[2025 Trial] Broncos vs. Titans

[McHunt]

6. Walters - Billy was good too! But seriously, he didn't put a foot wrong and certainly wouldn't look out of place in the 14 jersey but like typical Billy, he faded in and out. The first half was really good though in a sort of hybrid 6-9 role

Yes this exactly. He's like a jack in the box for the first 15-20, and then switches into flight mode. He has a nice little step that we rarely see from dummy half, but his service is utterly by numbers. Smoothy maybe has a bit more go-forward, but not much in the open space.

17. Black - Still looks to be in a boy's body but the talent is clear to see - he isn't ready but will be by next season you'd think, massive talent

I was looking forward to seeing him break out in this game, but I barely noticed he was there. His dummy half service wasn't anything special. I thought he might be a possibility for Madge style 14, but he's going to need to prove that in the Cup.

22. Paix - What a statement, he was arguably best on ground in his stint, definitely locked up starting 9 you'd think, he was, dare I say it, Berrigan-like

Hands up who saw that coming? Not me.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Well.....I'll be fucked. That was a pleasure to watch.

I honestly don't know which is the stronger thought in my head, that our youngsters look very hungry for first grade and are playing as such, or should I comment on how fucking god awful the Titans looked? Seriously trial or not there is just no excuse for what they dished up, just a piss take of a performance. They're lucky they have no supporters to annoy.

Paix, Jensen, Mariner and Te Kura all superb, and should all be in the side Round 1. Corey Paix though....where the **** has he come from in recent times?? Walters to his credit was very solid, a try assist and forced a drop out, but didn't exactly outshine his competition for either 6 or 9 but will likely get picked with Mozer in doubt. Few more notes:

- Jensen's offload to Paix for his 2nd try was gorgeous, who knew he had it in him

- Hetherington was a pleasant surprise. Bent the line multiple times and had the Tits defence panicking

- Big Marty definitely deserves to be in the discussion for some bench time in the event of some injuries or Origin absences

Don't get me wrong, I am very proud of the boys, they played great.....But gee whiz I can't shake the feeling the Titans were just so bad that they made us look about 40 percent better than we otherwise would have been against another side, especially in defence.

 

[Manofoneway]

I thought the same, but I'd forgotten he's always been good, and sometimes even great, for about twenty minutes and then he goes into robot mode. If you recall back, the times he's looked good is when he did something 6-like out of hooker. But as the game went on you didn't see that again. His old man gave him more and more minutes last season and that really exposed him.

It's a bit of a conundrum: he's very ordinary at dummy half, lacking any of the creativity you occasionally see out of him at 6. But he doesn't have the concentration span to play 80 minutes in the halves.

Based on today's performance, I would expect round one to be: Paix at 9, Hunt at 6, Reynolds at 7 and Walters at 14. But it begs the question whether we'd be better with a different type of 14 if Billy can't bring any 6-like spark to the dummy half role.

We saw the contrast between the dummy halves today. Paix was a powerhouse. I did not expect that. Walters, Smoothy and Black, I don't know, none really did anything much beyond scoop and lob to first receiver. Paix was like a bulldog for the line.

Once Mozer returns I expect he'll go to 14, that's pretty simple. But when Mam returns one of Paix or Mozer will have to make way for Hunt. That will be another interesting contest because based on today, I think I'm favouring Paix.

Paix was probably best on ground for me today. I really thought he looked a level above pretty much every player on the field. Almost like we were playing one of our Ferrari's. All of the shit talk aside I would be genuinely happy if he makes a career out of hooker for us. We need it and he probably deserves it.

The only thing I will say and for what its worth, there has never really been any doubt over his ability to play quick high octain attacking football, his downfall has always been his ability to play big minutes and defend under fatigue.

He only had to make 9 tackles today because we had the ball for almost his entire stint. We didn't really get a chance to see the worst parts of his game to see if it had improved. If I think back to games against the good teams (roosters were always good at targeting him) where we had high completion rates on both sides, Paix always looked as though he was playing catch up with his lungs. Has he grown the motor we need? I hope so. Hopefully we see a few more completions next week to see what's changed.

 

[McHunt]

The best take away was that they all seemed to be singing from the same hymn book. Both in attack and defence.

Everyone seemed to know their role, no matter their skill or experience - both in attack and defence. They were all talking, and looked like they knew where to be each ptb despite the shuffling,

Titans made it easy on them though.

Yes, if I got two things from this game:

1. Cory Paix, come on down.
2. Even our seconds look like a team possessed. I can't wait to see the firsts next week.

 

[McHunt]

Well.....I'll be fucked. That was a pleasure to watch.

- Jensen's offload to Paix for his 2nd try was gorgeous, who knew he had it in him

- Big Marty definitely deserves to be in the discussion for some bench time in the event of some injuries or Origin absences

If only Jensen could play on the edge. That would solve all our problems. Marty was Marty. That shoulder charge at the end...

 

[davidp]

The other thing I noticed is that we met the Titans up front and Sid not wait back for them to run at us - this rushed them. For years this forum has noted the timid defensive line - with Madge tis seems to have been a major focus

Great signs when everyone buys in

 

[McHunt]

Paix was probably best on ground for me today. I really thought he looked a level above pretty much every player on the field. Almost like we were playing one of our Ferrari's. All of the shit talk aside I would be genuinely happy if he makes a career out of hooker for us. We need it and he probably deserves it.

The only thing I will say and for what its worth, there has never really been any doubt over his ability to play quick high octain attacking football, his downfall has always been his ability to play big minutes and defend under fatigue.

He only had to make 9 tackles today because we had the ball for almost his entire stint. We didn't really get a chance to see the worst parts of his game to see if it had improved. If I think back to games against the good teams (roosters were always good at targeting him) where we had high completion rates on both sides, Paix always looked as though he was playing catch up with his lungs. Has he grown the motor we need? I hope so. Hopefully we see a few more completions next week to see what's changed.

I've never see from Paix what I saw today. Like Sproj said, it was Berrigan-esque. Have a look at how many times he played the full 80 minutes in Cup:

Cory Paix

The Hostplus Cup profile of Cory Paix including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.qrl.com.au

 

[McHunt]

Just watched the highlights-Titans score 2 twice due to Walters errors. First was not cleaning up the ball (even the ball bounced away as to avoid his dirty mitts) and the second he rushed out and read an incorrect play leading to a hole the size of where his brain should be.

The only broncos shirt I want to see from him this year is the official fan merch only.

He put on a few good steps in the first 20. Maybe they weren't in the highlights.

 

[The Don]

T The Don where you at fella?

Sorry chaps was playing a round of golf. Suffice to say happy I didn’t waste my afternoon. Will have to read through some comments to see just how bad it was.

 

[davidp]

Paix defence was also solid - did the work and did not just hold on waiting for help - changed a few minds today- including mine

 

[Broncosgirl]

Sorry

No need to say sorry, sweetheart

 

[Manofoneway]

I've never see from Paix what I saw today. Like Sproj said, it was Berrigan-esque. Have a look at how many times he played the full 80 minutes in Cup:

Cory Paix

The Hostplus Cup profile of Cory Paix including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.qrl.com.au

Yeah I agree, Its pretty convincing, 80 minutes is 80 minutes. I reckon he has just belted himself in the last 12 months and got himself to an elite level of fitness. If that's the case, he deserves it. He's only 25 and whats to say he doesn't add some more utility to his game to be a genuine 14 for us with Mozer starting.

 

[Harry Sack]

Sorry chaps was playing a round of golf. Suffice to say happy I didn’t waste my afternoon. Will have to read through some comments to see just how bad it was.

The concerning thing for me is how many of your main squad was on the field for that. You guys should have at least been competitive but it was seriously like men against boys.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

The concerning thing for me is how many of your main squad was on the field for that. You guys should have at least been competitive but it was seriously like men against boys.

Yep, what was it, 10 of their starting 17 vs. like 5 of ours?

 

[McHunt]

The concerning thing for me is how many of your main squad was on the field for that. You guys should have at least been competitive but it was seriously like men against boys.

I'd be concerned about how infrequently you heard the name David Fifita other than when Billy gifted him that consolation try.

 

[McHunt]

Yep, what was it, 10 of their starting 17 vs. like 5 of ours?

We had quite a few with NRL experience, but most of them had been discarded at some point or needed to press their cases. Mariner was probably the only one who was genuinely safe. Paix, Jensen, Hetherington and Piakura I think proved their worth. Walters and Madden might have staved off the chopping block for some time.

 

[Harry Sack]

Yep, what was it, 10 of their starting 17 vs. like 5 of ours?

I'd be concerned about how infrequently you heard the name David Fifita other than when Billy gifted him that consolation try.

Right? I'm sure the media will spin it as some kind of mad scientist Dessie crap but very concerning signs. If they're running with AJ as one of the halves, problems. I'm still staggered they let Sexton go.

 

[theshed]

Yes this exactly. He's like a jack in the box for the first 15-20, and then switches into flight mode. He has a nice little step that we rarely see from dummy half, but his service is utterly by numbers. Smoothy maybe has a bit more go-forward, but not much in the open space.


I was looking forward to seeing him break out in this game, but I barely noticed he was there. His dummy half service wasn't anything special. I thought he might be a possibility for Madge style 14, but he's going to need to prove that in the Cup.


Hands up who saw that coming? Not me.

I saw that coming from Paix. I’ve been saying it for years but much like Galileo or UFO disclosure, sometimes people just aren’t ready to hear my correct opinions well before the masses are ready to accept them as true.