Out of the 8, second year in a row... And we're in!

[ivanhungryjak]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

I actually agree with this. We shouldnt worry about the "what ifs", if we were good enough we would have won on our own accord, not because of luck.
We are being hindered by individual performances that have been sub-par this year and also coaching decisions that were not beneficial at all.

I honestly think we can still make it, providing that we turn up on the day and put in some dominant performances. Unfortunately, we have put ourselves in a position where we have to rely on other teams to push us up the ladder. I wish we could say we made the top 8 based on our performances, instead of luck.

I think we need to get the broom out, whether we sweep it under the rug (a.k.a move Hoffman to the wing) or pick it up and dump it in the trash (a.k.a Sell Reed to the Cranberry Faders).

I think you both missed the point. Because of a total of about twenty minutes of off football, the team lost two or three games when, if they had have applied themselves, would be sitting comfortably in the eight right now.

I think thats a fair enough statement to make. It is what it is.

 

[CaptainHook]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

This stuff about "if only" with the Sharks, Panthers, Roosters etc blahblah is a big bucket of bull bollocks and dung in my book.

Good point. Personally, I wouldn't classify the Roosters, Panthers games as "if only" as we did play well in patches I think the better sides won on the night.

The sharks game though...they didn't even play that well. Just a classic case of the Broncos clocking off. There are absolutely no excuses for a team that has a 20 point lead with 20-odd minutes to go against a side that was on track for the wooden spoon and hadn't scored a point in three weeks.

 

[Danoz Direct]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

Good point. Personally, I wouldn't classify the Roosters, Panthers games as "if only" as we did play well in patches I think the better sides won on the night.

The sharks game though...they didn't even play that well. Just a classic case of the Broncos clocking off. There are absolutely no excuses for a team that has a 20 point lead with 20-odd minutes to go against a side that was on track for the wooden spoon and hadn't scored a point in three weeks.

I wouldn't classify the Roosters as the better side on the night.

 

[Cult]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

Good point. Personally, I wouldn't classify the Roosters, Panthers games as "if only" as we did play well in patches I think the better sides won on the night.

The sharks game though...they didn't even play that well. Just a classic case of the Broncos clocking off. There are absolutely no excuses for a team that has a 20 point lead with 20-odd minutes to go against a side that was on track for the wooden spoon and hadn't scored a point in three weeks.

Broncos clocking off mixed with the refs gifting the Sharks the game.

 

[CaptainHook]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

I wouldn't classify the Roosters as the better side on the night.

It's a matter of opinion, of course. The Roosters were more composed and took their opportunities. I think they jagged 2 tries in the last three minutes or something like that. We had an 8 point lead and put the cue in the rack.

 

[Big Pete]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

I just think the Roosters game is proof positive that it's ridiculously hard to defend the short kick off.

How many times have we seen teams go for the short kick off this season and pull it off? I'm sure there's a stat there somewhere but I've seen my fair share in Broncos games this season and it seems like a real go to move because the defence has so little to lose at that stage.

And when they come up with the ball, it always catches the defence on the back foot as their defensive line isn't set normally so it allows for teams to spread the ball and get a good play the ball which really is half the battle. That's how the Roosters scored their first try off that set, just from good go forward and players hitting the ball at speed.

Second I believe came off a six again call and a goal line drop out or some such.

I think if anything, in those situation those moments just expose how poor the Broncos defence is but the thing is, it's always poor across the 80 minutes it's just that teams are always so desperate by those points they normally go to a play that works for them and surprise surprise they expose the Broncos inept defence.

 

[Alec]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

Forget the Roosters, their big guns in RTS and Cordner just stood up in the end, and Pearce was always gun at picking out the correct runner.

Forget the Roosters... but how the **** did we lose to the Sharks?

 

[1910]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

I just think the Roosters game is proof positive that it's ridiculously hard to defend the short kick off.

How many times have we seen teams go for the short kick off this season and pull it off? I'm sure there's a stat there somewhere but I've seen my fair share in Broncos games this season and it seems like a real go to move because the defence has so little to lose at that stage.

You're right and Ben and Shane Walker use it in the ISC, and not just when they are down by 4 with 3 minutes to go. They use the short kick off during the game.

They mix it up, either kick to get the ball back or drill it at some unsuspecting player close to the sideline knowing more than likely he will drop it or hit him ang go out.

 

[Big Pete]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

Yeah, NRL coaches seem to experiment with it from time to time as well - I remember a few games where a Brian Smith coached side would open the game with a short kick off, almost for Smith's own amusement.

But with the way teams like the Wests Tigers have been able to transform the kick-off into a set-play it makes you wonder why teams aren't looking to abuse it more often this year given how reliable the results are.

I reckon there's a few teams with so little to lose they'd almost be inclined to use it themselves.

 

[subsbligh]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

Definitely should've won that first Titans game too, can't believe we lost to them and the Sharks.

And the Eels. 60 mins in they were dead - Peats threw a pass behind Norman on the 5th which dribbled to the 40, Norman fluked a repeat set, Hayne I think scored and steamrolled us.

We would have iced them if Norman gets tackled inside the 40.

 

[subsbligh]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

The difference between us being a top 4 side and not making the 8 will hopefully be the coaching influence of Bennett.

If he can just give us that edge that Hook could not ingrain in the players, we will be a killer team. It's time. I think there is/was a complacency, a staleness and probably softness in this squad coached by the same bloke since they were 17.

I've lamented all year the close losses.. I put it down to the mental element rather than fitness, conditioning or ability.

 

[Rally Towel]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

The difference between us being a top 4 side and not making the 8 will hopefully be the coaching influence of Bennett.

If he can just give us that edge that Hook could not ingrain in the players, we will be a killer team. It's time. I think there is/was a complacency, a staleness and probably softness in this squad coached by the same bloke since they were 17.

I've lamented all year the close losses.. I put it down to the mental element rather than fitness, conditioning or ability.

Pretty much nailed it. I don't expect Wayne to come back in and reinvent the wheel in terms of game planning/strategy.

What I do expect is that he'll be more objective of individual players performances and potential, and will do a better job at getting the team to buy into his philosophy (where I think perhaps Hook allowed them to be too comfortable in many ways).

Time will tell, but I think we'll see the change pay dividends.

 

[Cult]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

You're right and Ben and Shane Walker use it in the ISC, and not just when they are down by 4 with 3 minutes to go. They use the short kick off during the game.

They mix it up, either kick to get the ball back or drill it at some unsuspecting player close to the sideline knowing more than likely he will drop it or hit him ang go out.

One thing I remember Lockyer doing when Australia played the USA and we were behind. He kicked off hard along the ground and it went out giving us back much needed possession and a lot of momentum. I'd like to see something like that happen when other teams aren't ready for it.

Also a team this year kicked off short to start the game, I can't think of who but I don't think it worked out well for them. Was probably Sandow for the Eels.

 

[Ari Gold]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

Yeah I really don't get why team's don't try more short kick offs. You'll often kick the ball in general play and start defending from your the opponent's 35, so it's obviously defendable. If you believe in your defence then to me it makes sense to try it every now and then, and really mix it up so you are never just giving the ball back.

I also don't understand why more teams don't go for the touch kick optional 20m. There are some really skilled kickers in the game that would succeed in doing this almost all the time. It doesn't work as often in reality because players are going for too much territory out of desperation but I reckon a guy like Reynolds would basically find touch at the halfway line 90-95% of the time.

 

[noisetheory]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

agree on the first point but since its 7 tackles now for 20metre restarts (hate the rule) teams are almost always putting in attacking kicks by the end of their sets after a 20m restart anyway, without the risk of stuffing up the kick.

the better "short" kick offs seem to land around the 30 metre line anyway. defenses dont seem ready to cover balls landing in no mans land, its these ones that seem to be the most successful to me. so yeah, tackle one on the 30 shouldnt really be a problem for the defense.

 

[Morkel]

Remember also the short kickoff might get 2, maybe 3 opponents near it, but you'll get 5 or 6 of your own and you'd set it for someone who's good in the air. And they'll get a run-up too.

 

[Rally Towel]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

One thing I remember Lockyer doing when Australia played the USA and we were behind. He kicked off hard along the ground and it went out giving us back much needed possession and a lot of momentum. I'd like to see something like that happen when other teams aren't ready for it.

It was extremely common during the 9's at the start of the year and more often than not it did find the sideline. Surprising that it is rarely attempted in regular season games. Particularly against sides with butterfinger wingers (e.g Vatuvei).

 

[Harry Sack]

Re: Out of the 8, second year in a row

One thing I remember Lockyer doing when Australia played the USA and we were behind. He kicked off hard along the ground and it went out giving us back much needed possession and a lot of momentum. I'd like to see something like that happen when other teams aren't ready for it.

Also a team this year kicked off short to start the game, I can't think of who but I don't think it worked out well for them. Was probably Sandow for the Eels.

Not sure if he's done it this year, but Sandow is a fan of it that's for sure. He's also done it from a dropout from memory.