POST GAME [Round 8, 2026] - Broncos vs Bulldogs

1910 said:
Don't know if you could see it on tv but for kick offs he was starting on the fence he was well outside the field of play and literally pushing off the fence past the dead ball line.

I thought mate you'll be exhausted by the time you get the ball. He was adding 20m to his run.

Coster and Burt have been fantastic for him. I think he can have a great second half of the season and play finals in a really good team surrounded by premiership winners who know their craft.
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Yes he was. He was right back on the fence and pumped up.

I was worried for the poor fella cause he looked like he was going to explode with nerves before going on. Got handed the card at the same time as PRiki and ended up on 10 minutes later. You could tell they were trying to calm him down. Luckily he ended up going on after a try so he had some time to calm himself and get his composure. Was excellent I thought, as well as Preston played Va’A has just got something about him. As yourself and many of us cup watches have noticed is that he has always had the big carries, always played well enough but just gone through the motions a bit. This year he has been smarter and he has actively rolled up his sleeves and made his presence known both on the field in cup but within what he can offer in this squad. Alongside Duffy he has been the Broncos best in cup and I can see him continuing to provide value and potentially a place in this lineup for the remainder of the season. Haas and Jensen out for a while, I think by the time they come back he will be hard to kick out of a spot in the rotation.

Thought Preston played immense as well. Brought up the point a few times that he has been playing well in cup and it would be great to just find him an opportunity. He is a big athletic body that carries hard. Like I said this season the immense turn around Perham, Riki and Duffy brought to that Souths team to me just shows that without a doubt all 3 of them can more than hold there own in NRL and that’s been proven. Would love for him to get more opportunities going forward cause even though he is 28 I do believe he can prove to be a good depth option and even potentially push for the bench. Hunt and Gos do bring experience, reliability and edge cover but Semu and PRiki have both proven they can have impact on games.

With Gos, **** me some of you like to complain. Anybody who thought he was going to be a presence is a deadset moron. He has gotten through his work and tackles exceptionally well when he has been thrown in the middle to the point he has actually found some value in being in this squad. We don’t win either game the last 2 weeks without the work he has gotten done on the defensive end.

Talty and Willison…. Take a bow. Talty unreal but Willison just to play those kind of minutes and be the leader of the pack the last fortnight. Well ****ing done young man. Well ****ing done. To know that Barnett is coming in as well with a few finds in Talty, Semu and PRiki we have a really good middle rotation going forward despite Haas’ exodus.

Honestly the eye test has done me well with picking some guys in form and it translating to NRL. If I could ask for just one more whilst we are in this mood of finding some good middle talent. JOSH CORIC. Give him a crack.

Talking about middle forwards this post but not to much of a reach just to give Roger’s a pat on the back for his efforts the last few weeks at hooker. Yet again providing value in different ways that very well could get him another contract. Been excellent this year at hooker and that tackle on Crichton was unreal.
 
GCBRONCO said:
I was thinking last night when Te'o is applying for his next gig he might want to keep defensive coach off the list of qualifications and experience. And his sake don't supply before and after example videos.
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Well, he was given credit for our defence last year so he should get wraps for that.

However, going by the reports, he introduced a new system this year that Madge binned after the Eels loss. We’ve gone back to the old system.

So credit for that, but his tantrum instead of knuckling down and saying working with the head coach is a big black mark.
 
BroncsFan said:
I think Ezra feels far more comfortable with Piaks inside him.
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BroncsFan said:
Is it a PCL issue?

I think that's the one players can play through... Reece had one last year and several players have played without a PCL (I think Andrew Fifita??).

Fletcher Sharpe copped a PCL injury in Vegas Rd 1

I think it's pain tolerance, so maybe it was bugging him last night, but hopefully not too long
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It was meniscus tear in the pre-season.
 
Tremendously satisfying game, with us looking the better team - and we really looked like a team - right from the outset. If anything, the scoreline flattered the Dogs.

I'm not sure what we lost in the absence of Patty and Payne, but one thing we gained was forwards who want to score tries.
 
I don't think you can ask for more really. I think a similar game last year against the Dogs went on to define us and galvanise the squad.

There was a lot of positives coming out of this. We can see life beyond Payne is not crippling.

Big X- Man has he stood up, he offers both a physical running and defensive game. He could evolve even further to a very imposing force. Is a must lock up player going forward.

I thought Talty and Getski both did exactly what we needed from them. Ben for me has shown exceptional growth and is the exact type of player we have been begging for on BHQ for years. The type of guy who will never get all those accolades but is essentially giving you his best each week.

Hayze was good at the back and a very decent fill in for Walsh. What I really liked was the lack of errors, decent passing game, active in attack and a serviceable kicking game. Again it's a fill in that only loses the things that make Walsh a superstar. Hayze looked better than the Dogs fulltime fullback so that says a lot.

Both Semu and Preston Riki did what they needed. Hold the middle and just do the basics of being a prop. Preston showed me something and I actually think he will get more of a look in. He may actually be the next Talty, an older bloke who has been in the system but never really got there. Given the chance he could make a dependable prop option off the bench while Va'a matures a bit more.


All of the usual guys played well and held it all together. Reynolds and Mam both exceptional and special mention to Paix who is really owning the hooker role and proving Kev to be absolutely wrong.
Tough times breeds tough men and I actually have a lot of belief each week knowing Madge is shaping a very resilient team here.

Lastly how much better has our defense looked since master defense coach Teo walked away on his. His coaching stocks should be plummeting.
 
After sleeping on it, i want to point out again how good the officiating was last night. I am not outrightly opposed to the 6 again if its used sparingly for obvious infringements, but the enforcement of it with some refs is laughable with a 6 again called every other set.

The flow in last nights game was a great example of two teams not being fatigued out of the game by repeated defensive sets due to 6 agains but being fatigued from playing hard footy. The players decided the outcome, not the officials. The bunker was solid, Ref was solid, all around it was a great game for them.

Maguire has some tough decisions to make when players return from Injury/suspension. Not a bad problem to have.
 
Figured P.Riki would get a week and same for the Hayes trip.

Thought Burton may have been in some strife but guess not.
 
Cowboys hooker Reed Mahoney (Contrary Conduct), Sharks back-rower Billy Burns (Dangerous Contact), Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam (Tripping) and Bulldogs duo Matt Burton (Dangerous Throw) and Stephen Crichton (Tripping) are all facing fines.

I'm sorry, what? When did Ezra trip someone last night? I must have missed that...
 
Others on here have pretty much covered all I would want to say about another gutsy win.

However, one thing thats becoming obvious to me is we are seeing the fringe guys in our roster and pathways getting some NRL playtime.

And I got to say, the future is bright.

A few of them are playing their way out of a Broncos jersey however given the fact those behind them in the pecking order actually appear ready and frankly...better.
 
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