POST GAME Post Game Discussion - Round 1 - South Sydney

[Allo]

I feel this will be replicated a few times this year as Bennett and the team feel each other out so to speak. Bennett himself has basically said this year is a test for a lot of the team. We'll have to just accept some nuffies will get game time so we don't have to deal with them later. Short term pain, long term gain in a way?

His comments in the presser were refreshing for a fanbase used to hearing 'Aw yeah's', shrugs and refusal to point out deficiencies or question the refs, which is valid playing against a wrestle team like Souths and having Cheatchin as the ref. Every set on defence they're in our faces and on attack they just have so much time and space. A lot of that has to do with their game plan and quality but some of it HAS to be from the one-sided policing of the 10m. And as Bennett mentioned the ruck was so hit-and-miss.

While calling out players can be considered harsh or unfair, when it comes to Thaiday, they are totally justified. He's been skating through seasons (his season at prop excused to an extent) since 2011 on his 25 mins of good football a game in May. A quality player on his day, but his day is getting shorter and shorter and he really needs to be a benchie. Nothing more. He just doesn't have the motor or discipline for anything more.

Unfortunate for Gavet to be a bit of a game-killer. I hope he gets back up after his suspension. He's a big dude and we need someone like that playing a twin Burgii team. Seriously those guys are monsters.

Whitchurch is useless. He's on a last chance (coz we know he'll get another)

Reed was very poor. Glad he's on nearly base wage for that 4 year deal.

Until he gets more football under his belt or becomes a defensive hitman of sorts, Dodds will only be getting 20 mins a game from that effort. He's better than that though so I hope he improves.

Blair has impressed me since joining. Can't fault his effort which was the biggest issue at the Tigpies. The rest of the starting pack did as well as they could I guess. We just never got a roll on enough and when we did we dropped the ball or we ended our sets with a ball over the line. I don't think we forced a repeat.

Didn't even notice Glenn on the field tbh

Gillo gets my MOTM. Came on and immediately gained ground and defended well. Only person looking like breaking the line. Deserved his try although luckily he was against a sliding D and wasn't caught hogging the ball. He'll be starting for the foreseeable future. Hasn't missed a beat.

Still looking for Maranta to just pin his ears and go. Like how Johnston did with the Inglis try. You will never see Maranta do that. He'll stop and cut back in EVERY TIME. I honestly don't care if he gets put into touch. Just show us you have the balls to try take on your opposite.

Kahu had a respectable game at FB. Constantly bombed, tried his best and did quite well under the pressure and let's face it, he was bound to drop one. Positionally though I don't think he was ever caught out and couldn't do much in attack as Hodges became the final pass.

Lastly, props to Buck's rider for keeping great control of him. Quite stupid to have flamethrowers going off in proximity to a horse being ridden around the stadium. Surprised it hasn't happened before now

Worst thing about the game is at the end it felt exactly like most games from the past 3 years. I didn't have high hopes but thought we'd play a bit better. But it's Souths and Round 1. We'll get there. I just pray we don't sacrifice too many games finding out who has a future or not.

 

[Anonymous person]

It wasn't perfect but I think it bodes well moving forward.

Under Griffin it always seemed like the bench players were nothing more than cameo players designed to give the big boys a breather for a few minutes and then we'd wonder why they were out of puff in the final 10.

I agree about griffins cameo type use, but I don't think Bennetts "give the bench players as much time as the starters" way was any better. Theyre bench players for a reason, generally that reason is theyre not as good as the starters.

Mcguire should be playing 60+ minutes. We *always* lose forward momentum and our middle opens up when hes off. Parker is an 80 minute lock. Thaiday should be getting less than 40, yet he got 65. McCullough shouldn't be being subbed. If he cant play the 80 he should be told to find a new club.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Is Thaiday really in the firing line?? Gee Wayne is a moron. He is the one that gave him so many minutes when McGuire wasted away on the bench.

 

[Anonymous person]

LOL ....and the Faders finished where on the ladder ?

.....:laugh:

Milford is the only reason they didn't add a nice wooden spoon to their trohy cabinet. Their team was terrible, is still terrible, yet his 2014 was still among the best of any player. That's what I'm getting at. You cant use the broncos team as an excuse for him not playing well when Canberra are worse and he stood out as one of the best in the nrl at them.

 

[rnabokov]

We need a half to complement Hunt with some vision. Someone (like Lockyer) who can sense, "see" opportunities and make them happen more than a super talented ball runner with great speed and agility like Milford who can and will break the line, but however, atm, just seems to pass the ball after he does.

That's why I feel Milford's best position atm is FB. His best game atm, is as a ball runner first.

If Bennett can craft him as a "real" 5/8, say as another Foran just as one example, well and good, and that is my hope, for I know Bennett will persist with Milf at 5/8. I guess I just dream of having him play at the back until he matures, as did Lockyer. I just don't think Milford can be made into a true ball playing 5/8 in just 1 season... yet again, I hope I am proved wrong. In any case, Milford and Parker have to keep working on working together, as much as Hunt and he need to do the same.

I agree with the bench rotation arguments.

I think Gillett was a stand out and McGuire needs to be out there a lot longer.

Oates needs to be in the side and I wish Copley was in the centres. Despite my past support for Reed, I just don't feel he cuts it in the centres any more. Even Oates in the centres, or even on the wing or at least the bench, would be good to see.

Crucially, Bennett need to get the passing game happening, the one part of Griffinball that showed promise when the forwards were (sporadically) passing the ball for starters.

I am a little disappointed, based on the performance v the Bunnies, but understand, that with a new coach and a new 5/8, we yet again have another season which looks like a work-in-progress

 

[levikaden]

Lol at "lost to best team in the world" please use we lost the the best team out of superleague and nrl. It's not a worldwide sport, don't pretend it is

 

[tripleBroncos]

wow and to think i was looking forward to the start of the NRL season. lets hope next week will be better

 

[animal eater]

Based on a whole 2 games under the conditions they were played? Knee jerking much?

You are proving to be very selective in your reading/comprehension abilities. Good on you.

 

[broncos4life]

I agree about griffins cameo type use, but I don't think Bennetts "give the bench players as much time as the starters" way was any better. Theyre bench players for a reason, generally that reason is theyre not as good as the starters.

Mcguire should be playing 60+ minutes. We *always* lose forward momentum and our middle opens up when hes off. Parker is an 80 minute lock. Thaiday should be getting less than 40, yet he got 65. McCullough shouldn't be being subbed. If he cant play the 80 he should be told to find a new club.

great idea as always coach, now which 80 minute hooker in our squad should we replace him with?

 

[Unbreakable]

Waddell for 80 minutes, confirmed.

 

[Foordy]

we don't necessarily need Macca to be playing 80 mins ... but if he is not capable of it, we need an actual hooker on the bench

 

[Cult]

Lol at "lost to best team in the world" please use we lost the the best team out of superleague and nrl. It's not a worldwide sport, don't pretend it is

I don't want to make you look stupid but you should have a look at these.
List of rugby league competitions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Geography of rugby league - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Anonymous person]

great idea as always coach, now which 80 minute hooker in our squad should we replace him with?

I didn't say we dump him immediately, I said we tell him to find a new club. Ie. After this year.

We have parcell, we can use this year to get him in the nrl and take over from McCullough if hes not up to it, which IMO he isn't.

If I was coach we would have Granville as our hooker anyway, we wouldn't be in this situation.

 

[Broncoman]

James Gavet has just been given a 3 week ban.

**** that

 

[Bucking Beads]

Gavet dropped the ball every chance he got and he gets suspended for 3 weeks. Great start from the potato.

 

[CaptainHook]

I didn't say we dump him immediately, I said we tell him to find a new club. Ie. After this year.

We have parcell, we can use this year to get him in the nrl and take over from McCullough if hes not up to it, which IMO he isn't.

If I was coach we would have Granville as our hooker anyway, we wouldn't be in this situation.

I like this point, ap. To be honest I'm sick of hearing about how he "needs to improve." The fact that he does indeed need to improve is fairly obvious but I doubt it will happen at the Broncos. The problem is he is already our best option. I choose to describe it as our least worst but if you're already the best option - what incentive is there to improve?

The logic doesn't make sense. If his nearest rivals are too young, inexperienced, not defensively good enough for first grade etc, I fear he'll just coast along until he absolutely has to pull his socks up. He already has form in that department. It's no coincidence he played better with Granville in the team and when rumours were swirling about Cam Smith's potential signing. When that didn't pan out and Granville committed to the Cowboys it was back to business as usual.

I was taken aback by that article in the pre-season pretty much guaranteeing his future before a ball had been kicked. I reckon there's more to it.

 

[broncos4life]

I didn't say we dump him immediately, I said we tell him to find a new club. Ie. After this year.

We have parcell, we can use this year to get him in the nrl and take over from McCullough if hes not up to it, which IMO he isn't.

If I was coach we would have Granville as our hooker anyway, we wouldn't be in this situation.

Well that's not what you said. You were criticising the bench use and saying how it should be used better. Stop changing things to suit your argument

 

[broncos4life]

I didn't say we dump him immediately, I said we tell him to find a new club. Ie. After this year.

We have parcell, we can use this year to get him in the nrl and take over from McCullough if hes not up to it, which IMO he isn't.

If I was coach we would have Granville as our hooker anyway, we wouldn't be in this situation.

Granville can play 80 can he? Well that's news, quick call Paul Green and tell him