PRE-GAME [Round 1, 2025] Broncos vs Roosters

[BroncsFan]

This game between between Penrith and Cronulla, is it highlighting again the need for a utility back on the bench? Could we get Paix to play 70 odd and get say Hetherington to pinch hit for 10 and carry someone in the 14 jersey who isn't a specialist dummy half / hooker?

I think this could be Mam's way back in too after his suspension. Or is it a waste of a spot and you just hope you don't lose a back?

How does Ezra play wing in that scenario though.

I think you just get tons of reps into Piakura, Riki or Gos... you nominate one of them to be the designated back up centre and have them train a thousand reps at centre.

Piakura probably the most athletic and takes great hitups in yardage, but the worst defender.... I'd probably nominate Riki

 

[Super Freak]

Unrelated to this game but Tapine and Savage are both out for the Raiders when we play them next week.

Tapine - Grade 2 Shoulder Charge 2-3 weeks.
Savage - Grade 2 Dangerous Contact 1-2 weeks.

We have a good opportunity to have a good start to the season.

 

[Big Del]

How does Ezra play wing in that scenario though.

I think you just get tons of reps into Piakura, Riki or Gos... you nominate one of them to be the designated back up centre and have them train a thousand reps at centre.

Piakura probably the most athletic and takes great hitups in yardage, but the worst defender.... I'd probably nominate Riki

Yesterday winger is HIA `d in 1st minutes .
2nd rower goes to centre . Opposition attack the shit out of that side and score multiple tries .

 

[BroncsFan]

Yesterday winger is HIA `d in 1st minutes .
2nd rower goes to centre . Opposition attack the shit out of that side and score multiple tries .

Second rower was already in the centres, named there on Tuesday... they had Daine Laurie on the bench who they played on the wing... which I'm assuming is where the original comment from Sproj came from.

 

[McHunt]

How does Ezra play wing in that scenario though.

I think you just get tons of reps into Piakura, Riki or Gos... you nominate one of them to be the designated back up centre and have them train a thousand reps at centre.

Piakura probably the most athletic and takes great hitups in yardage, but the worst defender.... I'd probably nominate Riki

It's well known we are weak in this centre/2nd row utility position. We had the best in the comp - Capewell - but even he copped it for his defence.

Ideally, you carry this player on your bench and you domino the effect through the other backs to cover whichever position you lost.

Ezra won't solve this issue. But he would be devastating impact off the bench going into a hybrid dummy half/half role. Impact you won't get from Tyson or Billy. It would require someone plays longer minutes than maybe they'd like, and there will be grumblings about his defence.

If Reece goes down, we will probably be just as fucked as last year when it happened. Unless Shibasaki is more versatile than we think. He's the only candidate I can see.

 

[Big Del]

We had the best in the comp - Capewell

At giving away ruck penalties ?
Good for at least one a game .

there will be grumblings about his defence.

His defensive problems come when he has runners coming at angles . Forcing him to tackle round the legs .
In the middle less angles and less space to get an angled run .
He might do alright because his front on defence can be very good .

 

[McHunt]

At giving away ruck penalties ?
Good for at least one a game .

Can you name someone who does what he does but better on our roster?

 

[Big Del]

Can you name someone who does what he does but better on our roster?

I know you love him .
He has strengths and weaknesses . Misses a few tackles too .

 

[Sproj]

Reynolds: “We Haven’t Done Anything Yet”

Skipper Adam Reynolds addresses the media as the squad prepares to fly out to Sydney to face the Roosters on Thursday night.

www.broncos.com.au

- We've had a good off season working on combinations
- This preseason doesn't feel too different to others
- We're good to go, need to make sure we turn up, we haven't done anything yet
- It's been a great preseason for everyone, competitions for spots has really heated up
- As long as we are doing the best we can, it gives Maguire a good headache
- The players have worked hard on themselves and are buying in to the team
- Maguire said at the start of preseason he doesn't know who the top 17 is, it was up to them to force his hand to pick them
- (Really long question about last year) Hypotheticals are all good but if you listen to people on the outside, you end up out there with them
- A lot of hard work is in front of us, and so we need to work hard each week
- (Really long question on Hunt) It is great to have another leader in the team and he has a great read for the game, he's super competitive and it is important to have these types of players in the team
- Ben helps calm things down and helps get us back to our processes
- Deine has worked extremely hard on his game, the evidence is there throughout training and he'll be better for last year's experiences
- I feel good (the neck) and got through the trial, played more minutes than expected and pulled up great
- I love training and love playing with my mates
- A fantastic atmosphere in Vegas but we are looking forward to achieving good things ourselves

That reporter really needs to work on brevity and clarity.

 

[Big Del]

That reporter really needs to work on brevity and clarity.

Said this before a microphone for the journos PLS .
Can`t hear the questions .

Another thing . Broncos media manager needs to tell anyone who is in the vicinity of a press conference to STFU . Nearly every media scrum they do there is some yobbo shouting in the back ground .

 

[Foordy]

Reynolds: “We Haven’t Done Anything Yet”

Skipper Adam Reynolds addresses the media as the squad prepares to fly out to Sydney to face the Roosters on Thursday night.

www.broncos.com.au

- We've had a good off season working on combinations
- This preseason doesn't feel too different to others
- We're good to go, need to make sure we turn up, we haven't done anything yet
- It's been a great preseason for everyone, competitions for spots has really heated up
- As long as we are doing the best we can, it gives Maguire a good headache
- The players have worked hard on themselves and are buying in to the team
- Maguire said at the start of preseason he doesn't know who the top 17 is, it was up to them to force his hand to pick them
- (Really long question about last year) Hypotheticals are all good but if you listen to people on the outside, you end up out there with them
- A lot of hard work is in front of us, and so we need to work hard each week
- (Really long question on Hunt) It is great to have another leader in the team and he has a great read for the game, he's super competitive and it is important to have these types of players in the team
- Ben helps calm things down and helps get us back to our processes
- Deine has worked extremely hard on his game, the evidence is there throughout training and he'll be better for last year's experiences
- I feel good (the neck) and got through the trial, played more minutes than expected and pulled up great
- I love training and love playing with my mates
- A fantastic atmosphere in Vegas but we are looking forward to achieving good things ourselves

That reporter really needs to work on brevity and clarity.

I think this is the first time i've heard a journalist use the words, " and blah, blah, blah, blah" in a question.

 

[Super Freak]

Are the side leaving for Sydney early?

With the cyclone coming, I imagine a Cat 2 will ground flights.

 

[HarryAllan7]

Good first-up test for the new team.

Chooks don't have the squad to make a proper run this year, but they're still a well-coached outfit playing at home and first game of the season leaves the door open for an upset if we're taking them lightly or not on our game.

On paper we should win comfortably. I get the feeling we will be prepared, Madge doesn't seem the type to let complacency and lack of focus creep into the team.

We actually owe the chooks a flogging after the last few years. How good would a 50 point domination be to both start the chooks season and simultaneously (according to statistics) end their title hopes?!

 

[HarryAllan7]

This game between between Penrith and Cronulla, is it highlighting again the need for a utility back on the bench?

Can't have a reserve hooker AND a reserve outside back on the bench, and having a fresh 9 is far more important. Having a back on the bench is one of those things that looks like a masterstroke when it pays off (because its so obvious), but when there's no HIAs and its essentially a wasted bench spot, then the failure is less noticeable (but still as impactful). Remember the Seibold days of the tactical 70th minute winger change when we could desperately have used a fresh bench forward during the middle of the game?

You need flexibility in your starting squad to cover HIA losses, and we actually have a very versatile backline (most of our backs can play 2 or even 3 positions) - our problem has instead been lack of edge depth... That's why Piakura's HIA in Round 1 last year was so impactful. This year, with (presumably) Gos, Piakura and Riki in the squad we should have a lot more cover and versatility for 2RF HIAs.