Round 11 - Bulldogs vs. Broncos - Post Match Discussion

[Mister Wright]

I'm perplexed by Big Pete constantly saying the attack isn't the issue. Maybe if he's only thinking about the attack inside 20, yes, because the Broncos have shown they can produce a try in that situation.

The issue is the other 80m of the field. Far too much one out stuff. That in itself isn't bad if you do it well, but it's very easy to defend. Simple variations in the ruck can make all the difference. Two offs, inside ball, 2nd man ruck.

Going one out as the Broncos do 90% of the time simply means defenders can gang up on you and force a slow play the ball. Even worse, because nobody pushes up in support there's no risk of an offload, so the rest of the defence can get back early and be set to rush up.

It's abysmal. And that's entirely coach and game plan, and it's been that way since long before Bennett left.

It is a wonder we haven't done more from outside the 20. I remember back in round 1 we were stringing passes together inside our own 20 and really had manly backpeddling early in the sets. Given we didn't win that game, that game plan seems to have gone out the window. I wasn't too concerned with the loss at the time, but given we really haven't shown that attacking attitude since, it is a wonder!

 

[rnabokov]

... Princey will be a welcome addition next week,

No way. Really? Never. He's an old fart, a has-been, a liability, a waste of money.

Just because we have played our best games with him in the team is purely accidental.

 

[hayseed]

No way. Really? Never. He's an old fart, a has-been, a liability, a waste of money.

Just because we have played our best games with him in the team is purely accidental.

I don't disagree with most of what u said but sadly he is the best option that we have concerning the halves.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Yeah looking forward to Prince saving the day for the Broncos.

 

[rnabokov]

I don't disagree with most of what u said but sadly he is the best option that we have concerning the halves.

I was of course being a little sarcastic. He may not be the player he once was but at least he still has vision to create something.

When he hasn't played, aside from the Norman 2nd man plays (sporadic at best) we wait for the opportunities rather than make them.

I don't doubt Hunt's skills. I just doubt his years of playing 2nd string hooker and expect him to fill Lockyer's role quite yet. I think he needs more time at that before we see his true abilities in the halves.

Until then, I think Prince is the best option, and our results with Prince in the team speak for themselves.

So yes Beads, I believe for the time being, Prince is going to, not save the day, but contribute more at this stage than Hunt at 2nd receiver. Our right hand side attack is for mine, proof of that.

For mine, Hunt has yet to show he has the vision and experience to organize the right hand side attack whereas Prince has done pretty well so far.

 

[Bucking Beads]

You must live in fantasy land where Prince has actually shown vision this season. He lets in more tries than he sets up. Just what our team needs.

 

[rnabokov]

Well Beads, so far, he is the only player since Lockyer to set a play which uses Gillett's talents to hit a hole (a la Pritchard against us), and his cut out pass to Maranta was superb, and his tackles on Inglis, and his try against Souths.

Since Lockyer, we have basically had f-all on the right side edge in terms of hole running and structured passing plays

I think you are being too harsh. BTW, which tries has he let in?

 

[Bucking Beads]

Yeah I am just going nuts with not much reasoning here. I'll quit while I am behind.

 

[broncos4life]

You must live in fantasy land where Prince has actually shown vision this season. He lets in more tries than he sets up. Just what our team needs.

Firstly his piss poor defence has nothing to do with vision, and I think it's hard to argue that he currently has the most vision the team, that may not be much but he still has the most

 

[rnabokov]

I have just watched every replay of our games, paying particular attention to Prince

You guys are either biased or blind or both.

 

[broncos4life]

I have just watched every replay of our games, paying particular attention to Prince

You guys are either biased or blind or both.

Or we have opinions and are just as entitled to them as you are

 

[rnabokov]

Or we have opinions and are just as entitled to them as you are

.... and I have never questioned your or anyone's entitlement to an opinion, not now, nor ever since I have been on this amazingly excellent Forum.

However, that doesn't stop me from challenging the opinion, as many challenge mine.

So (especially after watching a replay of all our games this season) I still am yet to hear an opinion which proves mine wrong, and my opinion is simple - so far, based on our form and results, we have played significantly better with Prince in the side than without him.

By all means disagree, argue, challenge and pour scorn on my opinion, but please give me something concrete to back it up.

 

[broncos4life]

.... and I have never questioned your or anyone's entitlement to an opinion, not now, nor ever since I have been on this amazingly excellent Forum.

However, that doesn't stop me from challenging the opinion, as many challenge mine.

So (especially after watching a replay of all our games this season) I still am yet to hear an opinion which proves mine wrong, and my opinion is simple - so far, based on our form and results, we have played significantly better with Prince in the side than without him.

By all means disagree, argue, challenge and pour scorn on my opinion, but please give me something concrete to back it up.

Oh shit man I've just realised that I read your post wrong. I 100% agree that the side is better with prince in it, I thought you were saying it wasn't... Sorry bro

 

[rnabokov]

What makes me sad is that players with real talent like Hunt and Macca have been forced to learn a style of play that was never what they were best at, or probably wanted, and Hunt in particular has been put in such a hard position with Prince's signing, with which I do disagree.

.... and we should have signed Dugan

 

[Alec]

I
I don't doubt Hunt's skills. I just doubt his years of playing 2nd string hooker and expect him to fill Lockyer's role quite yet. I think he needs more time at that before we see his true abilities in the halves.

That's all well and good, but Hunt isn't actually going to be playing QLD Cup to brush up on his skills or anything...he'll be back playing bench hooker and we'll still be stifling our future. Because Griffin is the way that he is, the way forward has to be with Hunt and Baptiste/Granville on the bench right now.

 

[Mister Wright]

Is Hunt really going to benefit that much from playing QCup though? I reckon he's better off in the NRL getting used to the defence that is needed. There's no question his defence has improved since he's been playing the back up hooker role. Although he didnt set the world on fire on Friday night he showed improvement from his effort the previuos week. I reckon if he gets a full off season under his belt, and strings a few games together in the halves about round 6 or 7 we'll see the real Ben Hunt.

 

[tkday]

I can't believe no-one has mentioned our terrible missed tackle count that seems to happen every game. 40+ this game. So many arm grabs and wrestling with the top half of a player. Lots of 2 or 3 players in tackles and the ball runner still gets an offload. Not to mention we move up 1 or 2 meters off the line in defense to stop and wait for the player, or we don't even move up at all, but backwards. Anyways same old thing to be said every time we lose. This year is not going to be fun.

 

[Big Pete]

Not to toot my own horn but I was very vocal about the defence last week.

It's a concern especially when the gameplan is to complete so many sets. If you're going to take so many calculated risks, you've got to ensure the defence is right.

The defence up the middle was bloody soft on Friday and has been for awhile. We're simply not getting numbers in the tackles and our marker defence like always was terrible - Perrett got the Dogs on the front foot everytime.