PRE-GAME Round 16 - Bulldogs vs Broncos

[Super Freak]

Hunt backs rookie Opacic to shine

Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt says debutant Tom Opacic is one of the hardest workers he has ever met in his time in rugby league.

Opacic will start in the centres for the Broncos when they travel to Sydney to play the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

The 21-year-old will finally get his first-grade chance after coming through the Broncos' system from a young age, slotting into the team to cover injuries to regular starters Jack Reed and Jordan Kahu.

Hunt believes Opacic is thoroughly deserving of his debut, and he said the rugged centre would not look out of place in the top grade.

"Tom really has worked for his debut," Hunt said.

"He spent a lot of time in the under-20s and then he progressed to training with the first grade squad. This is as well as the training he does for Redcliffe in the Intrust Super Cup.

"He's waited for his opportunity and given his time to the club.

"Tommy won't look out of place come Saturday against the Bulldogs."

Opacic will be Brisbane's sixth club debutant for the season following the first-time appearances of Jai Arrow, Tevita Pangai Jnr, Greg Eden, Travis Waddell and Herman Ese'ese.

Most interestingly, he will be the first player of Serbian descent to don a Broncos jersey.

Opacic will need to adjust to first grade quickly, with the Queensland schoolboy set to be playing opposite Bulldogs' rookie of the year contender Kerrod Holland.

Hunt said Opacic would relish the challenge of playing first grade, giving a glowing endorsement of the young Bronco in the process.

"I've had a lot to do with him at training over the years," he said.

"He's been in the system for a couple of years now and he's a great young kid.

"Tommy is a very hard worker. He may go about his business very quietly, but he always does what he has to do.

"I don't think he's going to let us down on the weekend because he's a quality young player."

Brisbane have named all six of their Queensland stars to back up from Wednesday night's State of Origin II.

It looms as a huge test for the Broncos, with it being their first trip to ANZ Stadium since last year's heartbreaking grand final loss.

Hunt backs rookie Opacic to shine - NRL.com

 

[Unbreakable]

So hopefully now that Thaiday is out we'll start Su'A on his preferred left edge, alongside Milford, Opacic & Oates..

The dream is real, we may actually have players who can finish off tries on the left edge!

 

[mitch222]

So hopefully now that Thaiday is out we'll start Su'A on his preferred left edge, alongside Milford, Opacic & Oates..

The dream is real, we may actually have players who can finish off tries on the left edge!

Aren't Oates and Milford up there with the top try scorers for this year? Our left edge attack is doing pretty ok this year

 

[Unbreakable]

Our left edge attack is doing pretty ok this year

No thanks to Reed & Glenn, the point of my post was that I'm hoping Opacic & Su'A can show a little more speed and ball skills when Milford & Boyd do all the hard work and put them into holes.

 

[Foordy]

What are the chances Blair starts?

 

[Cult]

No thanks to Reed & Glenn, the point of my post was that I'm hoping Opacic & Su'A can show a little more speed and ball skills when Milford & Boyd do all the hard work and put them into holes.

That wasn't your point at all. You basically said we don't have anyone who can finish on that left edge, which is wrong.

 

[Mitch06]

That wasn't your point at all. You basically said we don't have anyone who can finish on that left edge, which is wrong.

It read that way but it's obvious Oates and Milf can finish

 

[Unbreakable]

That wasn't your point at all. You basically said we don't have anyone who can finish on that left edge, which is wrong.

You know my point and I don't? Okay fair enough dude, LOL.

 

[Cult]

You know my point and I don't? Okay fair enough dude, LOL.

You changed your point when you realized you were wrong. You said "we may actually have players who can finish off tries on the left edge!" Please tell me your point again. I'm a little confused because I read exactly what you said and didn't try to guess what point you were attempting to make by saying things that aren't true. Next you'll be telling me Reed is beaten by his opposition centre every week and then not replying when I ask when it actually happened.

 

[lionred]

I understood UB

 

[Unbreakable]

You changed your point when you realized you were wrong. You said "we may actually have players who can finish off tries on the left edge!" Please tell me your point again. I'm a little confused because I read exactly what you said and didn't try to guess what point you were attempting to make by saying things that aren't true. Next you'll be telling me Reed is beaten by his opposition centre every week and then not replying when I ask when it actually happened.

So hopefully now that Thaiday is out we'll start Su'A on his preferred left edge, alongside Milford, Opacic & Oates..

The dream is real, we may actually have players who can finish off tries on the left edge!

The point of the post is really rather simple, I listed four players, two of which are Milford & Oates, who are undoubtedly players who can finish off tries (Well done for observing that! I don't think many people know that interesting statistic!), the other two are Su'A & Opacic, who are the said players who will be replacing Glenn/Thaiday & Reed on the left edge, it is quite common knowledge that Jack Reed & Alex Glenn aren't exactly the best attacking players, so I made a statement saying that now we project to have two young guys who hopefully show a little more speed and skill in attack, we may have players who can finish off tries on the left edge, I then went further in my next post (To try and help you out a little bit) explaining that Boyd & Milford often do great work on the left edge to get our players into space, only to be foiled by Alex Glenn or Jack Reed being unable to finish off the try or make the correct decision, often due to lack of speed and skill.

I really hope this has cleared things up for you Cult3, if you have any further inquiries please let me know. :)

 

[Cult]

The point of the post is really rather simple, I listed four players, two of which are Milford & Oates, who are undoubtedly players who can finish off tries (Well done for observing that! I don't think many people know that interesting statistic!), the other two are Su'A & Opacic, who are the said players who will be replacing Glenn/Thaiday & Reed on the left edge, it is quite common knowledge that Jack Reed & Alex Glenn aren't exactly the best attacking players, so I made a statement saying that now we project to have two young guys who hopefully show a little more speed and skill in attack, we may have players who can finish off tries on the left edge, I then went further in my next post (To try and help you out a little bit) explaining that Boyd & Milford often do great work on the left edge to get our players into space, only to be foiled by Alex Glenn or Jack Reed being unable to finish off the try or make the correct decision, often due to lack of speed and skill.

I really hope this has cleared things up for you Cult3, if you have any further inquiries please let me know. :)

You backtracked. Also I know it's more than Reed but Opacic has scored 4 tries from 12 games. Only two more than Sam Thaiday. His try scoring ability can't be too great if that's the case, especially considering he scored them in a much lower comp.

 

[lynx000]

*grabs popcorn*

 

[Unbreakable]

You backtracked. Also I know it's more than Reed but Opacic has scored 4 tries from 12 games. Only two more than Sam Thaiday. His try scoring ability can't be too great if that's the case, especially considering he scored them in a much lower comp.

Yeah man, I backtracked. I can't believe you've caught me out in my web of lies, I tried so hard to conceal the fact that I don't rate Milford & Oates. Damn you!

 

[Cult]

Yeah man, I backtracked. I can't believe you've caught me out in my web of lies, I tried so hard to conceal the fact that I don't rate Milford & Oates. Damn you!

My favourite part was when you chose to respond to only half of my post.

 

[Unbreakable]

My favourite part was when you chose to respond to only half of my post.

My favourite part was when you tried to call me out, only to fail miserably at doing so.

Regarding your question about Opacic, I'm unsure of the current situation at Redcliffe and to why he's only scored 4 tries this season, but as you proclaimed yourself, at least it's more than Reed.

I'm sure he'll have more opportunities playing alongside Anthony Milford & Darius Boyd in comparison to Zach Strasser & Jack Ahearn.

 

[Morkel]

Move along...

 

[Cult]

My favourite part was when you tried to call me out, only to fail miserably at doing so.

Regarding your question about Opacic, I'm unsure of the current situation at Redcliffe and to why he's only scored 4 tries this season, but as you proclaimed yourself, at least it's more than Reed.

I'm sure he'll have more opportunities playing alongside Anthony Milford & Darius Boyd in comparison to Zach Strasser & Jack Ahearn.

Just because you say I failed to do so, doesn't make it true. Every single time there's a Jack Reed argument it's filled with baseless "facts" fabricated to make him look worse. Both Reed and Glenn do much more than just score tries and to say that a player who has scored 4 tries from 12 games, in a lower competition (Another factor I see you've just skipped in your response) and an 18 year old who plays with teenagers every week have more attacking prowess is ridiculous. I guess it's to be expected though.