PRE-GAME Round 15 - Knights vs Broncos

[Art Vandelay]

If we're using the car analogy, it's like the Broncos have a few flats but refuse to use the spare because it's busted.

This analogy is getting a bit out of hand at this point, but I wouldn't consider our middle forwards to be flats. Yes, our defense up the middle has been atrocious in many games this season, but no individual player shoulders the blame for that and no one player is going to fix it. Even when Fensom was making 60+ tackles a game vs 1 missed, Canberra was still leaking points like a sieve. I think changes in coaching, structure and/or attitude fix that, but the personnel we have there are more than capable.

I like Fensom, but I think his value is his ability to sustain his defensive workrate over one long stint - to get any advantage out of him you have to play him for 50+ consecutive minutes because over short stints there are other players who can rival his defensive output and make more incisive or impactful runs with the ball in hand. If TPJ and one of Ofahengaue/Haas/Lodge was out I'd want Fensom at lock playing as long as he could, allowing impact props like Flegler or Mago to ratchet up their intensity over shorter shifts. Maybe next week.

 

[Locky’s Left Boot]

I’d really like to know how the board feel Siebs is going. So far he has not looked good at all, fairly out of his depth to be honest.

A lot of supporters were very excited to have a new ideology come on board, someone who would get the kids progressing and clear out the deadwood.

Well so far, the deadwood is still there in all it’s glory minus Roberts and KNik who may have been limited but both provided x-factor, something this side now has nothing of.

TPJ, Roberts, Milf, Staggs and especially Isaako seem to have regressed.

Flegs, Fifita, Carrigan seem to have stagnated.

Four of the most promising kids are gone or going - Boyd, Su’A, Walker, Simpkin.

Only journeymen and Schumacher signed to replace FG regulars and national reps.

Has anyone progressed? Joffa? Turps?

Siebs has not made many of the needed, hard decisions. Still willing to give him two years but boy, that’s more based on blind Hope than proof this far.

It would be hard to find anyone not extremely disappointed or worried I’d imagine.

I started hopeful but I’m officially in the disillusioned camp. I thought the one thing we would at least see with Seibold is not putting up with Macca after being use to what he got from Cook. It may have taken an injury but we finally got to see what Turpin could offer over a long period and then we went and signed Segeyaro on top of this which was great and saw us go 2/2 against the high flying defending premiers and a gritty win in NZ with that double hooker combo. Looked like we were playing with energy and confidence again and looked to have finally turned a corner.

But less than a fucking month later we are full circle with Macca back at run on 9 and haven’t won a game since the Turpin/Segeyaro combo was last together. We are also still stuck with Captain Has Been who will unofficially be the worst starting 1 of all 16 NRL clubs this week with no fullback depths what so ever whilst we just let NQ add Drinkwater to their roster unchallenged.

We have let 4 players go during the pre season and during the season that were in our Top 30 roster (McGuire, Kahu, Roberts and Nikorima) and another possible one in Su’a being released to Souths before June 30 yet we haven’t been linked with any marquee players or maybe any sensible depth signings. It almost beggars belief. Paul White has a lot to answer for too.

 

[Big Pete]

This analogy is getting a bit out of hand at this point, but I wouldn't consider our middle forwards to be flats. Yes, our defense up the middle has been atrocious in many games this season, but no individual player shoulders the blame for that and no one player is going to fix it. Even when Fensom was making 60+ tackles a game vs 1 missed, Canberra was still leaking points like a sieve. I think changes in coaching, structure and/or attitude fix that, but the personnel we have there are more than capable.

I like Fensom, but I think his value is his ability to sustain his defensive workrate over one long stint - to get any advantage out of him you have to play him for 50+ consecutive minutes because over short stints there are other players who can rival his defensive output and make more incisive or impactful runs with the ball in hand. If TPJ and one of Ofahengaue/Haas/Lodge was out I'd want Fensom at lock playing as long as he could, allowing impact props like Flegler or Mago to ratchet up their intensity over shorter shifts. Maybe next week.

It's not about singling out any players, it's about getting the rotation right and managing the forwards work-load through the season. It's apparent that some of these forwards are struggling to maintain the intensity and are being asked to work longer minutes than they ought to week in week out. That's where a player of Fensom's standing out to be coming in for the odd game, but the coach doesn't see the value in him or any of the depth forwards the club has which is why he's gone out and brought Rhys Kennedy.

 

[Foordy]

We have let 4 players go during the pre season and during the season that were in our Top 30 roster (McGuire, Kahu, Roberts and Nikorima) and another possible one in Su’a being released to Souths before June 30 yet we haven’t been linked with any marquee players or maybe any sensible depth signings. It almost beggars belief. Paul White has a lot to answer for too.

McGuire was released when Bennett was coach ...

Nearly everyone was calling for Kahu and Nikorima to be pissed off (although since Seibs did it many have changed their tuned on that)

Roberts was a lazy cry baby, upset that the coach wouldn't let him coast anymore ... Good riddance

There is no point making signings for the sake of it ...

The fact the we haven't been linked with marquee players is probably a good thing ... In previous years we were linked with every high profile player in the comp, only for none of them to even remotely be true. Maybe the fact that we are not being linked to these players means there are one or two big signings in the works ...

Finally, Paul White has nothing to answer for, the decision to replace Bennett was made at board level by the entire board which includes the great Darren Lockyer (no one seems to blame him for this decision)

 

[Kyall]

Just some rumour pages on Facebook it said Milford to fb and Boyd to 5/8.

 

[Allo]

No, it's not a possibility. Perhaps if there was cover for Milford, but there is not.

Unless Turpin in the halves. Not putting any stock into ANYTHING that comes out of that cesspool, mind.

 

[Allo]

There’s a train of thought I’ve had is that we’re doing a Roosters of 2016 for the next 18 months and will be hitting the market hard for the 2021 season (when a lot of the comp is off contract after ‘20) to try and have a legit 2-3 year premiership window that can then perpetuate success for the years after.

The biggest concern, like Wolfie and others have said is that we may burn the good kids out too much by then if we play them every week in an ordinary side.

Again, just one of those thoughts that sounds like it could be a thing, because I hate to think why else we’ve been managing our roster the way we have unless it’s on purpose

 

[_wwong]

I'm so disappointed... It's like the other day I went for a surf on one of my old boards that used to go good but it is now waterlogged and was like riding a stonefish. I put it back on the shelf and rode my new mayhem and had a few blinders. Then one bad session on the new board, more so related to the waves than the board, I went and favoured the old waterlogged heaper again. Bugger you seibold and your shithouse spine choices. Macca is waterlogged. Leave him on the shelf for the memories.

But your old board tackled the waves 50 times every surf.

 

[Wolfie]

He was a depth signing at minimum wage in a position that has experienced fewer than average unavailabilities and injuries. If you don't get a flat tyre that doesn't make your spare an odd purchase.

We already had a spare we didn't use, now we have two of them.

 

[pagey]

McGuire was released when Bennett was coach ...

Nearly everyone was calling for Kahu and Nikorima to be pissed off (although since Seibs did it many have changed their tuned on that)

Roberts was a lazy cry baby, upset that the coach wouldn't let him coast anymore ... Good riddance

There is no point making signings for the sake of it ...

The fact the we haven't been linked with marquee players is probably a good thing ... In previous years we were linked with every high profile player in the comp, only for none of them to even remotely be true. Maybe the fact that we are not being linked to these players means there are one or two big signings in the works ...

Finally, Paul White has nothing to answer for, the decision to replace Bennett was made at board level by the entire board which includes the great Darren Lockyer (no one seems to blame him for this decision)

I blame locky and he hasn't done much in the maroons case either picking numpties like Wallace, chambers etc
As for McGuire getting let go when Bennett was here dosen't mean he had a say in it , as a matter a fact he was asked if he agreed with it which tells you it wasn't his decision.
You really need to stop deflecting the blame back to Bennett , it's been 15 rounds and things aren't going to plan. Time for the board and seibold to take some blame.

 

[abashii]

Bennett never made the tough decisions either (at least not for the last 4 years)

Let's assume for the sake of argument that's true. So what? If Bennett was such a shit coach he had to be sacked because he never made the tough decisions, why should we be rejoicing to see the same behaviour from Seibold?

You've gotta move on mate. It doesn't matter whether Bennett was a bum or the best coach ever, Seibold is the coach now and he can be accountable for his decisions.

 

[Renegade]

**** i am not looking forward to this game.

i'll be watching it through the gaps of my fingers I think

 

[Morkel]

Between the byes, Origin, and some rather forgettable games, it seems ages since I've actually watched the Broncos. Looking forward to getting back in to the season. Experience tells me that this part of the season goes the fastest - it'll be the off-season before we know it :(

 

[Renegade]

Between the byes, Origin, and some rather forgettable games, it seems ages since I've actually watched the Broncos. Looking forward to getting back in to the season. Experience tells me that this part of the season goes the fastest - it'll be the off-season before we know it :(

the way we're going, off-season will be a welcome reprieve from the beating we're taking. some optimism might even return!

 

[animal eater]

As I have stated earlier in the year, I am OK (not happy but OK) losing providing we blood upcoming talent. To trot Boyd and McCoullough out there is a bad insult to the fans because it sends the message that we have either given up or don't really care. Both as a fan to me are offensive and makes me question the future of the club.

 

[Super Freak]

As I have stated earlier in the year, I am OK (not happy but OK) losing providing we blood upcoming talent. To trot Boyd and McCoullough out there is a bad insult to the fans because it sends the message that we have either given up or don't really care. Both as a fan to me are offensive and makes me question the future of the club.

I think it's possible that Seibold knows the season is over and he is going to give Boyd and Macca the rest of the season to prove why they should be in the side and if they don't, they are gone.

But I think the reality is Seibold was never going to keep Macca out of the side when he returned from injury. Turpin had his shot and Macca was always going to be given a chance to show he should be in the side over Turpin.

As for Boyd, we don't have anyone else and you can't just throw anyone into fullback. It's too important of a position to just throw some random player in there.

 

[animal eater]

I think it's possible that Seibold knows the season is over and he is going to give Boyd and Macca the rest of the season to prove why they should be in the side and if they don't, they are gone.

But I think the reality is Seibold was never going to keep Macca out of the side when he returned from injury. Turpin had his shot and Macca was always going to be given a chance to show he should be in the side over Turpin.

As for Boyd, we don't have anyone else and you can't just throw anyone into fullback. It's too important of a position to just throw some random player in there."

I think you are likely right but I don't have to like it. It shits me that watching the last couple of games is just straight painful. This is my bloody club and I want to get behind them but damn, it's like Chinese water torture as of late.

In terms of FB, it just blows my mind that we don't have one somewhere in the ranks. Is every one of our feeder teams playing with a 2-17 and ommitting a number one?

 

[ostin86]

He's a bloody talent... But... One game bad? Strange, I seem to recall him starting at 5/8th this year after he requested it. So he played all those games great, why did they move him? That's another 6, and the 1st half of the 1st origin wasn't good at all. That's 7 and a half games, about 1/3 of his career. Lol Owen Craigie, tim Smith, Jordan rankin, there's probably 100 examples. Players don't come in and just dominate and no other team stands a chance as they confirm their immortality with 15 years of dominance. The best players in history were often not forecast to be the best players, they learned and adapted and grew as players. The way they talk about ponga its like he has done all this and has dominated the comp for 10 years already. He's not even the most dominant player in his team! In fact I'd put klemmer in front of him too. People have a short memory, milford had the EXACT same type of hype around him. Ponga may turn out to be an immortal but ffs he is nowhere near the top players yet, he doesn't consistly dominate games for 80 minutes yet...

I was referring to SOO. Sorry I was not very specific. I don't watch all of Newcastles games so I could not comment with confidence on his club form. I know he was a major reason why we won game 1. From what I have seen of him I would say I believe the hype. The kid has football ability that you cannot teach. Similar to a young Lockyer ( in regards to having skills you can't teach)