- Sep 6, 2013
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- #325
At some point, that luck has to run out though. That said, they have put together an amazing season and if we beat them, we will have earned it.
PRE-GAME [Finals Week 1, 2025] - Broncos vs Raiders
- Thread starter Sproj
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At some point, that luck has to run out though. That said, they have put together an amazing season and if we beat them, we will have earned it.
- Mar 4, 2008
- 38,183
- 48,853
The club reportedly aren't buying the Papa injury. they think it is gamesmanship coming from the Raiders.
their scepticism comes from the round 2 game where they privately believe they were the victims of gamesmanship in the nation’s capital after their team bus was forced to park in an obscure location before the match.
That meant Broncos players had to walk through Canberra’s passionate and parochial fans, who heckled Brisbane’s superstars in the lead-up to kick-off, leaving Maguire furious.
their scepticism comes from the round 2 game where they privately believe they were the victims of gamesmanship in the nation’s capital after their team bus was forced to park in an obscure location before the match.
That meant Broncos players had to walk through Canberra’s passionate and parochial fans, who heckled Brisbane’s superstars in the lead-up to kick-off, leaving Maguire furious.
Dee
NRL Player
- Apr 30, 2010
- 1,021
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Really? If this is true, I hope they take this as even more motivation and turn up disciplined and relentless. They cannot **** with us. Come with a very hard edge and unbreakable mindset. Let's go!!!!
- May 21, 2013
- 19,722
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Not active on here anymore, but still watch every game.
For starters, I'd be bringing Shibasaki straight back in. I don't care that Mariner was decent in the centres last week, Shibasaki is a flat-out better player than Arthars, and Mariner is fine on the wing, despite his defensive issues (The Raiders rarely attack that edge in the red zone anyway, the ball typically always stops at Strange or Young and doesn't make it to the winger)
I'm very, very torn on the Reynolds situation. On one hand, Reece is comfortably playing his best football in a Broncos jersey in the last 4 weeks with Reynolds out, on the other hand, I think that has equally as much to do with him getting over that niggling knee injury and playing with confidence as it does Reynolds not hogging the ball. It's probably too much of a risk to rush Reynolds back again for mine, keep Hunt & Walters in the halves, and let Reece have 2-3 touches per set, when and wherever he wants them. If we happen to lose, we'll have Reynolds ready to return, hopefully 100% fit.
This game can be won with two things -
1) Kick pressure on Fogarty. He is literally the only person who kicks on their team, it should be Piakura & Riki's sole job all night to put immense pressure on him when he's kicking.
2) Discipline. The Raiders attack generally speaking is pretty stagnant when they're not camped on the opponent's goal line, outside of some occasional individual brilliance from Weekes or Strange.
Minimise errors from Fogarty kicks and errors in the first 2-3 tackles each set, minimise dumb penalties, we win.
For starters, I'd be bringing Shibasaki straight back in. I don't care that Mariner was decent in the centres last week, Shibasaki is a flat-out better player than Arthars, and Mariner is fine on the wing, despite his defensive issues (The Raiders rarely attack that edge in the red zone anyway, the ball typically always stops at Strange or Young and doesn't make it to the winger)
I'm very, very torn on the Reynolds situation. On one hand, Reece is comfortably playing his best football in a Broncos jersey in the last 4 weeks with Reynolds out, on the other hand, I think that has equally as much to do with him getting over that niggling knee injury and playing with confidence as it does Reynolds not hogging the ball. It's probably too much of a risk to rush Reynolds back again for mine, keep Hunt & Walters in the halves, and let Reece have 2-3 touches per set, when and wherever he wants them. If we happen to lose, we'll have Reynolds ready to return, hopefully 100% fit.
This game can be won with two things -
1) Kick pressure on Fogarty. He is literally the only person who kicks on their team, it should be Piakura & Riki's sole job all night to put immense pressure on him when he's kicking.
2) Discipline. The Raiders attack generally speaking is pretty stagnant when they're not camped on the opponent's goal line, outside of some occasional individual brilliance from Weekes or Strange.
Minimise errors from Fogarty kicks and errors in the first 2-3 tackles each set, minimise dumb penalties, we win.
- Mar 26, 2008
- 9,690
- 10,166
Raiders remind me of 2023 Broncs.
Good forward pack with very good props , good organising half with excellent kicking game, a run first 6 who backs up well and super dangerous 1 with speed to burn.
They're young, quick , not afraid to chance there arm and believe they can win from anywhere.
They are a very dangerous side.
If we lose on Sunday it's an easier path to the gf especially if the Sharkies pull off an upset .
We won't see Penriff until the gf if at all.
Good forward pack with very good props , good organising half with excellent kicking game, a run first 6 who backs up well and super dangerous 1 with speed to burn.
They're young, quick , not afraid to chance there arm and believe they can win from anywhere.
They are a very dangerous side.
If we lose on Sunday it's an easier path to the gf especially if the Sharkies pull off an upset .
We won't see Penriff until the gf if at all.
Harry
NRL Player
- Jul 20, 2017
- 1,375
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Interesting that you rate them so highly. That '23 broncos team was oozing with individual talent... We had Haas and Carrigan through the middle laying a platform playing elite footy, for Mam and Reynolds who wore both in sparkling touch and then Walsh and Farnworth out wider both again top of their respective positions. We had an origin level player in nearly every position on the park. Raiders are nothing like that. Yes, they are aggressive and tough and play hard, but this is the finals now... Every team is playing hard and every game is do-or-die more or less, just running hard and being physical isn't going to be enough for them against top sides in September.
Personally, I struggle to see any team this weak and inexperienced in the spine making a serious run. They haven't been a legitimate threat in the past 5 years with basically the same team, and this year they've just had a wave of lucky results go their way and a very soft draw. I don't think they are the contenders their ladder position suggests.
I could honestly see them getting bounced from the finals in consecutive losses.
Manofoneway
NRL Captain
- May 22, 2022
- 3,179
- 7,654
Poor man's 2023 broncos but I see what you mean. I think the comp is just alot weaker this year.
Manofoneway
NRL Captain
- May 22, 2022
- 3,179
- 7,654
The attitude of our team should be.. we don't care when we beat them.
Ricky's antics just show how scared the rest of the comp are of the brisbane broncos
im already so nervous for finals lol
- May 25, 2021
- 4,020
- 14,387
This is definitely part of it. On the local news down here they specifically called out Raiders fans and members for choosing to attend Skyfire (their Riverfire) over the Raiders game against us, which lead to an 'invasion' of Broncos fans. I was so shocked at how many of us showed up in 23 & 25. Easily 40-45%. They also rambled on after the Bulldogs game, mentioning that "home fans need to remember to pre-purchase tickets" lol
I think they've finally had enough. I've been to a few Raiders home games and the crowd split is always 60/40 or 70/30 because of the transient population.
Airlines are trying to overbook their flights at $900 one way, so there will be heaps of us there anyway.
- Sep 6, 2013
- 65,764
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- Thread starter
- #338
I think our '23 team smashes this Raiders team BUT we aren't the '23 Broncos and there are no '23 Panthers in the way either. Both those teams from the '23 GF probably go through this season undefeated, such is the drop off in quality in the last two years overall in the comp.
Therefore, given the fact this Raiders side is the closest thing to the '23 version of us, I wouldn't be surprised to see them win it all. Yes their spine is inexperienced but their forwards and backline isn't, at least not completely. Fogarty also isn't a Spring chicken, he's a mature footy player.
That all said, Fogarty is their key, we shut him down, we win, simple as that. They may still score a freakish try from somewhere through Weakes or Strange but you can handle that. Fogarty has the ability to keep kicking them out of trouble and that is gold in modern league.
Therefore, given the fact this Raiders side is the closest thing to the '23 version of us, I wouldn't be surprised to see them win it all. Yes their spine is inexperienced but their forwards and backline isn't, at least not completely. Fogarty also isn't a Spring chicken, he's a mature footy player.
That all said, Fogarty is their key, we shut him down, we win, simple as that. They may still score a freakish try from somewhere through Weakes or Strange but you can handle that. Fogarty has the ability to keep kicking them out of trouble and that is gold in modern league.
- Aug 25, 2018
- 19,775
- 34,210
We will beat Canberra.
Tristan1990
QCup Player
- Sep 29, 2016
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Fernando
State of Origin Rep
- Jun 6, 2015
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The Raiders have definitely been the best side all year. They are not unbeatable but I also can't see them falling in a heap, any side will have to play very well to beat them. They beat us pretty comfortably in round 2 and their middle forwards outplayed ours. They were up for that game big time and Sunday will be no different.
Tristan1990
QCup Player
- Sep 29, 2016
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