POST GAME [Round 1, 2025] Broncos vs Roosters

[Finbar]

I feel if you are one of those on here going on about structure and also applauding those tries last night, you need to take a good long hard look at yourself in the mirror

I'm imagining a bloke standing in front of the mirror, admonishing himself because he quietly enjoyed the unstructured play from last night. Struggling from the shame and disappointment he has brought to himself and those around him, remembering that he previously touted the importance of the Broncs playing structured footy on a fan forum. The hypocrisy eats him alive.

 

[Brotherdu]

So happy with that result. Re Staggs coming back, I said it in the game thread, but I think it's pretty cool to be able to have Shiba and Mariner both playing for the next 4-6 games.

By the time Staggs is due back, we should have a pretty good idea of which player will partner him in the centres. Hopefully they are both tearing it up and it's a hard call to drop someone, but if not and it's pretty clear that one has played better, then it will be great not to have the moaning associated with someone being picked and all their supporters comparing it to the other in reserve grade.

I have them pretty even so far. I thought Mariner was fairly quiet, but solid. Shiba had a bad error, but also a few more in the plus column. The supporting try and a few more hard carries I thought.

Our forward pack has to be the best in the comp. To think we still have Tekura and Marty in reserve is quite scary.

 

[BroncosFever]

Quick shoutout to Reyno, for coaching the side to yet another win.

Good stuff Adam.

 

[heartly87]

Mozer is strategic, he might only run twice but it will be at the right moment and will bring a result because he doesn't do it unless he has thought it through.

For me the benchmark is Grant, he is the best green light player in the game.

Walters was only average of 2.6 times a game last year and Grant was 6.4.

In Cup Rimba won the Petero Medal running 5.3 times a game from 23 games and Paix was 4.1 from 20 games, Mozer was 4.9 from 13 games.

It's not just a matter of saying I am going to run five times, it has to be a reason to run and Grant is the best at seeing that reason. That's what made it odd last night, Roosters through the middle were terrible but Paix didn't see anything to run. I don't have much doubt Grant runs last night at some point.

Good insight, thanks. Do you think he may of just wanted to play conservative to not screw up the opportunity or is it purely a lack of vision in that area of his game.

 

[theshed]

I think Gosiewski and Shibasaki did very well. I think Mariner is lucky he moves that well cause there are a lot of areas that Shibasaki brings far more. Nearly enough personally to pick him over Mariner. I think it’s close enough now that by the end of the year Mariner will be by far better. Mariner has performed well in all his games this year despite some errors yesterday. Can’t blame Madge if he goes the other way after last night though tbf.

Gosiewski, excellent I thought. Brought everything Piakura doesn’t plus some. Couldn’t have asked for more.

Piakura obviously dumb mistake but I put a lot of blame on Madge for the position he found himself in yesterday. Cannot accept you having a bloke like Piakura on the bench playing a 10-15 minute second row role at the end of the game. When Kev got the best out of Brendan it was by introducing him to grade from the bench, but it was predominantly with a role through the middle, which he was quite successful at. It just completely dumbed down the footy, he could make some good carries, get his timing, get his confidence and fitness up. Every time he found himself on the edge that year he was leaps and bounds our best back rower and leaps and bounds better than he has been at any other stage in his career so far. It worked. Give him more of a role than that of yesterdays. I think it was really poor management personally.

You tinker things and learn what the best rotation is but that’s just a completely wrong outlook on how to use Piakura. He doesn’t quite understand his player yet if he thinks 10-15 minutes at the end of the game is gonna get Piakura up to potential or to fire up to his expectations. It’s not so much his mindset that completely limits Piakura, he is a very flawed player that needs development on the edge still. Some of those principles can be learned far more simply in the middle.

You have to remember Piakura did not earn his place in NRL. It came very undeserved from some very underwhelming performances in cup. He played very well in that middle/second rower cover role that eventually led into the string of performances you saw where he excelled at second row.

In fairness his trial form was some of the better footy he has played at that level. Do not, not use the bloke. Play him through the middle for 20 earlier in the game and then give Gos the rest at the end. Get him his 25-30 plus minutes a game with a stint in the middle and a stint on the edge.

Blaming the coach for this stooge getting sent off for a 0 IQ act after he just got on. That’ll do me

 

[Fitzy]

Blaming the coach for this stooge getting sent off for a 0 IQ act after he just got on. That’ll do me

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to think that a bloke that has found himself in the sin bin more times than he hasn’t when playing a 10-15 minute role at the end of the game probably can’t handle the waiting and isn’t suited to that role.

Who here genuinely can say they did not expect to see Piakura through the middle at some point throughout that game?

It’s common sense with the kid at this point.

If we were wanting a bloke to play a short stint and cover centre it was far more logical to play Piakura for as long as he can handle then put Gosiewski on from the bench rather than the other way round. Piakura adds a lot of value and explosiveness to the bench and I dare say was part of Madge’s thinking with starting Gosiewski. He has had some good games off the bench playing through the middle. As a matter of a fact most of his best games have had substantial minutes through the middle and you’ve seen the best out of him on the edge later in the games and season consequently.

Dumb decision from Piakura, it’s not Madge who made the dumb decision but it was equally as not smart to put a bloke on 70 minutes later with Piakura’s temperament, history and approach and who probably had no idea what his role was going to be that entire time. So when he makes a dumb mistake you got to look at the bloke making that decision as well.

Kev would have copped it if he had Piakura at his arsenal from the bench and gave him a 10 minute stint at the end.

 

[theshed]

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to think that a bloke that has found himself in the sin bin more times than he hasn’t when playing a 10-15 minute role at the end of the game probably can’t handle the waiting and isn’t suited to that role.

Who here genuinely can say they did not expect to see Piakura through the middle at some point throughout that game?

It’s common sense with the kid at this point.

If we were wanting a bloke to play a short stint and cover centre it was far more logical to play Piakura for as long as he can handle then put Gosiewski on from the bench rather than the other way round. Piakura adds a lot of value and explosiveness to the bench and I dare say was part of Madge’s thinking with starting Gosiewski. He has had some good games off the bench playing through the middle. As a matter of a fact most of his best games have had substantial minutes through the middle and you’ve seen the best out of him on the edge later in the games and season consequently.

Dumb decision from Piakura, it’s not Madge who made the dumb decision but it was equally as not smart to put a bloke on 70 minutes later with Piakura’s temperament, history and approach and who probably had no idea what his role was going to be that entire time. So when he makes a dumb mistake you got to look at the bloke making that decision as well.

Kev would have copped it if he had Piakura at his arsenal from the bench and gave him a 10 minute stint at the end.

That’s exactly how I expected him to be used.

Play Gos until he gasses or if we need an injection of energy to spark our attack then Piakura comes on.

If Gos is playing good and we are up 40 points then Piakura gets a couple pitty minutes at the end

 

[BroncsFan]

That’s exactly how I expected him to be used.

Play Gos until he gasses or if we need an injection of energy to spark our attack then Piakura comes on.

If Gos is playing good and we are up 40 points then Piakura gets a couple pitty minutes at the end

Sounds like a waste of a bench spot though.

There were a couple times last night where we could've used an injection of energy and I was hoping to see Piaks get a run.

I think having him out there doing 10mins stints isn't great for his development.

Maybe Madge wanted to get an idea on whether Gos can go 80mins if needed and might look to change up the rotation over the next couple weeks

 

[theshed]

Sounds like a waste of a bench spot though.

There were a couple times last night where we could've used an injection of energy and I was hoping to see Piaks get a run.

I think having him out there doing 10mins stints isn't great for his development.

Maybe Madge wanted to get an idea on whether Gos can go 80mins if needed and might look to change up the rotation over the next couple weeks

When did we need that? 16 points up? 28? 50?

 

[BroncsFan]

When did we need that? 16 points up? 28? 50?

We were up by plenty but looked like we had some fatiguing bodies... it was probably just before Haas came back on for his second stint.

Was more like there's probably an opportunity to bring Piakura into the game to lift the energy

 

[Morkel]

As if you wouldn't be happy putting on 50 points but I think we need to temper our expectations. We were expected to win, with the Roosters having their weakest roster (potentially ever), and also missing their halfback. And then lost one of their most experienced defensive forwards early in the game.

They also scored their tries against us pretty easily, albeit after some customary game-managing penalties and repeated 6-agains, despite not having much in the way of opportunities.

 

[mrslong]

Guys, we finished the roosters season in round 1.

 

[davidp]

Positional observations

Reece - evasion, speed and was not the pivotal attacking weapon - still erratic but will get better under halves direction

Cobbo and Arthur’s - love the strengths they bring to game. Arthur’s is Mr consistent and very good combo man. Cobbo was quiet first half and roamed around 2nd half as well as good finishing- hopefully keeps it up

Mariner and Shib- Shib made early mistake but was very good for remainder of game- Mariner showed class and speed and kept his brain in defence- well done

Reynolds and Hunt - age will not weary them - Reynolds was shut down so Hunt took over, which then gave more time for Reynolds- great 1-2 - more to come. Hunt was very good in defence, he rammed in and slowed the opposition- some of those efforts may be seen as missed but did his job until reinforcements arrived

Patty and Payne - amazing amazing amazing- set the platform and controlled ball playing - how do you play against that

Gosh and Riki- finally we played 2nd rowers like they should be played- made more metres than previous years and ran lines to make room inside and outside- good defence as well.

Heatherington - welcome long term lock - point of difference to props and hits (boy does he hit) also good link play - does not need ball playing in props do this

Bench
Billy - played well when not the main hooker or half - most runs good - missed some defensive roles but did well

Willison - Fantastic- replicate of Haas - you think it gets easier when Haas come off but Willison kept it up and even stepped it up - needs to be happy with bench as will not dethrone starting props

Jensen - consistent and kept momentum up - great work ethic - excellent 4th prop in rotation

Piakura - less said the better - has work to do but will come good

When you think that Mam, Staggs, Mozer and BTK are either not making team or to come in we are in a very strong position moving w- each of these players can be brought in to the team and bring their strengths without losing what we have

Hope I have not rambled bet good times ahead

DP

 

[Browny]

Pretty happy with the score line 50 to 8 (thanks bunker)

 

[Broncorob]

Been a long time between comments...so good to be coming back to a 1st round win. Lots to like about it. Good to see Sproj pre game assessment and post game Broncs review. Can we revisit the pre game HtH Sproj? Patty v

 

[Sproj]

Been a long time between comments...so good to be coming back to a 1st round win. Lots to like about it. Good to see Sproj pre game assessment and post game Broncs review. Can we revisit the pre game HtH Sproj? Patty v

Haha yeah, egg on my face with that call.

 

[Dash]

Haha yeah, egg on my face with that call.

Had to be one of the worst calls you, it anybody else, has ever made.

 

[thenry]

Totally agree, we are now a team that no longer relies on Reece to win us the game. The question from the media to opposition coaches and players was always the same "how do you stop Reece Walsh", that is now how do you stop the BroncoGom

We were up by plenty but looked like we had some fatiguing bodies... it was probably just before Haas came back on for his second stint.

Was more like there's probably an opportunity to bring Piakura into the game to lift the energy

Oh, was that the period where Sutton decided to award any and every penalty and 6 again to Roosters?

No wonder we were fatiguing.