PRE-GAME Round 2 - Broncos vs Rabbitohs

[Porthoz]

Has Carrigan played out wide? He doesn't seem particularly suited to it IMO.

Yes, please let's not replicate Souffs with Murray at lock...

 

[Fitzy]

Hoppa ain't the best in the SR, maybe Carrigan goes SR and Hoppa lock.

bullemor is bloody fast... i reckon his game would fit second row better than both

 

[Big Pete]

Hopoate is the most suited. Ideally he's a playmaking lock forward, but he's got enough speed and foot-work to play on an edge with only his defence posing a deficiency. Even when Carrigan was named on an edge, it was typically Frei at 13 who was lining up alongside his half while Carrigan did the grunt work.

I don't think he's physically ready for the NRL but Bullemor could be an X factor off the bench. His work rate isn't quite up there yet, but he does take good options and has a knack of taking really good options - I would not be surprised if he makes a break at some point during the contest.

Sounds like Oates could be out as well with gastro. I'd have to imagine Coates will come in and you may see Kotoni Staggs go into the second row at some point.

 

[Kyall]

What's this Boyds south clash could be last on courier mail.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

These injuries and suspensions definitely open up some opportunities. I'm keen to see how Hopoate goes playing on an edge, and most definitely keen to see how Bullemor goes.

1. Isaako
2. Oates
3. Boyd
4. Staggs
5. Arthars
6. Milford
7. Croft (c)
8. Flegler
9. Turpin
10. Haas
11. Fifita
12. Hopoate
13. Carrigan (c)

14. McCullough
15. Farnworth
16. Kennedy
17. Bullemor

I wouldn't be shocked in the slightest if Hopoate gets a spell, Oates moves to right-edge backrow and Farnworth goes to left wing. You could argue that'd be our best 13 from this 17.

I'd be tempted to put staggs in the 2nd row and move Farnsworth to wing with Arthurs to centre. Or Farnsworth to oates' wing with oates coming off the bench as a 2nd rower with bullemore starting, hopoate isn't as good on an edge as in the middle from all reports.

Also, surprised Kennedy got a "hardly notched him" type rating from everyone in the round 1 reports. He brought great energy in defence! He rushed up and stopped plenty of plays, hit hard and made plenty of back to back tackles... really surprised me...

 

[Super Freak]

We showed great signs against the Cowboys but I can't see a win here.

We just have too many players out and the loss of TPJ is a fucking big one. I said the same thing last year when we lost TPJ, he brings a lot of energy to the side that rubs off on the players.

With him, Lodge, Glenn and Bird out, I just can't see a win.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

We showed great signs against the Cowboys but I can't see a win here.

We just have too many players out and the loss of TPJ is a fucking big one. I said the same thing last year when we lost TPJ, he brings a lot of energy to the side that rubs off on the players.

With him, Lodge, Glenn and Bird out, I just can't see a win.

For what it's worth, normally I'm pessimistic about games exactly like this, but I'm actually not that much about this one. Souffs front row is garbage vs our heavily depleted one so this game won't be won or lost in the forwards. It will be won around the ruck with Cook vs. Turpin and on the edges as both teams get plenty of attacking opportunities on each other. I think Fifita and Staggs might be the difference there provided they have good games. And that is without giving Croft + Milf + Isaako the benefit of the doubt that they will be equal or better than last week.

Both sides Round 1 games were high scoring affairs, I'm expecting the same here. So all we need to do is get on top early just as we did against the Cows then stay on top for as much of the game as possible.

 

[Morkel]

We're the best attacking side in 2020 so far.

 

[Foordy]

What's this Boyds south clash could be last on courier mail.

basically a filler piece

starts talking about how in the absence of the US sports, ESPN is considering streaming the round 2 NRL games across the globe

then goes on to talk about how COVID-19 could prematurely end Boyd's career (if the season is suspended/cancelled)

 

[Allo]

basically a filler piece

starts talking about how in the absence of the US sports, ESPN is considering the round 2 NRL games across the globe

then goes on to talk about how COVID-19 could prematurely end Boyd's career (if the season is suspended/cancelled)

Surely he’d consider continuing on if we only play a handful of games this year. depends on how the NRL deals with both this and next years contracts I suppose

 

[tommy]

Surely he’d consider continuing on if we only play a handful of games this year. depends on how the NRL deals with both this and next years contracts I suppose

Exactly. Why do you think Cam Smith wanted the season called off? Barb took the unique oppurtunity to tell him she wants a necklace to go with her ring and he should play another season or 2, he is trying to prolong his career for more money. If Boyd did that I'd expect no less than a riot considering he has already announced his retirement, Kayla has alot to think about if it happens.

That or Smith and Bellamy both know they need to work on combos in their depleted squad for longer before they are confident they can compete at a high level. The Storm would sink that low.

 

[Allo]

Exactly. Why do you think Cam Smith wanted the season called off? Barb took the unique oppurtunity to tell him she wants a necklace to go with her ring and he should play another season or 2, he is trying to prolong his career for more money. If Boyd did that I'd expect no less than a riot considering he has already announced his retirement, Kayla has alot to think about if it happens.

That or Smith and Bellamy both know they need to work on combos in their depleted squad for longer before they are confident they can compete at a high level. The Storm would sink that low.

It’s probably all of the above with Smithler, but I think it’s just as much him enjoying the power he holds over the administrators. Barb is probably the driving force though

 

[Thelmus]

Hopoate is the most suited. Ideally he's a playmaking lock forward, but he's got enough speed and foot-work to play on an edge with only his defence posing a deficiency. Even when Carrigan was named on an edge, it was typically Frei at 13 who was lining up alongside his half while Carrigan did the grunt work.

I don't think he's physically ready for the NRL but Bullemor could be an X factor off the bench. His work rate isn't quite up there yet, but he does take good options and has a knack of taking really good options - I would not be surprised if he makes a break at some point during the contest.

Sounds like Oates could be out as well with gastro. I'd have to imagine Coates will come in and you may see Kotoni Staggs go into the second row at some point.

Farnsworth starts with Oates out in that case and I wouldn't be surprised if Kennar got a call up, rather than coates. He has less versatility but is more experienced and makes plenty of yards in hit ups.
Still, coates has that X Factor so maybe?

 

[rnabokov]

Farnsworth starts with Oates out in that case and I wouldn't be surprised if Kennar got a call up, rather than coates. He has less versatility but is more experienced and makes plenty of yards in hit ups.
Still, coates has that X Factor so maybe?

I am far less concerned about our attack than our defence. Bennett knows our weaknesses better than anyone and will exploit them ruthlessly: inexperienced wingers, wingers leaving their wings, slow slide defence out wide, both reaction times and actual movement. THis is where I reckon this match will be won or lost.

Boyd is gong to get a lot of traffic

 

[winslow_wong]

Are we all ready for Darius v Roberts?

I really hope Boyd turns back the clock and dominates roberts. Just to really crush roberts’ confidence.

 

[LittleDavey]

I am far less concerned about our attack than our defence. Bennett knows our weaknesses better than anyone and will exploit them ruthlessly: inexperienced wingers, wingers leaving their wings, slow slide defence out wide, both reaction times and actual movement. THis is where I reckon this match will be won or lost.

Boyd is gong to get a lot of traffic

Yup, agree with this. Our edges are so fucking fragile. That's the big danger this week imo. I have no doubt that we can score points; I doubt whether we can stop our opposition scoring more.

 

[rnabokov]

Yup, agree with this. Our edges are so fucking fragile. That's the big danger this week imo. I have no doubt that we can score points; I doubt whether we can stop our opposition scoring more.

On a positive note, against the Cows, I liked how Fifita and TPJ were planted on the edges more or less throughout the whole match, and it's effectiveness showed with the tries we scored out wide. I think attack wise we are better than Souths - more weapons than Souths now that Croft is directing play, so outscoring them may not be out of reach

 

[GCBRONCO]

Hopoate into the starting lineup in the second row and Bullemor onto the bench

1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Darius Boyd 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Anthony Milford 7. Brodie Croft 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. David Fifita 12. Jamil Hopoate 13. Patty Carrigan 14. Herbie Farnworth 15. Andrew McCullough 16. Rhys Kennedy 17. Ethan Bullemor 18. Xavier Coates 19. Tesi Niu 20. Tom Dearden 21. Pride Petterson-Robati