Our run to the finals

[McHunt]

Cribbed this from the CM, just now.

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TL;DR, we're on track to make the Eight, if we only lose to Souths and Melbourne. But other results will affect us.

8. BRISBANE BRONCOS

Run home:
Rd 20 v Storm (H),
Rd 21 v Cowboys (H),
Rd 22 v Panthers (H),
Rd 23 v Rabbitohs (H),
Rd 24 v Eels (H),
Rd 25 v Bulldogs (A)

Analysis: There are two games Brisbane simply have to win — the Round 22 match with Penrith and the Round 24 game against Parramatta. It is very difficult to see them landing in the finals without those two victories, unless they can upset the Storm or Rabbitohs. Even if they win both it might not be enough but four home games in five weeks is a major boost. They’ll also be praying the Knights can beat the Tigers in Round 23 — a Novocastrian victory would go a long way for the Brisbane cause. The joint venture club is their greatest rival in the chase for eighth.

Pencil this down: from now on you're rooting for any team that's not Wests, Cronulla, Newcastle, Penrith and maybe even Parramatta. You don't care about Melbourne, Souths, Easts, Canberra, or Manly unless they're playing the former teams, in which case you want them to win. Or us, in which case you always want us to win. Obviously.

Major threats:
Wests
Cronulla
Newcastle
Penrith

 

[theshed]

Are we allowed to say “mathematically possible” yet?

 

[McHunt]

Are we allowed to say “mathematically possible” yet?

Nope. We're already in the Eight. The only way we drop out is by losing.

Mathetically possible implies our fate rests with other teams losing against someone who isn't us.
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Here's what we want this weekend:

Friday
Cowboys vs Tigers: Cowboys
Warriors vs Raiders: Raiders (not critical)
Broncos vs Storm: Broncos

Saturday
Sea Eagles vs Knights: Sea Eagles
Bulldogs vs Panthers: Bulldogs (opens up table)

Sunday
Sharks vs Rabbitohs: Rabbitohs
Roosters vs Titans: Titans (because **** the Roosters)
Dragons vs Eels: Dragons (opens up table)

 

[007]

I predict we will finish 7th.

 

[Broncapz]

Well need a weekly cheat sheet update on who to cheer for.

 

[McHunt]

I predict we will finish 7th.

I can get us as high as 6th but things really have to go our way.
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Well need a weekly cheat sheet update on who to cheer for.

I'm on it.

 

[Battler]

I think we'll get the storm this week unless the refs allow them to do whatever they want in the ruck (which is likely). Manly's forwards did a job on the Melbourne middle and ours are in a different league.

The Tigers aren't a realistic chance of making the eight imo, they're shit. The Knights have been exposed as shit: all the home town refereeing in the world couldn't save them last week. Penrith are a darling with the refs but have major weaknesses, mainly in their pack and out wide defensively. The Sharks will make the 8 if they're serious.

 

[Alec]

I think we'll get the storm this week unless the refs allow them to do whatever they want in the ruck (which is likely). Manly's forwards did a job on the Melbourne middle and ours are in a different league.

The Tigers aren't a realistic chance of making the eight imo, they're shit. The Knights have been exposed as shit: all the home town refereeing in the world couldn't save them last week. Penrith are a darling with the refs but have major weaknesses, mainly in their pack and out wide defensively. The Sharks will make the 8 if they're serious.

I don't think our forwards are necessarily in a different league. Manly's forward pack is one of the best in the comp, especially their starting middle (AFB, Taupau and Turbo are all insanely good).

 

[pagey]

I don't think we will make it, just my gut feeling. Would be nice if we did but can see the boys tiring out.

 

[Battler]

I don't think our forwards are necessarily in a different league. Manly's forward pack is one of the best in the comp, especially their starting middle (AFB, Taupau and Turbo are all insanely good).

Their bench is pretty average. AFB + Pow aren't really big minute players so they have to sort of hold on when they're off the field and it's obvious that they, more often than not, lose momentum big time because of it.

 

[Scorchie]

Any club with a run home , playing majority at home like the boys have should make the eight.

 

[mitch222]

My tip for the team to make the finals is just keep fucking winning

 

[Rico]

I’ve got a feeling those Clanger, home game bed shits are behind us. Our father who art in heaven....

 

[I bleed Maroon]

I predict we will finish 7th.

My "head over heart" ladder predictions have us in 7th as well, with Newcastle making a late surge to knock Penrith out of 8th. Only game I have us dropping between now and the end is next week. I'm fairly confident of beating Souffs, Penrith and Cows. Bennett has a terrible record at Suncorp as the away coach, the Pennies are still showing cracks despite the big turnaround and the Cows season is already over. If they're gonna come to play against us, which is likely, it'll be for pride. Chances are they'll treat the derby as their Grand Final, so we'll need to be on our toes.

 

[Mustafur]

I see some tough games ahead, Lucky there is alot of home games, We need to beat Storm though, our Forwards are finally showing the promise of what was expected at the start of the season, TPJ will be a big loss to our Attack though, but these are the games you want to win to give your team confidence to go far in September.

I Would rather not be in the 8 if we just get in and have no hope of winning week one.

 

[Accept]

I don't think we will make it, just my gut feeling. Would be nice if we did but can see the boys tiring out.

A 3-3 finish might get them in with a bit of luck and 4-2 will definitely clinch a post season berth. But I just don't see where the four wins will come from. I know everyone is excited because of recent wins over some pretty poor sides but this Bronco squad still has a lot of vulnerabilities and massive amounts of inexperience. I'm with you, the top 8 is extremely unlikely.

 

[BroncsFan]

A 3-3 finish might get them in with a bit of luck and 4-2 will definitely clinch a post season berth. But I just don't see where the four wins will come from. I know everyone is excited because of recent wins over some pretty poor sides but this Bronco squad still has a lot of vulnerabilities and massive amounts of inexperience. I'm with you, the top 8 is extremely unlikely.

I'd say Panthers (I dont rate them at all and we play them in Brisbane), Dogs obviously, Cows is winnable if we turn up and don't get shafted in the north.

I think Souths are beatable at Suncorp.

Parra is a good chance as well... their forward pack isn't as threatening as what it used to be... Mau is their real aggressor in attack nowadays compared to them having 3 or 4 guys that would trouble us.

If we can keep the same team on the field until the end of the year I think we pick up 4 wins.

The big difference at the moment is Payne is just a freak. No one has been able to stop him this year which makes it very hard to give us bad field position... as long as we hold onto the ball.

 

[broncsgoat]

There’s a ladder predicter article on Fox that has us finishing 8th on 25 points. Surely that’d be the lowest tally to reach the finals ever?
Winning under 50% of games but playing finals lol