POST GAME [Round 21, 2025] Broncos vs Eels

[Sproj]

Reyno wasn't the reason we lost . We were just cycling through the motions waiting for Parra to fold .
No real pressure with line speed no physicality or pressure on Moses.
Just a generic game plan with mediocre application.
Moses made 8 tackles and missed 6 but we didn't go looking for him and make him work.
We let him play in a dinner suit .

I wish we would go through the motions instead of playing stoopid footy when we are blowing teams away. I really hoped we turned a corner after methodically coming back against Cronulla but we’ve got back to frantic footy. It’s frustrating.

 

[BooKhaki]

I’ve been off Reynolds basically since the grand final, and even more so this entire year. I didn’t think he should’ve been re-signed, and certainly don’t think he should be captain and have a mortgage on his position.

2025 he has been horrid, excluding 40mins against the Dogs.

He isn't the right halfback to lead the team around.

 

[Super Freak]

Reece Walsh compilation vs Eels.

Thought with so much attention on Walsh, I would put together the compilation and you can watch it and make up your mind. The second last video, I included the last play because I think Reyno should have got the ball out to Walsh who had something to work with. Maybe a try doesn't happen but the short ball to Riki was a nothing play and the wrong option. There were a few of those on the night but I didn't include all of them.

 

[BroncsFan]

Reece Walsh compilation vs Eels.

Thought with so much attention on Walsh, I would put together the compilation and you can watch it and make up your mind. The second last video, I included the last play because I think Reyno should have got the ball out to Walsh who had something to work with. Maybe a try doesn't happen but the short ball to Riki was a nothing play and the wrong option. There were a few of those on the night but I didn't include all of them.

100% on that second last one Walsh puts Arthars away... it's a 3v2 and whilst the parra defence would get up and pressure Walsh they weren't planning to jam him, so he would have time to do a catch and pass which he has in his bag.

JAC was marking up on Staggs so Arthars is away and the fullback with only the fullback to beat, but it looked like he was deep waiting on the kick.

One thing I noticed in a lot of those clips was the centre being caught with the ball. It was noticeable in the dogs game yesterday how effective a defensive line can be when the attack has quick hands.

There were a couple times where I think Walsh second guesses the pass to the centre because he can see the winger sneaking up on the centre. There's enough time for Walsh to get the ball to the centre, but I doubt very much that either Staggs or Shiba have the hands to catch and pass to the winger. In Staggs case we KNOW he doesn't.

I wonder if Walsh gets caught because he cannot trust his centre to put away the winger, so he has to do it himself either through a cutout ball or running himself.

The forward pass on the right was because he knows Staggs can't pass it quickly. The offload to no one was probably the right call to run, because space was there, but Reece knew the space was there for us as well and he just had to get the ball out. Maybe if Staggs has the quick hands he trusts that he can just throw it to Staggs, winger has to come in and if Staggs had the hands he just puts Arthars away.

The one that was knocked down by JAC was another where quick hands has the winger away.

Shiba in that last pass he dropped had the winger open if he has the quick hands. There were a couple other times he gets caught with it because he can't get the pass away quick enough.

Watching it in those clipped up sections can make it look pretty easy to defend against Reece in the end.

Winger just has to cheat up on the centre, because they don't have the skills to get a pass away, so that means Reece has to either run... opposing centre can focus on Reece and help out the half... or throw the cutout to the winger, which he more than likely has to rainbow to get over the jamming winger or thread the needle between the winger and centre... the rainbow gives the centre time to drop out the back and catch up to the winger, whereas threading the needle runs the risk of being intercepted or just hitting the defence and probably not called as played at. That would be the same for a kick in behind, so there's no need for the centre to jam in, they just keep sliding or drop back.

 

[Brocko]

With the talk about Reyno in here, I think my biggest criticism, and there is a couple minor criticisms also, is that he doesnt get the right people the ball at the right times, and as a 7 thats been in the game as long as he has, 300+ games, I think we should be able to rely on him for that.

He should be getting Staggs early ball, he should be the lead call and getting Ezra and Walsh's running game ticking off the back of him, and he absolutely shouldn't be getting tackled on 4th.

Maybe I need to rewatch some 23 highlights, but I feel like he gave Herbie early ball plenty, so I wish he'd do the same with our centres this year. If the likes of Staggs isnt going roaming for the ball, id love to see Reyno getting it out to him quick and not just using him as a 1 out, forward type runs, and if its not him, emploring Ezra/Hunt to get it to him.

 

[BroncsFan]

With the talk about Reyno in here, I think my biggest criticism, and there is a couple minor criticisms also, is that he doesnt get the right people the ball at the right times, and as a 7 thats been in the game as long as he has, 300+ games, I think we should be able to rely on him for that.

He should be getting Staggs early ball, he should be the lead call and getting Ezra and Walsh's running game ticking off the back of him, and he absolutely shouldn't be getting tackled on 4th.

Maybe I need to rewatch some 23 highlights, but I feel like he gave Herbie early ball plenty, so I wish he'd do the same with our centres this year. If the likes of Staggs isnt going roaming for the ball, id love to see Reyno getting it out to him quick and not just using him as a 1 out, forward type runs, and if its not him, emploring Ezra/Hunt to get it to him.

Up until basically this year... and realistically only the last few weeks... Reyno has basically been running the show. To the point where he was our most important player and without him the rest of the team had no idea what to do.

I think more responsibility is being put on Walsh, which is not a bad thing, but maybe it's better placed handing the reins over during a preseason... or at least teething him into it.

Walsh needs to show that he can make the right decisions before you just hand everything over to him.... or maybe he's just calling his own number and Reynolds isn't taking enough control.

At times Walsh can be a bit like late stage warriors where he was putting himself at 1st receiver all the time and trying to do everything... whereas in 2023 he was sitting at the back of shape and it was up to Reynolds to get him the ball.

Being closer to the ball should mean that Walsh is closer to offloads, etc. but you don't want him getting distracted with trying to set up plays on plays and not really paying attention to what's going on in front of him.

At the start of this year he was sitting himself at the back of shape and there were complaints that he's not getting involved enough, so it going to be about him finding the right balance which probably comes with experience... and Reyno probably needs to rein him in a little and take more control of the team.

 

[Jeffy]

Not a terrible game overall. Both of Parra’s kick tries were pretty unfortunate, and Addo-Carr’s try came from Willison getting stuck at 3-in. We played much better than we did last week against the Titans. Just bombed a few easy opportunities and some dumb options.

Some thoughts:
- Reynolds got tackled on the 5th 3 times. Not good signs.
- They're overcomplicating how Walsh, Mam and Reynolds play. Yes Mam should attack the right sometimes and its good to use Walsh as a long-kick option on the left. But the constant switching is not necessary. It's Mam and Carrigan that should be getting more touches - they're our ball distributors that play the most direct and square.
- On the play after the late Staggs break, Walsh ignored Mam and went for the hero pass to Shibasaki. This is under 14s stuff, you have to commit defenders by going through the hands. Too much ego ball.
- Our back 3 need to combine in kick return. We’re running a tiny backline, yet we're constantly going one out. If we're not playing Cobbo and sticking to small wingers, then lean into it. Watch the Dogs play, even their centre on the long side sometimes drops back on play one kick return to present an additional option. This is an effort area that our coaching does not seem to understand the importance of and is just copying the systems that are effective at clubs with bigger backlines.
- Arthars in particular needs to get his finger out of his ass. Shibasaki is getting gang tackled because its so obvious when he's taking the hit up.
- I don't get why Piakura is getting less than 10 runs a game. He is our best play the ball. Just run a few structures to get him involved more.
- Since the Dogs comeback win (which we won by running the same set play twice), I think we've become too structured in attack instead of focusing on winning the ruck and going from there.

 

[Dexter]

Not a terrible game overall. Both of Parra’s kick tries were pretty unfortunate, and Addo-Carr’s try came from Willison getting stuck at 3-in. We played much better than we did last week against the Titans. Just bombed a few easy opportunities and some dumb options.

The thing with JACs try was Parra went back to that same side at least 5 times. Opened up a big blind then the fullback swept from the open behind the ruck and they ran a block play. They could have scored twice more but for some decent scramble but we were stretched every time.
Clearly it was something Ryles saw.
You can bet Souffs try it too on Friday.

 

[Big Del]

The thing with JACs try was Parra went back to that same side at least 5 times. Opened up a big blind then the fullback swept from the open behind the ruck and they ran a block play. They could have scored twice more but for some decent scramble but we were stretched every time.
Clearly it was something Ryles saw.
You can bet Souffs try it too on Friday.

Watch that Walsh highlights vid .
Hunt is 3 metres behind the defence line like an old school Steve Mortimer .Causing a shortening of the line . Then the sweep and block play and what do ya know ? Over lap and they score in the corner .
Didn`t look good .

 

[theshed]

I saw the upset coming so I chucked $20 on eels where there were at around $6 and went and hung out with mates instead.

Is it worth watching the full replay?

 

[BroncsFan]

Watch that Walsh highlights vid .
Hunt is 3 metres behind the defence line like an old school Steve Mortimer .Causing a shortening of the line . Then the sweep and block play and what do ya know ? Over lap and they score in the corner .
Didn`t look good .

Is that the one where Willison was caught on the edge?

In the two tackles prior Reynolds gets himself caught at marker twice.

He got away with it the first time, but he didnt really need to get involved and setup at marker for the second time around.

Left us short and was always going to be a trigger for the attack.

 

[Allo]

I saw the upset coming so I chucked $20 on eels where there were at around $6 and went and hung out with mates instead.

Is it worth watching the full replay?

Not really unless you want to piss yourself off

 

[Foordy]

I saw the upset coming so I chucked $20 on eels where there were at around $6 and went and hung out with mates instead.

Is it worth watching the full replay?

It was actually a good game of footy.

The ranger with the whistle will piss you off at times though .... Especially, in the final 10 mins when we are attacking the Eels line and he penalizes the Eels, waits about 10 seconds then changes his decision to a six-again completely negating our advantage from the Eels infraction

 

[BroncsFan]

It was actually a good game of footy.

The ranger with the whistle will piss you off at times though .... Especially, in the final 10 mins when we are attacking the Eels line and he penalizes the Eels, waits about 10 seconds then changes his decision to a six-again completely negating our advantage from the Eels infraction

There should be a please explain on that one.

Watching again I thought he might've been whistling for a dangerous tackle, suggesting Lomax took him beyond the horizontal. The whistle doesnt come until after the tackle is completed... and the momentum had stopped before Lomax lifts him to finish it off.

I dont recall hearing anyone yelling that Lomax was offside... so it somehow went from nothing to a penalty after the tackle was completed.

He's either shit himself realising that a Lomax penalty for dangerous tackle will be scrutinised by the media, because we would be looking to kick the goal and even it up... so hes just slapped a phantom "offside on there".

Or bunker is refereeing via a tv in Sydney and yelling offside, so he reacts with penalty... because it usually is in other places across the field... which is most definitely happening and would be exposed if they released the ref audio around that play.

Like how does he blow a penalty and not even know what "his" call is... from the highlights he just blows his whistle and then doesnt motion anything or say anything... so has he just got the bunker yelling in his ear the whole time.

 

[Big Pete]

I agree that there should be a please explain on the call, but would like to point out that the touchies are also in the coms and it appears that Todd confers with one of his touchies before changing it to a set restart.

My theory is that Staggs makes his break, Todd rushes back to set the 10m and he's got a touchie screaming penalty in his earpiece only to remember/be reminded it's a restart.

It's a call we do see from time to time, so this isn't like Gee overruling the bunker when Brisbane played Penrith at Suncorp in 2023.

 

[BroncsFan]

I agree that there should be a please explain on the call, but would like to point out that the touchies are also in the coms and it appears that Todd confers with one of his touchies before changing it to a set restart.

My theory is that Staggs makes his break, Todd rushes back to set the 10m and he's got a touchie screaming penalty in his earpiece only to remember/be reminded it's a restart.

It's a call we do see from time to time, so this isn't like Gee overruling the bunker when Brisbane played Penrith at Suncorp in 2023.

True... so the touchie should be sacked if he's yelling penalty... or Todd should be sacked if he was yelling offside and he didnt realise that its a six again.

It's an example of the six again rule being stupid though.

We're down by 2, but we still needed a try to win it.

Any penalty given in the last 10mins of that game and we're taking the two all day

 

[Hoshsie]

You’re right, in the entire player market, there is no-one at all who would ever consider leaving their current club…

I’m sure Simon Scanlan just sits at his desk all day and doom scrolls…

We’d come last without Walsh, so hopefully he continues to doom scroll instead of replacing our best player

 

[Super Freak]

If this decision went against any other club, especially one of the darling Sydney clubs, we wouldn't have heard the end of it. But because it's the Broncos, there has barely been any mention of it.

It was given as a try. You cannot say conclusively that Walsh has a foot in front of that ball.

It's like the bunker forgot that being in line with the ball is still onside.