PRE-GAME Finals week 3 - Storm vs Broncos

[vertigo]

Storm forecast for Brisbane.. haven't had rain in ages.

Hope it's not a sign.

 

[Super Freak]

Anthony Milford urged to deliver killer blow to Melbourne’s season

September 22, 2017

BRONCOS five-eighth Anthony Milford has been urged to step up and end the season of the club that tried to poach him.

Milford jetted into Melbourne on Thursday for the first time since the Storm tried to snare his signature.

Milford was deep in negotiations with the Broncos to extend his tenure at Red Hill in April this year when he conjured interest from Melbourne at the eleventh hour.

The Storm flew Milford to Melbourne and presented their bid for him to be Cooper Cronk’s playmaking successor during a private dinner at the Crown Casino.

The exercise ultimately proved fruitless for Melbourne as Milford rejected the offer and signed a four-year, $4 million deal at the Broncos.

The 23-year-old now has the opportunity to deliver another blow to the Storm in Friday’s grand final qualifier at AAMI Park.

Milford is back alongside Kodi Nikorima at Brisbane’s scrumbase after taking a back seat when veteran Benji Marshall started at halfback in last week’s win against the Panthers.

Milford is at his best when he is demanding the ball and assistant coach Jason Demetriou said he had to stand up against Melbourne.

“I would agree with that. He needs to step up a little bit more,” he said.

“It’s about finding that balance. It’s been really difficult. Our key playmakers have been changing all the time.

“We haven’t had the same spine for more than two weeks in a row since round 10. That makes things hard.

“I don’t think there’s a team in the competition that would have coped with that type of adversity. It’s a credit to the players.

“I was really happy with Milf’s running game (against Penrith). I thought he took the line on a lot more and looked a real threat when he touched the ball.”

The Broncos have won 11 of the 12 games this season that Nikorima has started at halfback in.

But the flip side of Nikorima’s success is the responsibility Milford has shouldered with an inexperienced halfback by his side.

Milford, now an established first grader with 117 NRL games, has taken the chief playmaking responsibilities when playing alongside Nikorima and the Broncos have been better for it.

If the Broncos are to have any hope of getting the better of Melbourne’s all-star spine of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cameron Munster and Cronk, then Milford and Nikorima must take the game on.

“There’s so many things we have to be better at,” hooker Ben Hunt said.

“We were good defensively (against Penrith) but we have to take things to another level against the Storm.

“They have so many attacking weapons across the board in Smith, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Munster and Billy Slater out the back.

“We have to be pretty good, particularly in the halves.

“Munster is an exceptional player. What he did in State of Origin this year when he finally got his chance was remarkable, he knows in big games how to take his game to another level. He’s going really well.

“By comparison, we have relatively young halves. Milf is young and still learning how to dominate in big games.”

And the stage doesn’t get much bigger than facing the minor premiers in Melbourne for a spot in next Sunday’s grand final.

Source: Courier Mail

 

[Super Freak]

Storm forecast for Brisbane.. haven't had rain in ages.

Hope it's not a sign.

Mother nature fucking with us.

 

[theshed]

Milf looks like hes holding the ball in a weird position to pass. Right in the middle of it.

 

[adam]

Can u image around this time how awesome that must be to reflect upon and help rustle up the younger boys...All players fatigue as they grow older, so pathetic calls on how he’s a washout and not the player he used to be .. well...NO SHIT..... well just think even your most favourite players performance and skill will decay over time....17 years ago we need to remember, Marshall single handedly, and repeatedly out scored & tore holes thru the storms “fierce” 3 ...slater, Cronk & Smith. ....Gave Lockyer nightmares for years, in defence , outskilled the great Thurston, went toe toe with Hayne , outmatched Soward & outsmarted pierce. And broke fuk funds of records and stats along the way.The footage and statistics simply back up as facts to what I’m simply saying is that in this moment tonight if we remember the benji marshal as a genuine bronco and remember the great 17 years of spectacular football he help revolutionise , The constant threat , may just be the positive energy that we all should keep in the back of our minds during our game tonight... I agree with lockyers call he doesn’t need the big plays.... but being there is a safe house and relief... let the calves run wild and create there own piece of history ., and that benjis already created his....it may help a little more than it would if we didn’t... just think how he must be thinking come kick off and seeing the big three running down the pitch at him..... he’s capable of magic...

 

[gordjw]

He only debuted 14 years ago mate.
That’s still quite an impressive longevity though.

 

[Morkel]

Storm forecast for Brisbane.. haven't had rain in ages.

Hope it's not a sign.

I think it is. There may be a storm in parts of Brisbane, but in Melbourne, Brisbane will be all over the Storm.

 

[Browny]

Dear football gods, if you decide to favour the storm tonight please don't have it happen in the last minute

 

[Renegade]

Dear football gods, if you decide to favour the storm tonight please don't have it happen in the last minute

yeah agreed, if we're gonna lose i'd rather it be a concrete thing come 70th minute. there's no consolation to losing a close game at the end in sudden death.

 

[meady]

Having Oates (if he lasts the game) makes a huge difference for us tonight, last few games Vunivalu has had no competition on that wing, tonight he is up against one of the very best who can give him a taste of his own medicine. I reckon the Broncs need to legally cheapshot him at every opportunity because the flying knees thing (plus other things) shows he can get rattled quite easily.

I reckon we are the one team the Storm knows can beat them if we turn up and they won't be caught off guard.

I reckon Vuni is still going to have no competition, rewatching the Bronx/Panthers game and I can see the Storm will doing another number on the left side defence. Fans will emphasize the Storm wingers but they are just the recipients of good lead up work.

Illegally or legally - take smith or slater out

 

[vertigo]

Dear football gods, if you decide to favour the storm tonight please don't have it happen in the last minute

Hold me.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Severe storm heading towards Brissy.

Fuckofffuckofffuckofffuckoff

 

[Unbreakable]

Severe storm heading towards Brissy.

Fuckofffuckofffuckofffuckoff

I can see it now.. power outage all night and I'll be forced to listen to the game on the radio.

The exact thing happened to me in Round 5 against the Bulldogs after Cyclone Debbie's winds hit us, lost power for 24 hours -.-

 

[GCBRONCO]

Meh you didn't miss much in the round 5 game TBH.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

I can see it now.. power outage all night and I'll be forced to listen to the game on the radio.

The exact thing happened to me in Round 5 against the Bulldogs after Cyclone Debbie's winds hit us, lost power for 24 hours -.-

If I lose power, I will be PISSED

 

[Nashy]

I'm all on board the rough them up approach but everyone should remember how that went for the blues in game 3.

We have a decent team though.

 

[LockyersLeftBoot]

Yeah went with my dad who owns a bit of property up north (Rocky so more central QLD, but pretty much everyone goes for the cows up there), and the trolling was something I don't want to relive lol.

Only the shitbags. **** the cowboys.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

I'm all on board the rough them up approach but everyone should remember how that went for the blues in game 3.

But that was in the 3rd game, in the 1st game it worked for them because it surprised us a little bit, just like it would if we did t because they're all matey with us (but don't respect us on the field). We only have 1 game