[Round 18, 2021] Broncos vs Tigers

[BroncsFan]

I showed this clip a few weeks ago. I wanted to show some promising signs of Tesi playing from fullback.

Noted it was against the Raiders and we put in a sub-par performance BI (Before Ikin).

But he showed nice shape and footwork to get himself on the outside of the 5/8th.

A offload just before the defence sees Farnworth score a try here.

Well, here it is again, this time against a front rower. On the right hand side again.

Note Staggs was on the bench here, otherwise you have Niu AND Staggs on the right side.

Taking on the line with great footwork against a obvious target (Rudolph) will give the kid a lot of confidence. Mind you, Toby tops the league in missed tackles...

This is how a player can affect the game themselves.

One thing Isaako didnt do nearly enough was hang around the ruck on yardage sets as a option for offloads or support. Niu though is making it a big part of his game.

Robati makes the half break and great offload but note Tesi hanging once again behind Turps and then continues to offer himself in support.

He absolutely needs to stay in the 1 rest of season. He still has holes in his game which will be targeted but regardless he "could" answer one of our spine questions next season.

His development is no our number 1 priority this season.

I love that last clip you have... Gamble taking it to the line with options inside and out, uses deception to feign the inside ball (Tesi might have been through anyway)... sharks outside backs commit early thinking he's going to Staggs, Trindall hangs back and Gamble gets TC 1v1 against him.

It shows what our attack can do when we actually get some ball.

I also agree with you on Niu following the ruck... in his first few games at 1 last year he was quite often hanging around looking for the offload as well. Haas was more willing to get the ball out this week so if I'm Tesi I'm pushing up whenever Haas has the ball from now on to look for that offload... and also put some questions in the defence's mind. Haas is already a handful to bring down, but imagine if the defence had to think about support players around him as well.

I think Niu being able to hang around the ruck more than Isaako may be a fitness thing. I recall Tesi being flagged as one of the fittest from preseason this year (along with Herbie), but I cant ever recall Isaako getting similar notoriety in fitness drills past or present.

Isaako is committed in everything he does so it's likely something he could work up, but maybe he just cant build up the kind of engine needed of a modern day fullback.

I think Tesi looks promising and I think his ball playing is built up a bit more than some other fullbacks... it was something I noted in his few games last year as well. Unfortunately for him he has thrown a few intercepts, but his technique looks much smoother than other non-ball playing fullbacks that get around (he had the nice quick pass for Arthars try (I think))... so maybe it's a recognition thing at the moment. Given Darius and Khunt were some of the best at finishing off 3v2 and 2v1 plays I'd hope it is something that can be polished up at training.

 

[Dazza 92]

I love that last clip you have... Gamble taking it to the line with options inside and out, uses deception to feign the inside ball (Tesi might have been through anyway)... sharks outside backs commit early thinking he's going to Staggs, Trindall hangs back and Gamble gets TC 1v1 against him.

It shows what our attack can do when we actually get some ball.

I also agree with you on Niu following the ruck... in his first few games at 1 last year he was quite often hanging around looking for the offload as well. Haas was more willing to get the ball out this week so if I'm Tesi I'm pushing up whenever Haas has the ball from now on to look for that offload... and also put some questions in the defence's mind. Haas is already a handful to bring down, but imagine if the defence had to think about support players around him as well.

I think Niu being able to hang around the ruck more than Isaako may be a fitness thing. I recall Tesi being flagged as one of the fittest from preseason this year (along with Herbie), but I cant ever recall Isaako getting similar notoriety in fitness drills past or present.

Isaako is committed in everything he does so it's likely something he could work up, but maybe he just cant build up the kind of engine needed of a modern day fullback.

I think Tesi looks promising and I think his ball playing is built up a bit more than some other fullbacks... it was something I noted in his few games last year as well. Unfortunately for him he has thrown a few intercepts, but his technique looks much smoother than other non-ball playing fullbacks that get around (he had the nice quick pass for Arthars try (I think))... so maybe it's a recognition thing at the moment. Given Darius and Khunt were some of the best at finishing off 3v2 and 2v1 plays I'd hope it is something that can be polished up at training.

...on Gambles pass to get Robati through...this shows it up much better...

Real halfback sleight of hand here with the soft hands onto Robatis chest...

If such a thing existed, id give Gamble a pre-try assist....

 

[Dazza 92]

There's no doubt he's a decent player but we definitely shouldn't think he's any better in attack than Isaako. Sure, he might be better at organising the defence out the back and it great to see him following looking for opportunities. Isaako could have done more of that no doubt.

Our leading player for Try Assists is Isaako with 6 and he's equal second for tries so he has had his moments too. Tesi has 2 TAs. The bloke we need back on the park is Kelly, believe it or not! 4 try assists in only 3 games. Not bad at all. 7 tackle busts too! That's better than 2 tackle busts a game. Consider he played his 3 games against decent opposition and you can see we could do with him back

good thing Isaakos on the wing then...

 

[Aldo]

...on Gambles pass to get Robati through...this shows it up much better...

Real halfback sleight of hand here with the soft hands onto Robatis chest...

If such a thing existed, id give Gamble a pre-try assist....

I love how he straightens up, looks inside, goes out, commits the 14 and puts Robati one on one with a guy who had to go low. Great halves play.

Beats seeing Milford crab across field, run around in circles and then throw a hospital ball.

 

[Accept]

This might be the first time we win two consecutive matches since March 2020.

It will take a 49+ point turnaround from the last time these teams met to be successful in this one. Hard to tip matches that involve two bottom feeding clubs. The Broncos should win (being at home and all) but they probably won't.

 

[Sproj]

Yeah I like the analysis of Niu on the previous page. He looks really promising and with further development, who knows what he might become. We also have Cobbo nipping at his heals but he could turn into a gun winger/centre as well, so I don't know if Niu will become a superstar or a depth player and while by no means without flaws, particularly under the high ball, I'm liking what I'm seeing.

 

[Chewed]

...on Gambles pass to get Robati through...this shows it up much better...

Real halfback sleight of hand here with the soft hands onto Robatis chest...

If such a thing existed, id give Gamble a pre-try assist....

Thing with TC was he was getting over the top of the defence and looking for that offload all game. Big and tall.

He's something. What we lose with TPJ I think Robati can deliver on, maybe not the brutal fend but everything else has been too notch.

Hopefully he gets the support every run.

 

[Mustafur]

I like what I see from Robati a massive upgrade on Riki, has good football instincts.

 

[Dazza 92]

I like what I see from Robati a massive upgrade on Riki, has good football instincts.

yep, hes another id love to see hold that spot for the rest of the year....

 

[Sproj]

Yep Robati has gone well past Riki I think.

 

[Galah]

Yep Robati has gone well past Riki I think.

His offload is actually useful he digs into the line and then looks to offload, not like Tpj the old back into them and offload never looking to break the line.

 

[Kooly87]

Yep Robati has gone well past Riki I think.

Riki looks like a bloke who could do with a few weeks in Queensland Cup just to get a bit of confidence back. I do wonder if we might see him and Piakura switch places towards the end of the year to get a read on how the development of both guys is tracking.

 

[Dazza 92]

Riki looks like a bloke who could do with a few weeks in Queensland Cup just to get a bit of confidence back. I do wonder if we might see him and Piakura switch places towards the end of the year to get a read on how the development of both guys is tracking.

That would work....

 

[Chewed]

Riki is big enough to play middle. We seem to be going for fast, big and mobile. Riki is that. He's been playing pretty great in Cup, ball playing too.

Hopefully the team this week is the same with Piakura or Willison coming in for Arthurs, or Paix.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

I've tipped us for the first time in over a month, maybe more but I wouldn't dare say this game is a given. We will absolutely need Haas to back up, Staggs to put in another blinder and the bench to stand up. If we can turn the likes of Joe O and Roberts into roadkill then that would be a nice bonus. Gamble in particular should get in both of their faces and put them fully on tilt.

 

[WASSHHH]

I've tipped us for the first time in over a month, maybe more but I wouldn't dare say this game is a given. We will absolutely need Haas to back up, Staggs to put in another blinder and the bench to stand up. If we can turn the likes of Joe O and Roberts into roadkill then that would be a nice bonus. Gamble in particular should get in both of their faces and put them fully on tilt.

The only thing I know about Joffa is that he lifts big weights but can’t transfer that strength to the field, drops the pill at the worst times and gives away stupid penalties. That’s it.

 

[Fitzy]

Riki is big enough to play middle. We seem to be going for fast, big and mobile. Riki is that. He's been playing pretty great in Cup, ball playing too.

Hopefully the team this week is the same with Piakura or Willison coming in for Arthurs, or Paix.

I agree with Riki becoming a middle off the bench and the ability to play bench, he is a fast mobile forward who like Bullemor can change the game

 

[Alec]

RIki had one good game last year and I'm not sure if he had any real standout ones this year. Not sold on him at all right now, I think he needs to make way for others until he hopefully gets better.