PRE-GAME PRE-GAME [Round 11, 2023] Broncos vs Storm

[Thelmus]

I don't see how he's wrong. That's going to matter when it comes time to select the team.

Ponga doesn't need to be in better form than Walsh, he just needs to be fit. He's the incumbent. He's proven at Origin level and Parker is right that he won QLD the series last year.

I've never really got the whole "pick on form" debate when it comes to Origin. I can get that when you're selecting new players, but when you're selecting players that have been there and are proven at that level, form means jack. Origin has a way of making players find form. The Broncos players in '07 for example.

As someone has already said ponga just needs to be fit. Ponga will probably play round 1 with walsh 18th man. If we lose or he is quiet though it may be that he will have played his last origin for a while at least.
The most important thing slater would have taken from this game with manly is when faced with merves that threatened to turn him into a passenger, walsh overcame them and rose to the occasion.
He is still incredibly raw (hes 20), so that has to be considered selecting an origin side. Ponga is a seasoned performer. Origin is so tight that a bombed try could be devestating both to the result, but also to young fullback on debut if we lose. Theres so much talent there though that its just a matter of time before he plays.

 

[Swordfish]

Storm, Panthers, Warriors and Sharks next 4 games **** that is a tough run.

And only 1 @home & 3 on road. Crucial month coming up.
Would love the guys to say to each other “foock it, we’ve won consistently @home now, let’s win every game on the road”.

 

[Fernando]

At least when Walsh is nervous he just he just tries more stuff lol, rather than going missing. I always thought Ponga just had to be fit but he's gotta show more than last week otherwise I dunno if it's fair to him to throw him in there. Ponga's fitness test is proving that he feels comfortable playing rugby league right now.

 

[Super Freak]

This is our best chance of beating Melbourne that we've had in years.

IMO, it's a must win. If we want to show we're a genuine premiership threat, we need to beat them.

 

[ningnangnong]

I disagree with everyone saying this is a must win.

We're only in May, there's still a long way to go yet.

Sure, it would be nice to get one over the team that always seems to beat us, but it would also be ridiculous to write us off if we were to lose.

Melbourne in Melbourne is one of the toughest games in the NRL. As long as we put in a good showing in terms of attitude and smarts, then I'm not going to be concerned with a loss.

 

[Sproj]

I disagree with everyone saying this is a must win.

We're only in May, there's still a long way to go yet.

Sure, it would be nice to get one over the team that always seems to beat us, but it would also be ridiculous to write us off if we were to lose.

Melbourne in Melbourne is one of the toughest games in the NRL. As long as we put in a good showing in terms of attitude and smarts, then I'm not going to be concerned with a loss.

It’s about credentials. We look the best team in the comp and certainly the best we’ve been as a club since 2015. But we got smashed by South’s and they are really the only other contender we’ve faced so far. Penrith was a great win too but we are really one and one with the contenders but Melbourne is more than a contender, they are in our heads and this is mentally important, this is more than about a result.

 

[Foordy]

What about Parker on Fox saying that as great as Walshy has been .. he can't see him being chosen over KP for Origin.. because KP won them Game 3 last year. lol.

Honestly believe that CP has turned full nsw.

Parker is correct when it comes to Origin.

They guys who did the job are almost always given the start for game one the following year if fit (at least for QLD)

 

[Midean]

I'm totally scarred from getting flogged by those ***** every game. On form sure we are the better team, but we always seem to crumble against them.

I'd tip Melbourne to win but if we win this, I'll really believe we are a new team.

This is my exact thoughts as well.
Legit go into every game against them expecting a spanking.

If we beat them next weekend, i will enjoy it more than all the rest of the wins this season put together.

 

[Midean]

What about Parker on Fox saying that as great as Walshy has been .. he can't see him being chosen over KP for Origin.. because KP won them Game 3 last year. lol.

Honestly believe that CP has turned full nsw.

He was doing everything to discredit the Broncs win last night, so was Ennis.

- Manly are plagued with injuries.
- Brisbane won off the back of manly being poor.
- Errors won the game from Brisbane.
- Broncos didn't play well, Manly just played worse.
- They were always against it, playing against Brisbane at home.
- If Turbo was fit, it would be a different outcome.
etc etc etc

I was actively listening for either of them to praise the Broncos.
The only thing that came close was them blowing smoke up Haas and Reeces ass.

 

[Alec]

What about Parker on Fox saying that as great as Walshy has been .. he can't see him being chosen over KP for Origin.. because KP won them Game 3 last year. lol.

Honestly believe that CP has turned full nsw.

That's the way QLD has operated since Mal became coach, and you can't argue with the success rate we've had since then. We even used to poke fun at NSW for going to opposite route in the past, always picking different players and losing.
Now I'm not saying he's a lock, if he doesn't feel fit then he probably shouldn't play. However if he is fit enough he should be selected.

 

[Mr Fourex]

That's the way QLD has operated since Mal became coach, and you can't argue with the success rate we've had since then. We even used to poke fun at NSW for going to opposite route in the past, always picking different players and losing.
Now I'm not saying he's a lock, if he doesn't feel fit then he probably shouldn't play. However if he is fit enough he should be selected.

Ponga needs to show a bit of form though as well......I don't think it all went to plan last week for his first game back.

The real worry is his head knocks.

But if he's fit....and in form.......he deserves the spot.

 

[Kimlo]

Ponga will not make origin, incumbency means squat when you're playing as bad as he is. He's a deadset liability.

If he picks up and plays well he'll be rightfully first pick but if he doesn't Slater isn't stupid. He's not going to risk his origin coaching record to be loyal to a liability.

 

[Super Freak]

Ponga needs to show a bit of form though as well......I don't think it all went to plan last week for his first game back.

The real worry is his head knocks.

But if he's fit....and in form.......he deserves the spot.

His second game back.

He returned against the Cowboys and played well. He didn't have a good game against the Eels, but he won't be playing 5/8 behind a pack that's being dominated in Origin. He'll be playing fullback, the position he should be playing.

 

[Broncosgirl]

Ponga has had 1 and a half games back so far. I don't think he is really fit enough for a return to play a full quality NRL game .. let alone entering the cauldron that is the Origin arena.

 

[Big Del]

What about Parker on Fox saying that as great as Walshy has been .. he can't see him being chosen over KP for Origin.. because KP won them Game 3 last year. lol.

Honestly believe that CP has turned full nsw.

Nah , that`s the Qld blue print .
Pick the incumbents even if they are out of form in club land , they still get picked if they have performed in the past . Lookin at you Dane Gagai .

 

[Big Del]

Ponga needs to actually play atleast a good game before he can have the last year trump card for selection.

Dude !
He was MoTM last game in 2022 . Short memory ?

 

[Mustafur]

Dude !
He was MoTM last game in 2022 . Short memory ?

With all the hits Ponga has had since then, yes he probably does have a short memory.

 

[GCBRONCO]

He was doing everything to discredit the Broncs win last night, so was Ennis.

- Manly are plagued with injuries.
- Brisbane won off the back of manly being poor.
- Errors won the game from Brisbane.
- Broncos didn't play well, Manly just played worse.
- They were always against it, playing against Brisbane at home.
- If Turbo was fit, it would be a different outcome.
etc etc etc

I was actively listening for either of them to praise the Broncos.
The only thing that came close was them blowing smoke up Haas and Reeces ass.

The planets were out of alignment too? Maybe the dog ate their homework?