When KC potted that field-goal, it was easily the loudest I've cheered during a Broncs match for a long while. Feels so good to start the season off with a victory.
The best thing for me, is that we still have Reynolds to come into this team. He's going to make a huge difference to our attack and general organisation, which was a bit lacking at times last night.
Our forwards were boss - they really set the platform for us, and we could have easily have had another two or three tries. Patty, Payne and Palasia were my top three.
The only concerns I had with the performance (keeping in mind it's only round one) were our right side defence, and a few really dumb, coach-killer mistakes.
The right side defence looked short all night, and we were always scrambling. It's more than understandable considering we've got a young inexperienced bloke out there in Cobbo, and another guy who barely played last season in Staggs. They're going need a run of games together to learn how each other operates, and get themselves on the same wavelength. I'm sure the coaching team has identified the issues there and there'll be some video sessions this week highlighting where they can improve.
The coach-killer mistakes/penalties were a big issue last year and it's something we absolutely need to cut out if we want to be in the mix at the end of the season. The boys need to play smart, play the percentages. First set after we score a try, you want to run strong and complete your set. A first grade match is 80 minutes long, you just have to keep building pressure. Don't let the opposition off the hook with lazy errors or poor discipline. This team needs to learn the art of the grind, and they showed they're more than capable of it last night.
With Reynolds still to come, and more time for the team to gel, I can see this team improving every week. We may not be able to match it with the likes of the Panthers, Storm, etc, but the signs are positive and we should definitely be able to keep them on their toes.
Here's to feeling positive about the Broncs for the first time in some time!