Old Mate
NRL Player
- Jul 5, 2008
- 2,924
- 2,614
Piss off, I’ve had a bond with Macca ever since he turned up.
2019 Broncos Line-up
- Thread starter Fitzy
- Start date
I don't honestly know what Macca has to do with us losing, other than being a scapegoat. It wasn't that we were out-enthused. We were outplayed. They came to the game expecting us to play a certain way and we delivered.
We kept the ball in play when we had been defending multiple sets. We played up-tempo with tired forwards. We then compounded the situation with handling errors and failing to reach the end of sets. What do they have to do with Macca?
We had players like Lodge trying to put on huge hits and missing. We had the likes of bird and Isaako sticking to rigid positioning in the back line instead of helping out when those forwards were tired.
With tired forwards, we struggled to make the metres and the storm ground us down, capitalising on our errors and finally playing safety-first with touchfinders to stagnate our efforts at the end when we finally had some momentum.
Milford needed to justify his price tag but didn't. It's not that he played badly, only that he rarely impacted on the game himself, tackling with the best of them (but that isn't his job). I'm not saying we sack milford or knik, but that they need to work out how to play the game as halves. 1 week with andrew johns, mat johns or even lockyer will not fix it.
Another steady prop on the bench might have helped too.
The cowboys show a similar threat, although with a team that lacks the skill or discipline of the storm and is a little more vulnerable in defence. How we handle their forwards will be telling to the results. a slugfest of 1 out runs trapped in our own half will be disastrous, however I hope will have learned from this game.
We kept the ball in play when we had been defending multiple sets. We played up-tempo with tired forwards. We then compounded the situation with handling errors and failing to reach the end of sets. What do they have to do with Macca?
We had players like Lodge trying to put on huge hits and missing. We had the likes of bird and Isaako sticking to rigid positioning in the back line instead of helping out when those forwards were tired.
With tired forwards, we struggled to make the metres and the storm ground us down, capitalising on our errors and finally playing safety-first with touchfinders to stagnate our efforts at the end when we finally had some momentum.
Milford needed to justify his price tag but didn't. It's not that he played badly, only that he rarely impacted on the game himself, tackling with the best of them (but that isn't his job). I'm not saying we sack milford or knik, but that they need to work out how to play the game as halves. 1 week with andrew johns, mat johns or even lockyer will not fix it.
Another steady prop on the bench might have helped too.
The cowboys show a similar threat, although with a team that lacks the skill or discipline of the storm and is a little more vulnerable in defence. How we handle their forwards will be telling to the results. a slugfest of 1 out runs trapped in our own half will be disastrous, however I hope will have learned from this game.
I did notice the other night, when we lost our way a bit, worryingly we looked way too much like the team of old and were standing so ridiculously flat in attack.
Don’t get me wrong, I think McCullough needs to improve. But TBF, no one can get the forwards rolling down the field ruck after ruck if there is not one, and at times I literally mean not one, single player running onto the ball.
I’m sure Seibold will be addressing this style of play, but as you say, it’ll take time to get what’s been drilled into some players heads for years out of there. Particularly when they are under fatigue.
Brittany Breayley from our women’s team is world class, and she’s already signed at the club!
Look no further.
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_wwong
International Captain
- May 27, 2013
- 23,863
- 22,704
Knik can definitely do it imo. He put on a nice tackle on Bromwich the other night which stopped brom enough for the cavalry to arrive. He’s not much chance defending isolated on the edges though.
I think hooker is possibly the most important position on the field these days. They have more touches than anyone else on the field, and are an important part of any teams defensive structure.
I think we can all agree that Macca does a great job for us defensively and always has. Unfortunately for me he is just not up to it in attack, he offers little to nothing at all.
Melbourne are a good example of what a quality hooker can do for a side, they have been damn near the best team in the comp for the last decade. Good teams and good hooker often go hand in hand. The Bunnies excelled last year under Cooks dominant run of form. The Cowboys finally put together a competitive side many years ago when Payne entered the frame, they fell off the radar for a while after that then came back into contention with the aid of Granville. The Titans most competitive seasons were when they had Nathan Friend at hooker.
I'm not saying these guys were the sole reason that their teams excelled, obviously all of the teams I mentioned had many other quality and important players. I am saying that these teams benefited from having quality hookers.
It is absolutely no surprise to me that we have not managed to win a title since Macca came in to grade. He just does not have what it takes. Even when he was picked for Queensland last year I though fark our boys are in trouble here and sure enough we lose the series.
The sooner Seibold has the balls to cut the dead weight that Macca is and give someone else a "proper " go then the better off we will be I believe. I hope it happens sometime throughout this season.
I think we can all agree that Macca does a great job for us defensively and always has. Unfortunately for me he is just not up to it in attack, he offers little to nothing at all.
Melbourne are a good example of what a quality hooker can do for a side, they have been damn near the best team in the comp for the last decade. Good teams and good hooker often go hand in hand. The Bunnies excelled last year under Cooks dominant run of form. The Cowboys finally put together a competitive side many years ago when Payne entered the frame, they fell off the radar for a while after that then came back into contention with the aid of Granville. The Titans most competitive seasons were when they had Nathan Friend at hooker.
I'm not saying these guys were the sole reason that their teams excelled, obviously all of the teams I mentioned had many other quality and important players. I am saying that these teams benefited from having quality hookers.
It is absolutely no surprise to me that we have not managed to win a title since Macca came in to grade. He just does not have what it takes. Even when he was picked for Queensland last year I though fark our boys are in trouble here and sure enough we lose the series.
The sooner Seibold has the balls to cut the dead weight that Macca is and give someone else a "proper " go then the better off we will be I believe. I hope it happens sometime throughout this season.
the_next
NRL Captain
- Mar 9, 2018
- 3,133
- 6,610
Fittler has called for seibold to give SoS the call up over Nikorima. Interesting coming from a former half and also the current winning coach of state of origin.
I would have to say I agree with him. SoS had a decent trial v the titans a few weeks back I thought. We need to significantly improve, especially with our 5th tackle option and in particular our kicking game.
How long do we keep persevering with niko as our 7, it hasn’t worked for the past 12 months, why is it all of a sudden going to change now?
He has the potential to be one of the best subs in the game. I think it’s a risk worth taking this early in the season.
I would have to say I agree with him. SoS had a decent trial v the titans a few weeks back I thought. We need to significantly improve, especially with our 5th tackle option and in particular our kicking game.
How long do we keep persevering with niko as our 7, it hasn’t worked for the past 12 months, why is it all of a sudden going to change now?
He has the potential to be one of the best subs in the game. I think it’s a risk worth taking this early in the season.
He's also a ex rooster , but I also agree. Knik is not the halfback we need, hooker or bust imo
Lockysillegitimatechild
State of Origin Rep
- Apr 10, 2015
- 5,627
- 10,956
I actually had a thought yesterday after the game... Is this possibly why seibold has put gillett at lock? He is the only player in our squad who could make up for mcculloughs defensive load on his own (bar fensom who is obviously a weakness offensively though). He had more tackles then mccullough on his first proper run in a new position in 9 months.
Also, nikorima in the middle would be much less of a defensively liability then on the edge. He just needs to run up and slow down the player for the next defender to come in and complete it, it is much much harder for teams to isolate him then on the edge.
Alec
International Rep
- Mar 4, 2008
- 19,416
- 12,538
I like Kodi a lot, but I just can't imagine him and Milford as a pair being the best way to go for the side. I dunno if SOS is the answer, all of the halves we seem to sign are fucking shit, but hopefully he can impress enough for it to happen.
- Sep 8, 2009
- 7,756
- 9,014
With Kotoni likely to start at left Centre this week as Roberts replacement, it should provide an opportunity for O'Sullivan to get a crack.
For me, best case scenario is Seibold uses it as an excuse to slot O'Sullivan straight into the starting halfback spot and Kodi to the bench to use his experience to give us some spark off the bench when we need it.
That will give us an opportunity to see if Kodi is a possible fit at hooker.
For me, best case scenario is Seibold uses it as an excuse to slot O'Sullivan straight into the starting halfback spot and Kodi to the bench to use his experience to give us some spark off the bench when we need it.
That will give us an opportunity to see if Kodi is a possible fit at hooker.
- Aug 25, 2018
- 18,396
- 31,667
Thank you.
- Jun 12, 2013
- 14,700
- 18,170
Can confirm this. This peanut has been raving about him for years.
He's not playing any grade at the moment. Hasn't had a run yet this season.
