PRE-GAME Round 1 - Roosters v Broncos

[McHunt]

I don't know if Seigwalt was ever in the plans... I think he got attention because his name is Latrell... Perham was always the Tristan replacement... now we need a Perham replacement

I have no idea, only that T'eo poached him from the Dolphins' system. I'm still scarred by the Tristan debacle.

 

[1910]

I don't know if Seigwalt was ever in the plans... I think he got attention because his name is Latrell... Perham was always the Tristan replacement... now we need a Perham replacement

it was the train and trial perfect storm- win rookie of the year, make GF, your coach going to the NRL club and changing to a Broncos' QRL club anyway, Sailor leaving.

It was one of those ones where Souths have done all the work, it may work out so yeah, we will give him $1000 a week and hope.

The only part he got wrong was the two tries in a trial game so everyone thinks he's the answer.

If Fuller doesn't play a lot more NRL than expected I doubt Lattrell even plays Cup.

 

[Mustafur]

If it were me, I think I'd be going:

1. Walsh
2. Cobbo (switching sides with Arthars)
3. Staggs (Shibasaki if Staggs doesn't get up)
4. Mariner (Sorry Gehamat, you just aren't in the same league)
5. Arthars
6. Hunt
7. Reynolds (c)
8. Carrigan
9. Paix (wk)
10. Haas
11. Gosiewski
12. Riki (But given a rocket to step up offensively)
13. Hetherington

14. Smoothy (I'm still tossing up Madden here to be honest)
15. Willison (Taupau if there is anything wrong with Xman)
16. Te Kura
17. Piakura

18. Hunt

Harsh on Taupau and Jensen but they will get their chances through injury, origin and giving Te Kura breaks because you aren't getting a full season out of him at this stage most likely. I just think this side would be frightening to face fired up in round 1.

I can agree on Cobbo switching to the left, the idea of him being on the right would be based on Reyno suppling kicks and his past being there but with Hunt basically doing the same job on the left from what we saw in the trials, I think he will be better on that side.

It might be too early to tell yet as well, but with Hunt there it seems Walsh is moving to the left more in his edge plays than usual.

 

[Old Mate]

What does the wk mean?

Wicket keeper.

 

[heartly87]

Jeez I'm not sure about that... I don't care how good Bhunt is at 9 it's just not worth weakening 6 that much to move him from there.

It's also planning to disrupt things at 6 and on the left edge every single game, to give Paix a rest and there are far better ways to do that than moving Bhunt to 9 and Billy to 6.

The only way that happens is when Ezra is back and if he's carving up Qcup... you could consider Ezra on the bench and inject him at some point to play 6, move Bhunt to 9... Bhunt could then play some lock to bring Paix back on the field and go balls to the wall attack. Bhunt can often finish at lock for Qld to have all the playmakers on the field at once.

But I'm not sure if all of that is worth it, because of how good a player Bhunt is.

Even yesterday he was able to take so much pressure of Reynolds and Walsh. He basically became the focal point of our attack within his first 40mins on the field, which is insane considering Walsh is there. If having Bhunt at 6 allows Walsh to take a backseat and chime in then he's worth his weight in gold.

Not to mention he took some slack at 9. He could easily come in for a few plays to give Paix a breather if required.

I don't think Walters adds anything to any position and would essentially be injury cover for halfs. Smoothy or Paix could cover that if needed and only do it with a bit less than Walters can.

Personally I go Smoothy, until Blake returns. unless Madge is deadset on Mam returning as a 14. If he isn't than Smoothy makes more sense if Hunt will go to 14. Walters doesn't fit the dynamic for me of where this team is going.

In my honest opinion if we are flying Mam doesn't walk back either in full stop. It will come down to form from Blake, Hunt, Smoothy and Walters potentially. Because you don't just scramble a squad in round ten. I get the Origin argument but those boys still return after. Also injuries will obviously play a role also.

It will be good headache for Madge if all are fit and pumping.

 

[Big Pete]

I think last year was the fist prelim they've made since Cronk was there... so by their standards they have been pretty disappointing considering the roster that gets assembled each year.

Making the prelim and then entering a bridging year with huge turnover of roster expected... I will be interested to see how Uncle Nick reacts.

I don't think Robinson should be in trouble, but 1 prelim in 5 year since Cronk left (who would've been a move that Nick pulled together and not Robbo) might have him looking around if a different coach might be able to do better.

The complete lack of coaches probably means Robbo is under no threat, but if they're not back and legitimately competing for premierships by 2027 then he could be on the chopping block.

Does Uncle Nick think a guy like Fitz is a good option... considering he's also a rorters legend

That's true.

I just think 2025 is shaping up to be a different kettle of fish. Yes, they've struggled to live up to expectations but they've always made the finals regardless. They never looked like winning a premiership since Cronk and Latrell left, but they've seemingly been able to get by.

This year is different. They have some serious short-comings in their roster this year and just from the out-set I get the impression that they're already getting their ducks in a row for 2026.

There is still enough talent there to jag the odd win but I'm reminded so much of their 2016 campaign.

In the past they've largely coasted and got a pass mark. This is going to be a real challenge for them and they'll do well to play finals.

 

[BroncsFan]

Not to mention he took some slack at 9. He could easily come in for a few plays to give Paix a breather if required.

I don't think Walters adds anything to any position and would essentially be injury cover for halfs. Smoothy or Paix could cover that if needed and only do it with a bit less than Walters can.

Personally I go Smoothy, until Blake returns. unless Madge is deadset on Mam returning as a 14. If he isn't than Smoothy makes more sense if Hunt will go to 14. Walters doesn't fit the dynamic for me of where this team is going.

In my honest opinion if we are flying Mam doesn't walk back either in full stop. It will come down to form from Blake, Hunt, Smoothy and Walters potentially. Because you don't just scramble a squad in round ten. I get the Origin argument but those boys still return after. Also injuries will obviously play a role also.

It will be good headache for Madge if all are fit and pumping.

Yeah someone mentioned previously that Origin might be the time to get Ezra back into the team... and that timing seems to make sense to me.

Gives Ezra some games in Qcup to get back up to speed, media will take their slice about Ezra coming back through reggies, etc.

We do have the bye in Round 12 though, so our game without the origin players isn't until Rd 18, but could give Bhunt a rest after Origin 1. Issue would be that we play in Brookie the week after origin 1... I'd probably want to give Ezra a soft ball home game to return to.

I think Ezra can play from Rd 10 onwards, so the schedule around that time is:

Rd 10 Bunnies (Accor) - Friday 8pm
Rd 11 Dargons (Suncorp) - Sunday 2pm
Rd 12 Bye (Origin 1)
Rd 13 Manly (Brookie) - Saturday 7.30pm
Rd 14 Titans (Suncorp) - Saturday 7.30pm
Rd 15 Bye (Origin 2)

Dargons is probably the softball home game to line him up for... Sunday afternoon game at Suncorp... fans should be baying for blood against the dragons and Flanno after his comments.

Also give Ezra 1 game of Qcup as a warm up.... and they go straight into a bye and origin straight after the game when the news cycle should be focussed elsewhere.

Manly is not ideal for a first game in Sydney though... would maybe prefer Bunnies at Accor, because there will be about 15k in the 80k seat stadium so even if the crowd is booing no one will hear shit anyway.

He would get no warm up games before coming straight in though.

 

[BroncsFan]

That's true.

I just think 2025 is shaping up to be a different kettle of fish. Yes, they've struggled to live up to expectations but they've always made the finals regardless. They never looked like winning a premiership since Cronk and Latrell left, but they've seemingly been able to get by.

This year is different. They have some serious short-comings in their roster this year and just from the out-set I get the impression that they're already getting their ducks in a row for 2026.

There is still enough talent there to jag the odd win but I'm reminded so much of their 2016 campaign.

In the past they've largely coasted and got a pass mark. This is going to be a real challenge for them and they'll do well to play finals.

I've got them finishing outside the 8 in my predictions... it looks like they've lost way too much from their starting 13/17 and when rorters have had injuries in recent years they haven't looked as formidable, but then crawl into the finals.

This year it looks a bit too much... especially with the loss of Keary and then Sam being injured... that spine played a lot of games together over recent years, but the core has been blown up... factoring in that they can't find a hooker and you're looking at 3 out of 4 players being new to the spine.

It looks like they've lost over 1200 games of experience with last years outs and most of the guys who left were starting 17 guys... on top of that Sam Walker (77 games) and Brandon Smith (148 games) are also missing for most of the year.

They will be relying on a lot of youth this year it seems... and looking to see who floats and who sinks. I think anyone thinking they're challenging this year hasn't really thought it through and are just saying it based on reputation.

Departures:
- Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (316 games)
- Michael Jennings (307 games)
- Luke Keary (231 games)
- Joseph Manu (181 games)
- Sitili Tupouniua (106 games)
- Joseph Suaali'i (66 games)
- Terrell May (53 games)

 

[Mustafur]

Not to mention he took some slack at 9. He could easily come in for a few plays to give Paix a breather if required.

I don't think Walters adds anything to any position and would essentially be injury cover for halfs. Smoothy or Paix could cover that if needed and only do it with a bit less than Walters can.

Personally I go Smoothy, until Blake returns. unless Madge is deadset on Mam returning as a 14. If he isn't than Smoothy makes more sense if Hunt will go to 14. Walters doesn't fit the dynamic for me of where this team is going.

In my honest opinion if we are flying Mam doesn't walk back either in full stop. It will come down to form from Blake, Hunt, Smoothy and Walters potentially. Because you don't just scramble a squad in round ten. I get the Origin argument but those boys still return after. Also injuries will obviously play a role also.

It will be good headache for Madge if all are fit and pumping.

I would be training Mam for Fullback and Lock in the time he is off just in case tbh, I can see Hunt being the answer at 6 already even if he is playing like a 7, maybe two 7s work.

The biggest negative talked about having two sevens is having two generals can make it confusing, but if they are on the same page I can see it working well.

It worked for QLD in the past, in our most dominant era.

 

[YeahNahMate]

I've got them finishing outside the 8 in my predictions... it looks like they've lost way too much from their starting 13/17 and when rorters have had injuries in recent years they haven't looked as formidable, but then crawl into the finals.

This year it looks a bit too much... especially with the loss of Keary and then Sam being injured... that spine played a lot of games together over recent years, but the core has been blown up... factoring in that they can't find a hooker and you're looking at 3 out of 4 players being new to the spine.

It looks like they've lost over 1200 games of experience with last years outs and most of the guys who left were starting 17 guys... on top of that Sam Walker (77 games) and Brandon Smith (148 games) are also missing for most of the year.

They will be relying on a lot of youth this year it seems... and looking to see who floats and who sinks. I think anyone thinking they're challenging this year hasn't really thought it through and are just saying it based on reputation.

Departures:
- Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (316 games)
- Michael Jennings (307 games)
- Luke Keary (231 games)
- Joseph Manu (181 games)
- Sitili Tupouniua (106 games)
- Joseph Suaali'i (66 games)
- Terrell May (53 games)

Edit just re-read your comment wish I could delete posts aha

Also have lost Brandon smith and Sam Walker for half the year

 

[YeahNahMate]

I would be training Mam for Fullback and Lock in the time he is off just in case tbh, I can see Hunt being the answer at 6 already even if he is playing like a 7, maybe two 7s work.

The biggest negative talked about having two sevens is having two generals can make it confusing, but if they are on the same page I can see it working well.

It worked for QLD in the past, in our most dominant era.

Yeah even in 2023 we’d sometimes look a bit frantic. In the grand final we had around eight errors in the first half or something. I can see Hunt and Reyno working well together, although it could still have the same effect with Hunt at hooker. I'd want to see the spine of 1. Walsh, 6. Mam, 7. Reyno, and 9. Hunt at least get a couple of games to see what it looks like