PRE-GAME [Round 1, 2023] Panthers vs Broncos

[Mustafur]

Fair points but I wouldn’t necessarily say swapping one fringe first grader for another is all that radical. Plus Riki can switch into middle if needed.

1 has experience the other has next to none is the difference, not the ability.

I think Willison will take Palasias role within the team at some point probably within a few rounds or by round 10, Piakura will be taking Robati's role I would assume.

 

[1910]

I'm just hoping they want to get Piakura some reps in the lower grades rather than 10-15mins off the bench... same with Willison.

I thought Piakura looked proactive in his trial time and just hoping he can get some consistent game time this year.

ISC starts next week.

 

[1910]

Te Kura is on Full-time training deal. He can play after round 10 same as a development deal. He won’t but he could.

 

[McHunt]

Te Kura is on Full-time training deal. He can play after round 10 same as a development deal. He won’t but he could.

Who else is on that same deal?

 

[Foordy]

Te Kura is on Full-time training deal. He can play after round 10 same as a development deal. He won’t but he could.

just out of interest, is there a reason he's not on a development deal? because don't you get a cap discount if a player stays on the development list for 2 seasons

 

[pagey]

I’m not saying he deserved to be picked but I’m a bit disappointed Piakura didn’t get the nod. Palasia isn’t a second rower, his defense there is awful. I’m not saying Piakura has even done all that better but this season needs to be make or break for him. We need to find out if he has it or not. Palasia isn’t part of our future and is a fringe first grader himself. I’m a bit disappointed.

start with experience, both him and mariner will get ample opportunity soon enough.

 

[Sproj]

1 has experience the other has next to none is the difference, not the ability.

I think Willison will take Palasias role within the team at some point probably within a few rounds or by round 10, Piakura will be taking Robati's role I would assume.

I get that and hear what you're saying but I just don't think it is relevant when you also have Flegs and Taupau on the bench. Just my opinion of course.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

Another year, same pathetic level of journalism on nrl360. Suddenly, Kent is bennetts best mate and broncos are a mess, dolphins are a huge threat that we've never faced before (just like titans and crushers, and like they said North qld was when they first came in). We lost 2 players to huge overs, players that are not going to be the difference between a top 8 spot or a top 4 spot or a premiership. For YEARS we have got into stupid bidding wars for non-spine players. We finally go away from it and results improve. The titans followed this Cao heavy approach on forwards and look where it got them, now they invest in their spine and look to be better, just like we have and will further. These guys are deadset embarrassing. Turning it off... for the year...

 

[Sproj]

Another year, same pathetic level of journalism on nrl360. Suddenly, Kent is bennetts best mate and broncos are a mess, dolphins are a huge threat that we've never faced before (just like titans and crushers, and like they said North qld was when they first came in). We lost 2 players to huge overs, players that are not going to be the difference between a top 8 spot or a top 4 spot or a premiership. For YEARS we have got into stupid bidding wars for non-spine players. We finally go away from it and results improve. The titans followed this Cao heavy approach on forwards and look where it got them, now they invest in their spine and look to be better, just like we have and will further. These guys are deadset embarrassing. Turning it off... for the year...

I just love RIccio: 'The Broncos have never had this before.' Umm...so I guess the Storm, the Titans, the Cowboys, the Raiders, the Roosters and so on have never had academies, etc in Qld.

 

[theshed]

There needs to be a plan with using the 17th player on the bench and usually two middles are sufficient with the 3 starting middles so it's hard to figure out what to do with that 3rd forward on the bench.

I'm hoping we see a plan with ours this year... but I think picking Palasia is a bit of a holding pattern until a more viable option appears ... hopefully in Piakura.

You also can't really rotate 3 middle forwards consistently with the 8 interchanges... like you could with the old 12 interchanges:
- 9/14 use up 2 subs
- 8/10/13 all on and off each (remaining 6 subs total)

At present Haas and Patty are both playing 55-60mins and the team is most effective when they're on the field. So if they're pushing out those kinds of minutes you basically only need a combined 80mins from the bench middles.

Do you reduce Haas and Patty's time on the field at the detriment to team performance to give more time to the bench... that seems counterproductive if Haas and Patty are both maintaining a high performance level in the minutes they're required to play.

So where your 17 fits into the rotation starts to become a question... ***cough***HIA***cough***

Cows last year used to start Luciano off the bench and he would sub on for Gilbert at around 30min to play out the game with Gilbert then switching into the middle rotation. Dfifi probably did that a few times as well... Panthers did it a couple years back with Kikau playing 60 odd mins a game and when they were looking to integrate Liam Martin into the team... so that's an option to use your 17th jersey

It could be something we look at doing with our edges with Piakura subbing on for Riki or Capewell and them moving into the middle.. but there needs to be a benefit to doing that with your edges and Piakura doesn't look to be there yet. It can also impact on defensive structures rotating your edges and timing with the half, etc. in attack

If Piakura starts improving in qcup and getting some consistent game time it might be something we end up doing with our edges to get Piakura into the game.

The other alternative is what we were doing with Gamble a couple times last year and having that smaller mobile lock forward that can ball play (Mann, Watson, etc.) or the nugget quick ptb specialist that is gaining attention in recent years (BSmith, Erin Clarke, etc.)... they can usually double up as another utility for injuries, but I don't know if we have anyone that can perform that role this year.

I wouldn’t think too hard about it because Hetherington will come straight back in for Palasia when he’s fit assuming no one else is out.

 

[theshed]

I’m not a fan of Cobbo at 1 for this game but there were little other option really. Arthars on the wing is the right choice as he is the most experienced of the depth backs and Kev can break glass incase of emergency if Cobbo is being pizzled at the back.

Irrelevant of signing news, I’m a huge fan of Jensen starting and Flegler off the bench. Creates a far better forward rotation and our best performances last season had this configuration.

Palasia on the bench I could take or leave. He does decent work in the middle and as long as he isn’t needed to fill in elsewhere he should do a job.

Basically the best team we could’ve named.

On a side note, didn’t we get to witness Selwyn at fullback v Panthers last season or am I imagining things?

 

[Sproj]

I’m not a fan of Cobbo at 1 for this game but there were little other option really. Arthars on the wing is the right choice as he is the most experienced of the depth backs and Kev can break glass incase of emergency if Cobbo is being pizzled at the back.

Irrelevant of signing news, I’m a huge fan of Jensen starting and Flegler off the bench. Creates a far better forward rotation and our best performances last season had this configuration.

Palasia on the bench I could take or leave. He does decent work in the middle and as long as he isn’t needed to fill in elsewhere he should do a job.

Basically the best team we could’ve named.

On a side note, didn’t we get to witness Selwyn at fullback v Panthers last season or am I imagining things?

Yep he filled in there a couple of times. Never take what the media says about league as truth.

 

[Santa]

I’m not a fan of Cobbo at 1 for this game but there were little other option really. Arthars on the wing is the right choice as he is the most experienced of the depth backs and Kev can break glass incase of emergency if Cobbo is being pizzled at the back.

Irrelevant of signing news, I’m a huge fan of Jensen starting and Flegler off the bench. Creates a far better forward rotation and our best performances last season had this configuration.

Palasia on the bench I could take or leave. He does decent work in the middle and as long as he isn’t needed to fill in elsewhere he should do a job.

Basically the best team we could’ve named.

On a side note, didn’t we get to witness Selwyn at fullback v Panthers last season or am I imagining things?

There was a game against Penrith where Niu got injured early on, maybe Cobbo went to fullback then? Although we ended up getting smashed after Niu got injured, so that's not a good sign... As long as Cobbo catches well, the rest should fall into place.

 

[theshed]

Yep he filled in there a couple of times. Never take what the media says about league as truth.

Not sure what you’re referring to regarding the media but I meant specifically that Selwyn has faced Panthers before at fullback. Pretty sure he struggled

 

[Sproj]

Not sure what you’re referring to regarding the media but I meant specifically that Selwyn has faced Panthers before at fullback. Pretty sure he struggled

The media was reporting Cobbo has never played fullback for the Broncos.

 

[Mick_Hancock]

I see this game as only having an upside.
We win (by 8 points) and it’s the upset of all upsets.
We lose and it’s what everyone expected us to do. Hardest draw, Penrith and Cows first 2 games, Walsh out, Reynolds injured blah blah blah…

 

[theshed]

The media was reporting Cobbo has never played fullback for the Broncos.

Oh lol. Well that’s stupid.

If anyone wants to watch Selwyn playing fullback v the panthers it’s on Kayo. Niu does his hammy with 6 minutes left of the first half and Selwyn plays the rest of the game at fullback to ah…mixed results.

 

[Mick_Hancock]

On another note, especially for those of of you who get to watch Panthers play live this year, watch for this:

The work that their 1-5 put in on kick returns. You will see that the back 5 bring back 80+% of the ball coming out of their own half. The forwards pretty much won’t touch the ball until they’re in the opposition half. This isn’t “new” and other teams do it to an extent.. BUT..

Penrith do this right through from their lowest junior grades to the NRL. They do it consistently! That’s the difference. Leota, JFH etc are fresh when it matters and they can defend right up to the end, because their back 5 get through a mountain of work, consistently.