PRE-GAME Round 1 - Eels vs Broncos

[mitch222]

I'm glad we got rid of Norman. Bloke has no heart and was way to easy to give up in a tough situation. If not for Sandow carrying his ass (and coping all the criticism for the clubs failures) he would be under more pressure at Parra. Its evident on the way they finished last year when Sandow left. If the Eels didn't buy Foran for this year, then he would have been shown the door this year because he just cant lead a team.

 

[GCBRONCO]

But Reed didn't achieve in spite of him, Norman was the go-to guy so naturally the left hand side scored more tries than the right.

Neither did the majority of the backs in 2012 or 2013, hell a number of our leading tryscorer's in 2012 were actually forwards with Glenn and Te'o scoring 23 tries between them and the backs struggling not just Reed(Norman scored 10 to his credit) so I don't see the point of singling him out when there were opportunities presented yet not given to him. Losing Yow Yeh certainly didn't help but generally speaking with hindsight the only time I felt our side between 2012-2013 were a genuine threat to a quality side was in late 2013 when pretty much we had done our dash and Hunt finally got a proper run there.

I'm not blaming Norman either btw for struggling that period and don't take it as me bashing him either, he had a hard enough job with the poison chalice of trying to live upto the legend of Lockyer. I think it was more a product of inexperience if anything for that and sometimes making that adjustment takes longer for different upcoming players. I actually think he could have eventually come good given time if he stayed, however in the end I would have gladly traded him for Milford without hesitation is all I'm saying. When it comes to the crunch, I would take Milford and Hunt over him in a heartbeat.

 

[Big Pete]

I agree with the sentiment mitch, but I don't think Sandow carried him at all. Chris had his moments, but for the most part he was a liability who would hurt the team more than he would help them.

As far as their form post-Sandow is concerned, a lot of it had to do with Norman's injury which forced them to go with a Joseph Paulo & Luke Kelly combination.

When Norman returned in Round 22 they went 2-3, which is nothing to brag about at all but look at the results.

10-4 over Penrith
28-18 to the Roosters
20-16 over Sea Eagles
35-28 to the Sharks
28-24 to the Raiders

They were in every single contest and were simply out-classed by two of the form teams and lost their last clash in golden point.

It's hardly a downgrade on the Sandow era where the Eels would produce those type of performances all the time.

GC - I can never tell, are you trying to make an argument or just venting?

 

[GCBRONCO]

Probably both :laugh:

 

[Harry Sack]

Which is why they both should have been paired together in a QCup side for a good season or two.

Once again, agreed. We were saying it for years.

 

[Morkel]

Once again, agreed. We were saying it for years.

Solving the world's problems, it's just no one listens. Looks like I'll need to get naked and rope a piece of cardboard over my shoulders. Again.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Parker it is then.

1. Boyd
2. Oates
3. Kahu
4. Roberts
5. Eden
6. Milford
7. Hunt
8. McGuire
9. McC
10. Blair
11. Glenn
12. Gillett
13. Parker (c)

14. Nikorima
15. Joe O
16. Wallace
17. Thaiday

 

[Unbreakable]

Seems like that'll 100% be the Round 1 side, baring injury.

 

[Unbreakable]

I'll take a guess at the Eels 17..

1. Michael Gordon
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Clint Gutherson
6. Corey Norman
7. Keiran Foran (c)
8. Tim Mannah
9. Nathan Peats
10. Junior Paulo
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Beau Scott
13. Tepai Moeroa

14. Isaac De Gois
15. Manu Ma'u
16. David Gower
17. Peni Terepo

 

[Rabbir]

Side for round 1 pretty much picked IMO

1. Boyd
2. Eden
3. Kahu
4. Roberts
5. Oates
6. Milford
7. Hunt
8. Thaiday
9. McCullough
10. Blair
11. Glenn
12. Gillett
13. Parker

14. Nikorima
15. Mcguire
16. Wallace
17. Ofahengaue

You would think so.

Though I'm sure we'll need another 200 posts before Tuesday where post team lists over and over again with the only difference being Thaiday and McGuire.

 

[M.B.88]

Haha yeah. . Good old team lists. The one i always find interesting is the origin team list. Now that's a real challenge

 

[Sproj]

Origin team list:

1. Eden
2. Maranta
3. Reed
4. Kahu
5. Seve
6. Nikorima
7. Hunt
8. Blair
9. Mccullough
10. Wallace
11. Glenn
12. Ese'ese
13. Offahenguaie

14. Arrow
15. Pangai Jr
16. Sua
17. Fai/Molo

still a great team!

 

[the big farlowski]

What did Milford do wrong to get dropped?

 

[Mitch06]

So Oates and Roberts are playing origin?

 

[GCBRONCO]

You would think so.

Though I'm sure we'll need another 200 posts before Tuesday where post team lists over and over again with the only difference being Thaiday and McGuire.

After a few rounds I wouldn't mind Mcguire starting, I don't think he has the fitness yet for long minutes but that is upto Bennett decide and in the end I don't think it will make much difference either way.

 

[Sproj]

After a few rounds I wouldn't mind Mcguire starting, I don't think he has the fitness yet for long minutes but that is upto Bennett decide and in the end I don't think it will make much difference either way.

Fair points, but he did play pretty well in the world club challenge.

 

[hench]

Does it really matter?

 

[Danoz Direct]

Not sure where to put this.

KEEGAN HIPGRAVE (Broncos)
A powerful lock whose lists his favourite league moments as being the massive confrontations between Paul Harragon and Mark Carroll in the 1990s. Hipgrave’s affinity for those hits say everything about him as a footballer. There is not a lot of subtlety in his game but the 19-year-old will run over grown men when he debuts for Brisbane during the State of Origin period. An Australian Schoolboys standout, Hipgrave is 182cm and 101kg, a throwback to the days of hard-hitting small forwards such as Trevor Gillmeister.


JAI ARROW (Broncos)
A lock in the mould of Corey Parker, Arrow is the no-frills footballer Wayne Bennett typically loves. A new-age Ash Harrison who can play edge, lock or hooker. He won three awards at Brisbane’s annual end of year bash last year. Arrow was named best forward, player’s player and player of the year. He is particularly adept at barging over the line from close range and his versatility makes him an ideal bench weapon this season if Brisbane suffer injuries.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...h/news-story/903ec97c94c7649967cdd56dd4f35eef