PRE-GAME [Round 2, 2026] - Broncos vs Eels

[McHunt]

I can assure you I have watched it many times. What about the amazing pass he did for one of our tries? What about the fact he had to come back out when absolutely stuffed and defended for his life?

He's a limited hooker but he's also now a premiership winning one. That gives him runs on the board. Mozer is clearly super talented but right now, I don't even think he deserves a shot over Bukowski.

And while it isn't his fault, Mozer has had a very limited preseason. He needs to get up to speed. Plus, if Brissy is 0-3 as I expect they will be, Maguire will then have plenty of ammo to make changes.

I don't think any of our hookers in recent memory have been anything flash with the ball in hand. I have a fuzzy recollection of Mozer being the standout. Hunt was better at 7. Billy was better at 6. Paix has been inconsistent, but has been better starting than coming off the bench. The opposite for Billy.

Pound for pound, with the enormous defensive load that comes with 9, and having to maintain the stamina and mental energy to do what amounts to squats after a round of heavy defence, I think Smoothy was MVP in that role.

Underrated contributor, and probably the player we're most missing.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

Hey guys, there is definetly drama at the club. G CONEHEAD, the man who hates the coach and his best mate got sacked and he is the main host of the biggest bs tv show in the nrl has said so. Completely trust worthy.

Sure we won a premiership after 19 years but I hate madge after that round 1 loss. Terrible coach. Bellamy even said the other day "give me a round 1 win over a premiership any day" which was then quoted and used by the 360 panel on the 5 night special documentary series on why madge is a shit coach and overall shit human being for winning us a premiership.


.. on a serious note. What the actual **** is this media.... like, we won a premiership! I dont care if the players hate him tbh, they could all **** off if they did. He could win the spoon this year and id still have his back! We WON THE ****ING PREMIERSHIP. Bennett couldn't, their mate walters couldn't, griffin couldnt, seibold certainly couldn't....

I know this sounds crazy but I wouldn't mind us losing a few games early on. Would piss me off but I think it'd be better for our season. The pile on and pressure and bs from the media was mentioned a few times by players after the gf win, this is even more ridiculous than last year lol

 

[Foordy]

Hey guys, there is definetly drama at the club. G CONEHEAD, the man who hates the coach and his best mate got sacked and he is the main host of the biggest bs tv show in the nrl has said so. Completely trust worthy.

Sure we won a premiership after 19 years but I hate madge after that round 1 loss. Terrible coach. Bellamy even said the other day "give me a round 1 win over a premiership any day" which was then quoted and used by the 360 panel on the 5 night special documentary series on why madge is a shit coach and overall shit human being for winning us a premiership.


.. on a serious note. What the actual **** is this media.... like, we won a premiership! I dont care if the players hate him tbh, they could all **** off if they did. He could win the spoon this year and id still have his back! We WON THE ****ING PREMIERSHIP. Bennett couldn't, their mate walters couldn't, griffin couldnt, seibold certainly couldn't....

I know this sounds crazy but I wouldn't mind us losing a few games early on. Would piss me off but I think it'd be better for our season. The pile on and pressure and bs from the media was mentioned a few times by players after the gf win, this is even more ridiculous than last year lol

The media aren't acting like Madge just won the Premiership... They're acting like he just won us back to back wooden spoons and still hasn't been sacked

 

[Cavalo]

I think picking the same team is fair enough. Gos was obviously concussed and it affected him (should have been subbed, but coaches decided to persevere), while Paix has done the job and is solid in the middle.
Let's see where Mozer is at with some more game time under his belt, and Piakura is probably back next week.
What I would like to see is Patty and Haas both getting a 12-15 min break.
If this means more minutes for Aublix then well and good. If they don't trust him get Junt or someone else in the squad.
And please hold the ball boys.

 

[McHunt]

And please hold the ball boys.

Crossing the try line. But not the sideline.

 

[nopatience101]

Hey guys, there is definetly drama at the club. G CONEHEAD, the man who hates the coach and his best mate got sacked and he is the main host of the biggest bs tv show in the nrl has said so. Completely trust worthy.

Sure we won a premiership after 19 years but I hate madge after that round 1 loss. Terrible coach. Bellamy even said the other day "give me a round 1 win over a premiership any day" which was then quoted and used by the 360 panel on the 5 night special documentary series on why madge is a shit coach and overall shit human being for winning us a premiership.


.. on a serious note. What the actual **** is this media.... like, we won a premiership! I dont care if the players hate him tbh, they could all **** off if they did. He could win the spoon this year and id still have his back! We WON THE ****ING PREMIERSHIP. Bennett couldn't, their mate walters couldn't, griffin couldnt, seibold certainly couldn't....

I know this sounds crazy but I wouldn't mind us losing a few games early on. Would piss me off but I think it'd be better for our season. The pile on and pressure and bs from the media was mentioned a few times by players after the gf win, this is even more ridiculous than last year lol

They won’t stop until they know exactly why Haas chose to leave, the media think they are entitled to know everything and when they don’t they will fill in the blanks until they are told.

I understand Payne wanting to keep his private life private, but atm Madge is the one copping all the pressure for his decision and if it’s truly got nothing to do with him it’s pretty poor form to just sit back and let him take the insinuations, and by extension the club. I know he has come out and said it has nothing to do with Madge, but it obviously wasn’t enough to satisfy the media.

 

[Berry Barrigan]

The media aren't acting like Madge just won the Premiership... They're acting like he just won us back to back wooden spoons and still hasn't been sacked

Nobody actually believes this stuff. Pundits are just following a formula.

1. Bad news (or rumours of bad news) gets clicks. 'House burns down' gets more views than 'House fine, just sitting there unburnt as usual'
2. There are more Broncos fans than any other team.
Result: News outlets need bad news about the Broncos or they're missing out on revenue.

You could replace the Gold Coast Titans' Gorden CONEHEAD with any other pundit, they'll give you the same Bad News Broncos stuff. It's not personal, it's just maths.

 

[Sproj]

They won’t stop until they know exactly why Haas chose to leave, the media think they are entitled to know everything and when they don’t they will fill in the blanks until they are told.

I understand Payne wanting to keep his private life private, but atm Madge is the one copping all the pressure for his decision and if it’s truly got nothing to do with him it’s pretty poor form to just sit back and let him take the insinuations, and by extension the club. I know he has come out and said it has nothing to do with Madge, but it obviously wasn’t enough to satisfy the media.

Because the media have made all of this up, so nothing will satisfy them. The club could come out with all the players around Maguire talking about how much they love him and it still wouldn't be enough for the media. They're germs.

 

[Harry Sack]

Because the media have made all of this up, so nothing will satisfy them. The club could come out with all the players around Maguire talking about how much they love him and it still wouldn't be enough for the media. They're germs.

Yeah, I see no point in him making another statement tbh. It will just give them another sound bite to pick over. That said when he is inevitably asked about it in a post match interview or something, I wouldn't mind him reiterating that it has nothing to do with Madge and people suggesting otherwise are calling him a liar and he will be demanding a trial by combat or something.

 

[Sproj]

Yeah, I see no point in him making another statement tbh. It will just give them another sound bite to pick over. That said when he is inevitably asked about it in a post match interview or something, I wouldn't mind him reiterating that it has nothing to do with Madge and people suggesting otherwise are calling him a liar and he will be demanding a trial by combat or something.

 

[ozzball]

Hey guys, there is definetly drama at the club. G CONEHEAD, the man who hates the coach and his best mate got sacked and he is the main host of the biggest bs tv show in the nrl has said so. Completely trust worthy.

Sure we won a premiership after 19 years but I hate madge after that round 1 loss. Terrible coach. Bellamy even said the other day "give me a round 1 win over a premiership any day" which was then quoted and used by the 360 panel on the 5 night special documentary series on why madge is a shit coach and overall shit human being for winning us a premiership.


.. on a serious note. What the actual **** is this media.... like, we won a premiership! I dont care if the players hate him tbh, they could all **** off if they did. He could win the spoon this year and id still have his back! We WON THE ****ING PREMIERSHIP. Bennett couldn't, their mate walters couldn't, griffin couldnt, seibold certainly couldn't....

I know this sounds crazy but I wouldn't mind us losing a few games early on. Would piss me off but I think it'd be better for our season. The pile on and pressure and bs from the media was mentioned a few times by players after the gf win, this is even more ridiculous than last year lol

First off mate, thanks for saving me the trouble of typing everything that you said .. I wish "people" in the media would stop calling CONEHEAD a "legend" .. if he was a legend there'd be a statue outside of Suncorp. But there's a looong f*****g queue in front of him. We started pretty slow last season. Not saying it's intentional but it gives them areas to identify and work on. I've watched Verstappen start from the back of the grid and win a GP. I've stopped watching those BS shows like 360 .. pack of has-beens and media hacks. I've decided if I want unvarnished and informed opinions I'll come here where people are emotionally invested in the club .. good times and bad. Go Broncs!!

 

[Swordfish]

Part of me wonders the value we get starting Jensen especially the 2 games we played this year so far.

Throughout offseason it’s constantly reported that Tawa trained the house down. He could replace Jensen to start the game with strict instructions to run hard, don’t drop the ball and no stupid high shots over the shoulder. Just play with spite for 20min and come for Jensen to substitute.

How badly & dumb we played R1, I doubt MM would make any changes to 17 & it will just be as named. But, I still hope to see Tawa start the game with intensity and mongrel one day.

Hold on to the footy, complete sets with NO errors & score points quickly.

Win ffs.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

I'm sick of the germs. Australian sub - gone. Courier Mail sub - gone. Kayo sub- have signed the missus up for a digital membership this year. As soon as I learn to "acquire" good quality sports channels, they'll be gone too.

 

[Super Freak]

 

[Alfie magic]

Just win ffs

 

[FACTHUNT]

Cook him, Madge!

 

[Harry]

Cook him, Madge!

View attachment 38129

As much as we all now hate him because the way he's carried on has been beyond ridiculous, there would definitely be something deeply fulfilling and cathartic seeing the Raging Bull back at Brisbane training injecting some mongrel into our forward pack and mending that fence / coming full circle and closing the book on the whole 'post Bennett' years.

 

[BroncsFan]

Cook him, Madge!

View attachment 38129

Why bother responding to anything the raging fool says... I'm assuming Badel or someone just quoted whatever the fool said on 360 at some point... and the fool will just say something stupid again in response to that.