Broncos v Manly Post Match Venting

[Jeba]

He's s very talented player. He's not quite as good as Hoffman but geez he has some smarts about him. I'll admit at the start of the season I thought he'd play maybe 3 or 4 games and then he'd be back to the lower grades and we'd never see him in the top grade for the rest of his career but he's easily our most improved player from last season.

 

[rnabokov]

I still can't see any logic in having Hunt on the bench unless he's there to get experience for when Lockyer leaves, in which case, in the dreaded hindsight, it does make sense that he should have played 5/8 last night.

I reckon Macca is an 80 minute player if asked.

As for the reason for the loss, as Rocky points out, you don't recover from the loss of Lockyer in 5 days AND for a prelim final v Manly. Given the amazing spine Griffin has given this team, we were a 50-50 at best if the halves worked smoothly, which they clearly didn't. Again in hindsight, with Hunt at 5/8 I do believe we would have been a real chance.

 

[Mangrove Jack]

Beale had his best year in first grade. Shame he will be remembered as that dude that ended Lockyer's career prematurely. I miss Hoffman last night :(

 

[Astroboy]

The biggest positives were the effort, the go-forward of the forwards and the fighting it out to the end with admirable gusto and adventurousness. Some off-season training to get a game plan organised around that effort and enthusiasm and we'll be right next year.

Unfortunately way too much disorganisation and stupid mistakes - more mistakes in that game than in the last 5 from the Broncs I reckon. The leadership and organisation of Locky was obviously missed. A ship without a rudder was an appropriate analogy.

The refs were shite and made every effort to give the game to Manly, but even so a Broncos team playing to their potential would still have won. With Locky we would certainly have won. Not proud of the dumb execution and mistakes, but proud of the fighting effort. In fact, without the horrible start we still would have had every chance of winning at the end. That's my team.

Oh, and FOAD Manly you still SUCK.

 

[ningnangnong]

Got to say, I hope no fans hold any grudges after tonight's game against our own players. Saw some pretty disgusting posts in the live update thread which were probably intended to be jokes but I just hate how we tear into our own side. Most League fans would die to have our depth and talent.

:handshake:

For the last three or four week's it's been 'everyone is awesome, the future is looking so bright', now it seems to be 'so and so isn't good enough, we're going to struggle next year, etc'.

We're gradually building towards something big. I am delighted with how we fared this season.

 

[rnabokov]

We are going to struggle next year until the halves are sorted out AND until Thaiday proves or otherwise, he can inspire, organise and discipline the team. But then, without struggle, there is no growth.

Last night's loss was a such a disappointment given that this season, the team's performances exceeded most expectations, and it was so cruel that Lockyer wasn't able to be there to cap off his stunning career against a side that quite frankly I don't think will win the GF.

I may be optimistic, but I honestly believe that with a fully fit Lockyer we would have won comfortably.

 

[Big Pete]

I think Hoffman was as big a loss as Locky.

 

[Ironbroncos]

Yep if Lockyer was there we wouldve won...missed his organisational work and talk out on the field. Manly played great but IMHO i didnt think they were allllll that, they came up with some soft tries because we werent pushing up hard enough, but out of nowhere we would score out of the blue, something a Storm outfit wouldnt let happen..Manly did save some tries but the those close tries showed theyre vulnerable, maybe because of no Glenn Stewart, I just thought they would have put us to the sword, but didnt...

hope we get a proper 5/8 or something that'll work for our attack because Wallace looks like he hasnt learnt much playing alongside the great Lockyer all these years..

 

[rnabokov]

Wallace is a competent half. No more, no less. He does some things very very well, like defence, and depending on his mood, his kicks. Last night showed exactly what Lockyer's greatest contribution is to the team, and it's not his play making, but his leadership. He just keeps everything together. That's why the team stalled.

As for Manly, I couldn't believe how easily we busted them on the rare occasions we got our act together. They have to lift a lot to be a chance in the GF, especially with so many holes on the edges and out wide. Slater/Cronk or Locke/Maloney/Johnson will carve them up on last night's effort, which is exactly what I hope happens to those assholes.

Mind you, I must pay tribute to Manly's excellent field position. Hayne and Maxwell did their team proud

 

[Mangrove Jack]

We are going to struggle next year until the halves are sorted out AND until Thaiday proves or otherwise, he can inspire, organise and discipline the team. But then, without struggle, there is no growth.

Last night's loss was a such a disappointment given that this season, the team's performances exceeded most expectations, and it was so cruel that Lockyer wasn't able to be there to cap off his stunning career against a side that quite frankly I don't think will win the GF.

I may be optimistic, but I honestly believe that with a fully fit Lockyer we would have won comfortably.

Last week everyone were saying Beale was a better fullback than Hoffman.
How things change so quickly.
J

 

[pennywisealfie]

noone was saying that. they would be insane. Hoffman is our best player imo.

 

[vertigo]

I have to say, Copley is channeling Steve Michaels.

There were times in that game where we could've come back if it wasn't for some stupid plays.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I have to say, Copley is channeling Steve Michaels.
.

Doubtful, michaels was hopeless in defense and Copley is much better in defense.

 

[Dexter]

Because:

A) Hunt can take pressure off Wallace
B) Hunt can give us an 80 minute kicking game
C) Hunt is more creative than Wallace, so we have better attacking options

Not rocket science.

I'm not convinced about Hunt at all, maybe with some continuous time at 7 he will step up but late in that game last night after the Copley run down the left side Manlys left side winger made the tackle on Reed and we spin the ball only for Hunt to dump it back inside to Sam with Hodges and YY unmarked and screaming for it. Not good vision at all.

 

[noisetheory]

for all the venting we've done at the refereeing i was pleased to see (well the highlights of) griffin specifically not blaming the refs.

 

[Dexter]

No point really, it's one thing for fans to release a bit of fury but the coach should just cop it sweet at least publicly. I am sure there will be some questions asked at some time.

 

[Steve]

Well hindsight is a wonderful thing but I guess playing Gillo at five eighth wasn't quite the best option... He's a ball-playing back rower not a five eighth and Hunt was probably the better choice.

I felt Wallace really busted a gut out there last night. He took the line on many times but just didn't have the support players trailing him. His kicking game was off but all of our kickers struggled with the wind which was clearly gusting inside the ground.

I concur with Coxy's earlier comments about the senior players. From where I was sitting we came out nervous as hell at the start of the game and our players dropped their heads after those two early penalties and the Balin try. Whatever was said behind the try line didn't work. Also, the first 10 minutes of the second half was so disappointing. We were just legless in defence.

Having said all of that I can't be anything but satisfied with how we've gone this year. We exceeded all expectations and nearly jagged a premiership in Lockyer's final year. It's a sad way for him to finish his Broncos career but I'm comforted by the fact that I was there to witness his last act in our jersey in picking himself up off the canvas to win us the game. Really it's a fitting way for him to go out and for us to remember the man.

As for next year I'm desperately unsure as to our halves pairing. The good thing is we have a full pre-season to get things started but people really shouldn't expect things to gel from the get-go. Wallace is an organisational half back not a play-maker so we need someone who can spark something and I think Norman is that player.

 

[Porthoz]

Griffin was a true gentleman at the presser, but I hope he ripped into Bill Hollywood privately, because what Hayne and Maxwell did to the Broncos was unacceptable.

I am extremely proud of this team, and while expecting a few headaches until we have a smooth working halves pairing, I have no doubt we will be very competitive in coming seasons.

Copley and Beale caved under the pressure, that much was clear to me. I still consider Beale a very good FB, probably a notch better than Hoffman in attack, but his defense is poor and last night it showed. I still reckon that a few tries might have been avoided were Hoffman in the team...
I don't blame him for it, but the way Locky was rubbed out must have been a heavy burden to carry, and probably didn't help calm his nerves. Other players would've channeled it towards a MOM performance, but it clearly hindered him.

I definitely feel bad for Copley. He committed a capital offense by letting his eyes of the ball in the try he bombed, and he also started his run too early when he knocked on, although Reed should share the blame here for not looking where he passed the ball. But he's a kid with promise, and the last thing anyone should do, is put the boot into him.

Wallace was as much a victim as anyone else last night. Playing a preliminary final against a defensively strong and ruthless team with one halve only, is akin to suicide. Lockyer himself showed as much against Parramatta in 2009.

But the most important part, is the vacuum that Lockyer's leadership leaves. Yesterday, we were indeed a rudderless team, and Thaiday needs a crash course from Locky on how to rally the troops, settle them down and give them confidence when the odds are stacking up against them.

Despite all of the above, we were closer to an upset than the score shows, 6 days after an absolutely brutal semi-final and without our charismatic leader. How good is our future looking?