Ben Ikin predicts Wayne Bennett line-up gamble to shake-up Broncos, Queensland

[Unbreakable]

So with that Bench, would be what? Mcguire, Macca, Blair, Gillett, Thaiday, Glenn starting?

I'm personally hoping we open the season with a 17 along these lines -

1. Boyd (c)
2. Mead
3. Marshall
4. Roberts
5. Kahu
6. Milford
7. Hunt
8. McGuire
9. McCullough
10. Blair
11. Thaiday
12. Gillett
13. Glenn

14. Nikorima
15. Oates
16. Pangai Jr
17. Ese'ese / Ofahengaue

I do worry a bit about our metre eating ability in the starting line-up, swapping out Parker for Glenn and Oates for Mead is going to cost us at least 60~ metres roughly per game, we can only hope that our bench becomes one of the best in the NRL in terms of offensive impact.

 

[Morepudding]

I'm personally hoping we open the season with a 17 along these lines -

1. Boyd (c)
2. Mead
3. Marshall
4. Roberts
5. Kahu
6. Milford
7. Hunt
8. McGuire
9. McCullough
10. Blair
11. Thaiday
12. Gillett
13. Glenn

14. Nikorima
15. Oates
16. Pangai Jr
17. Ese'ese / Ofahengaue

I do worry a bit about our metre eating ability in the starting line-up, swapping out Parker for Glenn and Oates for Mead is going to cost us at least 60~ metres roughly per game, we can only hope that our bench becomes one of the best in the NRL in terms of offensive impact.

Yeah that worries me too. We would also have one of the smallest backlines in the game... I actually don't think any of this will end up happening. I don't see benji being there come round one. If Oates was going to come into the second row I think Moga or Pearson would come on to the wing. Kahu needs to be in the centres. He is wasted on the wing. He has very good ball playing skills and would be a perfect centre outside Milford, passing on to a big strong winger, whether that be Oates, Pearson or Moga.

 

[Kyall]

I remember only a couple of years ago in origin he played right side second row. Oates smashed it with Hunt, he scored a double.

 

[Morkel]

I remember only a couple of years ago in origin he played right side second row. Oates smashed it with Hunt, he scored a double.

That was after his first stint on the wing, and before the current one. Hook played him pretty much exclusively as a forward that year. I think the game you're recalling is against the Panthers, it was proof that Hunt could stick to a game plan and work a defensive line over in multiple sets, eventually successfully isolating Soward and putting him one-on-one with Oates who scored the match-winner.

 

[tommy]

That was after his first stint on the wing, and before the current one. Hook played him pretty much exclusively as a forward that year. I think the game you're recalling is against the Panthers, it was proof that Hunt could stick to a game plan and work a defensive line over in multiple sets, eventually successfully isolating Soward and putting him one-on-one with Oates who scored the match-winner.

no that was 2015. Bennett was coach. Oates scored the match-winner on the final play of the game.

 

[Morkel]

no that was 2015. Bennett was coach. Oates scored the match-winner on the final play of the game.

I stand corrected. It was 2015. And Bennett. From Round 9 - 19 he was named on the bench, but actually played 4 of those on the wing.

 

[Big Pete]

Kyall is thinking of Round 11 2014 vs Wests, which the Broncos won on the back of a controversial penalty.

There was also a Penrith game that year (Round 18, 2014) where Oates scored a vital try in the dying stages to level the scores. However, McGuire dropped the ball off the kick off, allowing Matt Moylan to knock over an easy field goal.

 

[Sproj]

Kyall is thinking of Round 11 2014 vs Wests, which the Broncos won on the back of a controversial penalty.

There was also a Penrith game that year (Round 18, 2014) where Oates scored a vital try in the dying stages to level the scores. However, McGuire dropped the ball off the kick off, allowing Matt Moylan to knock over an easy field goal.

Hmmm...I wonder if dropping balls and giving field goals has ever happened to us before.