2025 Pre-season discussion. Training the house down.

[1910]

Tonihi, Coates, Verhoeven all playing round one for Bears Meninga. Bailey McConnell moved up from Meninga.

 

[YeahNahMate]

I know the general consensus with trial games is to read very little into the form and results out of them. But I feel like for recent history for the Broncos they've proved pretty accurate indication on how our season pans out.

I don't remember the exact games or results so don't quote me on it but I recall the first Trial Kev coached against the Q cup team in 21 we were very ordinary and maybe lost. Then there was a trial against either the tits or cows where we nearly got run down from a big lead or vice versa (high scoring poor game). His second year from memory trial form wasn't great either.

23 from memory we put a bit of a score on the Qcup side in the trial and were impressive in the other two trials and we all know how that year turned out. Fast forward to 24 and I don't recall the Q cup trial game but I remember a scrapy draw with the titans and a sloppy win over the Cows in the pre season.

I think there are two take aways genuinly from pre season games. The first is individuals form. Second is the type/style of football that teams play, their defensive structure and attacking shape.

Either way, i always find trials exciting but it's another level of excitement and anticipation when you have not just a new coach but whole new coaching staff. Despite it being a second string team, i want to see them play incredibly diciplined footy.

we pumped Wynnum in 2022 52-4 with this team, I don’t believe this is the full team because I looked at the score and saw Gamble’s name on the score sheets

And in 23 with this team 44-12

1 Tristan SAILOR

2 Israel LEOTA

3 Ethan QUAI-WARD

4 Deine MARINER

5 James JOHNSON

6 Jack AHEARN

7 Josh ROGERS

8 Logan BAYLISS

9 Tyson SMOOTHY

10 Ben TE KURA

11 Brendan FREI

12 Brendan PIAKURA

13 Shalom O’OFOU

Interchange​

14 Liam HORNE

15 Jack CAMPAGNOLO


16 Jayden MORGAN

17 John RADEL

18 Will SAMUEL

This first trial probably more just points out the quality of the depth, t&t players at the club, also depends on how many first grade players the coach decides to put in but yeah can probably read into the other trials a bit better. If I remember correctly in 2023 in the 2nd trial we beat a full strength cowboys team in a close game without Walsh, Reyno and a lot of our rookies (back then) were on the field a lot more compared to the cowboys team eg Mozer & Mariner which was good signs

 

[Sproj]

O'ofou and Johnson there are two guys that had a bit of publicity around them who disappeared as quickly as they came up.

 

[YeahNahMate]

Basically confirms Leota is done with the club.

Wonder where he stands

 

[Sproj]

Well he has looked terrible every game he’s played that I’ve seen, so as much as he looks like a unit, not sure he has a future in the NRL. Could be famous last words but I doubt it.