PRE-GAME Round 1 - Eels vs Broncos

[Morkel]

He's definitely a lot better than I thought he was going to be for the Eels.

His best year was definitely last year, but I still don't think he was particularly impressive. Like Blake Austin, there were a few fancy-pants highlights, but little in the way of consistency. The 9's was an illusion - I still get the feeling that he isn't willing to put his body on the line, which suits the format but doesn't cut it 13-a-side.

 

[Morkel]

Norman and Foran wont work. They are effectively the same player and neither of them can direct a team around the paddock. DCE & Hodkinson did it for Foran at manly and Norman let Sandow do it for the Eels. Foran is going to struggle trying to be the dominant half at the Eels. He plays his best games when blokes like DCE & Johnson do most of the work and he just pops up every now and again to put a play on.

I think Foran will make Norman look better than he actually is, but it'll be highlights good, not substance good. Foran is incredibly good at taking the hard run for a half, in to the meat of the defence, putting his body on the line so that defenders commit to him, leaving his partner with more space. Norman will look good with that space, as did DCE, but the real credit should be going to Foran, as he's the one who created the space. Without someone to give him room, Corey will either hog the ball if he sees a half gap, or stop dead and submit if the defence closes.

 

[Sproj]

Foran can organize, he has done it for the Kiwis with Marshall and Johnson being the more flashy players. He hasn't had to do it as much with DCE around but doesn't mean he can't. Foran is one of the best halves in the league and the fact he can adapt to his partner makes him even more valuable.

 

[Super Freak]

Wasn't Norman hyped up as being the next superstar when he broke into first grade back then?

He was hyped up by the commentators. Mainly Fatty.

He made a few try saving tackles in his debut game and Fatty was talking him up and going "Karmichael who?"

 

[M.B.88]

Norman and Foran wont work. They are effectively the same player and neither of them can direct a team around the paddock. DCE & Hodkinson did it for Foran at manly and Norman let Sandow do it for the Eels. Foran is going to struggle trying to be the dominant half at the Eels. He plays his best games when blokes like DCE & Johnson do most of the work and he just pops up every now and again to put a play on.

Same with widdop at the storm. . Then he went alright breaking away. We'll see hour they go huh

 

[mitch222]

Same with widdop at the storm. . Then he went alright breaking away. We'll see hour they go huh

To be honest though, Widdop greatly benefits from having Marshall there. He wasn't going the best when he first started at the dragons then when they signed Marshall he started to improve. Marshall is still the main guy at the dragons and the game against us last year when Widdop was by himself proved it. He was completely lost in attack.

 

[Big Pete]

Widdop was one of the form players in the competition until Benji came around.

Now he takes a back-seat while Benji does his "show, go, stop, stutter, hand-off" routine which 9/10 kills the Dragons attacking momentum. The only time Widdop gets an opportunity to do anything is if he fields a kick or takes an offload from Cooper or Merrin. Beyond that, he gives the Dragons a nice last tackle kicking option.

Widdop's best game last season was against the Dogs in the semi - the same game where Benji did his ankle. Coincidence?

For the Dragons sake, hopefully Mann finds his feet at fullback. I don't rate Mary, but I appreciate him moving that handbrake Dugan on.

 

[subsbligh]

Broncos will get absolutely towelled round 1.

A combination of jet lag, no Hunt, GF hangover and the Emerging Qld fiasco, up against a killer new Eels squad pushing for a first win at home, to prove a point in front of home fans.

Gonna be a rough few weeks I think until the squad takes shape. I hope we just aren't too far off the pace come Origin time to make our move for the top 4.

 

[Big Pete]

no Hunt

Why not?

 

[Unbreakable]

Not sure if we'd be jet lagged either, Round 1 is more than a week after we return from England.

 

[morganmorgan]

We'll be right. Can see a 26 to 12 min

 

[broncos4life]

FFS Hunt isn't suspended from Rnd 1, how many times has that been said?

 

[Stix]

I won't be too phased if we do get towelled up... Early days. Ill be happy to be watching footy again. Couple of new combinations there too which might take a few games to come together. Can't wait to see how our halves go after another full pre season together... Exciting times ahead!! Yew

 

[M.B.88]

I won't be too phased if we do get towelled up... Early days. Ill be happy to be watching footy again. Couple of new combinations there too which might take a few games to come together. Can't wait to see how our halves go after another full pre season together... Exciting times ahead!! Yew

Your attitude is warmly welcomed

 

[Mitch06]

I'm looking forward too seeing the Milford/Blair combo terrorise this year...was coming together nicel at the end of last season!

 

[Rally Towel]

It's a hard game to call. No doubt in my mind that we're the superior side, but Parra have proven to be fast starters the last few seasons. Winning games on enthusiasm alone before teams have got their structures and cohesion down. Home ground advantage aids their cause too.

At this stage I'd consider them slight favourites, though a loss here is likely to mean as much as our round 1 capitulation to Souths last year.

WCC is going to be a good chance for us to see how we're shaping up this year. A strong showing there would go a long way to convincing me we're ready to come out swinging.

 

[Danoz Direct]

Just to put anyone's mind at ease over weather Ben Hunt is over weight at the moment. I have been reliably informed that he is in the best shape of his career and even more focused than he has ever been.

 

[M.B.88]

Just to put anyone's mind at ease over weather Ben Hunt is over weight at the moment. I have been reliably informed that he is in the best shape of his career and even more focused than he has ever been.

Wait. . Is Ben Hunt indigenous now? ?