NEWS Broncos centre James Roberts on a crash course with coach Seibold

If bird has done his ACL we are so lucky that Roberts is sitting on the sidelines waiting to come back in. If he pulls his finger out he can be just as good as bird if not better.

On another note poor bird can’t take a trick. 800k been sitting on the sidelines now for two seasons with season ending injuries. Really unlucky for bird and us if he has done his ACL. I think Bird was a certainty for origin again this year.
 
The lack of decent outside defence and poor discipline is the reason we are so diabolical this season. It has nothing to do with structure unless you mean the effort to put a solid line in defence and execute it correctly advancing on the try line. That is our main problem.
Of course, we have problems scoring in the opponents 20, but as we have been rarely gaining repeat sets and over-using the bomb at the expense of good kicks into space in our opponents half, possession is both lop-sided to our opponent's advantage and so is field position.
Last night, we finally got possession in our favour and put Manly to the sword. It wasn't pretty but it was fairly indicative of our failures and the road to success.
How Roberts fits into all this is I suspect purely conjecture as I can't see him playing another game for us. He hasn't been great this season but is a long way from alone in this. I think it's in everyone's interests that he moves on to a team that can make better use of his talents (contrary to popular opinion on this subject, he still has plenty of it) and harness it. At this moment he is a round peg in a square hole and Staggs is superior to filling Siebold's tactics.

..with analytics becoming more prevalent in the game, its obvious that you need to be ahead of that curve and not behind it....that was never the Bennett methodology but it appears Siebold is more attuned to it. As for your well made point regarding kicking for meterage, many teams prefer the pin point 40meter bomb to create a contest.

Sure, kicking for ground is a sound tactic, you gain field position but give the opponent a set of six. By isolating one particular player with a bomb (and I must preface this; you need a skilled kicker who can repeat this in most game scenarios) you can gain, say 30-40 metres but can have runners come through and pressure the isolated kick-returner and maybe 1 out of 10 kicks actually force a mistake/turnover. you sacrifice maximum metres for a chance to force a mistake...then you have the advantage in territory. you also have to consider the quality of wingers these days when they get a head of steam up you can actually 'lose' ground from kick returns...

What im saying is; both methods have merit, and just because you do one all the time over the other doesn't mean its a bad play, you are simply playing the percentages of 1-10 turnover from the bomb as opposed to 1-100 from clearing kick (unless you Oates, then id slash those odds..!!) :rooock:
 
If bird has done his ACL we are so lucky that Roberts is sitting on the sidelines waiting to come back in. If he pulls his finger out he can be just as good as bird if not better.

On another note poor bird can’t take a trick. 800k been sitting on the sidelines now for two seasons with season ending injuries. Really unlucky for bird and us if he has done his ACL. I think Bird was a certainty for origin again this year.

Confirmed by the Broncs. MRI last night and Bird has done his ACL. Gone for the season poor bloke...
 
Upwards of 800k for 17 games spanning 2 years. Whose to say 2020 he won't be injury free?
 
..with analytics becoming more prevalent in the game, its obvious that you need to be ahead of that curve and not behind it....that was never the Bennett methodology but it appears Siebold is more attuned to it. As for your well made point regarding kicking for meterage, many teams prefer the pin point 40meter bomb to create a contest.

Sure, kicking for ground is a sound tactic, you gain field position but give the opponent a set of six. By isolating one particular player with a bomb (and I must preface this; you need a skilled kicker who can repeat this in most game scenarios) you can gain, say 30-40 metres but can have runners come through and pressure the isolated kick-returner and maybe 1 out of 10 kicks actually force a mistake/turnover. you sacrifice maximum metres for a chance to force a mistake...then you have the advantage in territory. you also have to consider the quality of wingers these days when they get a head of steam up you can actually 'lose' ground from kick returns...

What im saying is; both methods have merit, and just because you do one all the time over the other doesn't mean its a bad play, you are simply playing the percentages of 1-10 turnover from the bomb as opposed to 1-100 from clearing kick (unless you Oates, then id slash those odds..!!) :rooock:
If a tactic becomes predictable, teams can adjust their play to it. Its important to make teams react to your play. By having only one kicker in general play, it places pressure on milford and allows the opponents back three to prepare. Multiple kicking options increase opportunities to catch wingers out of position, and makes players applying pressure work harder. It is important though to communicate and know who is kicking in your own team.
As for the merits of the bomb: sure it is a legitimate tactic, but when it becomes predictable teams simply use block runners and prepare ahead for it. I'm not suggesting abandoning it, only varying what we do, and how we do it.
“Be extremely subtle even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
 
Roberts to stay put as Bennett puts rumours to bed

Dan Walsh nrl.com Sat 11 May 2019

Wayne Bennett has unequivocally ruled out signing struggling Broncos flyer James Roberts, scotching suggestions of a reunion for the pair at Redfern.

Roberts has been linked with the Rabbitohs repeatedly of late amid injury dramas and speculation of a fallout with new Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold. Greg Inglis’ recent retirement only fuelled suggestions the Blues incumbent is set to return to Sydney.

Bennett has been the most influential coach of Roberts’ career, helping him through off-field issues and a torrid upbringing to become one of the game’s elite centres during their time together at Red Hill.

NRL.com understands that Roberts' uncle and former Dragons star Amos had reached out to Bennett in recent weeks to gauge Souths' interest in bringing the 26-year-old back to the club where his career started.

But in the same week Roberts was dumped from first grade by Seibold, Bennett emphatically ruled out making a play for the Indigenous speedster, leaving Roberts to fight for his future at the Queensland powerhouse. “We haven’t approached him,” Bennett said on Saturday.

James won’t be coming to South Sydney - this year or next year. “He is under contract until (the end of 2021) and in that time we will review our situation but that’s our position. “We have Braidon Burns to come back (from injury) and we have a good young player in Adam Doueihi, who can play a number of positions, he is due back the same time as Braidon.

“We are looking for a centre but we want the right player and the right guy for the club. “That’s why we have been patient. We don’t want to rush into something that we don’t want.”

A Broncos recall looms for Roberts against the Roosters next week given Jack Bird’s feared ACL rupture, though Seibold refused to guarantee the man nicknamed 'Jet' a walk up start, with Jamayne Isaako and Gehamat Shibasaki also in contention. "It’s a big challenge for whoever plays at centre there, whether it is Jimmy, Gehamat or Jamayne,” Seibold said.

“I want to have a good look at the game and then pick a team on what we are confronting which is Latrell, who is the best left centre in the competition.”

Bennett backed Roberts to rediscover his best as he deals with an ongoing Achilles injury and constant speculation about his future. "James has good people around him in Brisbane, I’m sure he can handle it,” Bennett said

 
Bennett also ruled out signing Roberts when he was leaving the Titans.

But I do believe him when he says it this time. I don't think he has any control in recruitment. I think he can make suggestions and the Rabbitohs will consider it, but I don't think they will take any chances on Roberts.
 
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I hope Jimmy really knuckles down and tries to solidify his place in Brisbane... and nothing I've read really suggests he won't considering there have been no quotes and only "inside knowledge".

More than anything I would like to see him get the Achilles injury sorted out. Does anyone know how long he'd need to take off for it to heal itself??

My understanding is that it needs rest and I think given teams don't really appear to be interested that they should use the opportunity to rest him get it right and bring him back for the second half of the year.

The concern would be having to play Shiba (likely) at centre.
 
Doesn’t rule out any other club showing interest if James is legitimately not happy here. I hope he stays and knuckles down though.
 
I hope Jimmy really knuckles down and tries to solidify his place in Brisbane... and nothing I've read really suggests he won't considering there have been no quotes and only "inside knowledge".

More than anything I would like to see him get the Achilles injury sorted out. Does anyone know how long he'd need to take off for it to heal itself??

My understanding is that it needs rest and I think given teams don't really appear to be interested that they should use the opportunity to rest him get it right and bring him back for the second half of the year.

The concern would be having to play Shiba (likely) at centre.

Soemtimes can literally take up near 12 months for a complete and proper rehab from chronic minor tears. A lot is dependent on where the tendon segment is torn and which directions its torn. His tendon issues could be coming from tension in upper calf behind knee and or hamstring calf firing. Without information impossible to judge.

Sprinters often just get tiny minor tears - like polkadots spread out, this can be from over training and or the surfaces they run on. The other common thing is the outer sheath gets pretty inflamed and will give pain feeling - yet the tendon can still be strong! Literally a guessing game without any specific facts.
 
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Seibold’s shock Roberts snub leaves Origin centre in reserve grade
Broncos
  • May 13, 2019 11:14am
  • by Staff writers
  • Source: FOX SPORTS
James Roberts looks set to play reserve grade again this week.
James Roberts looks set to play reserve grade again this week.Source: News Corp Australia

Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold appears set to leave State of Origin incumbent James Roberts in reserve grade despite a centre spot opening in the NRL team.

Roberts was dropped to Queensland Cup last week amid reports he had fallen out with the new Broncos coach and was attempting to gain a release from Red Hill. A season-ending injury to Jack Bird in Round 9 opened a position at right centre, but it looks like Roberts won’t be filling it. Reports from Broncos training on Monday morning revealed Roberts continued to train with the reserves.

Gehemat Shibasaki trained at right centre, while Jamayne Isaako looks set to be recalled to play on the wing. Isaako was also dropped ahead of Round 9. It’s been widely reported Roberts - NSW’s incumbent right centre - is unhappy under Seibold and wants to switch clubs.
South Sydney was said to be the frontrunner for his services until coach Wayne Bennett ruled that option out over the weekend.

 
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How hasn't he shown gratitude? You surely can't mean one slip up where he actually didn't cause any trouble. If he has a clash with Seibold, that's not him not being grateful for what's been done for him, and that's got nothing to do with him having a drink. That's a football thing.

Alcohol slows healing ...
If you are a professional you should be doing everything in your power to prepare for work . Getting paralytic a cpl of days after you started a healing rehab prog is immature and irresponsible .

As a senior player it is substandard behaviour .
 

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