Finals Week 1 - Cowboys vs Broncos - Build Up Thread

[Big Pete]

You asked a question, you can't then say it doesn't count because of this and that. It has happened and it has worked and it was us that made it work.

I would FAR prefer Beale at fullback. Be realistic, that's not a huge change by any stretch, it's Hoffman moving to the right and Beale moving in centre field. Hoffman has no combinations with our halves or hooker so it doesn't change anything really.

Anyway I hope we win and Hoffman plays the game of his life because we all know he can be a very good player. If he can return to form we're a much better chance of going far this year.

It was a good answer but yes I can because the Hodges/Hunt shuffle was happening leading into the finals.

I'd love to see Parker play on Thaiday's fringe and play the role he did in Origin. IMO, that's how he should be played from here on out, not another battering ram through the middle.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I'd love to see Parker play on Thaiday's fringe and play the role he did in Origin. IMO, that's how he should be played from here on out, not another battering ram through the middle.

That would certainly bring his offloads in to play. That would help our scoring potential no end IMO

 

[Kimlo]

It was a good answer but yes I can because the Hodges/Hunt shuffle was happening leading into the finals.

I'd love to see Parker play on Thaiday's fringe and play the role he did in Origin. IMO, that's how he should be played from here on out, not another battering ram through the middle.

Well so was the norman hunt shuffle if you want to call it that way, in that case it would be ok if we put norman back at fullback and dropped hoffman.

 

[Big Pete]

Was it successful like the Hodges/Hunt shuffle was?

How many games did we win with Norman at fullback & Hunt at five eigth?

 

[Kimlo]

Was it successful like the Hodges/Hunt shuffle was?

How many games did we win with Norman at fullback & Hunt at five eigth?

The first two games with Norman at fullback we looked the most dangerous we had all year in attack. It was a huge improvement.
You can't deny Hoffman has been absolutely useless this year at fullback. Compare him to Dugan, Barba, Slater, Stewart, Gordon, well anyone really and you just realise he's been absolute shit this year. I can't remember the last time he's made a line break or set up someone for a try.

 

[vertigo]

Todays footage on Foxtel of Broncos training showed a lot of second man plays with Hoffman involved, as well as Wallace trying little kicks through the line.

Let's hope they try these things on Saturday night, and they work !!!

Go watch them train, they do the same stuff every week but they don't seem to trust their structure at all during games.

 

[Big Pete]

The first two games with Norman at fullback we looked the most dangerous we had all year in attack. It was a huge improvement.
You can't deny Hoffman has been absolutely useless this year at fullback. Compare him to Dugan, Barba, Slater, Stewart, Gordon, well anyone really and you just realise he's been absolute shit this year. I can't remember the last time he's made a line break or set up someone for a try.

We looked AND were more potent in R7, R13 & R14.

Also I don't think Hoffman has looked 'absolutely useless' or has been 'absolutely shit' & neither does the rest of BHQ if POTS is anything to go by. His form, like others has deteriorated since around the representative season and I would have liked to have seen Beale given a chance at fullback but I don't believe at this stage it will be worth it.

The boys would have got a lot out of that win on Friday, dumping one of them on a gamble would send the wrong message.

 

[Kimlo]

I believe Hoffman at fullback has been just as useless as Norman at 5/8 which btw means just about the worst in the competition in their respective positions. Beale to Fullback with Hoffman to wing is hardly dumping anyone, you do what's best for the team not the individual. A. Johns had to play hooker once upon a time because there were better options at halfback.

And if we're going by POTS then Wallace is our second best player this year yet you've been asking for him to be dropped.

FWIW I know a change isn't going to happen but that's not to say I'd be against a positional switch. It's finals football and we should do what ever is going to give our team the best chance. You might think that's Hoffman staying at fullback but I think that would be Beale at fullback.

 

[Big Pete]

I don't believe altering a winning side is best for the team though. Nor is shifting Beale to fullback for the second (did play half a game against Cronulla I 'spose) game this season good for combinations.

I wanted him dropped MONTHS ago. Not this week, not after we finally ended the losing streak. I also never called Wallace 'absolutely shit' or 'absolutely useless'.

 

[Kimlo]

I don't believe altering a winning side is best for the team though. Nor is shifting Beale to fullback for the second (did play half a game against Cronulla I 'spose) game this season good for combinations.

I wanted him dropped MONTHS ago. Not this week, not after we finally ended the losing streak. I also never called Wallace 'absolutely shit' or 'absolutely useless'.

That's where we differ. I don't believe in the "don't change a winning combination" cliché. I believe in continual improvement regardless of winning or losing. For example I'd most HAPPILY agree to Norman being dropped this week in exchange for Hunt.

I'm not hugely against Hoffman staying at fullback, even though he offers nothing in attack at the very least he doesn't make any stuff ups and his kick returns aren't bad and he has shown that he can be a very good player in the past unlike Norman. Norman on the other hand butchered 5 tries last week and made 3 crucial mistakes to get Penrith back in the game. Win or not I wanted Hunt in the side this week at Normans expense. Actually I wanted him dropped mid game last week.

 

[Porthoz]

I don't believe altering a winning side is best for the team though. Nor is shifting Beale to fullback for the second (did play half a game against Cronulla I 'spose) game this season good for combinations.

I wanted him dropped MONTHS ago. Not this week, not after we finally ended the losing streak.

Why would you have wanted Wallace dropped months ago?
I admit his run of bad form started around the last SOO this year, and after being one of the best (if not the best) Broncos during the first half of the year, it doesn't really make sense. Especially when you look at his halves partner who has been much, much worse!

Regardless, I think Wallace, Norman and Hoffman are all gonna have blinders and make us haters eat our hats! :rockon:

 

[Old Mate]

You asked a question, you can't then say it doesn't count because of this and that. It has happened and it has worked and it was us that made it work.

I would FAR prefer Beale at fullback. Be realistic, that's not a huge change by any stretch, it's Hoffman moving to the right and Beale moving in centre field. Hoffman has no combinations with our halves or hooker so it doesn't change anything really.

Anyway I hope we win and Hoffman plays the game of his life because we all know he can be a very good player. If he can return to form we're a much better chance of going far this year.

I'm going to say Hoff's only chance of performing at the back is with Hunt and Wal in the halves otherwise i'd pick a few players at fb ahead of him.

 

[Kimlo]

Why would you have wanted Wallace dropped months ago?
I admit his run of bad form started around the last SOO this year, and after being one of the best (if not the best) Broncos during the first half of the year, it doesn't really make sense. Especially when you look at his halves partner who has been much, much worse!

Regardless, I think Wallace, Norman and Hoffman are all gonna have blinders and make us haters eat our hats! :rockon:

I've never really had a problem with Wallace or Hoffman because I think they're just out of form and if in form they're both a big part of our team. Norman however has shown NOTHING. Hunt has shown a lot of promise yet is being shafted by playing 10 minutes a game as a hooker.

 

[Kimlo]

I'm going to say Hoff's only chance of performing at the back is with Hunt and Wal in the halves otherwise i'd pick a few players at fb ahead of him.

I've been calling for that since mid game last week. I would love for Hunt to get the halves spot, he actually passes the ball and plays like a 5/8. Right now I think Tonie Carroll at 5/8 a few years back played better than Norman this year.

 

[Old Mate]

I've been calling for that since mid game last week. I would love for Hunt to get the halves spot, he actually passes the ball and plays like a 5/8. Right now I think Tonie Carroll at 5/8 a few years back played better than Norman this year.

Yeah I also think that's why Norman had the ability to look half decent at fb was because Hunt took his place in the halves.

 

[Big Pete]

Why would you have wanted Wallace dropped months ago?
I admit his run of bad form started around the last SOO this year, and after being one of the best (if not the best) Broncos during the first half of the year, it doesn't really make sense. Especially when you look at his halves partner who has been much, much worse!

Regardless, I think Wallace, Norman and Hoffman are all gonna have blinders and make us haters eat our hats! :rockon:

In a nut-shell, I don't believe Norman was 'way worse' than Wallace. Wallace was playing career worst footy and when we didn't think it could get much worse, it did.

I'm not looking to argue that point because I already did that when it was relevant, just lending an explanation since you popped the question. Right now, I'm all about showing faith in this 17 because on their day, they can do it against most, especially the Cowboys.

 

[Huge]

It was a good answer but yes I can because the Hodges/Hunt shuffle was happening leading into the finals.

I'd love to see Parker play on Thaiday's fringe and play the role he did in Origin. IMO, that's how he should be played from here on out, not another battering ram through the middle.

I so agree about Parker, he was absolutely critical in SOO and threw the last pass on at least 2 occasions I can remember that led to tries. He was very involved. What a lot of people haven't nodded towards is Parkers ability with the ball in hand.

 

[Kimlo]

But Thaiday is the holy one at Red Hill. Parker will always be in his shadows even though he's clearly the better player this year... And better captain too but I don't want to go over that again. Thaiday has improved a fair bit recently but I'd rather him be playing the prop role.