PRE-GAME Round 23 - Broncos vs Rabbitohs

[Mitch06]

We're stuck with Nikorima for the remainder of the season, absolutely zero reason to shaft him now, it'll make us worse as a team and wouldn't be fair on whoever we replace him with. This is what I'm hoping for next week -

1. Boyd
2. Oates
3. Roberts
4. Opacic
5. Isaako
6. Milford
7. Nikorima
8. Lodge
9. McCullough
10. Ofahengaue
11. Glenn
12. Pangai Jr
13. McGuire

14. Fifita
15. Sims
16. Carrigan
17. Thaiday

We just re-signed Opacic and we need someone with any ability to defend out there, don't see why he wouldn't get another shot. I also haven't been impressed with Mago in the slightest, keen to see what Carrigan can bring.

Mago was reasonable last night. His second stint was much stronger...definitely less of a liability than having Sam out there for two stints.

 

[Mitch06]

Every time we have started Ofahengaue at lock he has been immense this season. Just when you think he is gassed he shifts into another gear and works harder.

 

[Unbreakable]

Mago was reasonable last night. His second stint was much stronger...definitely less of a liability than having Sam out there for two stints.

I named Thaiday because I'm not delusional, he won't be getting dropped regardless of what he serves up at this stage. I'm just hoping Wayne at least benches him so we only have to use him for 1 short stint rather than 2. Whenever he's on the field we just get bogged down in our own end because he's incapable of making more than 5 metres per run.

 

[Mitch06]

I named Thaiday because I'm not delusional, he won't be getting dropped regardless of what he serves up at this stage. I'm just hoping Wayne at least benches him so we only have to use him for 1 short stint rather than 2. Whenever he's on the field we just get bogged down in our own end because he's incapable of making more than 5 metres per run.

Yeah I understand. I was just comparing Mago v Thaiday.

 

[Wolfie]

We're stuck with Nikorima for the remainder of the season, absolutely zero reason to shaft him now, it'll make us worse as a team and wouldn't be fair on whoever we replace him with. This is what I'm hoping for next week -

1. Boyd
2. Oates
3. Roberts
4. Opacic
5. Isaako
6. Milford
7. Nikorima
8. Lodge
9. McCullough
10. Ofahengaue
11. Glenn
12. Pangai Jr
13. McGuire

14. Fifita
15. Sims
16. Carrigan
17. Thaiday

We just re-signed Opacic and we need someone with any ability to defend out there, don't see why he wouldn't get another shot. I also haven't been impressed with Mago in the slightest, keen to see what Carrigan can bring.

I really hope Carrigan gets a go. Excellent player, imo the pick of our young forwards. Does a lot of the dirty work and tough carries as well. I think he has earned a shot with his form for Wynnum this year.

 

[Harry Sack]

Well, as much as I am a savage critic of Knikorima, it's his defence and defensive reads of which I am critical. His attack is for mine by and large really good. Elusive, great hands, sees an opportunity well and is quick off the mark to take it, and works well with TPJ. He just needs to spend 7 days with Tunza, for the next 3 weeks learning how to read the play in defence and how to tackle

"Alright you little *****, get in there and fuckin kill em!!!"

 

[Mitchell_Broncos]

https://www.broncos.com.au/news/2018/08/10/three-charged-out-of-xxxx-derby/

THREE players have been charged out of last night's gripping XXXX Derby in Townsville.
Bronco Tevita Pangai junior received a minor dangerous contact charge but will evade suspension with an early guilty plea.
Cowboys' fullback Te Maire Martin received the same grade-one dangerous contact charge for an incident with Matt Lodge that gave the Broncos a penalty after he scored a 25th minute try.
Martin will also get off with an early guilty plea.
However Cowboy Jason Taumalolo faces a one-week suspension for a shoulder charge.
He was hit with a grade one charge for his contact on Jamayne Isaako in the 47th minute.
Taumalolo will serve one week with an early guilty plea, or faces two weeks on the sidelines if he fights the charge and loses.

 

[Accept]

Why do so many people want Dargan in the side? He isn't even playing as well as Murphy for a start. You can't be watching him play for North's.

Most of these people wouldn't have seen him play even once. They could walk past him in the street and not have a clue who he was. Yet they want him to steer the team around two weeks before the playoffs. But all along knowing that Bennett never inserts a debutant into the spine. But these people also want Bennett gone ASAP thinking that getting rid of the greatest coach of all time will automatically improve our fortunes. It all defies logic and is cringe worthy and comical all at the same time.

 

[john1420]

Shibadingdong can **** right off. Thought he was putrid last night. Where's Pearson?? Give Kahu a chance to redeem himself and run Staggs on the bench in case he shits the bed. Kodi will be there again because he is still the best option with Bird injured. I'd love Offa to hang onto the 13 and put Moose back up front.

Shibasaki was putrid? What a massive overstatement at best, flat out wrong at worst

Even if he wasn't great, it's his debut game FFS

How about having a go at experienced 100 plus gamers who failed to perform?

 

[Nashy]

Shibasaki was putrid? What a massive overstatement at best, flat out wrong at worst

Even if he wasn't great, it's his debut game FFS

How about having a go at experienced 100 plus gamers who failed to perform?

I thought he sucked too. The other players don't come into it, because we aren't discussing them. It's quite evident across the forum that they aren't escaping criticism.

I get that he's on debut, so I'm going to give him more time before I make a call on the kid, but I don't think he was better than the guy he replaced. Not even close. Which is saying something considering how bad Kahu has been recently. I expect a junior who's bought into the team to be better than he was. I would have been more forgiving if it was round 2, but this close to finals, Wayne's brain is not working.

 

[Jedhead]

The short time I have seen Staggs play tells me he is NRL ready. His ability to make things happen is not a fluke either, you either have it or you don't. He has it and at such a young age we should be giving him a bit more game time to perfect it. I know we cant start him and using him costs us an interchange, but if he brings another attacking option to the team why not use him?

Sitting on the bench as cover is the lowest possible return for the team. Get him on early and let him move from the centres to the forwards (for smal stints) to allow our forwards a break. we need to optimise his inclusion in the 17. having him sit out the whole game is not the best strategy for acheiving maximum optimisation of our available resources..

 

[Alec]

The short time I have seen Staggs play tells me he is NRL ready. His ability to make things happen is not a fluke either, you either have it or you don't. He has it and at such a young age we should be giving him a bit more game time to perfect it. I know we cant start him and using him costs us an interchange, but if he brings another attacking option to the team why not use him?

Sitting on the bench as cover is the lowest possible return for the team. Get him on early and let him move from the centres to the forwards (for smal stints) to allow our forwards a break. we need to optimise his inclusion in the 17. having him sit out the whole game is not the best strategy for acheiving maximum optimisation of our available resources..

Yeah, Staggs looked good every time he's played decent minutes pretty much. Too bad we can't start him.

 

[Wolfie]

The short time I have seen Staggs play tells me he is NRL ready. His ability to make things happen is not a fluke either, you either have it or you don't. He has it and at such a young age we should be giving him a bit more game time to perfect it. I know we cant start him and using him costs us an interchange, but if he brings another attacking option to the team why not use him?

Sitting on the bench as cover is the lowest possible return for the team. Get him on early and let him move from the centres to the forwards (for smal stints) to allow our forwards a break. we need to optimise his inclusion in the 17. having him sit out the whole game is not the best strategy for acheiving maximum optimisation of our available resources..

He can't start for us until next year.

 

[Nashy]

He can't start for us until next year.

That's no reason to plonk him on the bench and not put him on the field though. Either plan to use him, or put another forward on the bench, or a utility, a halfback, fullback, someone.

 

[Unbreakable]

It's at the point where I seriously don't see why we don't just start Glenn at left centre and someone like Sims in the back row, give Sims 10-15 minutes to make as many hit-ups and as much impact as he can, sub him off for Staggs, move Glenn back to the left edge and put Staggs at left centre, call it a day.

From a strategic stand point that sounds considerably better than just not playing Staggs at all.

 

[Wolfie]

That's no reason to plonk him on the bench and not put him on the field though. Either plan to use him, or put another forward on the bench, or a utility, a halfback, fullback, someone.

I don't think Wayne trusts him in the back row (don't know why) so I just wouldnt pick him. He can actually cover all the back line plus back row so I can see why you would have him, but it's the second time now he hasn't used him. He used Opacic in the forwards in one game from the bench so I can't work out why he doesn't use Staggs. I know Tom is a little bigger In His build than Staggs, but Kotoni has played plenty of back row.

 

[Dash]

Staggs as bench hooker. Solves two problems at once.

 

[Number6]

It's at the point where I seriously don't see why we don't just start Glenn at left centre and someone like Sims in the back row, give Sims 10-15 minutes to make as many hit-ups and as much impact as he can, sub him off for Staggs, move Glenn back to the left edge and put Staggs at left centre, call it a day.

From a strategic stand point that sounds considerably better than just not playing Staggs at all.

When we did that a month or so ago Glenn got found out in less than 5 mins IIRC. How many more injuries do NrL want? Surely team doc can find a minor niggle in Opaic and Shiba that needs a 2 month rest . Would argue Kahu is struggling after his big jaw injury so that has to count.

Or just play Boyd at centre and find a new winger which is usually a lot easier than a centre. Probably need one next year anyway given Oates looks like he is already thinking about houses in Townsville or wherever. Tell Pearson to get the right boots and give him one last crack. But open to suggestions. Be nice to get another big winger.