PRE-GAME Round 11 - Roosters vs Broncos

[Kooly87]

I wouldn't be against handing him a debut but I'm anticipating Shibasaki 2.0 given how raw he is.


I'm thinking more about the older player who happens to be playing good footy and would provide better value than whoever they have on their roster. They wouldn't necessarily be the bright young prospect every club wants a piece of but just a handy stop-gap. Not only would it be better for the NRL but it would encourage the reserve grade players to lift their game knowing there's a real chance they could play NRL and make a career out of it.

Isn't it incredibly sobering and actually quite distressing that in realty, we're only at Round 10, haven't even had Origin play it's part yet, and you already have probably half a dozen clubs who are better off planning for 2022.

It's not inconceivable either that you could have half the competition working exclusively on next year by the time Origin 2 rolls around.

 

[broncsgoat]

I have to confess, the chopping and changing of Halves is one thing I really didn't expect from Kevin Walters and it's caught me totally by surprise.

I get in some instances he's almost had no choice, but I'd figure he knew better than anyone the value of not being too trigger happy on guys trying to form combinations and relying on building some confidence and understanding in one another.

They've all been fucking terrible is the problem.

Milf's not having a crack and the others are closer to shithouse than they are average.

 

[WASSHHH]

If nobody will pat me on the back, I'll do it my damn self.

I *think* they call this ‘the stranger’.

 

[Kooly87]

They've all been fucking terrible is the problem.

Milf's not having a crack and the others are closer to shithouse than they are average.

I've obviously never played in the NRL but I'd imagine as a Half it's incredibly hard to be decisive or back yourself when you've got the constant threat of losing your job hanging over your head. It probably applies to the whole squad but for Halves in particular that need to take control and trust their instincts it must be even more applicable.

I agree, Dearden was a write off once he'd signed elsewhere and Croft just hasn't grabbed the several chances he's had now - but Gamble hasn't done a whole lot wrong in the limited chances he's had and to cut him at this point just seems unnecessarily trigger happy.

If I'm Kotoni Staggs counting on a permanent move to 5/8 as part of my new deal I'd be bloody nervous right about now.

 

[theshed]

I have to confess, the chopping and changing of Halves is one thing I really didn't expect from Kevin Walters and it's caught me totally by surprise.

I get in some instances he's almost had no choice, but I'd figure he knew better than anyone the value of not being too trigger happy on guys trying to form combinations and relying on building some confidence and understanding in one another.

Yeah he’s completely decimated the confidence of every half at the club. All of who have had at least 1 good performance so the potential for them to find some kind of form is there.

No idea what his tactic is. There’s no good solution so he should pick and stick and hope that something builds.

I agree with Wolfie that Coates is very fortunate to not be dropped. No sour grapes, I mentioned it several times before he signed elsewhere. The only thing that would’ve kept him in the team for me is that he’s developing and is bound to have some poor games.

He’s done some great things in attack when the line break is on a platter and he was very good against the cows but outside of that he’s been a liability. Rookie errors, defensive lapses, ineffective hit ups. There’s been a few games where he’s been dire, the games that stand out most are last week and both parra games.

Personally I’d dump him for Mead so there’s another experienced defender on the field, and Mead was solid on the wing until moved to centre. There’s only 1 or 2 tries that Coates has produced that Mead couldn’t have, and his work rate and defence may well outweigh that anyway.

Depending on recruitment plans for next year, if Herbie is likely to be a winger he should be moved there now.

 

[Kooly87]

Yeah he’s completely decimated the confidence of every half at the club. All of who have had at least 1 good performance so the potential for them to find some kind of form is there.

No idea what his tactic is. There’s no good solution so he should pick and stick and hope that something builds.

I agree with Wolfie that Coates is very fortunate to not be dropped. No sour grapes, I mentioned it several times before he signed elsewhere. The only thing that would’ve kept him in the team for me is that he’s developing and is bound to have some poor games.

He’s done some great things in attack when the line break is on a platter and he was very good against the cows but outside of that he’s been a liability. Rookie errors, defensive lapses, ineffective hit ups. There’s been a few games where he’s been dire, the games that stand out most are last week and both parra games.

Personally I’d dump him for Mead so there’s another experienced defender on the field, and Mead was solid on the wing until moved to centre. There’s only 1 or 2 tries that Coates has produced that Mead couldn’t have, and his work rate may well outweigh that anyway.

Depending on recruitment plans for next year, if Herbie is likely to be a winger he should be moved there now.

I think Coates kind of falls into the Staggs category from last year. Staggs was making a heap of defensive errors back then too, but when you're one of the very, very few genuinely attacking threats the side has it's hard to pull the pin on a guy like that.

We need to defend better and make less errors, that goes without saying, but across our entire backline I only see one guy that I'd be confident could bring us points on the scoreboard with any regularity and that's Coates.

 

[theshed]

I think Coates kind of falls into the Staggs category from last year. Staggs was making a heap of defensive errors back then too, but when you're one of the very, very few genuinely attacking threats the side has it's hard to pull the pin on a guy like that.

We need to defend better and make less errors, that goes without saying, but across our entire backline I only see one guy that I'd be confident could bring us points on the scoreboard with any regularity and that's Coates.

I disagree. Isaako provides plenty and Herbie is a constant threat. If we were utilising Coates vertical leap successfully, I’d tend to agree. But I really think Mead would’ve scored most of the tries that Coates has. Coates hasn’t been making something from nothing like Staggs or Isaako can.Coates finishes what has been handed to him and I don’t think it’s enough to carry his flaws.

 

[broncsgoat]

I've obviously never played in the NRL but I'd imagine as a Half it's incredibly hard to be decisive or back yourself when you've got the constant threat of losing your job hanging over your head. It probably applies to the whole squad but for Halves in particular that need to take control and trust their instincts it must be even more applicable.

I agree, Dearden was a write off once he'd signed elsewhere and Croft just hasn't grabbed the several chances he's had now - but Gamble hasn't done a whole lot wrong in the limited chances he's had and to cut him at this point just seems unnecessarily trigger happy.

If I'm Kotoni Staggs counting on a permanent move to 5/8 as part of my new deal I'd be bloody nervous right about now.

And the halves jobs are especially difficult if the entire team is shitting the bed, I get it. They've just not really even looked to be trying outside of Gamble and he seems to be fairly limited in ability outside of his enthusiasm.

 

[Kooly87]

And the halves jobs are especially difficult if the entire team is shitting the bed, I get it. They've just not really even looked to be trying outside of Gamble and he seems to be fairly limited in ability outside of his enthusiasm.

Truthfully we've also got Reynolds coming and everyone is aware of the likelihood Staggs is going to 5/8 so it's possible Kevvie's just not that invested in any of the guys he's got available right now but I'd still want to see more of Gamble to find out whether he really is limited or just playing within himself right now.

Milford is at this point probably the least of all evils so he can hold the fort at 5/8 until Staggs comes back and in all likelihood begins his apprenticeship in the Halves. The only risk with that is if Milford knows this is what's coming for his spot regardless of what he does then it would be very hard to motivate a guy who's already proven to be next to impossible to motivate at the best of times.

 

[BroncsFan]

So will Tass be 'Tesi' moving forward or are we not doing that anymore?

 

[broncsgoat]

Truthfully we've also got Reynolds coming and everyone is aware of the likelihood Staggs is going to 5/8 so it's possible Kevvie's just not that invested in any of the guys he's got available right now but I'd still want to see more of Gamble to find out whether he really is limited or just playing within himself right now.

Milford is at this point probably the least of all evils so he can hold the fort at 5/8 until Staggs comes back and in all likelihood begins his apprenticeship in the Halves. The only risk with that is if Milford knows this is what's coming for his spot regardless of what he does then it would be very hard to motivate a guy who's already proven to be next to impossible to motivate at the best of times.

I'm going to chime in early, well I already have, and say that Stagg's will end up back in the centres within a handful of games at 6.

He can be truly elite in the centres if he works on his defence I just dont see the transition lasting.

 

[BroncsFan]

I'm going to chime in early, well I already have, and say that Stagg's will end up back in the centres within a handful of games at 6.

He can be truly elite in the centres if he works on his defence I just dont see the transition lasting.

Most likely...so let's get his 6 games done and dusted this year instead of wasting a preseason and 6 games next year

 

[broncsgoat]

Most likely...so let's get his 6 games done and dusted this year instead of wasting a preseason and 6 games next year

Yeah sure, I can see that going poorly and the ‘needs a pre-season’ line being trotted out though.

 

[Sproj]

I think Staggs will be a success at 6. Can he pass? I have no idea. Can be long kick? I think so but that won’t be his role, that’s one of the reasons for bringing in Reynolds. Can he short kick? Yes he has shown that a few times already. Can he drop goal? Yes as he does it semi-regularly at training. Can he defend? No but halves aren’t always expected to and this is why you need a Su’A or Capewell or TPJ to protect him. Can he run? Goodness me yes and imagine that popping up all over the field! He’ll be destructive and can learn to pass and kick when needed. But that running and fending all over the place, what a weapon!

 

[broncsgoat]

I think Staggs will be a success at 6. Can he pass? I have no idea. Can be long kick? I think so but that won’t be his role, that’s one of the reasons for bringing in Reynolds. Can he short kick? Yes he has shown that a few times already. Can he drop goal? Yes as he does it semi-regularly at training. Can he defend? No but halves aren’t always expected to and this is why you need a Su’A or Capewell or TPJ to protect him. Can he run? Goodness me yes and imagine that popping up all over the field! He’ll be destructive and can learn to pass and kick when needed. But that running and fending all over the place, what a weapon!

It's a good post I just want to ask why Milf was never afforded this or an organising halfback? Everyone wants him on the scrap heap, and fair enough based on form, but as I've said ad nauseum he's had to do everything by himself for three years, no wonder he's a wreck.

We finally get a 7 worth a pinch of shit and we're going to try and manufacture a 6 out of a centre.

 

[broncos4life]

It's a good post I just want to ask why Milf was never afforded this or an organising halfback? Everyone wants him on the scrap heap, and fair enough based on form, but as I've said ad nauseum he's had to do everything by himself for three years, no wonder he's a wreck.

We finally get a 7 worth a pinch of shit and we're going to try and manufacture a 6 out of a centre.

Because he wanted a million a year meaning we couldn't afford to pair him with an organising halfback.

 

[WASSHHH]

Because he wanted a million a year meaning we couldn't afford to pair him with an organising halfback.

Yeh, people want to hang BHunt out to dry, but those 2 formed a fantastic pair, really complementing one another.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep them both and had to choose one. We went all in Milfraud and the rest is history.

That’s not to say Hunt has been a raging success either, but he has been the better of the two.

Sliding doors, but I wonder how both their careers would have gone if they’d stuck together.

 

[theshed]

It's a good post I just want to ask why Milf was never afforded this or an organising halfback? Everyone wants him on the scrap heap, and fair enough based on form, but as I've said ad nauseum he's had to do everything by himself for three years, no wonder he's a wreck.

We finally get a 7 worth a pinch of shit and we're going to try and manufacture a 6 out of a centre.

He’s a low effort player.. While an organiser may improve or better suit Milford’s eyes up attack, a good organising half partner won’t tackle for him, or support play on his behalf; or make him stick to defensive structures. I can’t remember the last time I saw Milford doing any 1% work - the I could say that about a lot of the team.

I don’t think Staggs is the answer either but his running game could work if we have a good ball player at fullback - which isn’t Isaako.