2024 pre-season discussion: Pre-season Premiers

[Fitzy]

Of the train and trial crew, the only one I thought was worth another look was Josh Patston. I would also rather give Coby Black another crack than Rogers. Next week's team will be literally the dregs.

Rogers is on an actual contract and Coby is 17 they won’t be allowed to play him. Rogers is a very good player, he was quiet last week and once the ball started to go his edge the game opened up. When you only have 4 halves you need to make sure they get minutes and experience in games like this. Black won’t be allowed and Sailor will be playing FB for a fair chunk of this game so Roger’s has to be there.

 

[Sproj]

Without knowing how many are available and assuming all of Cobbo, Reynolds, Mam, Willison, Riki, Arthars and Staggs not available for reasons mentioned above, I would be looking at:

1. Walsh
2. Oates
3. Hoeter
4. Karapani
5. Mariner
6. Sailor
7. Black
8. Haas
9. Walters
10. Carrigan
11. Hunt
12. Piakura
13. Hetherington

14. Smoothy
15. Baker
16. Taupau
17. Jensen

18. Rogers
19. Paix
20. Mozer
21. Pereira
22. Leota
23. Trew
24. Saitaua
25. Te Kura
26 and beyond: Whoever I have no doubt forgotten

 

[McHunt]

Rogers is on an actual contract and Coby is 17 they won’t be allowed to play him. Rogers is a very good player, he was quiet last week and once the ball started to go his edge the game opened up. When you only have 4 halves you need to make sure they get minutes and experience in games like this. Black won’t be allowed and Sailor will be playing FB for a fair chunk of this game so Roger’s has to be there.

Rogers and Black are both on Development. Sailor must play, and in more than one position.

 

[Sproj]

I am really not expecting us to do that well in Vegas. Our preseason is so disrupted and we've lost 4 member of the GF team, I expect us to have a lot of rust. We might take a few weeks to get going unfortunately.

 

[McHunt]

I am really not expecting us to do that well in Vegas. Our preseason is so disrupted and we've lost 4 member of the GF team, I expect us to have a lot of rust. We might take a few weeks to get going unfortunately.

Broncos by 50

 

[Fitzy]

Without knowing how many are available and assuming all of Cobbo, Reynolds, Mam, Willison, Riki, Arthars and Staggs not available for reasons mentioned above, I would be looking at:

1. Walsh
2. Oates
3. Hoeter
4. Karapani
5. Mariner
6. Sailor
7. Black
8. Haas
9. Walters
10. Carrigan
11. Hunt
12. Piakura
13. Hetherington

14. Smoothy
15. Baker
16. Taupau
17. Jensen

18. Rogers
19. Paix
20. Mozer
21. Pereira
22. Leota
23. Trew
24. Saitaua
25. Te Kura
26 and beyond: Whoever I have no doubt forgotten

Because there isn’t a dislike button…

 

[LittleDavey]

Rogers and Black are both on Development. Sailor must play, and in more than one position.

Please don't Milford him!

 

[Santa]

This weekend's trial against the Cowboys will be the last hit out before Round One for the 23 players going to Vegas. It should be close to full strength, minus:

1. Reynolds. Not expected to play any trials.
2. All Stars: Staggs, Arthars, Willison.
2. Injuries. Riki in recovery until Round One. Haas and Baker should be available.
3. Withdrawals: Cobbo and Mam withdrew from Allstars. Mam, to rest a groin injury. Probably won't play. Cobbo uncertain.
4. Anyone not going to Vegas

The only certainties in the backs/spine are:

1. Walsh
2. Oates
9. Walters
14. Smoothy

Very likely:

4. Cobbo
3 or 5. Mariner
6. Sailor
7. Madden

Pumped to watch some of our stars play again. The last trial was lame.

I am really not expecting us to do that well in Vegas. Our preseason is so disrupted and we've lost 4 member of the GF team, I expect us to have a lot of rust. We might take a few weeks to get going unfortunately.

Roosters are usually pretty poor starters too. We'll probably want to impress Brady if he's watching too.

Easy win.

 

[Fitzy]

I don’t think we will start slow. Going to Vegas fatigue wise is a non starter. Super rugby teams used to have multiple 20 hour flights a year and still perform. It’s over exaggerated excuses.

Our pre-season hasn’t really been that interrupted, yes shortened and yes the odd injury only ones of note have been Arthars and Riki but our spine and new inclusions have been predominantly fine. Obviously Reyno and Mam have had there little issues but they have been like week long rest issues nothing substantial.

We were the best side come the end of last year we played garbage in that grand final and nearly won. I think Baker and Willison as inclusions gives great balance to our forward pack. Not to mention a starting Corey Jensen is literally going to go down as an immortal of our game. Peeks and Cobbo will be on fire. Oates looks like a 23 year old again and Arthars if he comes out like he did last year or improved look out.

We have started well the past 2 seasons with injuries uncertainty in positions and touch schedules so I don’t expect anything to change.

 

[Fitzy]

I’m just glad Reyno led by example and tried to get Pat in a cab before something like this happened. Sadly for him this will come with a little bit of reputation back lash but by the sounds of things as the team captain and leader he wasn’t very tolerant of Pats behaviour at the venue, sadly that turned into a scuffle but it was well intentioned and when someone’s drunk and not in the right frame of mind you got to keep yourself safe (less importantly also the inebriated persons safety) and sometimes that means getting into a wrestle rather than becoming a punching bag. It definitely seems Pat has a lot more to answer for than Reyno. Seems Pat should probably be putting the grog away until GF after party. This is his second incident now.

 

[McHunt]

In case you missed it.

The subject of this 2010 story is likely to become the 14th Immortal in a few weeks time:

Pub surprised by Langer's drunken antics

The hotel where rugby league great Allan Langer drank before being stopped by police says he caught them by surprise with his behaviour.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au

 

[Broncosgirl]

Super long article. Could be a very interesting read.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/complete-history-of-the-brisbane-broncos-in-the-nrl-and-nrlw/news-story/89f10a0dd418e9dd18e18671b7687ba4

 

[McHunt]

Super long article. Could be a very interesting read.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/complete-history-of-the-brisbane-broncos-in-the-nrl-and-nrlw/news-story/89f10a0dd418e9dd18e18671b7687ba4

 

[McHunt]

I'm just going to throw this out there: this kid has already leapfrogged Madden. Too young, too small, too inexperienced. All that. But still better than Madden.

Black: Words can't describe putting on this jersey | QRL

Coby Black does his first on-field interview after playing an influential role in the Broncos win over the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls.

www.qrl.com.au

 

[Footy Fanatic]

I'm just going to throw this out there: this kid has already leapfrogged Madden. Too young, too small, too inexperienced. All that. But still better than Madden.

Black: Words can't describe putting on this jersey | QRL

Coby Black does his first on-field interview after playing an influential role in the Broncos win over the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls.

www.qrl.com.au

What makes you say that?

 

[Culhwch]

What makes you say that?

A particularly jerky knee.

 

[McHunt]

What makes you say that?

The kid has it.

Longshot to get a game this year. Too many ducks would need to fall into place. In the meantime Madden/Sailor will keep the seat warm. But by the time Reynolds hangs them up, it'll be Black. That's my call. And I've never been wrong.

 

[McHunt]

Bit of a weird game this one. Our record against the Cowboys in preseason trials is pretty shithouse: 1 win from 5 starts. And before you point out that trials don't matter, that single win was last season and we all know how that season panned out.

But this one's different. We should be close to full strength, but the Cowboys probably won't be. If we don't piss this in by a big margin, you might have reason to ask questions.

Speaking of which, I've been thinking about what the last trial meant. Again, the result didn't matter, nor how the group played as a team. But individual performances did. Almost all the players turning out for the Broncos were playing for a contract. All were elite at that level, as in they were selected because they were marked out as potential NRL stars. They needed to stand out, and dominate. Like Tristan Sailor and Willison did. But they already had contracts.

It was a pretty poor trial in that regard. Most failed the test.