Round 13 - Canberra vs. Broncos - Post Match Discussion

[rnabokov]

Yes, but that's the only positive. Horrible miss on Edrick Lee. A few times he got the ball, stopped, jinked and just submitted to tackles. Unbelievable.

Yep, some structure, some room, some ball, some organization ... that would be a start.

The mindless Gillett hate is starting to really piss me off.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Highlight of the presser? Griffin dropping the f bomb.

 

[hayseed]

I guess one positive u can take out of tonight's performance is that they prevented it from being a blowout, looked threatening at times in the second half but in the end, we just do not have the squad, we have no Campeses, Crokers or Fergusons and to be successful in today's game, u need the gamebreakers. Our guys are all honest toilers but not champions and that usually equates to a side who finishes on the wrong end of the standings.

Parker was once again a workhorse, Princey had some good moments, Norman was superb as usual and Mitchy Dodds had a strong game and finally chalked up his first career try. Sammy tried hard in the second half but he would be better off without the burden of captaincy and he is hardly an inspirational leader. Wallace kept alive his status as the worst halfback going round with an embarrassing kicking game. Macca and Hunt were once again liabilities and McGuire continues to struggle reaching the advantage line and Alex Glenn continued his quiet season, Hodgo was great again, a true champion in a crowd of donkeys.

None of this really surprises me, they were always going to struggle this year with this roster, maybe the CEO thinks these guys are top 4 material but he is probably a dead man walking anyways (along with Hook) if things don't improve dramatically. But I couldn't call myself a true fan if I didn't still have a bit of hope. It will take a 1999 type miracle to make the 8 but as a fan, u have to continue to believe, it is what keeps us going. The guys did their best tonite and hopefully they can triumph next week and who knows what it might lead to.

 

[rnabokov]

It's not so much a game breaker but a play maker and organizer. Nobody knows what anyone is doing

Parker is not a captain. Has anyone heard him yell at players, position players, calls plays? He just gets the ball and makes incredible metres and good offloads mostly

Again, the post-Lockyer void should have been addressed well before he retired

 

[Manifesto]

I didn't watch the game as I was out, but I did listen to a bit of it on the radio. At one point, the commentator said the Hodges went to the ref to discuss a decision as he was acting captain, presumably when Thaiday was on the bench. Now this begs the question, could Hodges be an alternative captain choice, despite the fact that he has limited time left in his career (couple of years at most). I'd personally like Parker, but I know all the issues with this, as previously discussed, and Glenn is probably too young (and too out of form) at the present time. Hodges has been generally great for us this year and stood up in origin. Just a thought....

 

[LittleDavey]

...The guys did their best tonite...

I disagree, and that's what's pissing me off the most.

Thaiday did not play anywhere near his best tonight. I know what it's like with a baby (3 boys under 4yo myself) but it's no excuse. He's the captain FFS!!

I'll single him out because of his status, but many other players have it in them to be better than they were tonight. And last week. And most of this year. Is it their fault, or the coach's? At this point you would think it has to come down to the coaching. There's not a great deal else it really could be, unless you just settle for 'most of the players are having a shit year, it happens to everyone'.

Things have to change, it's past the point where perseverance with 'the usual' is acceptable.

 

[rnabokov]

Formine, Hodges is the only player with the guts and the nous to act as a captain and leader - pity he's out wide

 

[Big Pete]

Hodges was originally considered for the captaincy around 08.

Shame he started acting out a bit after that shoulder injury he sustained against Souths that year. Flipping Archer off and requesting time off pretty much killed whatever chance he had of being captain.

 

[ningnangnong]

Was out playing tennis, so recorded the match and just put myself through it. Ergh.

Surprise, surprise, we lost. I'm numb to it now. I used to go into every match thinking the Broncos could win, now I go into every match wondering how much we'll lose by. It's fucking shit.

I'll keep watching our matches, supporting the club and all, but the future looks extremely bleak to me. We don't even seem to have any hot shot youngsters to cling our collective hopes to.

Too many people in our club are content to just collect their pay cheque every week. We need more people who want success - that's what the Broncos were built on.

 

[Allo]

I didn't watch the game as I was out, but I did listen to a bit of it on the radio. At one point, the commentator said the Hodges went to the ref to discuss a decision as he was acting captain, presumably when Thaiday was on the bench. Now this begs the question, could Hodges be a replacement captain, despite the fact that he has limited time left in his career (couple of years at most). I'd personally like Parker, but I know all the issues with this, as previously discussed, and Glenn is probably too young (and too out of form) at the present time. Hodges has been generally great for us this year and stood up in origin. Just a thought....

I was thinking the same thing earlier tonight. I reckon co-captains if need be with him, Parker and/or Hannant. We'd be one of few clubs left with a singular captain and it hasn't hurt the ones that have multiple captains. Hodges (when he plays) is the one guy you actually see during a game trying to fire up the team to get them going.

 

[Kimlo]

To summarise the press conference:

Griffin is very pissed off no doubt about it. Basically said we were soft, we let them off to too big of a start and for a while we looked like we could come back.

Quote from Griffin himself "Very fucking soft try on our line" lol. He was referring to the last try where they went straight through Thaiday and Parker and Norman couldn't stop him.

No injuries to report. Griffin says the cliche of we have to go one step at a time. "At 24-0 we were miles away from that (a win)". "We have to be better than that". Apologizes for swearing previously.

 

[Kimlo]

Hodges was originally considered for the captaincy around 08.

Shame he started acting out a bit after that shoulder injury he sustained against Souths that year. Flipping Archer off and requesting time off pretty much killed whatever chance he had of being captain.

From what I've heard Hodges simply isn't interested in captaincy, he'd prefer to not have it.

 

[rnabokov]

I was thinking the same thing earlier tonight. I reckon co-captains if need be with him, Parker and/or Hannant. We'd be one of few clubs left with a singular captain and it hasn't hurt the ones that have multiple captains. Hodges (when he plays) is the one guy you actually see during a game trying to fire up the team to get them going.

Parker doesn't talk - he runs. He is no leader except by example and that is not a leader and captain who keeps the plays happening and gets the players into position. Don't think Hannant is either, seems very quiet.

Hodges to captain. I don't care about his past, only his present which is guts, effort and intensity... and he is not afraid to open his mouth which is better than anyone else in this side

 

[rnabokov]

From what I've heard Hodges simply isn't interested in captaincy, he'd prefer to not have it.

Well in that case we have no one

 

[vertigo]

I'm numb to it now. I used to go into every match thinking the Broncos could win, now I go into every match wondering how much we'll lose by. It's ****ing ****.

The thing is other clubs supporters have dealt with this for years with no end in sight.. now we know what it's like.

 

[Unbreakable]

Corey Parker 185m, 45 Tackles, 2 Off-Loads

-

Alex Glenn 92m, 38 Tackles, 0 Off-Loads
Matt Gillett 113m, 22 Tackles, 2 Off-Loads
Josh McGuire 68m, 38 Tackles, 0 Off-Loads
Sam Thaiday 134m, 36 Tackles, 0 Off-Loads

If all the boys tried as hard as Parker and our Halves knew how to execute a 5th tackle play, we would be so much better. I genuinely don't think our bigs are the problem at the moment, fair enough they could be doing a bit more, we're missing Hannant, I'm willing to give them a pass. (Gillett especially needs to do an entire off-season on working purely on defense with Gillmeister or someone)

It all stems from our Halves pair, whether it's a missed tackle from Prince or a shit 5th tackle kick, they just aren't doing good enough to warrant a spot in the side.

 

[rnabokov]

(Gillett especially needs to do an entire off-season on working purely on defense with Gillmeister or someone)

.

Why? If the whole defensive line had moved up as fast as him throughout the match it would be a very different score.

He and Parker each missed 6 tackles, Glenn 5 and Thaiday 3.

 

[Broncoman]

That game was a perfect example of how low behind NRL standard our halves are. We ran the ball more times, made more meters, made more offloads, made more line breaks and won more penalties yet we finished on the wrong side of the scoreboard again. Didn't help that our most dangerous back Hodges was ineffective for most of the night and only came to life in the last 20. The Raiders just outclassed us through their speedy and slick backs. Very disappointing not to come up with a win, the effort is there but the class in the halves isn't.