POST GAME Round 18 - Bulldogs vs Broncos

[Mosyzlak]

Being a Sydney viewer I can attest to the rain starting way out west and rolling over the games for about the 35 to 65th minute. It was a fast game before that and turned into a forward battle afterwards I thought. I thought we had a lot of great one on one tackles tonight, really slowed down their forwards without committing too many people in the tackle and leaving the defensive line stretched.

I know a few people have been shouting for line speed and regaling our style against the roosters, but I think you need to look beyond that game and realise that it's best to approach every game with a specific game plan as we seem to have done. I reckon we've approached each game with a pretty good plan and come away with the win on nearly every occasion. Maybe time to hang up your pre-conceived notions and roll with the wins and losses?

 

[Unbreakable]

I'd also like to say, McCullough really needs to work on his little kicks out of dummy half, if I recall correctly his last 3 have been - The absolute shocker last night that barely made 20 metres, and 2 in the previous game that went dead and gave the opposition 7 tackle sets.

 

[Organix]

I was watching the game over and Dodds' tackle on Tolman was such a good tackle, but he got penalised for lifting. Fortunately it wasn't put on report. I didn't see it as even penalty worthy. Thoughts?

 

[Super Freak]

Watching the replay, Kahu needs to stop rushing up out of the line.

It came very close to hurting us on more than one occasion.

 

[Sproj]

That pass!

Goodness me!! I hadn't seen that live but that is unbelievable.

But the worst part, the touch judge is RIGHT THERE!!

 

[Foordy]

Goodness me!! I hadn't seen that live but that is unbelievable.

But the worst part, the touch judge is RIGHT THERE!!

The NRL obviously were short of officials this week ... So the borrowed a few from the NFL, and they simply forgot what sport they were playing.

 

[ningnangnong]

Just watched the highlights - Sam Thaiday you magnificent bastard!

That try was a throwback to 2006-2008. And that tackle in the dying minutes, bloody beautiful.

 

[broncos4life]

The NRL obviously were short of officials this week ... So the borrowed a few from the NFL, and they simply forgot what sport they were playing.

Makes sense, I thought I heard them say something about before the line of scrimmage

 

[broncos4life]

Really happy with the performance last night. Everyone did their job. Particularly impressed with Blair and Thaiday, especially Thaiday with backing up. Corey Parker, well what more can you say, the guys a god.

Maranta is becoming a great winger.

What impressed me most was how all the forwards stood up. Playing one of the biggest packs in the comp they dominated in what turned out to be a real forward battle with the rain, and alleviated some fears about the loss of McGuire.

 

[mieko]

What a great gutsy win. Forwards stood up and took control. Thaiday and Parker were awesome from backing up. Milford killed it, that pass to Sammy was perfect, took to the line held it up enough to put defense in two minds, brilliant! And geez, first Nikorima taking his chance and killing it now Parcell doing exactly the same, tough decisions coming up.

well done boys, great game!

 

[Unbreakable]

Anyone else think that Gillett might be shaping up to become a Lock once Parker retires? He seems to be making 30-50 tackles nearly every game, he's improved his tackling technique a lot, has a handy off-load and late footwork, I think he'd make a great replacement, might need a few more KG's on him.

2017 -

11. Glenn
12. Oates
13. Gillett

 

[Foordy]

Parker is like a fine wine... Just keeps getting better with age. Another brilliant performance from him last night.

Thaiday really stood up in the absence of McGuire. Ran hard and tackled hard all night.

Blair impressed me last night (which has been rare th8s season. Perfect time for it too.

Wallace and Dodds were both good off the bench.

I also want to take a moment to give credit to Maranta (never thought I'd say those words.) He played a good game last night. That 'no try' just before half time, was a really athletic effort and i didn't think he had it in him. Who knows, in dry conditions he may have been able to hang onto the ball.

I think that stint at fullback has given him plenty of confidence, if he keeps improving, we won't need to buy another winger.

Lastly, i want to see Oates get more game time

 

[rnabokov]

Bennett deserves an awful lot of credit into moulding this team into what it has become, a real premiership force. He is bringing out the best in all our players.

Once Hunt and Milford evolve further as a combination, and the kicking game improves, wow.

Even though I am a Gillett fanboy, he has improved out of sight under Bennett, as has Thaiday.. and Blair.

I'd like to see Oates permanently on the wing for the rest of this season. He is a strike weapon whereas I don't think Vidot is. We need real strike power on the wings and Oates is a try scoring machine.

Parker is simply immense. Best lock in the game bar none.

 

[theshed]

I'm curious what the dogs plan was with their kicking game? It seemed like 95% was a half grubber rolled between Vidot and Boyd.

Which both had no issues returning and often had us start in good field position. Can Reynolds just not bomb or were they trying to do something there?

 

[rnabokov]

I'm curious what the dogs plan was with their kicking game? It seemed like 95% was a half grubber rolled between Vidot and Boyd.

Which both had no issues returning and often had us start in good field position. Can Reynolds just not bomb or were they trying to do something there?

Their game plan (a) sucked and (b) our intensity in defence especially the way we pressured their kicking game threw them right off.

I think this was a game where Bennett showed his clear superiority over Hasler in tactics and strategy, and the team's execution in key areas of defence won the game for us.

Having said that, I totally see what Bennett meant when he said, he wasn't happy with the way our halves managed, or didn't, the team and our kicking game was only average but still better than theirs.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Ben Hunt needs to start realising that he has to own the last 10 mins of each half.

 

[theshed]

Having said that, I totally see what Bennett meant when he said, he wasn't happy with the way our halves managed, or didn't, the team and our kicking game was only average but still better than theirs.

Yeah we looked very confused in attack for big parts of the game.

 

[rnabokov]

Yeah we looked very confused in attack for big parts of the game.

Sure did, and the good thing is that Bennett noticed it too which means certain people will be spoken to.

Your description "confused" sums it up well. Seemed to me like our trademark edge and outside back plays stalled for a lot, but not all of the game.