PRE-GAME [Round 2, 2024] Broncos vs Rabbitohs

[Spoon]

Do we consider Oates off the bench as 2nd row and wing cover? If he could play well at 2nd he seems the perfect option

 

[MrRobot]

Today was putrid but let’s not overreact too much with the game plans and selections… yet.

We struggled with go-forward, particularly getting out of our own end. So Oates and Willison in for Mariner (who doesn’t deserve being dropped, but still) and Marty.

And train with Baker on an edge as back up.

 

[Fitzy]

Do we consider Oates off the bench as 2nd row and wing cover? If he could play well at 2nd he seems the perfect option

No he doesn’t. How can any of you not remember how shit of a second rower he was. Put fucken Jaidyen Hunt on the bench you at least have a middle forward for the entire game if Piakura or Riki don’t get injured.

 

[Fitzy]

Today was putrid but let’s not overreact too much with the game plans and selections… yet.

We struggled with go-forward, particularly getting out of our own end. So Oates and Willison in for Mariner (who doesn’t deserve being dropped, but still) and Marty.

And train with Baker on an edge as back up.

Mariner should not be dropped. The right selection was made. Him and Arthars will be awesome come September. He shouldn’t be dropped because Cobbo and Staggs were unable to pick up the slack.

Its very hard for Jesse and Deine to build a platform out of our own end when the opposition found themselves tackling Smoothy, Ezra, Reyno far to many times instead of a big boy or one of our centres (more specifically Selwyn) taking a fucken carry. Ball found its way into the wrong peoples hands at the wrong times all night. Roosters well and truely tested the 10 metre with there line speed as they knew the ref wasn’t gonna call shit. In comparison our kicking game was dogshit and we had no line speed.

We were poor in every facet from team selection right through. Will we better? I’m pretty confident we will be. Everything just didn’t go our way and we played like shit because of it. We went to Vegas had our fun now let’s not do that bullshit for a very long time. We will come out and play great guns I’m sure of it.

However a great deal of areas need to be improved on. Coaches need to come up with a better solution than Patty and we need to be getting the right personnel back in this side. COUGH COUGH XAVIER FUCKING WILLISON KEV.

Massive point of difference for us that kid, to not play him is an atrocious decision. ATROCIOUS. You get Patty back in the middle with Jensen actually starting and Willison heading the side from the bench with his size along with whoever the **** else you decide ends up a very strong rotation. Patty on the edge with an undersized Hetho playing huge minutes at lock, Taupau doing **** all, Jensen playing from the bench (played well but better starter), Baker being relatively unnoticed other than his initial few runs was just a recipe for fucking disaster against there pack.

We got nearly everything wrong and still only lost by 10. That shows our quality. But we can’t be doing that all to much.

Walsh ran far wider than 2.5 metres so field size isn’t an excuse for him that made his game entirely 1D. Ezra was quiet but that was his first footy back with a really tough game to inject himself with edges being a quarter as potent. Reyno was fucking terrible at kicking and it seemed like Ezra and Reece were doing far too much of the playmaking and general work he needed to take control and he didn’t at all, very disappointing performance. Billy and Tyson weren’t bad weren’t great had there good moments had there bad.

Run hard, tackle hard, stay focused, stay disciplined and kick well and you will almost always win. Hard to say they did any of those things well and that’s the crux of footy. Our poor performance started in those areas but so many more unfortunate circumstances, decisions, environments and tactics just weren’t favourable. Sure Chooks outperformed us and were good in a lot of areas and very restrictive over us but we beat ourselves in a number of areas. We will be better for it. No mass changes like Oates to second row, or wing or anything like that. Willison has to come back into this side and Baker better start learning second row or both him and Marty will be on the bench for Hunt. Other than that I’d run with the backline as is and just tell Cobbo to take some more carries.

Final note we were down in fitness but it’s rd 1 barely any trial footy and the fitness block was quite short this year so that will come.

 

[Manofoneway]

Mariner should not be dropped. The right selection was made. Him and Arthars will be awesome come September. He shouldn’t be dropped because Cobbo and Staggs were unable to pick up the slack.

Its very hard for Jesse and Deine to build a platform out of our own end when the opposition found themselves tackling Smoothy, Ezra, Reyno far to many times instead of a big boy or one of our centres (more specifically Selwyn) taking a fucken carry. Ball found its way into the wrong peoples hands at the wrong times all night. Roosters well and truely tested the 10 metre with there line speed as they knew the ref wasn’t gonna call shit. In comparison our kicking game was dogshit and we had no line speed.

We were poor in every facet from team selection right through. Will we better? I’m pretty confident we will be. Everything just didn’t go our way and we played like shit because of it. We went to Vegas had our fun now let’s not do that bullshit for a very long time. We will come out and play great guns I’m sure of it.

However a great deal of areas need to be improved on. Coaches need to come up with a better solution than Patty and we need to be getting the right personnel back in this side. COUGH COUGH XAVIER FUCKING WILLISON KEV.

Massive point of difference for us that kid, to not play him is an atrocious decision. ATROCIOUS. You get Patty back in the middle with Jensen actually starting and Willison heading the side from the bench with his size along with whoever the **** else you decide ends up a very strong rotation. Patty on the edge with an undersized Hetho playing huge minutes at lock, Taupau doing **** all, Jensen playing from the bench (played well but better starter), Baker being relatively unnoticed other than his initial few runs was just a recipe for fucking disaster against there pack.

We got nearly everything wrong and still only lost by 10. That shows our quality. But we can’t be doing that all to much.

Walsh ran far wider than 2.5 metres so field size isn’t an excuse for him that made his game entirely 1D. Ezra was quiet but that was his first footy back with a really tough game to inject himself with edges being a quarter as potent. Reyno was fucking terrible at kicking and it seemed like Ezra and Reece were doing far too much of the playmaking and general work he needed to take control and he didn’t at all, very disappointing performance. Billy and Tyson weren’t bad weren’t great had there good moments had there bad.

Run hard, tackle hard, stay focused, stay disciplined and kick well and you will almost always win. Hard to say they did any of those things well and that’s the crux of footy. Our poor performance started in those areas but so many more unfortunate circumstances, decisions, environments and tactics just weren’t favourable. Sure Chooks outperformed us and were good in a lot of areas and very restrictive over us but we beat ourselves in a number of areas. We will be better for it. No mass changes like Oates to second row, or wing or anything like that. Willison has to come back into this side and Baker better start learning second row or both him and Marty will be on the bench for Hunt. Other than that I’d run with the backline as is and just tell Cobbo to take some more carries.

Final note we were down in fitness but it’s rd 1 barely any trial footy and the fitness block was quite short this year so that will come.

yeah I honestly have not been at all impressed with Baker. Tapau over baker for sure to make room for Willison. Kobe is the most obvious choice at second row but for some reason he must not have the lungs.

 

[Sproj]

I think today really showed that with Jensen, Baker and Hetherington on the bench, there is no punch. They are all great toilers but you need someone who can provide impact - and we had the bloke named in the team on Tuesday but decided not to play him, it's crazy.

So basically, run this side out:

1. Walsh
2. Arthars
3. Staggs
4. Cobbo
5. Mariner
6. Mam
7. Reynolds
8. Jensen
9. Walters
10. Haas
11. Piakura
12. Riki
13. Carrigan

14. Smoothy
15. Willison
16. Taupau
17. Hetherington

I don't know who though gives Piakura a spell and I reckon that is probably what Baker has been earmarked as that front /second row hybrid.

I liked what Marty bought in the trial and even today but he can no longer really maintain intensity for anything longer than 20 mins and that also is a concern.

 

[Fitzy]

yeah I honestly have not been at all impressed with Baker. Tapau over baker for sure to make room for Willison. Kobe is the most obvious choice at second row but for some reason he must not have the lungs.

Hetho is the obvious bloke to coach it to but he at the same time has zero experience on the edge in any capacity so without some substantial time there he shouldn’t be the one picked. Baker is the most experienced he needs to be the one taught it otherwise as annoying as it is Hunt has to be on the bench. **** he doesn’t even need to be taught it he has played there plenty he just needs to get the reps up playing there. Would love Hetho to learn it but I don’t expect that to happen at all. Reyno didn’t seem to pleased with the Carrigan change so if he has any sort of balls he will discuss that with Kev and ask for a better approach to that situation (which there needs to be). Sure if everyone else turns into a liability it will be something we have to suck up but we haven’t even tried a new bloke there and that’s what’s most annoying.

 

[Manofoneway]

Hetho is the obvious bloke to coach it to but he at the same time has zero experience on the edge in any capacity so without some substantial time there he shouldn’t be the one picked. Baker is the most experienced he needs to be the one taught it otherwise as annoying as it is Hunt has to be on the bench. **** he doesn’t even need to be taught it he has played there plenty he just needs to get the reps up playing there. Would love Hetho to learn it but I don’t expect that to happen at all. Reyno didn’t seem to pleased with the Carrigan change so if he has any sort of balls he will discuss that with Kev and ask for a better approach to that situation (which there needs to be). Sure if everyone else turns into a liability it will be something we have to suck up but we haven’t even tried a new bloke there and that’s what’s most annoying.

Yeah. I agree. Running hunt on the bench would have to mean we drop heatherington though which I'm not a fan of. I would even be happy if they dropped fletcher baker back to cup for 3 or 4 weeks to play in the BR and we roll with willison, tapau and heatherington on the bench.

 

[Fitzy]

Yeah. I agree. Running hunt on the bench would have to mean we drop heatherington though which I'm not a fan of. I would even be happy if they dropped fletcher baker back to cup for 3 or 4 weeks to play in the BR and we roll with willison, tapau and heatherington on the bench.

Thing is do we really go with no second rower on the bench again when Piakura hasn’t made it through more than a half of a footy yet in both games? Whilst it’s not ideal losing Hetherington I would much rather lose Hetherington for a few rounds till we have more confidence in Piakura’s longevity than lose Carrigan to the edge. Willison is a must, the named starting 3 (Haas, Jensen, Carrigan) are musts, someone to play second row is a must at this stage and since Hunts not a big boy another big boy is needed, probably Taupau. Get Hetho or Baker playing 80 at SR in cup to get there skill up there and integrate them back in for Hunt and or Taupau when the confidence is up. Short term insurance with development gain. Either that or you have to hit the market. Loan a Jacob Laban or something and promise a certain amount of games from the bench. Worst case scenario is they aren’t good enough and get recalled.

Side note… I know you have got the gist of why I would drop Hetho but before anyone comes at me it’s because our bench would be to small not because of quality.

 

[Mustafur]

I would be more inclined to drop Baker and Taupau and put on Willison and Hunt.

Hunt can play Lock and that is What Taupau had been doing last year when Carrigan was getting breaks.

 

[Fitzy]

I would be more inclined to drop Baker and Tapau and put on Willison and Hunt.

Hunt can play Lock and that is What Tapau had been doing last year when Carrigan was getting breaks.

Yeah Hunt can play SR by far the best and is a no frills lock and prop as well. He is the insurance option. Takes up that low minute bench forward role where he covers every role and gives versatility. Probably becomes the best option of all the forwards to cover the outside backs or at least can cover second row as well if Piakura was to shift to the centres. He has to be there. Hetho is too small to be the only other specialist middle outside Willison. Some decisions to be made but all I know is Carrigan can’t be the SR going forward.

 

[Mustafur]

Yeah Hunt can play SR by far the best and is a no frills lock and prop as well. He is the insurance option. Takes up that low minute bench forward role where he covers every role and gives versatility. Probably becomes the best option of all the forwards to cover the outside backs or at least can cover second row as well if Piakura was to shift to the centres. He has to be there. Hetho is too small to be the only other specialist middle outside Willison. Some decisions to be made but all I know is Carrigan can’t be the SR going forward.

Hunt has played the Majority of NSW Cup for Dragons in the Middle, he is pretty big too, it should be fine.

Jaiyden Hunt - Playing Career - Positions - RLP

A stats breakdown of positions played by Jaiyden Hunt, a rugby league player who played for the St George Illawarra Dragons.

www.rugbyleagueproject.org

 

[MrRobot]

I think the least disruptive option at this stage is to give Baker reps on an edge at training and he can move there, only if needed, during games.

Hunt in the 17 is obviously tempting but you’d have to drop someone. And a bench of Smoothy, Hunt, Willison and either Baker/hetho looks too inexperienced to me.

 

[Fatboy]

Really wish we had kept Capewell.

 

[Fitzy]

I think the least disruptive option at this stage is to give Baker reps on an edge at training and he can move there, only if needed, during games.

Hunt in the 17 is obviously tempting but you’d have to drop someone. And a bench of Smoothy, Hunt, Willison and either Baker/hetho looks too inexperienced to me.

I agree but if Baker doesn’t get the reps we have to go with Hunt.

Might be a moot point this round anyway he will be touch and go with 11 day stand down.

 

[Brocko]

I said it when Kev would name CJ at 8 and switch to Flegler pre game last year and I'll say it again this year. I think CJ is far better starting than looking at him for impact off the bench.

He offers good balance starting with Payne and I'd have X as our impact prop off the bench.

I liked our original 17 named. After today only change I'd make from the 17 named on Tuesday would be Hunt for Fletcher Baker just to have some edge cover.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

Before everyone panics...

Penrith lost round 1 last year and 2/4 and 4/9 to start the year last year......

 

[Johnny92]

Another crazy left field option could be to have a guy like Hoeter or that bloke from souths on the bench they cover backline positions and probably could cover backrow as well.
If theres no injuries or Riki/Piakura don't need a rest just throw them in the middle and do a Herbie like workload for 20 minutes.