Scorchie
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- Mar 16, 2008
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Optimus Prime Oates is better than prime Pereria/McDonald. Probably even suboptimus prime Oates is better.
No coincidence we started looking better when he came back..
Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2022
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Optimus Prime Oates is better than prime Pereria/McDonald. Probably even suboptimus prime Oates is better.
No coincidence we started looking better when he came back..
Wolfie
International Captain
- Jan 14, 2015
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He's a better option than Mcdonald, plus he isnt a dickhead off the field. We might as well just leave Oatesy to play the year out.
- Jun 12, 2013
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His meters out of our end are invaluable. We were instantly a better team.
theshed
Just a Game
- Aug 28, 2010
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I went back and watched some games from last year and Isaako was way worse on the wing than I remembered. Stood out as especially bad in the one win we got post covid break against the dogs. Woeful.
I’d rather Oates and either Cobbo or Farnworth.
- Aug 25, 2018
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Maybe I'm just being pessimistic because of his age, his carrying an injury through the finals, the amount we seem to having riding him being our saviour and our experience with Jack Bird. Mostly how we seem to have put all our eggs in his basket.
theshed
Just a Game
- Aug 28, 2010
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What would it have looked like for us to not have “put all our eggs in one basket”? What exactly does that mean? We signed the 2 best available players in Capewell and Reynolds, as re-signed the two best halves in our team from last year, along with extending our most promising young half? What more could they have done.
I’m not trying to argue, I’m genuinely asking.
- Aug 25, 2018
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This is exactly why I feel uneasy about next season. We only have one back set in stone: Reynolds. Not one other player is entirely convincing in any position. Other than Kotoni in the centres, and we're talking about moving him to 6. It makes me nervous.
I can't form an opinion about where Tesi, Jamayne, Herbie, David and Selwyn should play. I haven't written off Jamayne, but he's back of the queue right now. And I'm undecided between Albert and Tyson.
I expect this:
1. Tesi
2. Corey
3. Kotoni
4. Herbie
5. Selwyn
6. Tyson
But I'd probably rather
1. Selwyn
2. Corey
3. Kotoni
4. Tesi
5. Herbie
6. Albert
14. Tyson
But you could jumble those names any which way and end up in an argument.
the 2nd one would be my ideal as well, but could maybe throw brenko into the mix for tesi's spot, his defence at centre has been less than ideal
- Aug 25, 2018
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I think not getting Nicho Hynes hurt us. He's a fullback who could easily slot into either half and win a game for you, rather than a gifted back who doesn't quite fit anywhere - of which we have half a dozen.
theshed
Just a Game
- Aug 28, 2010
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I won’t argue with that
- Aug 25, 2018
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It would be hard to drop Tesi given his transition to fullback coincided with our team gaining momentum and a general feeling of confidence. But in honesty, he looked a little too shaky under the high ball to convince me he's our long term custodian.
theshed
Just a Game
- Aug 28, 2010
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Yeah, I actually think we have pretty great backline depth sans fullback. I agree that you could make an argument for about 5 different combinations.
I’d probably start with:
1. Niu
2 Oates
4. Cobbo
3. Staggs
5. Farnworth
But could just as easily go
1. Niu/Cobbo
2. Oates
4. Lee
3. Staggs
5. Farnworth
at this stage I think Cobbo is our long term fullback, it’s just a matter of when, and I think Niu has probably done enough to start there.
I think Gamble has earned first shot at 6 but I don’t really want to see too many unforced changed this year. Either way, whoever plays 6 out of Kelly and Gamble will only be a stop gap while we wait for Mam to come of age. This coming season should have a focus on building the Reynolds / Mam combo on the training paddock and grooming Mam to take over the 6 in 23.
- Aug 25, 2018
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One man's "depth" is another's toolbox full of shifting spanners. When I said no-one owns his position, cast your mind back to our successful teams. Can you imagine dithering about where Kevvie, Alfie, Wally, Pearl, Wendell, Lote, Jharal and so on should play? It was more like who could wrench their position from their dying hands. We never started a season wondering if we should switch Hodges to the wing because he didn't fit at centre. If we shifted a player it was more like a promotion because they were being wasted where they were. Not to hide their problems.
theshed
Just a Game
- Aug 28, 2010
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Easy to say that with hindsight. Hodges was a fullback who moved to centre, K Hunt was a winger who moves to fullback and was being considered for a move to 6,, Lockyer shifted to 5/8, Barrigen was all over the shop, Del played in the second row, etc. we just remember them in the positions they eventually settled with but it all starts somewhere. We’re in a rebuild with a team full of young guys, and a new coach, it’s to be expected.
I do hope Kev doesn’t fall into the temptation to endlessly shuffle like last season though.
lynx000
State of Origin Rep
- Jul 28, 2008
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I am hoping that all that shuffling last year was KW seeking answers to questions, and he now has most of the answers that he needs (but that could be just wishful thinking).
how can you even compare the two teams/situations, you can't. clutching at straws to make your point.
- Aug 25, 2018
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The only point I am making is: other than Reynolds we don't have one back who convincingly holds his position. Not because they are so good we want to promote their talents elsewhere, but because they haven't done enough to own their positions.
The two possible exceptions to that are Oates and Staggs. Oates because either he holds a wing, or he's dropped. And Staggs who owns a centre if Walters wants to leave him there.
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