PRE-GAME Finals Week 2 - Broncos vs Panthers

[holdzy]

Being conservative to cut out the errors will turn it into Griffin ball. It may beat a poor panthers side but it doesn't help our attack should we come up against Melbourne and try and play the same style.

Need to start playing how we want to play and that's when the ball is moving and we're able to control it. If we can't do that anymore we may as well pack for Hawaii

That's where the errors are largely occurring - moving the ball but not controlling it. It's one thing to say we need to control it and play the way we want to, but how do you produce that? It requires a bit of conservatism initially, and then opening up when the time is right. Completing sets and no errors has to be the priority in the early goings, shut down Penrith's confidence to spread it and create second phase play and hopefully if Benji kicks well again this week, chase the fucking ball and keep the bastards down their end for a change instead of letting them make 60-70m every set.

Any win where we defend well

Exactly, that has to be the cornerstone of our performance tonight, or it won't even matter if we scrape through to next week. I want to see that desire to make tackles hurt tonight, make Penrith scared to take the hard runs. Forwards need to step up so that our backs aren't buggered from doing grind work.

 

[2ndPhase]

I want a carve up. If we are grinding it out and just getting over the Panthers we are doomed next week. Install some confidence playing our game by putting on some points can create an illusion of form that could trick us into playing awesome next week.

 

[BroncsFan]

That's where the errors are largely occurring - moving the ball but not controlling it. It's one thing to say we need to control it and play the way we want to, but how do you produce that? It requires a bit of conservatism initially, and then opening up when the time is right. Completing sets and no errors has to be the priority in the early goings, shut down Penrith's confidence to spread it and create second phase play and hopefully if Benji kicks well again this week, chase the fucking ball and keep the bastards down their end for a change instead of letting them make 60-70m every set.

Completing sets is a clear priority but completing it with the intention only to hold the ball just means they're too scared to drop it. We've all seen how one out rucking works for the broncos.

Our defence has also been horrible and not just the last few weeks I'm talking since 2015 ended. We were impenetrable that year, nowadays when a team gets in the 20 we fold so often and against extremely soft trys.

Playing conservative will help rectify some aspects, but poor attitude is what has been leading to:
- Forcing poor passes
- Dropping balls cold
- Forward passes
- Poor defence leading to us chasing points
- Pushing it sideways before the middle is established

They know what they have to do but they are just not doing it for whatever reason.

 

[Morkel]

Completing sets is a clear priority but completing it with the intention only to hold the ball just means they're too scared to drop it. We've all seen how one out rucking works for the broncos.

Our defence has also been horrible and not just the last few weeks I'm talking since 2015 ended. We were impenetrable that year, nowadays when a team gets in the 20 we fold so often and against extremely soft trys.

Playing conservative will help rectify some aspects, but poor attitude is what has been leading to:
- Forcing poor passes
- Dropping balls cold
- Forward passes
- Poor defence leading to us chasing points
- Pushing it sideways before the middle is established

They know what they have to do but they are just not doing it for whatever reason.

To be fair, the times that teams have scored from inside our 20 have often been when the refs have given the opposition 3 penalties in a row and will not stop penalising us until we concede points.

 

[Foordy]

- Forward passes

at least one of the two of those last week was a BS decision. and the other one 9 didn't show any replays so i can't be sure on that one either

 

[Morkel]

at least one of the two of those last week was a BS decision. and the other one 9 didn't show any replays so i can't be sure on that one either

While the opposition continues to throw plenty. I know I am a biased one-eyed conspiracy nut, but it really does feel like the refs have given up penalising certain teams for illegal stuff that they constantly do, but as soon as we do it we're pinged.

 

[Renegade]

I'd just like an 80minute performance really.

 

[Waynesaurus]

at least one of the two of those last week was a BS decision. and the other one 9 didn't show any replays so i can't be sure on that one either

At least two out every five passes Friend was throwing last week were forward.

 

[Rhys van Beurden]

At least two out every five passes Friend was throwing last week were forward.

Dunno if it's just me, but I swear the vast majority of passes called forward often look flat at worst, yet the dozens of actual forward passes each game, howlers included, get let go. How that Hunt dummy half pass got called forward, yet passes like the Tom T pass in the Manly game up here get allowed is mind boggling.

 

[winslow_wong]

Which serves us better tonight - a slow, grinding win or a carve up?

I'm not sure if we can win a grind with Melbourne next week if we win tonight, I think we'll have to come out guns blazing and just shock them.

If we get up by 18 points then do we take Milford off?

 

[Morkel]

If we get up by 18 points then do we take Milford off?

Make him run more. Let the fatty work off some size.

 

[Cult]

Watching some highlights I think where we've gone wrong in attack is splitting up Milford and Hunt. When they link up they are electric. Even this year, the few times they've been involved in the same play something has come from it, even when Hunt is at hooker. I don't like this separate sides shit at all. I'd love to see them play well together tonight.

 

[Brotherdu]

We have lost the ability to get into the grind. I'd like to see us hold tight for the first 20, get to our kick each set, tackle hard, defend like mofo's, no mistakes. THEN, once we've earned it, spread the ball and play some footy. This offloading from the first tackle into mistake after mistake is just rubbish.

Opportunities will come from pressure, pressure comes from tackling them in the 20 and forcing repeat sets and early kicks. Get them tired and Niko, Hunt, Milf and co will tear them up at the back end of the halves. But keep dropping the ball like last week and the Panthers will roll over us.

 

[Dee]

It's game day boys and girls! Fire up!

Can't say I'm confident unfortunately but the Broncos are playing tonight so they are a chance. Let's see what the boys dish out..

 

[Super Freak]

Darius Boyd column: The mistake Kodi Nikorima can’t make in Friday night’s final vs Penrith

September 15, 2017

OVER to you, Kodi.

I was disappointed to have to tell Wayne on Thursday I won’t be taking the field for Friday night’s final, but it wasn’t a hard decision to make.

I never wanted to put my hand up to play if I didn’t think I couldgive 100 per cent and in the end, I had to do what I thought was best for the team.

During Thursday’s training session, my hamstring was still playing on my mind a bit and that’s not what you want when you’re in the middle of a do-or-die NRL clash.

I also pulled up a bit sore after the session, so the decision was made for me.

Now it’s Kodi Nikorima who will pull on the No.1 jumper and run out at fullback as we play to keep our season alive against Penrith at Suncorp Stadium.

Kodi is one of the brightest young talents in the game and we have full faith in his ability to fill the role.

He’s done it before and every position Wayne throws him in, he steps up to the challenge.

But there’s one mistake Kodi can’t afford to make on Friday night — don’t try to play like me.

Kodi and I are different footballers and he has his own unique style that will serve the team well at fullback.

He has strengths that I don’t and vice versa.

What I don’t want him to do is try to change his game because he thinks he has to be a replica of Darius Boyd.

Kodi is a great talent and he will bring his own skill set to the role.

As a genuine playmaker he will be a weapon for us in attack on Friday night.

He has a great running game and his pass is obviously at halfback standard.

We saw last week when he set up the Corey Oates try, and then put Jordan Kahu away down the wing with a couple of great passes.

He has the potential to break this game open for us when he gets the ball in his hands.

Kodi is also a great defensive player in his own right.

The modern fullback has a lot to do during a game of rugby league, and defence is an area that probably took me a while to master.

You’ve got to have the confidence to speak up, call numbers across and yell at your teammates if you have to.

As a fullback you have to be the organiser of your side’s defensive line and it’s not an easy job.

Kodi just has to remember to be animated and energetic at the back. But that’s a job for the whole team, too, not just Kodi.

Defence is a 13-man job.

That confidence to organise your teammates in a defensive line comes with experience.

As I said, it took me a while to master it and while Kodi doesn’t have the experience under his belt that I do, he already shows a lot of confidence around the group.

As a playmaker he has no problem talking on the field and giving instructions.

He’s a confident young kid and an important part of our club.

He’s played fullback plenty of times before and knows what is required of him on Friday night.

I don’t plan on pulling him aside for any one-on-one tuition.

If I can see something during the game that I think I can help with, of course I’ll be happy to speak to him at half time. I’d do the same with any of my teammates.

But we regularly have meetings with the spine players — there’s six or seven in the squad — so Kodi knows exactly what his job is at fullback.

It’s the same with Ben Hunt when he has to move between halfback and hooker ... because we’ve had those meetings together, he knows what each role requires.

I’ll let Kodi do his own thing. He knows he has the ability to be one of the best players on the field.

Source: Fox Sports

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Which serves us better tonight - a slow, grinding win or a carve up?

I'm not sure if we can win a grind with Melbourne next week if we win tonight, I think we'll have to come out guns blazing and just shock them.

I'm going with the 2006 parallel so this is the game we gave Newcastle a touch up.

 

[ningnangnong]

Alright gang, I've missed the past three matches, but now I'm back from OS and fucking fired up for tonight's game!

We'll massacre this lot.

 

[Kyall]

Let's just start Nikorima at Fullback this time ffs Bennett couldn't possibly make the same mistake twice.