in the second half, and only by trying too hard.

 

[Hunt99]

Do we think KNick will be available for the South's game, or will his shoulder dislocation keep him out?

 

[Jason Simmons]

I have put myself through the game, and that is absolute bullshit, but that doesn't really surprise me coming from you, since neither of those players have Parker or McGuire as surname.

Su'A had one bad read indeed, but given the circumstances on that left side, quite good while on field.

Gillett was the best defender on the field in the first half, by a fair margin too, and only after desperation and frustration took hold, did he end up faltering in the second half, and only by trying too hard.

Matt Gillett's stats from last night:

65 minutes played.

9 hitups for 64 metres.

44 tackles

5 missed tackles.

Compared to minutes played:

Fewest hitups in the pack.

Fewest metres gained per run for the pack.

Most missed tackles in the whole team.


No wonder Tallis called him the best forward in the world! No-one could match those wonderful stats! Lol