Finals Week 1 - Broncos vs Warriors - Build Up Thread

[ningnangnong]

No Hoffman, probably no Thaiday.

I hope Copley isn't selected on the wing.

Will be a very physical match.

 

[The Brizz]

I hope Gagai gets the vacant wing spot! My biggest concern about this game is Thaiday along with Macca are our two key mop up defenders through the middle and the Warriors can carve you up the middle with some really good secpnd phase from Mateo, Mannering, Matulino etc. We just have to keep it tight up the middle coz Locke, Maloney and Johnson have been cutting good defences to shreds in the second half of the season.

 

[Bucking Beads]

We will spank them.

 

[Crazy Sam]

Why Gagai?

I think we may see Hodges come into the backline with either Teo or Gillett moved up to Sam's position and the other to remain in the centres. Reed and Yow Yeh on the wings, Beale at fullback.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Will be very good to get te'o out of the centers. He hasn't been very good. Copley or gagai onto the wing. Reed needs to be in the centers. We lose too much with him on the wing.

 

[ningnangnong]

I think we may see Hodges come into the backline with either Teo or Gillett moved up to Sam's position and the other to remain in the centres. Reed and Yow Yeh on the wings, Beale at fullback.

That sounds like the best option by far, although I agree with Beads about moving Reed out of the centres - you lose a lot of impact by doing that.

I don't have any faith in Copley as a winger.

 

[Dexter]

We may just have to win because Melb just lost another front rower, so if the Cows roll Manly and Knights upset Melb we will be in a knockout game.

 

[rnabokov]

I hope Gagai gets the vacant wing spot! My biggest concern about this game is Thaiday along with Macca are our two key mop up defenders through the middle and the Warriors can carve you up the middle with some really good secpnd phase from Mateo, Mannering, Matulino etc. We just have to keep it tight up the middle coz Locke, Maloney and Johnson have been cutting good defences to shreds in the second half of the season.

Good analysis of the task at hand. I rate the Warriors the best attacking team in the comp - when they are on, & I suspect they will be for the finals. Mateo, Locke, and possibly equal best halves in the comp, great off loading & support play - if they're on the game, which is their big weakness: you never know. But if they, they will be very hard to stop.

What worries me, as it has all season, is the absolute lack of depth in our attack. When the ball goes wide, 90% of the time the attackers seem too close to the defence and the movement stops. The timing is wrong.

Reed must stay in the centres. On recent performances, T'eo is not a centre any more - too slow & not agility in attack or defence against fast opposition. Damn I hope Hodgo returns fit.

We can defend as well as any team, but as for our attack, it's way too inconsistent and limited for my liking, and against the top sides, it will show. Starkly. We should have crushed Manly today.

Even the commentators were saying it.

Fingers crossed Hodges plays, Sammy gets a miracle at the judiciary, and Hook gets the depth and timing in the backline moves.

 

[vertigo]

Chalking up a loss after losing Thaiday and Hoffman.

We cant score when we need to and it pisses me off.

 

[Jeba]

I really doubt Thaiday will escape suspension so will be interesting to see what side we name.

Reed will do the job on the wing but we lose a bit when he isn't in the centres. Defensively on the wing he is great because he has a good leap on him and knows how to read a play, but in attack, getting those long arms free to put his winger into space is something we will miss if he doesn't play in the centres. I think we need to keep him there. I know Copley is no world beater but Reed has been one of our best weapons in the centres this year and I'd rather not weaken that.

I'd probably go for:

1. Beale
2. Copley
3. Reed
4. Hodges
5. Yow Yeh
6. Lockyer
7. Wallace
8. Hannant
9. McCullough
10. McGuire
11. Glenn
12. Gillett
13. Parker
-------------------
14. Anderson
15. Te'o
16. Hala
17. Hunt

 

[Tallis]

I think Sam has a case, depending if he has any load over points ? If we lose both Thaiday and Hoffman. I agree with Jeba's lineup, Copley isnt fantastic but will have to do.

 

[Porthoz]

Still want to see the game replay on TV before making any detailed comments.

Feeling at the game, is that except those first 10 minutes of the second half, we utterly dominated a weakened Manly, who had the rub of the green and unbelievable luck with the bounce of the ball. That and Parker's kicking (a bit of a worry), was what stood in the way of a 20 to 30 pts win imo.

Felt incredibly bad for Hoffman who was absolutely murdering Manly, and frankly worried about Thaiday's chances at the Judiciary. Chances are he will get the same or worse than most of the Manly scum last week.

Agree with Jeba's team for next week if Hodges is fit. Gillett may just be the best cover for Thaiday, especially when facing Mateo, and we need our defense to be really tight in the ruck.

Atmospheer at the game was really fantastic. Beating the scum, and then walk on that hallowed turf, witness Locky receive those well deserved accolades and make an exit through the goal posts, made this a experience to never forget!

 

[Fozz]

Feeling at the game, is that except those first 10 minutes of the second half, we utterly dominated a weakened Manly, who had the rub of the green and unbelievable luck with the bounce of the ball. That and Parker's kicking (a bit of a worry), was what stood in the way of a 20 to 30 pts win imo.

That was my feeling too. Manly were never in it except for those two quick tries, where we seemed to lose our composure. They didn't have many opportunities in the red zone and we had a fair few.

I think if the Warriors game turns out the same way then it will be a good win for us, they seem mentally fragile to me. If we button them up in their end, they will crack.

 

[jarro65]

As much as i love Hoffman as a player, i think Beale will be great at fullback ... he's really impressed me over the last few weeks.

SammyT will get a week at least, so won't be there ... shame as he's a real presence on the field.

Still a game we should win ....

 

[Dexter]

Sam will get either 0 weeks or 2 weeks because the grading will be 1 ( 125 points less 25% = 93.75 ) or 2 ( 325 points less 25% = 243.75 )

 

[jarro65]

To be honest, it looked like a tackle worthy of two weeks on the sidelines :sigh:

 

[Coxy]

Sam will get either 0 weeks or 2 weeks because the grading will be 1 ( 125 points less 25% = 93.75 ) or 2 ( 325 points less 25% = 243.75 )

Ah ok, I thought the grading for 2 was lower. 2 week rest. Like Jarro, I think that's fair given the tackle itself. No malice in it, but definitely dangerous.

 

[Coxy]

Not that we want to get too ahead of ourselves, but looking at the other games despite the players missing and both being last start losers, I think the Storm will beat Newcastle, and Manly will beat the Cowboys.

So that means if we beat the Warriors we play the loser of Tigers/Dragons in Brisbane.
If we lose, we play the winner of Tigers/Dragons in Sydney.

Either way I'd rather play at home.

And with Thaiday likely to be rubbed out for 2 games, I think I'd rather we play week 1 and 2 in the hope he's available for the preliminary final, rather than go into the prelim without him (if Manly or Melbourne lose and we win in week 1)...although a home preliminary final might negate his absence.

Meh. **** it. In the great words of Levikade....Just win FFS!