POST GAME Round 1 - Dragons vs Broncos

[Maddy1to9]

Few points to give us hope. You need your forwards to get forward before the halves can do anything but even when we did have field position both were clueless. Jeez they need to do a lot to improve. Thankfully they can only get better. The cows will run amok next week if we try dishing that slop up.

Our forwards going either side ways or passing on to a fellow forward. They need to barge their way forward and try create something for the halfs to work on...

 

[Viti]

I think opacic needs to come in next week over Kahu in the centres
dragons exploited that left hand side like nothing
Boyd and Macca look way underdone and I’m actually going to criticise TPJ here, he needs to work on his defence. He is our version of Bryce Cartwright. He isn’t a good defender and you need good defenders starting. Also, I think our forwards just need to tuck it under the arm and run up the middle a bit more

I didn’t take much notice of it this game but I have noticed it in the past, was McCullough engaging the markers much tonight?
That’s half the problem with ours forwards there running at a set defensive line and they’re not able to isolate a defender to get a quick play the ball.

 

[Renegade]

I agree with this except Sua was good off the bench, especially considering the circumstances.

Sua won't be playing next week.

 

[Aldo]

Nothing positive to say about that. Hopefully we can regroup quickly or we'll get another hiding. No intensity in both attack and defence. Silly penalties, dumb plays, looked gassed early, no support or bodies in motion, kicking game was rubbish.....just all the usual shit from last year. We'll get better but not a good way to start the year.

On a side note, what's wrong with Ryan Girdler's head?

 

[Rellum]

We also really seemed to struggle with the play the ball rule enforcement tonight. Very slow getting it out of the ruck. The refs might need to get defenders of much quicker now that play the balls are being fixed up or the Broncs need to speed all that up.

 

[Accept]

892 mtrs gained and 42% possession. As far as the metres go, I can't remember a worse output. The likes Thaiday, Sims, Offa, Niko and Kahu were god awful. Lodge tried hard and the Jet and Isaako looked slick. Not the end of the world but this side will have to battle hard to make the playoffs this year which is what I have been saying all along anyways.

 

[Super Freak]

He had the try line free in front of him, hiccuped and almost got taken out. Perfectly Maranta-like. He's just lucky he got the offload away

Come on, he was never going to make it even if he put the foot down. There was too much cover there.

 

[Unbreakable]

He had the try line free in front of him, hiccuped and almost got taken out. Perfectly Maranta-like. He's just lucky he got the offload away

Huh? He had 2 defenders coming across and did extremely well to get the ball back inside to Roberts. Maranta would've got taken out, Kahu would've taken 1 step forward and then succumbed to the defenders and got driven back 15 metres.

 

[Smokin' Joe]

I thought Lodge was great, as was TPJ. Isaako did his thing, he won’t let anyone down and will only get better with more game time.

I said a few days ago that Kahu defensively is a huge concern. He plants and reaches, and did it a number of times tonight. Got beaten a lot. Milf wasn’t offering him much support from the inside tonight though.

So much to work on. Not many positives to take from tonight, other than the above players individual performances.

 

[Allo]

I wanna know wtf we do at training all week, it looks like we just sit in the video room and watch film of the glory days

I think there’s too much focus on us as a profitable brand as opposed to being a successful football team

 

[WASSHHH]

Players 1-17.
1 - has zero running game, Dufty looked so much more dangerous. Put him at 5/8 if all he is going to do is play like one and give Isaako a go at fullback. Other than the 3 on 2, offers not much and just stood there and watched the Dragons pick up the loose ball - gobsmacked. Also agree, not a captain. Never thought he was and nothing tonight makes me want to change my mind.
2 - typical Oates performance. Good charges, slippery hands at times. Left posted a lot by Kahu so can’t really blame him for that.
3 - aside from the silly penalty given, good effort and 2 tries. Needs to see more early ball.
4 - not a centre, enough said. Big fan of his tenacity and heart, but disappointed in his game tonight.
5 - good second game, should be proud of his efforts. Great footwork, left one defender wondering where he’d gone.
6 - barely ran, kicking game still sucks, as does defence. Did not earn his wage tonight.
7 - went ok, needs time to work into the role and should be given such time to do so before being criticised.
8 - aside from the intercept pass, tried hard and worked hard. Will be better now his first game is behind him.
10 - not a dummy half, but not a prop either. Really has gone backwards at a rapid rate. Bench forward at best currently.
14 - thought he worked his arse off, great offloads and amazing presence of mind to collect the field goal. Motor doesn’t look to be the problem others were suggesting it would be.
11 - typical Glenn, worked hard but nothing special. We already have one solid and reliable back rower with a more dangerous running game, do we need 2?
12 - typical Gillett game - lots of work but a bit down on his better running games.
13 - I’m a massive fan of his, but thought he was a bit quiet.
9 - kick on the third tackle of the first set in the second half - why??? Otherwise, good to get some time in the legs and hopefully better for it.
15 - thought he was pretty good when he came on, ran hard and tried hard.
16 - didn’t offer a whole lot other than trying to nail his brother at every chance he could. Similarly to Macca, should be better for the run.
17 - so much potential, needs more time on the field because we all know he’s capable of it. Will be sitting out a week for that cracker on Vaughn - but worth it just to watch him yack his guts up all over the field.

 

[Jedhead]

892 mtrs gained and 42% possession. As far as the metres go, I can't remember a worse output. The likes Thaiday, Sims, Offa, Niko and Kahu were god awful. Lodge tried hard and the Jet and Isaako looked slick. Not the end of the world but this side will have to battle hard to make the playoffs this year which is what I have been saying all along anyways.

Was Niko playing?

 

[Morkel]

Can't do shit dropping that much ball. Bring on next week.

 

[Renegade]

I will say this as well, Nikorima didn't seem to be too involved tonight but when he was we looked dangerous.

now, I read earlier in the week milf has been training at halfback essentially to get his hands on the ball more often, which is pretty much the opposite of what we need him to be, which begs the question - does nikorima even know when he's supposed to get the ball? i get milf is trying to step up and take responsibility but really, that should be when he sees something on, not even tackle on every set.

 

[winslow_wong]

Fans just need to accept it's gonna be a long season unless a halfback emerges and a leader stands up. I feel bird will be a good leader when he's back and bennett needs to make tough decisions regarding Boyd and the halves. Until these things happen, brace yourselves lads because Matty johns is rubbing his hands together

 

[Viti]

The one criticism I have of Lodge was the same that was raised after the Dolphins semi last year, he was a bit too eager to spread it at times without setting a platform. It seemed like he was trying to set something up more often than not.

 

[Pushkin]

The biggest concern was how easily broncos player got dominated. One time 4 player tackling the Tariq sim. You can't win the game if you can't dominate the opposition. In broncos insider show the coach talked about physical defence work the player had done in preseason.

 

[Accept]

Was Niko playing?

I wish he wasn't but unfortunately he is still hanging around the place. Years from now, he will be a regular on those infamous "Worst ever Bronco's 17" lists.