PRE-GAME [Round 11, 2025] Broncos vs Dragons

[theshed]

I said it after last week, I just don't think he wants to make wholesale changes pre bye and Origin. Not saying that I think that is right, but with his comments about learning, I do think he wants to give maximum opportunity for combinations etc, and a few cup guys will get their goes during Origin before the run in.

Yeah, I posted almost the exact same thing a week ago. It’s getting harder to defend though.

He started on such a strong foot with his decisions but he’s really making some goofy choices - especially the last few weeks.

I’m not fully turned but boy it’s happening quicker than I expected

 

[Foordy]

I'm so glad we have a home game.

now I don't have to choose between the shitty, biased unprofessional commentators on Channel 9 and the shitty, biased unprofessional commentators on Kayo

 

[BroncsFan]

I just can’t get what he’s trying to do and I guess neither can the players.

I can only think (hope) that he's holding BTK and Mozer back until the back half of the year, so they aren't completely rundown by the final stretch.

I'm expecting them to come in through the origin period... have been expecting that for BTK since the start of the year.

I expected Mozer to show up earlier, but he's 5 games into his return from the shoulder injury and just about to play his 40th Qcup game... so his return to the NRL team may be imminent.

Isn't 40 games kind of the storm's requirement before their young guys come into the team?

 

[Totally Unr3al]

The really frusterating thing about this game is, if it were any other team but the broncos I would say the Dragons are deadset no hope.

Any other team would come out breathing fire after being embarrassed like we just were, particularly the try on full time.

Take the tigers after conceding 64 last week. You can bet they'll come out and stick it to the rabbits this week. Same with the Warriors in round 6 were embarrassed by the storm. They came out injury ravaged and all and rolled us and haven't lost since.

If these guys have any heart and genuinely care, they'll absolutely punish the Dragons this week.

They don’t have any heart
If they did they wouldn’t have totally abandoned Walters and let him get sacked for their failure

 

[Totally Unr3al]

Agree @theshed

My question (not just to you, but everybody) is why? Why can we all see the glaringly obvious, but Madge cannot?

I'm a mid 50s couch fan who's never played the game, Madge is a professional coach who has lived league his whole life, so I don't want to go the classic route of "well he must be an idiot"

He must be seeing something, or accounting for something, that we aren't - but what?

You make a fair point but it’s somewhat of a self fulfilling prophecy
He must be a first grade coach…because he’s a first grade coach
It is entirely possible he is a complete idiot our board of directors certainly are

 

[Bucking Beads]

Are we even serious?? Kobe still at lock. Our forward rotation sucks. We have been carried by Haas and Carrigan with a few nice moments from Willson. The rest of our forwards have been trash. Our roster is so overrated its not funny. Who is improving under Madge? I struggle for positives with our team and club at the moment. Depth is terrible. Apparently nobody is playing well at Q cup level to be considered.

 

[BRC088]

I find NRL forwards play lazy at cup level.

 

[mitch222]

Are we even serious?? Kobe still at lock. Our forward rotation sucks. We have been carried by Haas and Carrigan with a few nice moments from Willson. The rest of our forwards have been trash. Our roster is so overrated its not funny. Who is improving under Madge? I struggle for positives with our team and club at the moment. Depth is terrible. Apparently nobody is playing well at Q cup level to be considered.

If we were being serious under the improved mark I would probably list the following as improved from last year
- Billy
- Arthurs
- Cobbo
- Willison

The rest are about the same or have regressed.

 

[Swordfish]

After our disappointing loss to Souffs, I didn’t gave a rats arse to rest of games. Just watched the mini match of Warriors v Dragons.

Though Warriors outmuscled Dragons but the silly mistakes killed their comeback. What I did noticed though is,

1. Dragqueens running multiple lines when ball in hand.
2. Irrespective of what numbers they’ve on their backs, everyone is pushing towards the goal line which confuses the defenders.
3. I noticed that it’s not just their 9 or 14 that served the footy but whoever is closer to play the ball did and everyone followed suit to the try line. It’s a fantastic attacking play. We suck at this kind of attacking play often.

Now if the Dragqueens play with similar attacking style with less errors and bit more intensity, we’re in great trouble. I’m sure their chest coach will make them play dirty. Watch out for the likes of Homes, Su’a, Gutherson, Cook, Leilua & others play like worlds best.

I absolutely hate saying this but if we don’t turn up with lot of grit & fire in the belly, we’re in for a rude shock.

Ffs, a Sunday arvo game .
Can it be any worse for us?

 

[McHunt]

If we were being serious under the improved mark I would probably list the following as improved from last year
- Billy
- Arthurs
- Cobbo
- Willison

The rest are about the same or have regressed.

I don't think any of those have improved other than to have matured as players. That applies to Willison, especially, though if you look at his stats they haven't improved. He's scored 3 tries, though.

Maybe you can say Selwyn looks better than last year when he didn't want to be there. But he's not the sensation he looked like he was becoming before his Origin selections.

I don't think Billy has improved, especially since he's reverted to starter and been given more game time. He's always been good for the odd attacking play, like that one 40/20. But he's been given so much opportunity. He's competing for 6 with Ezra and Ben Hunt, remember. If you think Billy has some kind of kicking gift, go check out Coby Black, who isn't even in the reserves yet.

Jesse has always been underrated. I'm not sure whether he's improved but he's certainly holding his position with both hands. He's under a lot of selection pressure.

 

[McHunt]

I expected Mozer to show up earlier, but he's 5 games into his return from the shoulder injury and just about to play his 40th Qcup game... so his return to the NRL team may be imminent.

Isn't 40 games kind of the storm's requirement before their young guys come into the team?

If this explains it, then his selections make more sense.

I'm not sure how much he could've changed this week, given how much he's a pick and stick coach so far. I'm okay with him selecting Baker again, given he might've (maybe) been the first player elevated this year (if JHunt was indeed dropped). If he deserved promotion, he deserves the chance to prove himself. He has zero support from fans, so let's see him prove us wrong.

The spine is more of a worry. This should've been the week one of the hookers were demoted, but we've been robbed of that. Selwyn is coping at fullback, but he's lost so much speed it's alarming. And clocking off before the whistle and letting Latrell score, that wasn't a great sign of his attention span. He should've flattened him.

My biggest emerging concern is Reynold's captaincy, namely his communication and shot calling. I'm not seeing the leadership I'd like from him on the field. I have a feeling this conversation might gain traction in coming weeks if we don't dramatically improve.

 

[McHunt]

 

[Super Freak]

 

[Browny]

Watch Sloan score 3 tries and run for 600m

 

[Waynesaurus]

I just can’t get what he’s trying to do and I guess neither can the players.

Yep, is like a repeat of what Kevvie was doing just with slightly different players, even his bench use has been odd, which I something I didn't expect from an experienced coach like Madge.

 

[Big Del]

selecting Baker again, given he might've (maybe) been the first player elevated this year (if JHunt was indeed dropped). If he deserved promotion, he deserves the chance to prove himself. He has zero support from fans, so let's see him prove us wrong.

Ahem ,,, excuse me .
I said more than once if he could get fit he has something to offer .

He did some good things last week .

 

[thenry]

After our disappointing loss to Souffs, I didn’t gave a rats arse to rest of games. Just watched the mini match of Warriors v Dragons.

Though Warriors outmuscled Dragons but the silly mistakes killed their comeback. What I did noticed though is,

1. Dragqueens running multiple lines when ball in hand.
2. Irrespective of what numbers they’ve on their backs, everyone is pushing towards the goal line which confuses the defenders.
3. I noticed that it’s not just their 9 or 14 that served the footy but whoever is closer to play the ball did and everyone followed suit to the try line. It’s a fantastic attacking play. We suck at this kind of attacking play often.

Now if the Dragqueens play with similar attacking style with less errors and bit more intensity, we’re in great trouble. I’m sure their chest coach will make them play dirty. Watch out for the likes of Homes, Su’a, Gutherson, Cook, Leilua & others play like worlds best.

I absolutely hate saying this but if we don’t turn up with lot of grit & fire in the belly, we’re in for a rude shock.

Ffs, a Sunday arvo game .
Can it be any worse for us?

I don't think it would be a shock at all for us to lose, let alone a rude one.

 

[Krampus]

Dragons 72 - Broncos 12