Cold Oates will survive form slump

[Super Freak]

DARIUS Boyd has backed Corey Oates to rediscover the sensational form that catapulted the Broncos flyer into Kangaroos contention.

Oates’ form has dipped following his maiden Origin campaign for Queensland, highlighted by a number of errors in his two games since.

The towering winger was peppered by Penrith with bombs a fortnight ago and dropped the ball with his first carry in last Thursday’s loss to the Sydney Roosters.

Oates, 21, has developed into one of the NRL’s best wingers during his 69-game career and is a leading contender for a spot on the Four Nations tour of the UK at the end of the season.

But the Broncos are struggling across the park, losing seven of their past nine games to drop out of the top four.

Boyd, who has played the majority of his 18 Tests for Australia on the wing, said Oates was still developing.

“Oatesy is a quality player and hasn’t played a lot of wing,” Boyd said. “He’s still learning. He’s still a young kid.

“He’ll probably play for Australia at the end of the year.

“I don’t think he has struggled. The whole team is struggling and you can put it on anyone.

“No one is playing their best footy and it shows on the scoreboard and in our performance.”

Oates has scored 12 tries in 15 games this NRL season and bounced back from his early blunder against the Roosters to run for a team-high 159m.

The Broncos will hit the training paddock on Monday to begin preparations for Thursday night’s clash against the Dragons in Wollongong, a game they must win to keep their faint top-four hopes alive.

While Oates looks to be down on confidence, Broncos halfback Ben Hunt said his work getting Brisbane out of trouble was invaluable.

“He’s definitely a confidence player,” Hunt said.

“I’m not sure if he’s down on confidence.

“He did a decent job for us against the Roosters. He brought the ball back hard and had a few carries.

“He might not be at his best but he’s still doing a good job.”

No Cookies | Daily Telegraph

 

[mrslong]

Funny that his form slump coincided with that news paper article regarding his family being pissed that he wasn't getting public praise and recognition from Wayne.

 

[mitch222]

The Donkeys need Oates to start firing

 

[Nashy]

These fuckers do a lot of talking about what they are going to do, how they're going to do it, and what they need to do, don't they?

 

[Maroon4life]

The lip service coming out of the camp is getting old.

Some frank assessments about the team from inside would be received better, at least we'd know they are acknowledging it.

 

[mitch222]

I might give the newspaper a call and give an interview into why the broncos are going shit at the moment. Seems like everyone's doing it at the moment

 

[mrslong]

The Donkeys need Oates to start firing

Pfft, the Borts need Oates to start firing. Priorities!

 

[Stix]

He's put down 2 (terrible passes)... He has also dropped a couple of bombs and really he has always looked a little shaky under the high ones... He hasn't had a great couple of games recently but I don't see him having a confidence or form problem. Others this season have had worse games and less has been said. He'll be right

 

[Broncoman]

Oatesy has always been a bit dodgy under the high ball so it isn't a surprise that some teams have caught him out.

 

[Mitch06]

Until the last two games I would say he has been excellent under the high ball.

 

[talanoa]

Oatesy has always been a bit dodgy under the high ball so it isn't a surprise that some teams have caught him out.

all through his junior days playing fullback he had feet for hands, no doubt he has imoroved under the high ball but the last few weeks have been a big concern and throw back to his old days.
oates reminds me a bit of a racehorse, he looks like he could do with a freshen up and a few weeks in the paddock and then come back firing again.

 

[Wolfie]

He had one bad game against penrith. Cant see what the fuss is all about.

 

[Broncoman]

He had one bad game against penrith. Cant see what the fuss is all about.

He was very poor last Thursday as well

 

[Browny]

What's with the singling out of players when 1-17 are playing like busteds

 

[Super Freak]

What's with the singling out of players when 1-17 are playing like busteds

It's the common trend when a side is struggling.

It's also a common trend when the team is playing well.

It always comes down to 1 player no matter how they are playing.

 

[Super Freak]

Until the last two games I would say he has been excellent under the high ball.

I would say he has been excellent because he hasn't been targeted that much.

He has always been a bit suspect under the high ball. He is prone to dropping it once or twice.

Now teams are targeting him more and the flaws in his game are starting to show.

 

[subsbligh]

Boyd just trying to massage the media skills for his 2017 captaincy campaign.

Oates is fucked since the AC joint earlier this year and has been timid since.

Played into an Origin jersey off the back of those magic 5 or 6 rounds and a complete lack of roster depth in the Maroons through injury and discipline.

He's a talent for us, don't get me wrong. And he's made the wing jersey his own. He's a fucking bullocking machine out of our own half, but then so was Vidot. Arguably as good in that mould.

But he's one dimensional as a wide running second rower, and a fill in winger that's added moderate try finishing ability (compared to the standard set by NRL wingers like Feki and Holmes) to his arsenal.

I think the promise of the likes of Su'a eclipse him as a pure second rower defensively and in terms of footwork at the line.

Gillett and Glenn are streets ahead of him as a 11/12. I don't think he can grow into that role either.

So he either needs to continue as a specialist Bennett winger and improve bomb defusal and defensive reads (.. white elephant in the room ... 2015 GF...) or start angling for that second row position by improving his u/18s biggest guy on the field predictable wide run, crash ball.

 

[Wolfie]

He was very poor last Thursday as well

No he wasn't, he dropped the ball once. He wasn't at his usual level though.