POST GAME Round 12 - Broncos vs West Tigers

[Sproj]

We're spluttering and we'll be spluttering to after origin, the next 6-8 rounds will mostly suck but provided we stay injury free, we'll hit the finals smoking I feel.

 

[broncos4life]

Based on what?

Higher missed tackle %, more errors, kicking game was equally shit, no try assists (vs 2), he didn't make any line breaks or put anyone through a hole IIRC. What part of his game last night do you think made him "by far" the better half?

Hunt put that beauty through to Maranta, and he also set up Roberts for a try, Milf did **** all, and wasn't even in a position to kick the FG. If he's the better FG kicker, which it seems like he is, then he should have been directing the team and getting in position for a FG. It's not school yard footy, he's a professional with an amazing skillset, he should use it when he's the better option. I doubt Hunt enjoys taking those pressure kicks, but he kind of has to when the ball is shoved to him and Milford is on the wrong side of the field.

I'm not going to get into detail about your Hunt criticisms, but there's no reason why Milford can't pick up the slack, Lockyer was one of the best in the world at game management, and he did it from the 6, Thurston managed it just fine too from the 6 for a long time. If Milford's kicking game was top notch, I'm sure he'd take on the majority of the kicking.

Anyhow, I'm not arguing against Milford, he's a star, and I think he has a ton of improvement in him, but there's so many things he needs to work on, being a potential star shouldn't mean he's immune from criticism and in the interest of fairness, Hunt has only been playing as a lead playmaker since 2014, a little over 2 seasons now, he's not a veteran halfback with 5+ years experience in the role. Milford has played 80 games now, all in key positions on the field and if we we're going to drill it down further, Hunt has really only had one season more in the halves than Milford has.

This is one of the most reasonable and accurate posts in this thread. It's a shame it will be lost in all the hunt hate.

 

[broncos4life]

That's probably true, although Boyd is not exactly known for his blinding speed and footwork either.

Yes he is.

 

[Fozz]

Bleh. Both Hunt and Milf were underperforming last night. We put no sustained pressure on the Tigers while they did the opposite. They looked like they came to play and we just didn't.

I don't care if it's Hunt, Milf or Macca but we need to develop a kicking game that is more precise.

 

[rnabokov]

For me it is not just about Hunt, and it is not just about Milford. Each are super talented in their own way. Each do, and last night did things which were good ... and not so good as others have noted.

For mine, it about Hunt + Milford. It is all about the unit. It is about our halves, a working unit working together, taking pressure off each when the other is targeted, communicating, looking for options, thinking, combining with others, setting up our strike weapons. Trailing each other, SUPPORTING each other. I hate these words but they are an apt example: Thurston + Morgan. They work as one, separate to their individual contributions.

Personally, I think Hunt has the talent to be amongst the very best half backs - he showed that last year in particular and in fits and starts this year. Same for Milford. But they need to work together, work with the hooker and FB. That's why it's called a spine. Every top player gets targeted which is precisely why the best coached teams have a strategy to take that pressure off that player.

Last night we had a team of individuals trying their best, being brave and gutsy but they were largely lost without direction and dare I use that word again - leadership, to give direction.

And again, as others have observed, we so much need to integrate Roberts into this side in many more ways than just keeping him stuck in the centres - left or right is irrelevant, and hoping he will get a (lucky) break and burn the opposition with his speed. He should play a role, yet again as others have posted, as Hodges did, and that for mine IS a coaching issue. You can't just tell Roberts to go looking for the ball if it's on the other side of the field.

And the one thing I liked last night was that we at last used some short kicks and whoa, looked what happened, albeit far too infrequently.

For mine it is not that we lost, but the way we lost. And for the record, if we did have our usual team on the paddock I feel we would have won despite the Tigers playing pretty well .... but again, that raises a separate issue: why would their presence ignite Hunt + Milford, if in fact it would, when they should be playing at their best individually, and as a unit, no matter who is in the team alongside them.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Really lacked mature forwards imo. Probably played a few too many young forwards imo. Might have been better to find some mature forwards from the QCup to help out during Origin

 

[lynx000]

Sshhh!...we're pretenders remember. Stop making sense!

You keep sticking your head in the sand Fourex, the same issues will be there if they are not addressed. Even with all of those players out we should have accounted for the tigers minus Woods, Farah and Tedesco. Or are you ignoring that three of their best players were out.

 

[Dash]

The turning point in the match was taking the 2 points. We had been camped in our half for nearly 15 minutes. Finally, we get a penalty and a chance to put some pressure on and tire out their defence. Instead, we give them a 2 minute rest and put ourselves right back in our own half. Then all of a sudden the two points didn't mean shit because they grabbed 6.

Last year the tactic worked for us, until the grand final. This year it's just costing us momentum and a chance for our attack to get some rhythm.

 

[Dash]

You keep sticking your head in the sand Fourex, the same issues will be there if they are not addressed. Even with all of those players out we should have accounted for the tigers minus Woods, Farah and Tedesco. Or are you ignoring that three of their best players were out.

Two of their best players. And Farah.

 

[mieko]

And leave no decent attacking weapons on the right side of the field? C'mon, we use the left because it currently works, it's pretty clear the right side attack will play a part in this team, but just not right now.

This part I don't understand. If not now then when? Other clubs know Roberts has speed to get outside and around, why not use it more. I agree the left works and works well thanks largely to Oates and Boyd but having a speedster on the other side and a handy winger/fullback in Kahu has shown they get results when they get a chance with the ball. More ball equals more confidence equals more meat pies. No point holding back and "not showing all your cards" theory till later in the season, they are there, need to use them more.

 

[mieko]

Probably because Hunt is 26 years old, and has 150 games under his belt, while Anthony is 21 years old with half the games played...

He's a great halfback when he can run the ball and play like a 5/8, but as soon as a real halfback is required, he only dishes out poo. Hunt has no excuse for what he dished up tonight, absolutely none! His one good kick was an accidental result of kicking the ball out of balance, or it would probably have landed in the 5th row.

Again, I have said this a million times:
Hunt is a really good 5/8, but we have a better one already, and we need someone actually capable of finishing 5th tackles and control a game, like... I don't know... oh wait... how about a fucking halfback?

That said, Anthony was also poor despite trying his hardest. Still he was imo by far the better half.
Like the other kids out there, he was not to blame for this loss. That rests solely on most of our senior players, especially Hunt and Blair, but I though Glenn was pretty poor too, in conjunction with Reed and Eden. The latter more because he has no clue how to carry a ball and avoid being pushed back as far as he ran forward.

On the other side, Maranta regressed to his 2013 form. Both the floating passes from Hunt should've been his, but his indecision cost us big time. I hope it's just jitters after a long injury absence, but he better get his act together quick!

Yes, we lost the forwards battle, but I will not blame the youngsters. Arrow, Ese'ese, Su'a, Wallace, Pangai (fucking monster of a kid, hopefully he will become our Taumalolo) and Ofahengaue (why didn't he come back?) did what they could to stop a much more experienced pack, and were let down by their senior players, except Macca, who had an acceptable game.

That last play, with Blair literally walking around like a headless chicken, Kodi going in the wrong direction and Hunt being clueless... if I was Benny, I would lose it in the dressing room.

Kahu was head and shoulders the best Bronco, and I feel sorry for him, for having to deal with that clusterfuck in front of him!

P.S. Don't even come with the bullshit excuse of having nothing to play with. A good halfback will come to the rescue of a faltering pack, controlling the game, slowing it down, turning the opposition around, kicking for corners and making the opposition work hard to get out of their half. Hunt is utterly incapable of that!

Great post though I disagree about Glenn. Thought he had a great game and super consistent as usual. Ran hard at the line and tackled his arse off, top game.

 

[Aldo]

We are looking a little predictable at the moment. I think teams have really jammed Hunt and Milf up the last few games and worked them out and set a blueprint to shut them down for other teams to use. They need to come up with a plan B. I'd like to see Milf sniff around the middle a bit more and look for an offload, especially from Blair. He was doing this alot last year but hasn't really gone there this year. Also, would like to see both halves roam a bit more and not get stuck on their "side" of the field.

 

[Aldo]

Yeah I thought Glenn was very good. If we didn't have him, I think the scoreline could of blown out. Shut down a number of dangerous attacking sweeps.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Based on what?

Higher missed tackle %, more errors, kicking game was equally shit, no try assists (vs 2), he didn't make any line breaks or put anyone through a hole IIRC. What part of his game last night do you think made him "by far" the better half?

Have to agree with Portz (which always gives me a warm tingling sensation when I do).......Milford, whilst not great himself last night, was still far better then Hunt in general.

Other than that one "fortunate kick".......Hunt was terrible. A stack of simply, basic errors......passing for example, was shithouse. Lost count of how many times he threw the ball to Milford, either behind him or with nowhere to go. His kicking, in general was.......per usual, woeful.

Last tackle options.......I just don't get it. You would think between Milford, Hunt and McCullough that they would by now have their shit together. It has to be the pressure of expectation that they will pull something out of the fire when we need it in those last 10mins of these tight games we're losing. They simply aren't handling it. I can understand it with Milford, being so young, but Hunt and A.Mc have been around long enough to know what's expected of them. They both continually go missing in crucial moments of the game.

 

[Mr Fourex]

You keep sticking your head in the sand Fourex, the same issues will be there if they are not addressed. Even with all of those players out we should have accounted for the tigers minus Woods, Farah and Tedesco. Or are you ignoring that three of their best players were out.

I'm not ignoring anything at all.

I'm also not naive enough to believe that teams and players will perform at their peak, week in week out. Everybody has a slump......everybody goes through periods during the season that for one reason or another, things just aren't working. It's how we handle it going forward, how we react once we get through this SOO period and how we perform as a team when it matters most that will give us the strongest insight to where exactly we're at. Personally, I believe from what I've seen this year and last, that we will come through it strong and will be finals bound again in 2016.

I know that when things get on a roll for us, when we're at full strength and both Hunt and Milford are on song, we are the hottest team in the league.

You're continual reference to us being "non-genuine" premiership contenders, frankly....shits me to tears. Keep doing it and I in turn will keep denouncing your misguided perceptions.

 

[Mr Fourex]

For mine it is not that we lost, but the way we lost. And for the record, if we did have our usual team on the paddock I feel we would have won despite the Tigers playing pretty well .... but again, that raises a separate issue: why would their presence ignite Hunt + Milford, if in fact it would, when they should be playing at their best individually, and as a unit, no matter who is in the team alongside them.

So you don't consider that for a halves combination to be successful, that they need their forwards to be dominating the opposition.....?

Interesting.

 

[lynx000]

I'm not ignoring anything at all.

I'm also not naive enough to believe that teams and players will perform at their peak, week in week out. Everybody has a slump......everybody goes through periods during the season that for one reason or another, things just aren't working. It's how we handle it going forward, how we react once we get through this SOO period and how we perform as a team when it matters most that will give us the strongest insight to where exactly we're at. Personally, I believe from what I've seen this year and last, that we will come through it strong and will be finals bound again in 2016.

I know that when things get on a roll for us, when we're at full strength and both Hunt and Milford are on song, we are the hottest team in the league.

You're continual reference to us being "non-genuine" premiership contenders, frankly....shits me to tears. Keep doing it and I in turn will keep denouncing your misguided perceptions.

I don't disagree with any of that and I hope you are correct. The issue is that I don't believe we have been performing anywhere near our peak all season and we are currently going backwards. My fundamental point remains (and I am not saying they can't do it, because I believe that they can) that until our halves show better game management skills and close out games, in my view we are behind in particular the cowboys, and on current form the sharks and melbourne. If you think that we can win the gf this year with our halves performing the way they are, good on you, but I think you are either an eternal optimist or slightly delusional. That is my opinion, sorry it gets up your nose so much.

 

[lynx000]

Have to agree with Portz (which always gives me a warm tingling sensation when I do).......Milford, whilst not great himself last night, was still far better then Hunt in general.

Other than that one "fortunate kick".......Hunt was terrible. A stack of simply, basic errors......passing for example, was shithouse. Lost count of how many times he threw the ball to Milford, either behind him or with nowhere to go. His kicking, in general was.......per usual, woeful.

Last tackle options.......I just don't get it. You would think between Milford, Hunt and McCullough that they would by now have their shit together. It has to be the pressure of expectation that they will pull something out of the fire when we need it in those last 10mins of these tight games we're losing. They simply aren't handling it. I can understand it with Milford, being so young, but Hunt and A.Mc have been around long enough to know what's expected of them. They both continually go missing in crucial moments of the game.

Mate, this is about all that I am saying. I completely agree with everything you are saying here. If this can be addressed and put into practice regularly (it is unrealistic that to expect that we will win every close game) we will give ourselves a far better chance of winning those clutch moments and clutch games. If that happens, we are more than a genuine premiership contender, we would have to be close to favourites.