PRE-GAME [Round 11, 2022] Knights vs Broncos

[theshed]

Can relate! Hope he feels better soon, probably feels he's lost some family/close community.

Wishing you all the best, mate. Sure there’s plenty of fellas on here who you are more than welcome to PM if you need a chat - myself included.

 

[bazza]

You've got every right to say that.....I can't argue against it.

I do think you aren't being 100% honest though.

It was no surprise to see the team improve substantially over the last 3-4 games in 2021, when Milford came back into the team and showed glimpses of what he is capable of. If you are being honest you'll admit that Milfords poor form whilst 100% on him....was exacerbated by the team playing/combining like utter shit during 2020/21.
You're smart enough to know that its very difficult for a half to remain in good form when the rest of the team is playing like crap. You also have to admit...the entire club was a clusterfuck.

Yep Milford was off. He wasn't alone.....

This feels like a Gus and Gallen moment, where they argue despite being in agreeance.

I'm not sure why you've assumed that I do not share your opinion on the matter. I'm also not sure how you've made the assumptions that I don't believe the teams poor form worsened Milford form, or that Milford was the only one playing poorly.

How did you get all that from me stating that Milford hasn't fulfilled his potential so far? If I'm being honest, I'm not entirely sure how to respond, because I agree with everything you said.

Edit: apparently your response wasn't to me, which is why I was so confused haha. I'm not sure why it came up in my notification that you responded to my post with this.

 

[bazza]

Fair 'nuff.

"At this stage.....they have failed to fulfil their potential, and I don't see that changing anytime soon."

Would have made your meaning..... idiot-proof.

Haha I was running late for dinner. Didn't have time to add fancy words.

 

[Mr Fourex]

...................

Edit: apparently your response wasn't to me, which is why I was so confused haha. I'm not sure why it came up in my notification that you responded to my post with this.

......I was just about to say, WTF are you talking about?

I get what your saying...but to be frank, I guess I have assumed some of what you said I have.... based simply on what appears to be your relentless negativity in regard to Milford.
I'm not quite sure what else could be taken from some of your "critics" of late.....

 

[bazza]

......I was just about to say, WTF are you talking about?

I get what your saying...but to be frank, I guess I have assumed some of what you said I have.... based simply on what appears to be your relentless negativity in regard to Milford.
I'm not quite sure what else could be taken from some of your "critics" of late.....

So Milford used to be one of my favourite players, and maybe that's why I am more critical of him than most. In saying that, I feel my criticism of him as a player is actually pretty fair and I believe it's warranted. I don't dislike the bloke, and actually his whole situation saddened me as a rugby league fan. I thought he was lost to the game, but thankfully for his sake he has found a new chance at the Knights.

But here is my opinion on Milford's overall game. I believe he has some huge deficiencies in his game that he just hasn't worked on enough. I think he is the perfect example of why I believe young playmakers need to develop their game in a second tier competition out of the NRL spotlight. In my opinion, Milford was rushed into first grade at the Raiders, and he never really left because he had the speed and footwork to make it work. But being thrown into first grade so early meant that he didn't have the time to develop other areas of his playmaking game.

When he was younger, everything good he did came off the back of his speed and footwork. He was never good because of his playmaking, organising, passing, kicking etc. They were all secondary to his speed and footwork. The moment those two things started vanishing, which initially I believe it was because he put on some additional weight as per Bennett's instruction so that he would be able to handle the defensive workload, his game really suffered. Either way, the added weight really impacted his speed and footwork, and suddenly it exposed the holes in his game.

Just being half a step slower with his acceleration and footwork was enough to negate his attacking threat, and he wasn't able to compensate by using other areas of his game because they were below average. He just simply wasn't good enough in the other areas to still be elite.

People always like to claim that Milford is extremely talented, but is he really all that talented? I feel like his talent is a little bit overstated. Of course he does have talent, but nowhere near the amount that he often gets associated with. There have been many more talented players come before him. Milford's only real talent was his speed and footwork. He was elite in those things, but he wasn't a talented passer, or a talented kicker, or a talented playmaker etc. He can throw a pass, but he isn't an elite ballplayer. There are much better ballplayers in the competition. He can kick a great torpedo bomb, but that's about it. He isn't a particularly strong kicker overall since he lacks variety. There are many better overall kickers in the game. He can't organise a side, he isn't good under pressure, so what exactly is he talented at? There are players that can do all of these things, wouldn't they therefore be more talented?

Anyway, I think he could have been much more, or maybe he has actually reached his potential, and I incorrectly expected more from him.

 

[Cult]

As much as I disliked Milford's attitude as a player in the last few years I can see your point given it's a different Milford, humbled and desperate. A different attitude would make the matter viable. The management aren't less able to see what we see and my money is on them considering it but passing, perhaps agreeing with us but having another very good reason to decline.

"Potentially" different.

 

[theshed]

If our 17 named today are for we’ll blow them off the park. 20+

 

[Cult]

You've got every right to say that.....I can't argue against it.

I do think you aren't being 100% honest though.

It was no surprise to see the team improve substantially over the last 3-4 games in 2021, when Milford came back into the team and showed glimpses of what he is capable of. If you are being honest you'll admit that Milfords poor form whilst 100% on him....was exacerbated by the team playing/combining like utter shit during 2020/21.
You're smart enough to know that its very difficult for a half to remain in good form when the rest of the team is playing like crap. You also have to admit...the entire club was a clusterfuck.

Yep Milford was off. He wasn't alone.....

Milford's poor form and fall from grace was visible before that, being lazy at training and his habits outside of the game. He treats this sport and the Broncos like a weekend hobby. Once his speed slowed down this was always going to happen. Declining working with a literal Rugby League God, was also a massive issue. He has always declined the hard work and I think he played his part in the clusterfuck that was the Broncos at the time.

Ben Hunt is the perfect example of someone that is often surrounded by spuds, but still puts his hand up to do the fucking work. In turn making himself look like a pretty damn good footballer. Milford did the opposite. He ran and hid and didn't get his hands on the ball at all when we were struggling.

We kept the wrong half.

 

[Big Del]

Geez, I hope not. I paid 6k for LASIK in 2020.

but yes now that you mention it, it was Cobbo. updated.

 

[Big Pete]

I don't believe the Broncos would have been better off with Ben Hunt here.

He's had his moments at the Dragons but for the most part is still an unreliable playmaker who is prone to coming up with awful options when the team requires him the most.

The truth of the matter is, none of them were the right option moving forward and neither was Taylor or J. Nikorima.

 

[Cult]

I don't believe the Broncos would have been better off with Ben Hunt here.

He's had his moments at the Dragons but for the most part is still an unreliable playmaker who is prone to coming up with awful options when the team requires him the most.

The truth of the matter is, none of them were the right option moving forward and neither was Taylor or J. Nikorima.

I believe he would have tried. And if we had to decide between someone who doesn't try or give a shit and does nothing VS someone who tries a lot and gets it right or wrong, I know exactly who I am picking.

And one of them wasn't toxic as ****. You could tell nobody on the field cared when Milf was hit late or high or illegally, whereas people would have stood up for Hunt.

I am in no way saying Hunt would have been the savior or should still be with the club to this day. Just that he has always been the better option of the two.

 

[Skathen]

I don't believe the Broncos would have been better off with Ben Hunt here.

He's had his moments at the Dragons but for the most part is still an unreliable playmaker who is prone to coming up with awful options when the team requires him the most.

The truth of the matter is, none of them were the right option moving forward and neither was Taylor or J. Nikorima.

The best I've seen him play is when they take all that away from him and stuff him in the #9 and get him to just play footy.

That "event" which shall remain descriptionless from 2015, ruined hunt.

 

[M.B.88]

Yep ...for sure you can't begrudge the decision to let him go.

I thought Kevie might have given him one last shot .....on a reduced deal, knowing that Reyno was coming and he was the type of player that should suit Milfords game to a tee....ultimately benefiting the entire team greatly. I still think its been one of Walter's poorer decisions. I was surprised and disappointed. Kevie usually doesn't mind taking a risk...the potential for Reynolds and Milford to do big things was great......

I thought and still think, he should have rolled the dice.

Full credit to Ben Ikin for being smarter than all that

 

[Big Pete]

I believe he would have tried. And if we had to decide between someone who doesn't try or give a shit and does nothing VS someone who tries a lot and gets it right or wrong, I know exactly who I am picking.

And one of them wasn't toxic as ****. You could tell nobody on the field cared when Milf was hit late or high or illegally, whereas people would have stood up for Hunt.

I am in no way saying Hunt would have been the savior or should still be with the club to this day. Just that he has always been the better option of the two.

I don't think it's that black and white. There were times where Ben Hunt was a shell of a player and looked like his mind was completely off the sport. He's turned it around in recent years and his versatility at dummy half gave him more opportunities at rep footy but he was having a negative influence on those around him.

I think it's splitting hairs honestly.

 

[Cult]

I don't think it's that black and white. There were times where Ben Hunt was a shell of a player and looked like his mind was completely off the sport. He's turned it around in recent years and his versatility at dummy half gave him more opportunities at rep footy but he was having a negative influence on those around him.

I think it's splitting hairs honestly.

I don't agree. Again, one continued to be terrible and toxic and the other puts it the effort. It's pretty obvious who would have been the better option over the last few years.

 

[holdzy]

Milford's poor form and fall from grace was visible before that, being lazy at training and his habits outside of the game. He treats this sport and the Broncos like a weekend hobby. Once his speed slowed down this was always going to happen. Declining working with a literal Rugby League God, was also a massive issue. He has always declined the hard work and I think he played his part in the clusterfuck that was the Broncos at the time.

Ben Hunt is the perfect example of someone that is often surrounded by spuds, but still puts his hand up to do the fucking work. In turn making himself look like a pretty damn good footballer. Milford did the opposite. He ran and hid and didn't get his hands on the ball at all when we were struggling.

We kept the wrong half.

 

[holdzy]

I don't agree. Again, one continued to be terrible and toxic and the other puts it the effort. It's pretty obvious who would have been the better option over the last few years.

One was stuck with Darius Boyd, the energy/talent vampire.

 

[BroncsFan]

I don't think it's that black and white. There were times where Ben Hunt was a shell of a player and looked like his mind was completely off the sport. He's turned it around in recent years and his versatility at dummy half gave him more opportunities at rep footy but he was having a negative influence on those around him.

I think it's splitting hairs honestly.

Especially when Milf was in Dally M form during 2016... the way he played to start that year was immense, but then he missed out on origin and I think he had a bit of the sulks. I think he then copped a shoulder injury that required surgery?

Coming into 2017 I think he was going well again, but early in the season Bhunt signed with the dragons and I think Wayne made the decision that Milf would be turned into our halfback... he would talk up Niko as the halfback, but I think it was Milf regardless of what jersey he had on.

2017 would end in a shoulder reconstruction from memory, and Milf missed the entire preseason... that was probably a pretty pivotal moment in his career. I think up to that point he was looking every bit a star half that we could build around; however missing the entire preseason when Wayne was planning to play him as our halfback stuffed everything up. We went after Atay and missed out so we were basically left with only Niko to partner him... and I still for the life of me don't know why we went so hard to sign Bird on a long and expensive deal.

2019 rolled around with Seibold missing half the preseason, because of dick swinging contests between all parties. There was discontent across members of the playing group and players being released left right and center; however Milf was at times required to play 3 spine positions at once because we were left with Turpin and Boyd in the halves. I think he was still putting in during that year, but Seibold clearly had no idea what he was doing with the roster and seemingly had no answers to turn them around.

When 2020 rolled around I do think Milf had pretty well packed it in, but it was most likely due to not wanting to play under Seibold... his highlight game was round 2 vs rabbits when he had to carry the team after Croft left the field early.

2021 rolls around and the Kevolution begins... I think Kevvie wanted to desperately use Milf, but I feel as though the wear and tear on his body might've been catching up with him (pretty sure he went 2016, 17 and maybe 18 with shoulder injuries and 2019 Seibold had him playing fullback straight after a hammy injury?? was the Newcastle game in pissing down rain from memory)... I also feel that Kevvie just couldn't get him back to being that free running half... probably because we had no halfback in the team... but also by that point Milf had basically spent a prolonged period from 2017 onwards where he was basically shoehorned into being a halfback and that probably changed his approach to games where he seemed to only stay in a structure... stay on the left edge of the field, get the team to a kick, etc. His running game had basically disappeared.

I went back and watched the extended highlights of the knights game from last year, just to see if he was doing any off the cuff type play whilst the team was playing confidently... and even though Albert was the halfback it looked like Milf was doing the majority of the kicking... and when he did pop up at second receiver he was mostly ball playing rather than having an electric running game.

Now we are in 2022 and he will have Clune there, who should most likely take all those duties off him... but I'll be interested to see style Milf plays with... will he have this muscle memory of trying to be the ball playing halfback or will he be a free running second receiver.