PRE-GAME Round 13 - Dragons vs Broncos

[Accept]

They re almost as pathetic as us so far, and they missed their best players ( Lomax, Ravalawa, Dufty...) good time to play the Dragons.

If the game was at Suncorp, I'd almost tip the Broncos with confidence. But they won't win at Kogarah. The Dragons are a weak side and severely under strength but they'll still be too strong at home against our poor mob.

 

[BroncsFan]

Then the kids leave because they're too impatient to wait their chance.

Both have signed extensions.... the kids just want to be paid !!

 

[BroncsFan]

I very much doubt he will be playing origin... so maybe he'll be fit for Raiders, but if not then week after

 

[BroncsFan]

are club doctors able to rule a player out of origin selection ... or does it have to be the NSW doctor in Paynes case

The Storm ones do

 

[Locky888]

Coates will probably miss out on this game due to Origin. But Broncs should just leave Coates out of the team from now on and develop Cobbo for the future. Coates is a defensive liability to the team. Any other player would've been dropped to the reserves based on his form-line alone. Scratch Coates at the barriers.

 

[BroncsFan]

Su'A while good is an edge player though, and Carrigan is probably going to miss a bit of next year as well so Middles are still going to be light. I think it's obvious to anyone who has watched the last 2 games that Asiata needs to be 13 already and I'm wondering why Kevvie has exclusively only used Props there apart from the odd time TPJ was used, but he is much more effective with less defensive duties on the edge.

Of course if we get Gamble to put on some weight in the offseason to play him as a Lock that could take alot of pressure off our middles.

Do you seriously believe that Asiata was playing prop just because he replaced Kennedy??

Flegler is a prop with the 13 jersey on and Asiata is a lock who came in for a prop... Asiata was playing lock FFS!!

 

[BroncsFan]

They re almost as pathetic as us so far, and they missed their best players ( Lomax, Ravalawa, Dufty...) good time to play the Dragons.

Dufty is everything to them now that Bhunt has reverted to dumping the ball off 5m from the line.

Bhunt was in vintage form at the start of the year, but his leg fracture has sent him back to last year.

I would still prefer that he doesn't play, because like most ex-broncos they tend to become world beaters when they play us... I would prefer to not see world beater Bhunt next week.

 

[winslow_wong]

If Milford is selected... well then we know how that story plays out.

 

[theshed]

If we can’t beat this dragons team might as well shut up shop for the year.

 

[BroncsFan]

I think this game is very winnable given Dufty is out... if Bhunt is out as well then they're basically reliant on Norman for everything. Lomax may also be due to return.

Pending any injury news, origin call ups (ha) or transfers (please hold off 1 week for Lodge!!)... I would go with the following team:

1 Isaako
2 Oates (Coates to origin maybe??)
3 Herbie
4 Arthars (Staggs may also be nearing a return??)
5 Mead
6 Albert
7 Gamble
8 Lodge
9 Turps
10 Flegler
11 Riki (Glenn if fit though)
12 TPJ
13 Kobe

14 Asiata
15 Kennedy
16 Bullemor
17 TC (Riki if Glenn is fit)

I can understand the calls for Cobbo to come into this game and I think it's likely that he probably does come in, but I think this game is winnable if we play a solid conservative game. Oates provides meters from the back and he probably didn't really deserve to be dropped in the first place. I think I would prefer having Oates experience on the wing rather than debuting Cobbo.

The same would be said for Glenn. He is nearing a return from injury and if he is available I would prefer his experience on the edge over Riki or Palasia. I think Riki can perform a role in our middle rotation which is severely understrength.

I think Gamble and Albert will provide much more control and direction in the halves... also noting that we are playing the dragons rather than a well drilled storm team.

At lock I would possibly start with Kobe... I think he has been playing well and I believe he has been playing 80 at lock in ISC? If he can get through 30mins then it's only 1 sub for Asiata to come on and play out the game. Kobe can then come on later to relieve Turps.

I really hope we can hold off 1 more week before they unjustly ship Lodge off... we desperately need him for this game looking at the middle rotation. I would also prefer Riki to be on the bench as part of the middle rotation.

TC was great in his debut, but I would just want more reinforcements for the middle this game. Kennedy, Flegler and Lodge (if he's even still with Brisbane!!) will be the only seasoned props available this week so the rotation will need to be mainly getting them on and off and keeping them fresh. I think Riki will be very handy in the middle rotation and Bull is also coming along, but they'll be coming up against seasoned forwards in Vaughan, JDB (likely) and Alvaro, with Blake Lawrie also able to hold his own in the middle. If Lodge is missing along with the losses of Haas and Carrigan then that could probably decide the game

Unfortunately it seems like Harry is nearing full health, which may mean Bhunt doesn't get picked for origin. Although he may come into the halves for Munster??
I don't think he's good enough for origin, but to be honest I don't really give a shit about origin this year so I hope spud Green picks him somewhere in the 17.

 

[Foordy]

I think this game is very winnable given Dufty is out... if Bhunt is out as well then they're basically reliant on Norman for everything. Lomax may also be due to return.

Pending any injury news, origin call ups (ha) or transfers (please hold off 1 week for Lodge!!)... I would go with the following team:

1 Isaako
2 Oates (Coates to origin maybe??)
3 Herbie
4 Arthars (Staggs may also be nearing a return??)
5 Mead
6 Albert
7 Gamble
8 Lodge
9 Turps
10 Flegler
11 Riki (Glenn if fit though)
12 TPJ
13 Kobe

14 Asiata
15 Kennedy
16 Bullemor
17 TC (Riki if Glenn is fit)

I can understand the calls for Cobbo to come into this game and I think it's likely that he probably does come in, but I think this game is winnable if we play a solid conservative game. Oates provides meters from the back and he probably didn't really deserve to be dropped in the first place. I think I would prefer having Oates experience on the wing rather than debuting Cobbo.

The same would be said for Glenn. He is nearing a return from injury and if he is available I would prefer his experience on the edge over Riki or Palasia. I think Riki can perform a role in our middle rotation which is severely understrength.

I think Gamble and Albert will provide much more control and direction in the halves... also noting that we are playing the dragons rather than a well drilled storm team.

At lock I would possibly start with Kobe... I think he has been playing well and I believe he has been playing 80 at lock in ISC? If he can get through 30mins then it's only 1 sub for Asiata to come on and play out the game. Kobe can then come on later to relieve Turps.

I really hope we can hold off 1 more week before they unjustly ship Lodge off... we desperately need him for this game looking at the middle rotation. I would also prefer Riki to be on the bench as part of the middle rotation.

TC was great in his debut, but I would just want more reinforcements for the middle this game. Kennedy, Flegler and Lodge (if he's even still with Brisbane!!) will be the only seasoned props available this week so the rotation will need to be mainly getting them on and off and keeping them fresh. I think Riki will be very handy in the middle rotation and Bull is also coming along, but they'll be coming up against seasoned forwards in Vaughan, JDB (likely) and Alvaro, with Blake Lawrie also able to hold his own in the middle. If Lodge is missing along with the losses of Haas and Carrigan then that could probably decide the game

Unfortunately it seems like Harry is nearing full health, which may mean Bhunt doesn't get picked for origin. Although he may come into the halves for Munster??
I don't think he's good enough for origin, but to be honest I don't really give a shit about origin this year so I hope spud Green picks him somewhere in the 17.

I agree with most of that ... but i think it's time for Riki to spend a few weeks in the ISC working on a few things. Kevvie should make it clear to him that this isn't a demotion but rather to aid his development.

 

[BroncsFan]

I agree with most of that ... but i think it's time for Riki to spend a few weeks in the ISC working on a few things. Kevvie should make it clear to him that this isn't a demotion but rather to aid his development.

I would be happy for Riki to play some ISC... noting that he is another one that has played **** all ISC in his career to date, given he was injured most of 2019 and then covid struck in 2020.

If Riki were to go back to ISC I would hope the instructions are for him to be playing in the middle rotation. I think his defence isn't quite good enough for the edge just yet, but I think he can be very good for us in the middle rotation.

My preference for Riki on the bench was the versatility to play 2nd row (if needed) or coming on to support the middle rotation, but TC can probably play that role as well and he had a decent debut.

I think TC was playing a fair bit through the middle vs storm?? so we could definitely reward him with another game.

I think I would prefer Riki over Palasia on the edge if Glenn isn't fit though.

 

[Sproj]

Yep I agree and I think most fans probably do that Riki needs some time in Q Cup but the problem is that with Glenn injured, there isn’t much choice but to pick him. He’s certainly a far better option than Palasia.

 

[1910]

I would be happy for Riki to play some ISC... noting that he is another one that has played **** all ISC in his career to date, given he was injured most of 2019 and then covid struck in 2020.

If Riki were to go back to ISC I would hope the instructions are for him to be playing in the middle rotation. I think his defence isn't quite good enough for the edge just yet, but I think he can be very good for us in the middle rotation.

My preference for Riki on the bench was the versatility to play 2nd row (if needed) or coming on to support the middle rotation, but TC can probably play that role as well and he had a decent debut.

I think TC was playing a fair bit through the middle vs storm?? so we could definitely reward him with another game.

I think I would prefer Riki over Palasia on the edge if Glenn isn't fit though.

Riki actually isn’t too bad, he debuted in 2018 straight out of MM.

2019 he played 15 games in ISC but was playing BRL too when he couldn’t make the ISC side so he was still playing against men. Then one game last year.

 

[Xzei]

i really dont want to see glenn back in the side a year to long imo

 

[theshed]

Full strength I actually think we wipe the floor with them.
Gonna be a tough as with no Lodge and obviously no Carrigan.

I wonder if Staggs is a smokey for a bench spot. Depending on how the game is going he can have the finals 20 minutes at centre, 6, or 2nd row.

 

[WASSHHH]

Full strength I actually think we wipe the floor with them.
Gonna be a tough as with no Lodge and obviously no Carrigan.

I wonder if Staggs is a smokey for a bench spot. Depending on how the game is going he can have the finals 20 minutes at centre, 6, or 2nd row.

Isn’t Lodge back from only a 1 week suspension, or have I missed something (e.g. he’s left the club?)?

 

[theshed]

Isn’t Lodge back from only a 1 week suspension, or have I missed something (e.g. he’s left the club?)?

A lot rumours he’ll be in Newcastle before next weekend. No idea how true it is, and I kind of hope it isn’t. I’d rather be leave at the end of the year on the proviso that his whole contract is null and we have a good experienced prop on the way.