2025 Pre-season discussion. Training the house down.

[Morkel]

Are they only taking a certain amount of players on camp or did Leota lose his spot to Hopoate?

I don't know much more than I already posted, but the "demotion" (if you want to call it that) happened when they returned after Christmas, so it doesn't seem that it's just for the camp. You'd have the main NRL regulars, then a depth group (which the younger players have been a part of until now) who would train with but often opposed to the NRL group. But now they've been put in like a 3rd tier.

 

[Sproj]

I don't know much more than I already posted, but the "demotion" (if you want to call it that) happened when they returned after Christmas, so it doesn't seem that it's just for the camp. You'd have the main NRL regulars, then a depth group (which the younger players have been a part of until now) who would train with but often opposed to the NRL group. But now they've been put in like a 3rd tier.

Perhaps Trew has gone ahead of Leota?

 

[Manofoneway]

Leota looks pretty shite at this point to be frank. Probably another athlete over footballer signing that the Broncos seem obsessed with.

 

[Fitzy]

Perhaps Trew has gone ahead of Leota?

Madge would tie up the boots before putting Leota in.

 

[Foordy]

- Reynolds likely to be captain

please wait while I put on my shocked face

 

[Morkel]

Perhaps Trew has gone ahead of Leota?

Trew, Leota and some others are among the group that have been bumped.

 

[Sproj]

Trew, Leota and some others are among the group that have been bumped.

Bumped for the 585th Hopoate kid? If so, not a fan of that.

 

[Morkel]

Bumped for the 585th Hopoate kid? If so, not a fan of that.

Bumped for various non-NRL-proven but older players who are probably safer for a game or two if needed.

 

[kman]

No need to make shit up to suit your narrative .
He does pass off the ground . It`s his running when there is only one marker that needs work .

I didn't make this shit up, I watched how he plays in our games last year.

 

[Mustafur]

The thing that annoys me most about Billy Walters is his dummy half play. He either runs a bit or starts to step up before he passes the ball. He doesn't pass the ball from the ground and that gives the defence time to move up and less time for the halves to get our back plays time to move. It may be only a second or two but it still hurts us.

Walters weakness is his long passing game and speed of pass, what you have mentioned is very much not that.

The thing he has improved the most is his dummy runs and his kicking especially box style, before he used to just run adlib and it mostly amounted to nothing, in the last 2 seasons he really has nailed the lack of marker or weak marker placement for a run which he can easily gain 10 plus meters from which from any metric is worth more than passing it to a middle, his kicking is often getting the right angles and he is capable of a solid 40/20 or two as well and even if it doesn't work out put's the opposition fullback in a bad return position to run.

The problem for him is his biggest weaknesses are Mozers strongest traits, and given that I would say Walters is making more sense as a bench hooker sooner rather than later as his age catches up to him, as his strengths atm are exactly what you want from a bench hooker.

 

[Old Mate]

Walters weakness is his long passing game and speed of pass, what you have mentioned is very much not that.

The thing he has improved the most is his dummy runs and his kicking especially box style, before he used to just run adlib and it mostly amounted to nothing, in the last 2 seasons he really has nailed the lack of marker or weak marker placement for a run which he can easily gain 10 plus meters from which from any metric is worth more than passing it to a middle, his kicking is often getting the right angles and he is capable of a solid 40/20 or two as well and even if it doesn't work out put's the opposition fullback in a bad return position to run.

The problem for him is his biggest weaknesses are Mozers strongest traits, and given that I would say Walters is making more sense as a bench hooker sooner rather than later as his age catches up to him, as his strengths atm are exactly what you want from a bench hooker.

And he can be a stop gap in the halves if need be. I feel like I’m the makeup of the team Hunt is just a better version of him. If Hunt wasn’t signed I’d definitely be playing Walters, he’s just the odd man out.

 

[Big Del]

I didn't make this shit up, I watched how he plays in our games last year.

Well I don`t agree with your assessment .
He does pass off the ground ,and doesn`t take time away from the halves like you say .

 

[theshed]

Well I don`t agree with your assessment .
He does pass off the ground ,and doesn`t take time away from the halves like you say .

IMO Billy’s biggest issue, other than his average athletic ability which I don’t really hold against him as teams need average players in the salary cap era - is his decision making.

Sometimes he gets it really right by putting in an unexpected long kick to get us out of trouble, sometimes he pinches 10m from sleepy markers but he also makes a lot of decisions that go against the set structure or handbrake the attack.

I think he does too much, he does more than his talent level should call for. Especially when you consider how much talent is waiting on him for the ball.

It’s why I liked Smoothey, he knows his roll and does it well. Rarely overplays his hand.

 

[kman]

Walters weakness is his long passing game and speed of pass, what you have mentioned is very much not that.

The thing he has improved the most is his dummy runs and his kicking especially box style, before he used to just run adlib and it mostly amounted to nothing, in the last 2 seasons he really has nailed the lack of marker or weak marker placement for a run which he can easily gain 10 plus meters from which from any metric is worth more than passing it to a middle, his kicking is often getting the right angles and he is capable of a solid 40/20 or two as well and even if it doesn't work out put's the opposition fullback in a bad return position to run.

The problem for him is his biggest weaknesses are Mozers strongest traits, and given that I would say Walters is making more sense as a bench hooker sooner rather than later as his age catches up to him, as his strengths atm are exactly what you want from a bench hooker.

Walters weakness is his long passing game and speed of pass, what you have mentioned is very much not that. I agree and what i stated is why his passes are slow.

 

[Broncapz]

At this point in time, I don't think Walters makes the 17. But as far as depth goes, he'd be fantastic.

 

[theshed]

At this point in time, I don't think Walters makes the 17. But as far as depth goes, he'd be fantastic.

Yeah, it’s his rightful place. A dependable journeyman depth utility spine player. He’s a great buy for that role and it’s an underrated one.

The issue is, I’m not sure how much he’s being paid

 

[kman]

Yeah, it’s his rightful place. A dependable journeyman depth utility spine player. He’s a great buy for that role and it’s an underrated one.

The issue is, I’m not sure how much he’s being paid

I believe it's 400k from what I have read and that's a big pay for a reserve grade back up.

 

[Mr Fourex]

At this point in time, I don't think Walters makes the 17. But as far as depth goes, he'd be fantastic.

I guess if he does make the 17....which I think he will while Mam is out
No-one will be able to blame his Dad.