PRE-GAME [Round 2, 2025] Broncos vs Raiders

[Dazza 92]

Also, watch closely Payne Haas and his yardage runs. I think i noticed he was running wider than usual last week, almost singularly focussed on hitting the edge. He can easily attract 3-4 tacklers given his form right now, that includes a defending half and 2nd rower.

Is this why we had so many short raids against the Roosters coming up trumps?

Well, seems my eyes didn't deceive me.

Thanks to those brilliant folk at Rugby League Writers, who also saw the same thing.

Haas is running a wider line than usual, engaging the centre and edge forward and setting up a short side mismatch in numbers.

Note both the mess at marker + the quick play-the-ball...

Three in the tackle here. Now we see why Paix is returning to 2023 form. In and away and steps back outside the markers to find Hunt with the cut-out pass.

The modern game demands a hooker that is always scanning, looking for mismatches in the defensive line to send his forwards to, and identify opportunites at the ruck to exploit.



Now, notice how Paix doesnt even look towards Haas as he approches Kobes play-the-ball. He's looking left the whole time. He's coaching the defence to "expect" something that actually doesn't come.

Steps left, then pivots back under the markers to find Haas who here is playing post to post. The ruck is again a bit of a mess and leaves Watson isolated on Haas. Not much a smaller man can do but the pass is superb. That gap "should" have been covered by Roosters number 10 (Wong) but he's walking there...

Last tackle of the set too...another reason why the defence didn't read this well.


Finally, heres Paix engaging the A defender before finding Paddy on a angled run...

Thats three tries in 10 minutes.

I had Kobe as my breakout player of this seaosn - is it Paix instead?

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Well, seems my eyes didn't deceive me.

Thanks to those brilliant folk at Rugby League Writers, who also saw the same thing.

Haas is running a wider line than usual, engaging the centre and edge forward and setting up a short side mismatch in numbers.

Note both the mess at marker + the quick play-the-ball...

Three in the tackle here. Now we see why Paix is returning to 2023 form. In and away and steps back outside the markers to find Hunt with the cut-out pass.

The modern game demands a hooker that is always scanning, looking for mismatches in the defensive line to send his forwards to, and identify opportunites at the ruck to exploit.



Now, notice how Paix doesnt even look towards Haas as he approches Kobes play-the-ball. He's looking left the whole time. He's coaching the defence to "expect" something that actually doesn't come.

Steps left, then pivots back under the markers to find Haas who here is playing post to post. The ruck is again a bit of a mess and leaves Watson isolated on Haas. Not much a smaller man can do but the pass is superb. That gap "should" have been covered by Roosters number 10 (Wong) but he's walking there...

Last tackle of the set too...another reason why the defence didn't read this well.


Finally, heres Paix engaging the A defender before finding Paddy on a angled run...

Thats three tries in 10 minutes.

I had Kobe as my breakout player of this seaosn - is it Paix instead?

Nice anal-ysis, Dazza.

 

[Wolfie]

I think we were the second best team defensively that year behind the 4 time premiers. We had consistency in spades as well to be frank. Only 6 losses. Again, we played outstanding football in 2023. Its not a sin to say we are seemingly working towards that level under Madge.. As you say, we have not faced any real opposition to determine if we are at 2023 levels.. yet.

If we are being frank, we simply weren’t consistent though in his time here. 2023 was still an anomaly in Kevvies reign here. That’s why he rightly isnt the coach anymore.

While we looked good in terms of try scoring in Madge’s first game, I’m not seeing the same similarities we had in 2023. We look more structured with and without the ball and we just weren’t as frantic with what we did like we were in 2023. 2023 was obviously just a one off year for us where everything went our way until the final.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Cronk has more or less banished Mam to reserve grade for the whole season, barring probably Rep selection or injury.

Open ended question: Who offers more utility value from the 14, Ezra or Walters?

 

[Santa]

Cronk has more or less banished Mam to reserve grade for the whole season, barring probably Rep selection or injury.

Open ended question: Who offers more utility value from the 14, Ezra or Walters?

It makes sense. If the team is winning well, why change it.

For now I would say Walters. Billy is good for his 20min stints, and covers more positions than Mam. Can Mam even play 9? I'm not a fan of moving players around to accommodate Mam either i.e Hunt to 9 for half the match.

 

[Manofoneway]

If we are being frank, we simply weren’t consistent though in his time here. 2023 was still an anomaly in Kevvies reign here. That’s why he rightly isnt the coach anymore.

While we looked good in terms of try scoring in Madge’s first game, I’m not seeing the same similarities we had in 2023. We look more structured with and without the ball and we just weren’t as frantic with what we did like we were in 2023. 2023 was obviously just a one off year for us where everything went our way until the final.

Not trying to make it about Kev. I'm just saying we are on the way of achieving the levels we achieved in 2023 and its a similar brand of football. Eyes up, off the cuff football. Reliant on Reyno and his kicking game however with the inclusion of Hunt we are now even more blessed!

Hard to fluke an entire year of winning football games. Specifically if your the 2nd best team in the comp defensively only behind the GOAT. Anyway, there should be no hoodoo in being proud of what Kevy and the boys achieved in 2023, unless you are an anti-fan... If this team is as good as they were 2 years ago we should be playing and winning the grand final. Something to strive towards.

 

[Manofoneway]

Cronk has more or less banished Mam to reserve grade for the whole season, barring probably Rep selection or injury.

Open ended question: Who offers more utility value from the 14, Ezra or Walters?

Walters but I would want Mozer in the side over Mam and Walters. Mozer is smarter than Mam, a specialist hooker. Imagine Paix starting with Mozer maintaining the rage, shit we are blessed for options at the moment!

 

[Fernando]

Cronk has more or less banished Mam to reserve grade for the whole season, barring probably Rep selection or injury.

Open ended question: Who offers more utility value from the 14, Ezra or Walters?

Walters

 

[xilliun]

Cronk has more or less banished Mam to reserve grade for the whole season, barring probably Rep selection or injury.

Open ended question: Who offers more utility value from the 14, Ezra or Walters?

Great commentary. Mam allows flexibility and depth at the position. He'll get game time during the season. Not sure he'll ever play 14, don't know if he's solid enough in defence to play 9 unless Hunt was to rotate into 9 when the starting hooker goes off.

Unfortunately, unless things don't go as expected I'm not sure how Mozer gets much game time this year. Another good problem to have.

 

[Foordy]

Open ended question: Who offers more utility value from the 14, Ezra or Walters?

Mam, every day of the week.

Mam is a more dynamic player and would certainly be more dangerous coming on against tired defences.

Mam is a better half. on par defender (at worst) and IMO could handle hooker for to give Paix a breather.

 

[Jedhead]

No not true .
Unlimited tackles and 1 yard rule in defence . St George won 11 premierships about 60 years ago under those rules .
1967 4 tackle sets .
Up until 70s field goals 2 points tries 3 points .

Read it again I never said no changes. I said very few changes over. 100 year period. So- yes very true. Nowadays we get changes every season.

 

[Foordy]

Unfortunately, unless things don't go as expected I'm not sure how Mozer gets much game time this year. Another good problem to have.

not a problem we have given he is injured, with some reports suggesting he could miss the whole season

 

[Jedhead]

Do you really get that outraged by refereeing? Let it go, man. Give your balls a tug.

Ignores the whole first paragraph which rebuts your salient points of the state of the game.

I don’t get outraged by the standard of officiating it’s more a yearning to see the standards of our great game upheld.

To start they could ensure the basics were met. I mean I’d like to see a proper play the ball be enforced, not some tunnel ball pretendy attempt. And ffs for the love of god penalise players who walk off the mark to play the ball.

 

[Loch Ness Monster]

Well, seems my eyes didn't deceive me.

Thanks to those brilliant folk at Rugby League Writers, who also saw the same thing.

Haas is running a wider line than usual, engaging the centre and edge forward and setting up a short side mismatch in numbers.

Note both the mess at marker + the quick play-the-ball...

Three in the tackle here. Now we see why Paix is returning to 2023 form. In and away and steps back outside the markers to find Hunt with the cut-out pass.

The modern game demands a hooker that is always scanning, looking for mismatches in the defensive line to send his forwards to, and identify opportunites at the ruck to exploit.



Now, notice how Paix doesnt even look towards Haas as he approches Kobes play-the-ball. He's looking left the whole time. He's coaching the defence to "expect" something that actually doesn't come.

Steps left, then pivots back under the markers to find Haas who here is playing post to post. The ruck is again a bit of a mess and leaves Watson isolated on Haas. Not much a smaller man can do but the pass is superb. That gap "should" have been covered by Roosters number 10 (Wong) but he's walking there...

Last tackle of the set too...another reason why the defence didn't read this well.


Finally, heres Paix engaging the A defender before finding Paddy on a angled run...

Thats three tries in 10 minutes.

I had Kobe as my breakout player of this seaosn - is it Paix instead?

Yeah that second pass to Haas leading to Paix scoring is pretty epic.
Absolutely no visual queue given to the D that he’s going Payne, love to see Corey scheming like that.

 

[Loch Ness Monster]

Well, seems my eyes didn't deceive me.

Thanks to those brilliant folk at Rugby League Writers, who also saw the same thing.

Haas is running a wider line than usual, engaging the centre and edge forward and setting up a short side mismatch in numbers.

Note both the mess at marker + the quick play-the-ball...

Three in the tackle here. Now we see why Paix is returning to 2023 form. In and away and steps back outside the markers to find Hunt with the cut-out pass.

The modern game demands a hooker that is always scanning, looking for mismatches in the defensive line to send his forwards to, and identify opportunites at the ruck to exploit.



Now, notice how Paix doesnt even look towards Haas as he approches Kobes play-the-ball. He's looking left the whole time. He's coaching the defence to "expect" something that actually doesn't come.

Steps left, then pivots back under the markers to find Haas who here is playing post to post. The ruck is again a bit of a mess and leaves Watson isolated on Haas. Not much a smaller man can do but the pass is superb. That gap "should" have been covered by Roosters number 10 (Wong) but he's walking there...

Last tackle of the set too...another reason why the defence didn't read this well.


Finally, heres Paix engaging the A defender before finding Paddy on a angled run...

Thats three tries in 10 minutes.

I had Kobe as my breakout player of this seaosn - is it Paix instead?

Yeah that second pass to Haas leading to Paix scoring is pretty epic.
Absolutely no visual queue given to the D that he’s going Payne, love to see Corey scheming like that.

 

[Harry Sack]

Yeah that second pass to Haas leading to Paix scoring is pretty epic.
Absolutely no visual queue given to the D that he’s going Payne, love to see Corey scheming like that.

Yeah that second pass to Haas leading to Paix scoring is pretty epic.
Absolutely no visual queue given to the D that he’s going Payne, love to see Corey scheming like that.

I mean we heard you the first time mate, but it's a great point so I'll allow it.

 

[Harry Sack]

Yeah that second pass to Haas leading to Paix scoring is pretty epic.
Absolutely no visual queue given to the D that he’s going Payne, love to see Corey scheming like that.

Yeah that second pass to Haas leading to Paix scoring is pretty epic.
Absolutely no visual queue given to the D that he’s going Payne, love to see Corey scheming like that.

I mean we heard you the first time mate, but it's a great point so I'll allow it.

 

[theshed]

Cronk has more or less banished Mam to reserve grade for the whole season, barring probably Rep selection or injury.

Open ended question: Who offers more utility value from the 14, Ezra or Walters?

Yeah that’s what I’ve been saying. If they continue to gel well and we are flying than you don’t chop and change a winning spine just to squeeze Mam in.

At most you’d consider a 14 jersey going to him or Mozer but Mozer would make more sense, injury aside