GRAND FINAL WEEK Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm

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I think whether they start Ezra next week or not, they should have him wearing the number 6. If we win the GF, we want the players in the jersey number they deserve, so I’d have Hunt with 9, Ezra with 6 and Paix/Smoothy with the 14.
 
As much as I love watching them come back from the second half, you cannot give the Storm this option… They’ll be thinking now all they have to do is just get a huge lead in that first half and they’ll be good to go. That first half was pretty ordinary and they really gotta shake it up and fix their errors. Reynolds has to click from the get go and bring in the leadership instantly. Obviously he could’ve just been rusty last night so I hope the nerves are gone next week. He was slowing the ball down so much and you could tell Reece was getting very frustrated.

Having Carrigan back is going to be HUGE. I think that first half you could notice he was missing, it was tough as hell for forwards to do it without him.

I’m sad Walters isn’t there, he is one of the reasons they made it this far and you could actually tell he was missing!

Mam has to turn it on, we know he can! I think this game was good for him to shake off the nerves he has and next week come back stronger.

Ben Hunt can have his redemption game cause boy, I know he’s DYING for that ring.

Munster and Grant are very clinical, so you have to shut them out and avoid them being able to do their kicks and quick runs.

As much as Madge says it doesn’t matter, that extra 2 day break is utterly ridiculous and can’t believe it actually was allowed.

I’m so nervous already and I hope this is finally their time!!! I can’t handle anymore heartbreak and I don’t think they can either. Lol
 
Ezra needs to really dig into the line more before passing on those block shapes.

Billy was doing that really well, it just leaves more space for Walshy to toy with the defence (will he pass, will he burn us with his speed etc)
 
I wasn't all that impressed with Ezra yesterday. I know it was his first game back from injury, but he did not seem to have the same pace.

The whole attack was back to being clunky again. I hope they can sort it out this week.
 
Ezra will be better for the run. He probably deserves to start solely on what he did in the 2023 GF, but that would involve having Ben Hunt at 14, I'm not sure Maguire will make that call, even if it is in the best interest of the side.

I think our best chance of winning would be this side, personally -

1. Walsh
2. Karapani
3. Shibasaki
4. Staggs
5. Mariner
6. Mam
7. Reynolds
8. Jensen
9. Paix
10. Haas
11. Piakura
12. Riki
13. Carrigan

14. Hunt
15. Smoothy
16. Hetherington
17. Willison

Edit: Alternatively, start Hunt at 9, have Smoothy at 14, and retain Talty over Paix. It shouldn't be too much of an issue burning 3 interchanges at hooker, given how many minutes Carrigan & Haas can/will play.
 
We can not run Smoothy and Hetherington on the bench. Why run a small forward pack? Seems a bit silly. We need to dominate in the forwards.

6. Mam
9. Hunt

14. Paix/Smoothy
15. Talty
16. Hetherington
17. Xavier
 
Unbreakable said:
Ezra will be better for the run. He probably deserves to start solely on what he did in the 2023 GF, but that would involve having Ben Hunt at 14, I'm not sure Maguire will make that call, even if it is in the best interest of the side.

I think our best chance of winning would be this side, personally -

1. Walsh
2. Karapani
3. Shibasaki
4. Staggs
5. Mariner
6. Mam
7. Reynolds
8. Jensen
9. Paix
10. Haas
11. Piakura
12. Riki
13. Carrigan

14. Hunt
15. Smoothy
16. Hetherington
17. Willison

Edit: Alternatively, start Hunt at 9, have Smoothy at 14, and retain Talty over Paix. It shouldn't be too much of an issue burning 3 interchanges at hooker, given how many minutes Carrigan & Haas can/will play.
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I’m thinking your alternative is the way to go. Unfortunately Paixy will need to miss out for mine.

I’d also name Milf on the extended bench through the week to give bellyache something else to think about😂
 
Jedhead said:
I’m thinking your alternative is the way to go. Unfortunately Paixy will need to miss out for mine.

I’d also name Milf on the extended bench through the week to give bellyache something else to think about😂
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sgabor said:
We can not run Smoothy and Hetherington on the bench. Why run a small forward pack? Seems a bit silly. We need to dominate in the forwards.

6. Mam
9. Hunt

14. Paix/Smoothy
15. Talty
16. Hetherington
17. Xavier
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I thought Smoothy actually provided some solid impact in his second stint yesterday. He was a part of the play where he got an inside ball on the last and we ended up with another set, which led to the Mariner try. He also had a decent offload, cleaned up a Cleary grubber, defended well, and showed some reasonable leg speed at times.

We could very comfortably have a bench that small, given Haas will play 60+ and Carrigan will play 70+, and Willison & Hetherington will be absorbing the majority of the leftover middle minutes.
 
Not one run from dummy half from paix against Penrith. Honestly I think we should pick smoothy as our 14.

I dont think it will happen but he just has more versatility than paix who is one dimensional and offers nothing from the bench.

Smoothy can fill multiple spots so he is my 14 if I were to pick. The rest of the side speaks for itself!
 
Jeffy said:
.The Alamoti put down, the Kenny forward pass prior to the second Alamoto try, Martin not being binned, the uncalled pessimistic ruck infringements, missed Penrith knock ons in the ruck.
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The Kenny forward pass was so frustrating. Watching live and then watching the highlights again, it's so clear on the replay that it's a mile forward, and then there's this loaded silence where you can just tell none of the commentators wanted to say anything even though they knew. And I still have no clue who hit To'o high after that to give away the penalty.

The Alamoti put down I didn't really have a problem with, although it looked to warrant a closer inspection. Loved that it was Thurston that raised it though. He was also celebrating at the end. Secret Bronco fan!
 
Smoothy is one of the first picked. His versatility is invaluable and he pulled out a number of nice plays, including that amazing kick. He covers 9 obviously but he can basically plug and play him anywhere if we get desperate.

The final spot in the 17 is between Paix and Talty. One of these two will miss out and man I feel for whoever it is but come on, whoever misses is replaced by Patty, that’s huge.
 
LittleDavey said:
We looked so much better with:

6 - Mam
7 - Reyno
9 - Hunt

I won't be surprised if Madge pulls that trigger, but both Mam and Reyno were obviously underdone so your list may well be right on. Poor Talty, he's been so good for us but X-man just offers more flexibility and you can't go past Smoothy's versatility, gutted he's leaving next year, he is so damn underrated.
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I'm leaning towards this too. I actually don't think Mam being a spark plug off the bench has really paid dividends. In theory coming on when there is tired fowards make sense but it just hasn't happened. He's best game of the season against the Bulldogs he was starting.
 
Run piakura and hass directly at hughes all night to test his shoulder and arm, and when the centre is moving in later in the game to help him out, send it out the back to walsh.

Get niggley and underneath grants skin, like in the 2023 semi. He gets agitated and doesn't make the best decisions when flustered.

Shut down the spine and you shut down melbourne.
 
Kimlo said:
Sad Billy Walters noises. He's been such a gun, such a shame he can't be in this game.
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As I always thought, Ezra will play Riff but will only get into the groove. However, he will run riot in GF to win the Clive Churchill medal. He will retain it but will give away his ring to Billy.
While doing so, the meltdown in SHITney will be epic. Let’s go Ezra, tear away those cheat grubs.
 
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