PRE-GAME Round 23 - Broncos vs Rabbitohs

[Viti]

He's a good player and will improve with experience. He is one of very few who stood tall against the Warriors.

I definitely rate him but I think he’s playing a bit too heavy atm, with a good pre season behind him next year he could definitely become another top quality player in the TPJ/Taumalolo mould.
In saying that I’m not expecting too much from him at this stage but I think he’s definitely shown enough to at least have a bench sport next year.

 

[Stix]

Watching Souths v chooks... Souths are a good side but take Cook out of this team and they would look average.
Burgess brothers are huge but our forwards are capable of handling them. They are throwing the ball around like a confident side but I think the chooks might get over them. TPJ needs to hit Cook so hard he shits himself.

 

[Rico]

This year after 1 game people are calling for Pearson to be selected.

After his few games last year... many people were calling for him never to play NRL for us again ...

How many games did maranta get? He’s well worth another shot on that basis

 

[Number6]

How many games did maranta get? He’s well worth another shot on that basis

I am stating bring him back but isn’t with great enthusiasm rather lack of options and need to give him a final go given has shown promise.

Better than a rookie teenage centre getting scarred in must win games with lots of weak links around him. Things change have to go with it else back yourself into a corner and end up with half the team playing out of position cause of refusal to adapt....

 

[rnabokov]

Tommy is very underrated. We just have him defending all the time and he doesn't really play his natural game at all.

I like kotoni, I've been going on about him since before he even made the side but I do think some people go way over the top with him. He has enormous potential, but I think he has also been lucky he has been in the team when the team has actually performed well also. If he made his debut in a team performance like we saw against the Dogs or the Tigers away for example he probably wouldn't have had the same impact. He is being built up so much by some people I worry he is going to get abuse when he has games where he struggles. I am still totally puzzled though why we just don't play him off the bench. I think he has thoroughly earned a shot.

Can't agree with you about Opacic. His acceleration and speed off the mark is sod ordinary, overall speed ordinary and yes, his defence is good however we need an attacking centre as much as a defensive centre and for mine, Opacic is just not what we need in the centres.

Staggs for mine has shown nothing but class in attack and defence. As a young player, he needs his chances and he will stuff up now and then like everyone starting out at the top, yet that is how you learn and improve. Better than sitting on the bench all night, or selecting a plodder in a key position. Sorry, I just don't rate Opacic at all.

On the Bunnies, their attack looked pedestrian, but then the Chooks defence was 1st rate and made the Bunnies look ordinary. For us, the question is whether or not we can shut down Cooke and their pack exactly like the Chooks did. On recent performances, somehow, I just can't see that happening.

 

[Super Freak]

Rabbitohs losing doesn't bode well for us.

 

[Jedhead]

I remember reading pre-season that the Rorters had the easiest draw in terms of how many top 8 teams from last year they played and how manty times they played these teams on a single basis (i.e. they only had to play them once in the season). I said then to my brother -in -law chuck a lazy $100 on them as come the semis they'll be in the best nick for a dog fight for the GF. I think I'm not far off the money if you go back and check who they have had to play this year. They've had by far the easist draw of any team in the comp. What a coincidence.

 

[Wolfie]

Can't agree with you about Opacic. His acceleration and speed off the mark is sod ordinary, overall speed ordinary and yes, his defence is good however we need an attacking centre as much as a defensive centre and for mine, Opacic is just not what we need in the centres.

Staggs for mine has shown nothing but class in attack and defence. As a young player, he needs his chances and he will stuff up now and then like everyone starting out at the top, yet that is how you learn and improve. Better than sitting on the bench all night, or selecting a plodder in a key position. Sorry, I just don't rate Opacic at all.

On the Bunnies, their attack looked pedestrian, but then the Chooks defence was 1st rate and made the Bunnies look ordinary. For us, the question is whether or not we can shut down Cooke and their pack exactly like the Chooks did. On recent performances, somehow, I just can't see that happening.

There was nothing wrong with Tom's attack at all when he wasn't asked to play like he has been this season. He was pretty impressive when he first made the team let's not forget, and his attack is a lot better at Redcliffe. He is nowhere near as bad as you seem to be making out, and it's backed up by 4 grand final winning coaches being keen to have him on board. Agree with you about his speed off the mark. He isn't slow, but his acceleration is the one big negative in his game for me.

As for Staggs, like I said, I've been championing him for a long time and I really rate him, but at the moment he has looked good against a back rower filling in at center and the Gold Coast Titans. I've seen a lot of him this year in ISC and I don't think his defence is that great at crucial moments. He hangs his arm a lot, and positionally he drifts out of position a fair bit. That should improve in time, he's a smart player and he has a high ceiling in terms of his potential. But also as I keep saying, we have seen players kill it then fail to live up to the potential.

 

[Sproj]

There was nothing wrong with Tom's attack at all when he wasn't asked to play like he has been this season. He was pretty impressive when he first made the team let's not forget, and his attack is a lot better at Redcliffe. He is nowhere near as bad as you seem to be making out, and it's backed up by 4 grand final winning coaches being keen to have him on board. Agree with you about his speed off the mark. He isn't slow, but his acceleration is the one big negative in his game for me.

As for Staggs, like I said, I've been championing him for a long time and I really rate him, but at the moment he has looked good against a back rower filling in at center and the Gold Coast Titans. I've seen a lot of him this year in ISC and I don't think his defence is that great at crucial moments. He hangs his arm a lot, and positionally he drifts out of position a fair bit. That should improve in time, he's a smart player and he has a high ceiling in terms of his potential. But also as I keep saying, we have seen players kill it then fail to live up to the potential.

Not only that, Opacic (like Boyd by his own admission) being a defensive centre is EXACTLY what this side needs on the left. His attack also isn't THAT bad and he has a bucket load of Reed about him. What this side wouldn't give for a fit Reed these days. That guy was criminally underrated because he wasn't all flash and quick off the mark but was an extremely good centre before his shoulders went. He knew how to draw and pass, he knew how to put on a big hit and he knew how to make a second effort even when busted, all qualities that are so under-appreciated it isn't funny. Opacic is EXACTLY what this side needs. That said, if he is injured, put Boyd back at centre, Isaako at fullback and Pearson in on the wing, he has looked good in the limited opportunities I've had to watch him this year.

 

[rnabokov]

Guys, I just can't agree with you about Tom. If we were short of back rowers that's where he'd fit for mine. But centre, yes of course we need a good defence on the edge and wider, however our problem is just as much scoring points as leaking them and I actually prefer Boyd out there than full back where he just doesn't cut it anymore IMO. Boyd's the centre we need and the FB we don't. I'd rather Isaako at the back.

As for Jack Reed, I was one of his best fans, unlike a lot of people on this forum. He was a lot quicker than people gave him credit, a great defender and yes, he could set up his winger really well, and scored some very classy tries. Compared to Opacic ... well for mine there is none. Reed was a class above Tom in my book. Opacic just doesn't make things happen unlike say Staggs once he is given a decent amount of time on the field, preferably in the centres which is where he belongs. We have enough forwards and a dearth of classy backs.

And as for the game v the Bunnies, they are just so beatable provided the defence is up to scratch 2015 standard (it's all about attitude), Knikorima and Milf play as a pair of halves and not distant relatives, and Roberts gets plenty of ball with Staggs getting good game time.

Having said that, if GI returns for this game, things get a lot harder for us ...

 

[Wolfie]

Guys, I just can't agree with you about Tom. If we were short of back rowers that's where he'd fit for mine. But centre, yes of course we need a good defence on the edge and wider, however our problem is just as much scoring points as leaking them and I actually prefer Boyd out there than full back where he just doesn't cut it anymore IMO. Boyd's the centre we need and the FB we don't. I'd rather Isaako at the back.

As for Jack Reed, I was one of his best fans, unlike a lot of people on this forum. He was a lot quicker than people gave him credit, a great defender and yes, he could set up his winger really well, and scored some very classy tries. Compared to Opacic ... well for mine there is none. Reed was a class above Tom in my book. Opacic just doesn't make things happen unlike say Staggs once he is given a decent amount of time on the field, preferably in the centres which is where he belongs. We have enough forwards and a dearth of classy backs.

And as for the game v the Bunnies, they are just so beatable provided the defence is up to scratch 2015 standard (it's all about attitude), Knikorima and Milf play as a pair of halves and not distant relatives, and Roberts gets plenty of ball with Staggs getting good game time.

Having said that, if GI returns for this game, things get a lot harder for us ...

Tbf, and yes I know its at ISC level, but he does come up with big moments. His defence won them the game the other week when he came up with a big tackle in a game a few weeks ago, and he came up with a try to get them back into the game the week before that. Totally different sort of player anyway to Staggs, and I do think if Kotoni lives up to his potential he will be a better player.

 

[Pub Steak]

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 agree with that. I want to agree even more just cause of your profile pic. Makes me very agreeable.

 

[1910]

Pearson broken arm in Townsville.

 

[Unbreakable]

Pearson broken arm in Townsville.

Great..

Next man up I suppose, how's Opacic's form?

 

[Number6]

Pearson broken arm in Townsville.

Sucks was due for his final shot. How many more injuries this season? Can we have Staggs start now NRL?

 

[1910]

Sucks was due for his final shot. How many more injuries this season? Can we have Staggs start now NRL?

Staggs kicked the winner to get them home- He could possibly, it needed a centre injury but outside back injury might be enough.

 

[Foordy]

Sucks was due for his final shot. How many more injuries this season? Can we have Staggs start now NRL?

Pearson wasn't even in our top team ... no chance

The NRL would look through our top 30 ... stop at the names Kahu and Opacic and deny any request we made ... The NRL refused a request from Manly when they were having a hooker crisis ... because they had hasting (a 5/8) playing reserve grade

 

[winslow_wong]

Pearson wasn't even in our top team ... no chance

The NRL would look through our top 30 ... stop at the names Kahu and Opacic and deny any request we made ... The NRL refused a request from Manly when they were having a hooker crisis ... because they had hasting (a 5/8) playing reserve grade

If only he was selected for first grade this week. He might not have a broken arm right now. Poor kid.