POST GAME Round 19 - Knights vs Broncos

[Big Pete]

When the game was there to be won, the Broncos came up with the right plays.

It may not have been the best performance from the Broncos, but there is something to be gained about being able to play in patches. As significant as the Sims try was, the play that stood out to me was Jordan Kahu racing off his line to put pressure on Lamb and forcing the error.

Isaako was good on debut, albeit didn't receive a lot of opportunities close to the line. What impressed me most was his composure under the high ball and his willingness to ruck it up for the team. That showed a lot of toughness and if he can channel that and develop other areas of his game, he could become a regular down the track.

Good performance from Sims. The Knights made it their mission and he told them 'knock yourselves out' so they did. That hand signal will rub a lot of people the wrong way, but I don't have an issue with it as long as he plays like he did tonight.

If I had one issue with the performance tonight, it was the lack of support from the Broncos. There were so many occassions where players were looking for runners or were in the clear and had nobody supporting them. It's the one area of the Broncos game that's missing from 2015 and I hope they can address it in time.

 

[Jason Simmons]

When the game was there to be won, the Broncos came up with the right plays.

It may not have been the best performance from the Broncos, but there is something to be gained about being able to play in patches. As significant as the Sims try was, the play that stood out to me was Jordan Kahu racing off his line to put pressure on Lamb and forcing the error.

Isaako was good on debut, albeit didn't receive a lot of opportunities close to the line. What impressed me most was his composure under the high ball and his willingness to ruck it up for the team. That showed a lot of toughness and if he can channel that and develop other areas of his game, he could become a regular down the track.

Good performance from Sims. The Knights made it their mission and he told them 'knock yourselves out' so they did. That hand signal will rub a lot of people the wrong way, but I don't have an issue with it as long as he plays like he did tonight.

If I had one issue with the performance tonight, it was the lack of support from the Broncos. There were so many occassions where players were looking for runners or were in the clear and had nobody supporting them. It's the one area of the Broncos game that's missing from 2015 and I hope they can address it in time.

I didn't mind that, they gave him plenty and he gave it back. All adds to the drama i would say...

 

[Organix]

This made me laugh

 

[Huge]

This made me laugh

Three opposition player's hands on the ball and still couldn't buy a penalty !

 

[Browny]

What was the hand signal. I missed it

 

[Alec]

That was so frustrating to watch. I can't believe Hunt wasn't hooked, he was fucking abysmal. Couple of good kicks don't excuse the rest.

Isaako was pretty good on debut, but it feels like he doesn't really have a passing game. Can't really judge from the limited amount I've seen from him, but that's the feeling I got from him.

Moga had a terrific game in attack. Milford came back really strongly, actually looked llike he had a better running game than before he got injured.

Sims was really impressive, his best game for us by far.

Glenn was my MOTM, looked fucking great each time.

Arrow really impressed me, also his best game in FG.

Ofahengaue is going really well. Pangai is our king of offloads too.


It doesn't sound that frustrating when I list these things, but our attack had no structure, our defence was awful on the right, and Ben Hunt is the most frustrating player in the comp. I'm glad he's leaving, I can't imagine watching this shit from him much longer.

 

[Huge]

Also worthy of note...Alex Glen's 179 metres off 17 hitups....great contribution. Can't believe Hunt got one point off NRL.com...so many better contributions.

 

[Alec]

Also worthy of note...Alex Glen's 179 metres off 17 hitups....great contribution. Can't believe Hunt got one point off NRL.com...so many better contributions.

Yep, Glenn was my MOTM. He was fantastic.

 

[Big Pete]

Arrow really impressed me, also his best game in FG.

Second to his Round 19 effort last year against South Sydney.

No surprise that his best two performances have come when he's played as a starting lock forward. I bet the Gold Coast fans are excited about his prospects.

 

[Organix]

 

[Sproj]

If the Titans have signed Arrow, they have picked up a bargain and we've lost a big part of our future to them...again...for the second time in three years.

 

[Alec]

If the Titans have signed Arrow, they have picked up a bargain and we've lost a big part of our future to them...again...for the second time in three years.

Our development system seems very flawed.

2013/14/15/16: We are grooming Arrow to be our future lock for sure!
2017: Changed my mind. Lol!

Things like this wouldn't happen at the Storm, for instance. Why waste all that time? Why can't they identify talent and develop and secure them properly? It's not just about Arrow here, it's been happening too often. It's frustrating, because we used to be much better at it.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

wtf does this even mean

 

[Huge]

Yep, Glenn was my MOTM. He was fantastic.

We posted at virtually the same time, I probably wouldn't have done so if I had read your post first !

 

[Dash]

wtf does this even mean

Why are people (Knights fans and the foxsports headline writers) so upset about it?

 

[Super Freak]

Why are people (Knights fans and the foxsports headline writers) so upset about it?

I think they were upset about what he did after that. Pretty much a "I can't hear you" gesture. That's when they started booing.

I think the 'A' is actually a signal for his brother.

 

[Accept]

I think they were upset about what he did after that. Pretty much a "I can't hear you" gesture. That's when they started booing.

I think the 'A' is actually a signal for his brother.

The "A" stands for Alex McKinnon, he does the same after every try he scores.

 

[Big Pete]

Our development system seems very flawed.

2013/14/15/16: We are grooming Arrow to be our future lock for sure!
2017: Changed my mind. Lol!

Things like this wouldn't happen at the Storm, for instance. Why waste all that time? Why can't they identify talent and develop and secure them properly? It's not just about Arrow here, it's been happening too often. It's frustrating, because we used to be much better at it.

Melbourne have lost Cronk, Harris and McLean for next season. They've probably got the best production line in the competition bar none, but even they're not immune to the demands of the cap.

Looking at Arrow specifically, the original plan may have been to play him as lock but that all changed when Bennett brought in Pangai Jr. Most fans would agree Pangai Jr is the better talent, so you either stick with the rookies or you bring in a talent when you can.

Which is what Bellamy did when he brought Finucane into the club or Addo-Carr. If the talent is available, why not take it?

Melbourne have two advantages.

They've kept the same coach since 2003. That means they haven't had to go in different directions to appease the new coach. Brisbane on the other had have had to change tact on three occasions since then, so that's a lot of long term planning down the tubes.

The other area where they've got Brisbane beat is they've got a great foundation. In Smith, Cronk and Slater they've got all the direction they need, they just need to find the right cogs around them. Which is why Bellamy casts players in roles he has. Whether it's the Steve Turner speedster, Matt King giant winger or even the Ben Cross clones he seems to love, he just backs his ability to mould these players into that vision.

Brisbane don't have that core identity yet, so they tend to stay loyal to these 'cogs' meaning the players of the future have to look elsewhere.