POST GAME [Round 1, 2025] Broncos vs Roosters

Wouldn't worry too much about who the bench props are. Between injuries and suspension there'll be plenty opportunity this year.

One of the best things I've heard before is that the good teams have 6 props. 2 on the field, 2 on the bench and 2 suspended.
 
Wouldn't worry too much about who the bench props are. Between injuries and suspension there'll be plenty opportunity this year.

One of the best things I've heard before is that the good teams have 6 props. 2 on the field, 2 on the bench and 2 suspended.
Middle Depth this year is insane, our biggest weakness like last year will be the edges, I think it's a good idea to keep injury prone Piakura on the bench for as long as it's feasible to limit it imo, but if Gos or Riki goes down, it already starts to look shaky, I hope the strong stuff we saw from Jaiyden Hunt in the trials was real though because we will need it.
 
Middle Depth this year is insane, our biggest weakness like last year will be the edges, I think it's a good idea to keep injury prone Piakura on the bench for as long as it's feasible to limit it imo, but if Gos or Riki goes down, it already starts to look shaky, I hope the strong stuff we saw from Jaiyden Hunt in the trials was real though because we will need it.
Outside the box thought maybe if mariner and Shiba are going well when staggs is good to go he could be an option for the 2nd row/outside back cover role from the bench?
 
Outside the box thought maybe if mariner and Shiba are going well when staggs is good to go he could be an option for the 2nd row/outside back cover role from the bench?

I have also been quietly wondering this. He would be able to cover both second row and centre, exactly what you want from your 17.
 
Looking to form the greatest prop rotation in recent history... can't even say broncos history when Webke and Civo own that spot.

If they stay together for 5yr then we might be able to talk
if we can get a place where we have a 4 forward power bench
1. Willson
2. BTK
3. Jensen
4. Marty Kapow

love to see that play out...even in 1 game!
 
Outside the box thought maybe if mariner and Shiba are going well when staggs is good to go he could be an option for the 2nd row/outside back cover role from the bench?
I think Staggs would be a great option as an attacking 2nd rower, but let's be honest defence is often an afterthought for him. If the centre he lined up with was also even slightly below standards in terms of coordinated defensive structures (i.e. Mariner) then we'd be almost giving the opposition a free passage to our try line.

I'd love to see Madge have Staggs run Riki's lines in attack as at present Riki is a great kick chaser, a great front on tackler but his lateral defence and defensive concentration on our line is suss. he's also bog average at running onto a ball close to the try-line and especially in traffic. How often has he put a pass down with the try-line open in front of him? Having said that, Riki is the 2nd rower who I think Madge can improve the most. Ben Te'o is just the guy to sort him out and give him a more calculated ruthlessness to match his physique.

As things stand Piakura is stealing a huge chunk of our salary cap. As each season goes on I find myself more and more asking what did so many people see in this guy? He's injury prone, his ability to read and defend a sweep play is non-existent, he is often found still on the ground after making tackles close to our line thus leaving an easy hole for the opposition and that's provided he manages to stay on the field due to HIAs and sin bins. Granted, many of these short-comings can be fixed but he's being paid like he's already mastered them all. He's being paid Tallis/Thorn/Gillett money and playing like a poor man's Whitchurch.

The line Jetski ran for Paddy's sublime offload on Thursday night was an exact replica of what some on here are raving that Piakura can do. The thing is, how much less are we paying this guy? add to this he manages a heap more minutes than Piakura offers.
 
I think Staggs would be a great option as an attacking 2nd rower, but let's be honest defence is often an afterthought for him. If the centre he lined up with was also even slightly below standards in terms of coordinated defensive structures (i.e. Mariner) then we'd be almost giving the opposition a free passage to our try line.

I'd love to see Madge have Staggs run Riki's lines in attack as at present Riki is a great kick chaser, a great front on tackler but his lateral defence and defensive concentration on our line is suss. he's also bog average at running onto a ball close to the try-line and especially in traffic. How often has he put a pass down with the try-line open in front of him? Having said that, Riki is the 2nd rower who I think Madge can improve the most. Ben Te'o is just the guy to sort him out and give him a more calculated ruthlessness to match his physique.

As things stand Piakura is stealing a huge chunk of our salary cap. As each season goes on I find myself more and more asking what did so many people see in this guy? He's injury prone, his ability to read and defend a sweep play is non-existent, he is often found still on the ground after making tackles close to our line thus leaving an easy hole for the opposition and that's provided he manages to stay on the field due to HIAs and sin bins. Granted, many of these short-comings can be fixed but he's being paid like he's already mastered them all. He's being paid Tallis/Thorn/Gillett money and playing like a poor man's Whitchurch.

The line Jetski ran for Paddy's sublime offload on Thursday night was an exact replica of what some on here are raving that Piakura can do. The thing is, how much less are we paying this guy? add to this he manages a heap more minutes than Piakura offers.
Defence is definitely not an afterthought for staggs these days. Far more consistent and very aggressive with his defence. I don't think we have the centre/outside back depth to even consider taking staggs out of centre anyway.

I was worried shibasaki went don't on the weekend and we'd have to play hoeter (our last option except for leota in the outside backs?). Love hoeter but he looks a yard or 2 off the pace since his iniury return. That's only 2 injuries and we are already using someone who could not be upto it. Perham was a HUGE dent to our depth. Nrl quality backup fb, centre or wing. If we can unload someone early (baker, smoothy as he is leaving anyway) we have to get an outside back in our squad I think. Seigwalt was the only dissapointment of the trials I felt.

Our 2nd row could still do with 1 but they seem to have it covered now with gos and hunt improving dramatically. Riki was amazing the other night too I realised when I watched a replay, 2023 levels already. Whereas outside backs could be a real problem if we get 2-3 injuries.
 
Defence is definitely not an afterthought for staggs these days. Far more consistent and very aggressive with his defence. I don't think we have the centre/outside back depth to even consider taking staggs out of centre anyway.

I was worried shibasaki went don't on the weekend and we'd have to play hoeter (our last option except for leota in the outside backs?). Love hoeter but he looks a yard or 2 off the pace since his iniury return. That's only 2 injuries and we are already using someone who could not be upto it. Perham was a HUGE dent to our depth. Nrl quality backup fb, centre or wing. If we can unload someone early (baker, smoothy as he is leaving anyway) we have to get an outside back in our squad I think. Seigwalt was the only dissapointment of the trials I felt.

Our 2nd row could still do with 1 but they seem to have it covered now with gos and hunt improving dramatically. Riki was amazing the other night too I realised when I watched a replay, 2023 levels already. Whereas outside backs could be a real problem if we get 2-3 injuries.
Nah, I think Staggs defence has been suss ever since watching him come through from Q cup. He is tough and he can put a hit on, but invariably he gets stepped or he gives his opposition too much space to simply run past him.
 
Watching only a handful of games this year, you can see the difference in how a team that has been coached plays vs a “buddy buddy” coach playing favourites and hoping the team can coach themselves.

It’s painfully obvious that the bench rotation is miles ahead of what Walters did.
 
if we can get a place where we have a 4 forward power bench
1. Willson
2. BTK
3. Jensen
4. Marty Kapow

love to see that play out...even in 1 game!

All good if you have plenty of possesion .
Those guys defending for long periods against angled runners and quick play the balls could back fire .
 
I think Staggs would be a great option as an attacking 2nd rower, but let's be honest defence is often an afterthought for him. If the centre he lined up with was also even slightly below standards in terms of coordinated defensive structures (i.e. Mariner) then we'd be almost giving the opposition a free passage to our try line.

I'd love to see Madge have Staggs run Riki's lines in attack as at present Riki is a great kick chaser, a great front on tackler but his lateral defence and defensive concentration on our line is suss. he's also bog average at running onto a ball close to the try-line and especially in traffic. How often has he put a pass down with the try-line open in front of him? Having said that, Riki is the 2nd rower who I think Madge can improve the most. Ben Te'o is just the guy to sort him out and give him a more calculated ruthlessness to match his physique.

As things stand Piakura is stealing a huge chunk of our salary cap. As each season goes on I find myself more and more asking what did so many people see in this guy? He's injury prone, his ability to read and defend a sweep play is non-existent, he is often found still on the ground after making tackles close to our line thus leaving an easy hole for the opposition and that's provided he manages to stay on the field due to HIAs and sin bins. Granted, many of these short-comings can be fixed but he's being paid like he's already mastered them all. He's being paid Tallis/Thorn/Gillett money and playing like a poor man's Whitchurch.

The line Jetski ran for Paddy's sublime offload on Thursday night was an exact replica of what some on here are raving that Piakura can do. The thing is, how much less are we paying this guy? add to this he manages a heap more minutes than Piakura offers.

What a load ...
Staggs - defence is often an afterthought for him.
 
Broncos have 3 fit hookers ATM .
Get rid of Smoothie early and you have 2 . What happens when one of them gets injured ?
Oh Kobe can do it . LOL .
Name another squad in the nrl that has 5 hooker options in their squad (not counting bukowski who isnt ready but is a startong qld cup kooer as our SIXTH option)... I'll wait...

Mozer will hopefully be back soon. Mam is only out for 9 rounds freeing up hunt. Bukowski is starting in qld cup round 1. By round 10 we will have SIX available.. SIX FFS. We wouldn't be selling smoothy by tomorrow. We can ride out 5 or 6 rounds with 5 options ffs.
We have 5 spots in the outside backs to fill. Leota was terrible last year from all reports, hoeter looked a yard off the pace last year. We have to hope we have less than 2 injuries in the entire outside backs ALL YEAR, and content with origin with walsh and cobbo leaving (2 already gone then) vs 2-3 injuries in our hookers for a few weeks before it goes upto FOUR injuries?

What short sightedness...
 
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