Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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- 33,065
Re: Grand Final - Broncos vs Cowboys
FORMER Test star Greg Alexander knows a thing or two about game plans.
In a career spanning 16 seasons, the former playmaker captained Penrith to their maiden premiership in 1991.
Having played in two grand finals and tasted success, here’s where Alexander believes the game will be won and lost on Sunday.
BRONCOS GAME PLAN
You only have to go back to the first week of the finals to identify North Queensland’s defensive weakness.
Brisbane scored two tries on that Saturday night in early September and they both came straight through the middle.
Ever since their 16-12 loss to the Broncos, the Cowboys big men have been brilliant.
They did a number on Cronulla and backed it up against Melbourne but the fact remains that through sheer size the Cowboys lack mobility.
The time will come in Sunday’s grand final where the big men will be feeling the pinch and that’s when the Broncos will strike.
When they last met, it was Brisbane’s little men that hurt them and they do so through the middle.
Ben Hunt split the defence to score a solo try on the 27 minute mark, while Kodi Nikorima opened them up and linked with Anthony Milford for a try 15 minutes from fulltime.
That’s where the Cowboys are most vulnerable.
You’d have to imagine Paul Green would be concerned that his team has given up twice as many tries as his opposition through the middle.
Even though the Broncos concede metres defensively, they still defend their line.
Patience is the key.
While it’s easier said than done, Wayne Bennett-coached sides are very level headed and don’t panic.
Just like when they last met, I expect the Broncos will get two golden opportunities to strike.
The first will be around the 20 minute mark just before there’s a change.
That’s when the Cowboys will be most vulnerable because their big men will be blowing and at that stage where they are due to come off for a rest.
Then next chance will come during the final 15 minutes of the game.
This is Nikorima’s opportunity to blow the game open.
He did it the last time they met and in a team riddled with superstars, he can go relatively unnoticed.
No one has really focused on the benches of either side.
Nikorima exposed the Cowboys with his blistering speed in week one of the finals and there’s no reason he can’t make a big impact and come up with a winning play on grand final day.
COWBOYS GAME PLAN
It’s no secret North Queensland’s big men turned their form around after their loss to Brisbane in the first week of the finals.
Full of confidence, they’ll try and batter the Brisbane defensive line and wear them down by steam rolling them through the middle.
But that’s not where the damage will be done and it won’t win them the game.
The Cowboys’ best chance to post points is on the edges.
While the Broncos have great defence, Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan are experts at breaking through what would be perceived as impenetrable armour.
It’s all about taking your opportunities, something they failed to do when they last met.
Just last month the Cowboys had plenty of chances to post points but a few things were a miss.
Their timing was off and Morgan wasn’t at his brilliant best.
You have to remember that match was Morgan’s return from an ankle issue and he lacked confidence.
That won’t be an issue this weekend as he showed last week against Melbourne.
Morgan was a serious headache on the right edge and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Cowboys go to him on Sunday.
That’s the Cowboys best chance so I’d expect Brisbane’s inside edges and halves to cop a lot of traffic.
Jack Reed’s edge is most vulnerable.
It was highlighted by Blake Ferguson in their match against the Roosters last week.
Ferguson screamed past Reed twice early in the first half.
It’s important that Thurston and Morgan link with their edge runners Gavin Cooper and Ethan Lowe.
Thurston and Cooper have a great combination so I anticipate they will send a lot of traffic down Reed’s side.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...-nrl-grand-final/story-fn2mcuj6-1227556231048
FORMER Test star Greg Alexander knows a thing or two about game plans.
In a career spanning 16 seasons, the former playmaker captained Penrith to their maiden premiership in 1991.
Having played in two grand finals and tasted success, here’s where Alexander believes the game will be won and lost on Sunday.
BRONCOS GAME PLAN
You only have to go back to the first week of the finals to identify North Queensland’s defensive weakness.
Brisbane scored two tries on that Saturday night in early September and they both came straight through the middle.
Ever since their 16-12 loss to the Broncos, the Cowboys big men have been brilliant.
They did a number on Cronulla and backed it up against Melbourne but the fact remains that through sheer size the Cowboys lack mobility.
The time will come in Sunday’s grand final where the big men will be feeling the pinch and that’s when the Broncos will strike.
When they last met, it was Brisbane’s little men that hurt them and they do so through the middle.
Ben Hunt split the defence to score a solo try on the 27 minute mark, while Kodi Nikorima opened them up and linked with Anthony Milford for a try 15 minutes from fulltime.
That’s where the Cowboys are most vulnerable.
You’d have to imagine Paul Green would be concerned that his team has given up twice as many tries as his opposition through the middle.
Even though the Broncos concede metres defensively, they still defend their line.
Patience is the key.
While it’s easier said than done, Wayne Bennett-coached sides are very level headed and don’t panic.
Just like when they last met, I expect the Broncos will get two golden opportunities to strike.
The first will be around the 20 minute mark just before there’s a change.
That’s when the Cowboys will be most vulnerable because their big men will be blowing and at that stage where they are due to come off for a rest.
Then next chance will come during the final 15 minutes of the game.
This is Nikorima’s opportunity to blow the game open.
He did it the last time they met and in a team riddled with superstars, he can go relatively unnoticed.
No one has really focused on the benches of either side.
Nikorima exposed the Cowboys with his blistering speed in week one of the finals and there’s no reason he can’t make a big impact and come up with a winning play on grand final day.
COWBOYS GAME PLAN
It’s no secret North Queensland’s big men turned their form around after their loss to Brisbane in the first week of the finals.
Full of confidence, they’ll try and batter the Brisbane defensive line and wear them down by steam rolling them through the middle.
But that’s not where the damage will be done and it won’t win them the game.
The Cowboys’ best chance to post points is on the edges.
While the Broncos have great defence, Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan are experts at breaking through what would be perceived as impenetrable armour.
It’s all about taking your opportunities, something they failed to do when they last met.
Just last month the Cowboys had plenty of chances to post points but a few things were a miss.
Their timing was off and Morgan wasn’t at his brilliant best.
You have to remember that match was Morgan’s return from an ankle issue and he lacked confidence.
That won’t be an issue this weekend as he showed last week against Melbourne.
Morgan was a serious headache on the right edge and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Cowboys go to him on Sunday.
That’s the Cowboys best chance so I’d expect Brisbane’s inside edges and halves to cop a lot of traffic.
Jack Reed’s edge is most vulnerable.
It was highlighted by Blake Ferguson in their match against the Roosters last week.
Ferguson screamed past Reed twice early in the first half.
It’s important that Thurston and Morgan link with their edge runners Gavin Cooper and Ethan Lowe.
Thurston and Cooper have a great combination so I anticipate they will send a lot of traffic down Reed’s side.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...-nrl-grand-final/story-fn2mcuj6-1227556231048
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