2018 NRL Side

[1910]

Been trying to find some decent clips of Ellery Hanley, who i think Bird should be looking at playing like if he moves to lock, cant find anything good though. Dont think he is anywhere near the class of Hanley, who is one of the most complete footballers i have ever seen, but they are fairly similar in terms of them both being extremely capable of playing center, 5/8th and lock. Its quite exciting to think we may could change our style to play with a player like that at lock. Hope it comes off.

Hanley was strong and great running game. He wasn’t a great passer.








He was so strong through the hips. Just moved away through gaps.

 

[Wolfie]

Hanley was strong and great running game. He wasn’t a great passer.








He was so strong through the hips. Just moved away through gaps.

I wouldnt say his passing was poor though tbh though. He was one of the overseas players i watched a fair bit of. Used to like hjm at 5/8th tbh, but he was effective wherever he played. I certainly remember him being a pretty good ball player.

Thanks for those clips. Forgot actually how quick he was. Pity there arent some higher quality clips of him!

 

[heartly87]

I’m sorry, but I honesty don’t understand all the hate for McGuire at 13. The bloke was easily our most consistent player in 2017 - daylight second.
If all our players had his attitude, desire, ruthlessness and passion we’d rarely lose a game.
Him being tackled on the fourth isn’t a reflection on him, not even close. If he’s the only one there putting his hand up, who else does the dummy-half give it to? So late in the tackle count, it’s the job of our 6 and 7 to take control, which they didn’t far too often.

Not wrong at all mate. McGuire has been getting better and better. The dude plays with one eye and never ever do you feel he has let you down at the end of a game. His run in origin 2 changed that game for QLD and he did the same for us all year, but some are never happy.

 

[1910]

I wouldnt say his passing was poor though tbh though. He was one of the overseas players i watched a fair bit of. Used to like hjm at 5/8th tbh, but he was effective wherever he played. I certainly remember him being a pretty good ball player.

Thanks for those clips. Forgot actually how quick he was. Pity there arent some higher quality clips of him!

I don't think passing was ever his strength, you wanted the ball in his hands and him running. Which isn't dis-similar to Bird. Even in those limited clips he threw forward passes and didn't look natural passing or timing. Just run Ellery!

Raiders try was a good one too. Poor Jackson had no chance. Hanley was so good that '88 finals series.





Ellery was great here too and Benny gets snapped in half.

 

[Wolfie]

I don't think passing was ever his strength, you wanted the ball in his hands and him running. Which isn't dis-similar to Bird. Even in those limited clips he threw forward passes and didn't look natural passing or timing. Just run Ellery!

Raiders try was a good one too. Poor Jackson had no chance. Hanley was so good that '88 finals series.





Ellery was great here too and Benny gets snapped in half.

I was trying to find clips from him playing in England, but they are that poor quality in not sure it was even him :D

 

[GCBRONCO]

 

[WASSHHH]

Not wrong at all mate. McGuire has been getting better and better. The dude plays with one eye and never ever do you feel he has let you down at the end of a game. His run in origin 2 changed that game for QLD and he did the same for us all year, but some are never happy.

You’re bang on. He plays well above his weight and, as you said, you know he’s given it everything when he comes from the field after every game.
Maybe I’m not harsh enough, but I can never be unhappy with my team if they bust their guts and simply get beaten by a better team - that’s life.
McGuire epitomises that.

 

[Thelmus]

Even as a broncos fan I feel a tinge of sadness watching those Balmain clips. They may have been a basket case of a club, but they seemed to have a culture and history unique even to their amalgamated successor and I always looked forward to their clashes with Brisbane, as a kid.
The likes of roach, sirinen and elias proved worthy foes (Elias and roach filled the roles of villians, whilst sironen was the noble enemy).
Nothing around today quite matches up.

 

[Super Freak]

You’re bang on. He plays well above his weight and, as you said, you know he’s given it everything when he comes from the field after every game.
Maybe I’m not harsh enough, but I can never be unhappy with my team if they bust their guts and simply get beaten by a better team - that’s life.
McGuire epitomises that.

Giving his everything is all well and good, but the concerns people have are valid concerns as they have been a problem quite a few times throughout the 2017 season.

He needs to pick his moments better on when to take a hit up, because too many times he killed our momentum taking a hit up on the 4th tackle. We would start building something, and then we'll be back to square one with one tackle left.

If he isn't going to develop an offload or a passing game, then he needs to move back to prop where he can do the same job without killing our momentum late in the tackle count.

 

[holdzy]

Giving his everything is all well and good, but the concerns people have are valid concerns as they have been a problem quite a few times throughout the 2017 season.

He needs to pick his moments better on when to take a hit up, because too many times he killed our momentum taking a hit up on the 4th tackle. We would start building something, and then we'll be back to square one with one tackle left.

If he isn't going to develop an offload or a passing game, then he needs to move back to prop where he can do the same job without killing our momentum late in the tackle count.

And more to the point, frustratingly, it's in the games when we are behind or need something to spark. In these games I'm watching and yelling at the TV "do something!".

If we're ahead and just wearing them down, it's not such an issue.

 

[lynx000]

Hanley was strong and great running game. He wasn’t a great passer.








He was so strong through the hips. Just moved away through gaps.

You have got me thinking about who I could come up with as genuine ball playing forwards. I agree with about Gavin Miller, he was a skilful ball playing lock.

It is really an art that has gone out of the game. Not in the position of lock, but the one that clearly comes to mind is Beetson. Steve Roach could at times as well. The other one that really stands out for me was Phil Gould.

In terms of the other prominent locks from the period, they were primarily all ball runners, like Pearce, Clyde, Linder, Moore, Price etc

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

I cringe every time I see people argue on here, so I must iterate this is not personal.

But you are simply regurgitating crap that Gus Gould said about Gallen and applying it to McGuire.

I’ll say again, our misdirection on the fourth and fifth plays has nothing to do with our forwards - it’s all our halves. You never saw Lockyer allow a forward to get in his way on those tackles.

If our 6 and 7 want the ball on those tackles (which they must, as it’s their job), then they put themselves in a position to do so. If someone gets in their way, they push them out of the way.

If they aren’t there doing that, thank god McGuire is there to take a run, otherwise we’d lose ground, not just momentum.

100%

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

The idea that any forward that passes the ball is 'ball playing' is wrong. Offloading and just passing is not ball playing. Ball playing is the ball beating the man, putting guys in holes and them having to do minimal work from there.

Gavin Miller ball played- I can't think of one current forward that does.



The role of the lock is now just a third prop who plays in the middle third. The lock who is a link on the other side to the 6 has gone. With a split field and a half on each side it would be hard to revive it.

Wade Graham would be the closest or James Graham? (Wow - just clicked to the irony of their last names being the same)

But neither of them is even a lock.

I agree with you 100%

 

[Sproj]

Wade Graham would be the closest or James Graham? (Wow - just clicked to the irony of their last names being the same)

But neither of them is even a lock.

I agree with you 100%

So Josh McGuire-Graham?

 

[WASSHHH]

Giving his everything is all well and good, but the concerns people have are valid concerns as they have been a problem quite a few times throughout the 2017 season.

He needs to pick his moments better on when to take a hit up, because too many times he killed our momentum taking a hit up on the 4th tackle. We would start building something, and then we'll be back to square one with one tackle left.

If he isn't going to develop an offload or a passing game, then he needs to move back to prop where he can do the same job without killing our momentum late in the tackle count.

I disagree.
I feel like I am rehashing myself over and over, but without our 6 or 7 taking control on the late plays, I'm relieved he is there to take the hit-up rather than us lose precious ground as well as momentum.
He is nothing like Gallen, he doesn't get in the way of our halves on those plays, he's just the only one there at times. Even if I am wrong (unfortunately, I don't remember every hit-up of every game) and he is getting in the way by simply taking the hit-up on the late plays, its our halves job to push him out of the way, do their job and manage the team - honestly, just typing this is frustrating me.
And I still don't agree that he needs a passing game or offload - if our spine does its job properly then its not even remotely necessary. Yes, it may be a bonus, but its certainly not essential.
I feel like this demand he becomes almost like a second 5/8 (Lewis when he played lock, Fittler likewise) is passing the blame of our halves / spines inability to control the game and a simple bandaid solution for a much larger problem.
Anyway, I can't keep having this same conversation with different people.
I, for one, think he's doing an amazing job. He is the quintessential Bronco.

 

[Bowden27]

1. D. Boyd
2. C. Oates
3. J. Roberts
4. J. Kahu
5. D. Mead
6. A. Milford
7. K. Nikorima
8. J. McGuire
9. A. McCullough
10. K. Sims
11. A. Glenn
12. M. Gillett
13. J. Bird

14. T. Pengai jr
15. M. Lodge
16. J. Ofahengaue
17 S. Thaiday

 

[PerthBrissy987]

1. D. Boyd
2. C. Oates
3. J. Roberts
4. J. Kahu
5. D. Mead
6. A. Milford
7. K. Nikorima
8. J. McGuire
9. A. McCullough
10. K. Sims
11. A. Glenn
12. M. Gillett
13. J. Bird

14. T. Pengai jr
15. M. Lodge
16. J. Ofahengaue
17 S. Thaiday

1 . mead wont be in the side , he is depth
2. Lodge will be starting , wayne said himself
3. Bird prob wont be playing lock due to shoulder injury

 

[Kyall]

1 . mead wont be in the side , he is depth
2. Lodge will be starting , wayne said himself
3. Bird prob wont be playing lock due to shoulder injury

Add to the fact Kahu is liability at centre with poor defence and injuries from the extra work load.