PRE-GAME Round 1 - Dragons vs Broncos

[Super Freak]

NRL - Round 1
Thursday, 8th of March, 2018​

18. Matthew Dufty 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Euan Aitken 4. Tim Lafai 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Gareth Widdop (c) 7. Ben Hunt 8. James Graham 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. Jack De Belin 14. Luciano Leilua 15. Kurt Mann 16. Leeson Ah Mau 17. Hame Sele 19. Jeremy Latimore 20. Zachary Lomax 21. Blake Lawrie 22. Joshua Kerr	1. Darius Boyd (c) 2. Corey Oates 3. James Roberts 4. Jordan Kahu 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. Anthony Milford 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Samuel Thaiday 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. Josh McGuire 14. Tevita Pangai Jnr 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Korbin Sims 17. Jaydn Su'a 18. Tom Opacic 19. Sam Tagataese 20. Jonus Pearson 21. George Fai
Coach: Paul McGregor	Coach: Wayne Bennett
Officials: Sideline Officials: Video Review Officials:	Venue: Jubilee Ovil Kickoff: 7:05pm Broadcast: Chanel 9, Foxleague

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Battler]

Win please

 

[Morkel]

Are we still $2.00 outsiders?

 

[I bleed Maroon]

We'll win. Fully expecting Hunt to overdo it at times

 

[roo-ted]

I reckon we will win by 12+ and Hunt will have a few bruise afterwards

 

[Alec]

First few rounds have traditionally been more of a bash and barge and defence wins for teams. Hoping Lodge keeps up his form.

 

[Harry Sack]

 

[badyon]

 

[Super Freak]

Hunt ready to silence old Broncos teammates in season opener

March 2, 2018

Ben Hunt was with his former Brisbane Broncos teammates at the recent wedding of hooker Andrew McCullough when the talk inevitably turned to next Thursday night’s Telstra Premiership opener at Jubilee Oval.

''They were saying 'righto, round one. We will be coming for you and stuff like that','' the St George Illawarra Dragons star recruit told NRL.com. ''All the boys were getting into me a bit, all in good fun.

''It's something I never thought I would want to do but I am actually looking forward to it. There is going to be a bit of banter and bit of fun in the game between the boys so it is going to be a real challenge.''

The offer of a five-year contract from the Dragons and the opportunity to play behind a pack Hunt considers one of the best in the NRL was too good to turn down but leaving the Broncos was still a difficult decision.

Since being recruited by legendary former Broncos scout Cyril Connell as a 12-year-old halfback, the Blackwater Crushers junior had never considered he would play anywhere else.

A Cronulla Sharks supporter who idolised Andrew Johns while growing up in Dingo, about 150km west of Rockhampton, Hunt attended his first training camp with the Broncos at 13 and accepted a scholarship when he was 15.

After finishing high school in Yeppoon, he moved to Brisbane and was a member of the Broncos' inaugural under 20s team in 2008, which included McCullough, Josh McGuire, Matt Gillett and Alex Glenn.

''I had been with them for 10 years so letting those boys know that I wouldn't be playing alongside them anymore was the hardest thing,'' Hunt said of his decision to sign with the Dragons.

''It was an extremely hard decision. I had been involved with the Broncos since I was 12 years old and they had been very good to me. I have some great mates from that under 20s team who are still there.

''I told just a few of teammates first. Andrew McCullough was definitely there and certainly the one I had been involved with for a long time. They all really understood and congratulated me.''

Hunt also had to inform Broncos coach Wayne Bennett and his former captain Darren Lockyer, who had mentored him when he first broke into the NRL ranks and is still involved with the club.

''Going to tell Wayne was pretty tough in itself,'' he said. ''He said he understood my decision and wished me all the best for this season but I hoped I wanted to finish my last season there really strong.''

Lockyer tried to convince Hunt to remain with the Broncos.

''We had a few chats here and there,'' Hunt said. ''He just talked about how good it was for him to be a one-club man and what it meant to be a Bronco, that they really wanted me in the team.''

So too did the Dragons, and they had identified Hunt as the star halfback the club had never had since the joint venture between St George and Illawarra in 1999.

Other halfbacks were on the market but the Dragons targeted Hunt as the one they wanted and convinced him to sign before the start of the 2017 season.

''Five-year deals don’t come around very often and I think just having that security was massive,'' said Hunt, who took time off from last year’s World Cup with Australia to get married and has a young son, Brady.

''There were a couple of other clubs who were interested but the Dragons just had a lot to offer. Wollongong is a nice place to play footy and I personally believed they had a great roster – then they added James Graham.

''As a halfback that was something I was pretty happy about. I felt like I made the right decision.''

With such a big contract comes expectation but Hunt is used to that as anyone who wears the No.7 jersey for the Broncos has to live with comparisons to Allan Langer.

Hunt admits that he struggled with that during his early career but believes he is prepared to cope with the pressure he will come under at the Dragons.

''Alfie always delivered, he set the standard, he was such a great player for the Broncos for such a long time – and for Queensland and Australia,'' Hunt said.

''Because of him there was always high expectations on whoever played halfback and a lot of pressure from the fans.

''The Dragons have brought me down here for a reason and that is to win footy games.

''My intention in coming here is to be that halfback they have been looking for and cement my spot for as long as they want me.''

Source: NRL.com

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

Win please

Ffs*

 

[Clintos]

So beyond keen for kick off.

 

[broncos4life]

View attachment 2527

Hunt ready to silence old Broncos teammates in season opener

March 2, 2018

Ben Hunt was with his former Brisbane Broncos teammates at the recent wedding of hooker Andrew McCullough when the talk inevitably turned to next Thursday night’s Telstra Premiership opener at Jubilee Oval.

''They were saying 'righto, round one. We will be coming for you and stuff like that','' the St George Illawarra Dragons star recruit told NRL.com. ''All the boys were getting into me a bit, all in good fun.

''It's something I never thought I would want to do but I am actually looking forward to it. There is going to be a bit of banter and bit of fun in the game between the boys so it is going to be a real challenge.''

The offer of a five-year contract from the Dragons and the opportunity to play behind a pack Hunt considers one of the best in the NRL was too good to turn down but leaving the Broncos was still a difficult decision.

Since being recruited by legendary former Broncos scout Cyril Connell as a 12-year-old halfback, the Blackwater Crushers junior had never considered he would play anywhere else.

A Cronulla Sharks supporter who idolised Andrew Johns while growing up in Dingo, about 150km west of Rockhampton, Hunt attended his first training camp with the Broncos at 13 and accepted a scholarship when he was 15.

After finishing high school in Yeppoon, he moved to Brisbane and was a member of the Broncos' inaugural under 20s team in 2008, which included McCullough, Josh McGuire, Matt Gillett and Alex Glenn.

''I had been with them for 10 years so letting those boys know that I wouldn't be playing alongside them anymore was the hardest thing,'' Hunt said of his decision to sign with the Dragons.

''It was an extremely hard decision. I had been involved with the Broncos since I was 12 years old and they had been very good to me. I have some great mates from that under 20s team who are still there.

''I told just a few of teammates first. Andrew McCullough was definitely there and certainly the one I had been involved with for a long time. They all really understood and congratulated me.''

Hunt also had to inform Broncos coach Wayne Bennett and his former captain Darren Lockyer, who had mentored him when he first broke into the NRL ranks and is still involved with the club.

''Going to tell Wayne was pretty tough in itself,'' he said. ''He said he understood my decision and wished me all the best for this season but I hoped I wanted to finish my last season there really strong.''

Lockyer tried to convince Hunt to remain with the Broncos.

''We had a few chats here and there,'' Hunt said. ''He just talked about how good it was for him to be a one-club man and what it meant to be a Bronco, that they really wanted me in the team.''

So too did the Dragons, and they had identified Hunt as the star halfback the club had never had since the joint venture between St George and Illawarra in 1999.

Other halfbacks were on the market but the Dragons targeted Hunt as the one they wanted and convinced him to sign before the start of the 2017 season.

''Five-year deals don’t come around very often and I think just having that security was massive,'' said Hunt, who took time off from last year’s World Cup with Australia to get married and has a young son, Brady.

''There were a couple of other clubs who were interested but the Dragons just had a lot to offer. Wollongong is a nice place to play footy and I personally believed they had a great roster – then they added James Graham.

''As a halfback that was something I was pretty happy about. I felt like I made the right decision.''

With such a big contract comes expectation but Hunt is used to that as anyone who wears the No.7 jersey for the Broncos has to live with comparisons to Allan Langer.

Hunt admits that he struggled with that during his early career but believes he is prepared to cope with the pressure he will come under at the Dragons.

''Alfie always delivered, he set the standard, he was such a great player for the Broncos for such a long time – and for Queensland and Australia,'' Hunt said.

''Because of him there was always high expectations on whoever played halfback and a lot of pressure from the fans.

''The Dragons have brought me down here for a reason and that is to win footy games.

''My intention in coming here is to be that halfback they have been looking for and cement my spot for as long as they want me.''

Source: NRL.com

Yeah, righto Ben.

 

[Number6]

This match up is potentially a huge turning point for Hunt. He keeps calm and doesn’t overplay his hand combined with a fresh start might be enough to extinguish some of the damage done in the 15 GF. More likely he s**** the bed trying to live up to his price tag and hype. Not to mention all the crap triggered playing against the broncs. Don’t blame him for leaving for that kind of money but won’t be sorry if he muffs it. Admire that he tries his heart out but had arrogance to think a week he didn’t deserve reserve grade was sufficient after 18 months of sabotage mixed with a few minutes of genius. Doubt he’s a halfback any premiership club needs anymore. Could still be the Australian hooker next year if he and dragons wake up but he doesn’t have the insight and they have went all in at Hunt as the magic half.

 

[Foordy]

According to the Courier Mail, this will be the team for round 1 ...

BRONCOS ROUND 1 TEAM
1. Darius Boyd
2. Corey Oates
3. Jordan Kahu
4. James Roberts
5. Jamayne Isaako
6. Anthony Milford
7. Kodi Nikorima
8. Matt Lodge
9. Sam Thaiday
10. Tevita Pangai Jr
11. Alex Glenn
12. Matt Gillett
13. Josh McGuire
BENCH
14. Andrew McCullough
15. Korbin Sims
16. Joe Ofanhengaue
17. Jaydn Su’A

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...a/news-story/b9f60e95227562d9af7a1e5e77314ced

 

[Unbreakable]

What a weird ass team lol.

TPJ starting is cool, hopefully he keeps the job once Macca returns to the starting line-up.

 

[Foordy]

What a weird ass team lol.

TPJ starting is cool, hopefully he keeps the job once Macca returns to the starting line-up.

I don't think it is that weird ... most of it is as we expected

 

[Unbreakable]

I don't think it is that weird ... most of it is as we expected

We expected Oates to be on the wing (Despite demanding to be a backrower this year), Su'A to be on the bench, Kahu to be at Centre, Thaiday to be the starting Hooker, Macca to be our bench utility and TPJ to be a starting prop? I don't think we expected almost any of those things, except the Thaiday possibly starting at hooker one. I expected something like this -

1. Boyd
2. Isaako
3. Roberts
4. Opacic
5. Kahu
6. Milford
7. Nikorima
8. Lodge
9. Thaiday
10. Sims
11. Glenn
12. Gillett
13. McGuire

14. Murphy
15. Oates
16. Pangai Jr
17. Ofahengaue

 

[Foordy]

We expected Oates to be on the wing (Despite demanding to be a backrower this year), Su'A to be on the bench, Kahu to be at Centre, Thaiday to be the starting Hooker, Macca to be our bench utility and TPJ to be a starting prop? I don't think we expected almost any of those things, except the Thaiday possibly starting at hooker one. I expected something like this -

1. Boyd
2. Isaako
3. Roberts
4. Opacic
5. Kahu
6. Milford
7. Nikorima
8. Lodge
9. Thaiday
10. Sims
11. Glenn
12. Gillett
13. McGuire

14. Murphy
15. Oates
16. Pangai Jr
17. Ofahengaue

With the exception of Su'A on the bench ... we discussed all of those possibilities as one time or another during the off season ...