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

[Dexter]

I have to be honest and say my posting frequency is considerably lower than last season. I never watched a game this year until the Bronco’s game.

All the shit decisions, the six again farce, the ambivalent attitude of the NSWcentric media and the NRL regarding Walsh getting constantly head-hunted has severely turned me off the game.

I’m finding it difficult to get excited about the game in the present state it’s in.

I hear you Jed.
I've had to just go with the flow a bit when it comes to some of the current rules/interpretations.
Like, how can you run behind your own player which is/used to be a penalty then fix it with with a voluntary tackle which is also/ used to be a penalty.
What is the definition of winning the ruck which is so important in today's game.
Penrith have won 4 premierships with their D which to me is against the rules.
How can an attacking player go up against 3 defenders push them back 5 plus mtrs from contact then they pile on and take forever to get off. How is that not winning the ruck contest?
You have to poke your nose through to earn a quick ptb such is the evolution of the dominant tackle interpretation.
6 again, won't even bother going on about how much it shits me but the alternative is not to watch rugbaleague.

 

[Jedhead]

The voluntary tackle rule is a total farce nowadays. I mean players deliberately hold back from making the tackle when the see the ball carrier diving on the ground to avoid being pushed back in goal and the refs says diddly. If the player does try to grab him and manhandle him into the ingoal he gets penalised as the ref considers the ball carrier’s momentum had stopped, yeh but only because the cat had dived to the ground ffs!!

 

[Santa]

Rd 1 game reminded me of 2023 Broncos, not alot of structure in attack but fast paced, high risk high reward football. Majority of points came from kicks or individual brilliance. Similar levels of discipline and ball control. Any errors were defended well within reason.

The fact that they have reverted to a similar brand of football in 2025 tells me that the extremely short 2023/2024 preseason and injuries were the major player to their performance. None of the grand final team forgot how to play football.

I'm glad Madge has not changed the brand of football they are playing. It is the fastest way for the current group to win a premiership, they were only minutes away last time after all...

And that brand of football beat Melbourne 26 - 0.

I agree, our game against the Roosters reminded me of 2023 Broncos (scoring from all over the place). If we can get back to that, with all the extra stuff Madge can bring in, we should be unstoppable.

 

[Manofoneway]

Really?

I thought the team played very differently.

Attacking structures and dedicated support runners. The 2nd Rowers know what to do now and are running great lines in attack, consistently. In try scoring situations, look back inside the wingers, the centers and 2nd rowers are consistently there in support.

We seem to be respecting the ball far more, particularly in our own end. We were regularly completing at 75% or lower. We played in the wet and we hardly made an error, when we did, it was generally at the right end of the field trying to score.

First contact in defense is night and day different. The intensity has gone up considerably.

The "peel off" that Storm perfected is being used, where three in a tackle get off one at a time, slowing things down without the ref calling it buying us time and line speed.

Ben coming in has really helped, don't get me wrong. But there's a lot to like about the conditioning and coaching of the team so far. A lot of it's happening off the ball though, so it's not immediately obvious.

Again, we had all this in 2023. We don't keep teams like the Melbourne storm to nil in a prelim final without a well drilled side. Its good to see not much has changed.

 

[HarryAllan7]

The brand of football we played last week looked like the same as 2023, but with slightly more control and structure - particularly close to the line.

It's the best type of football for a team built the way we are - build momentum through the middle with the power of Haas and Carrigan and then spin the ball out to reactive, off-the-cuff attacking players. It suits our team and especially players like Walsh (and Mam when he's in the team) down to the ground.

If we tried to emulate Penrith or Melbourne and play their game we would never be able to do it better than them, and even if we did, it would just result in a stalemate when we're up against them in a tough finals match. This improvisational style of footy drives structured teams like Penrith and Melbourne insane (like we saw in the finals in 2023) and is near impossible to defend.

Add in just little more structure and strategy on both sides of the ball and you've got a very, very potent style of play which maximises our strengths, plays to our toughest opponent's weaknesses and is easily our best hope of winning a title with the current squad.

... It's also great to watch.

 

[Big Del]

the stats show that the 6-again changes to the game have resulted in a huge increase in the amount of soft tissue injuries

Would you mind sharing the data re these stats ?

 

[Big Del]

The "peel off" that Storm perfected is being used, where three in a tackle get off one at a time, slowing things down without the ref calling it buying us time and line speed.

The peel off failed last Thursday when Sandon Smith scored ...

 

[HarryAllan7]

Would you mind sharing the data re these stats ?

You're a big boy, I'm sure you can find it yourself. NRLPhysio on Instagram tracks and records this sort of stuff

 

[Big Del]

The game went almost 100 years with very few changes over that period

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 .

 

[Big Del]

NRLPhysio on Instagram

Soft tissue injury stats

No results​

We couldn't find anything for that search. LOL .

 

[HarryAllan7]

Soft tissue injury stats

No results​

We couldn't find anything for that search. LOL .

if you don’t know how to do your own research I can’t help you mate

 

[Skathen]

Again, we had all this in 2023. We don't keep teams like the Melbourne storm to nil in a prelim final without a well drilled side. Its good to see not much has changed.

No. We did not.

What we had, was a fit, happy go lucky, arsey try scoring machine.

 

[Big Del]

if you don’t know how to do your own research I can’t help you mate

Um , I`d reckon you need to back up your statements with facts .
I have heard debate around injuries and it was about the same . So if you want to dispute that , show the stats you opened your statement with and show me I`m wrong .

 

[HarryAllan7]

Um , I`d reckon you need to back up your statements with facts .
I have heard debate around injuries and it was about the same . So if you want to dispute that , show the stats you opened your statement with and show me I`m wrong .

I promise you I don’t care enough about you, your questionable opinions, or anything you have to say to feel any need to dispute, discuss or prove anything to you.

This thread is about the Round 2 game against the Raiders, that’s what I’m interested in discussing

 

[Wolfie]

Again, we had all this in 2023. We don't keep teams like the Melbourne storm to nil in a prelim final without a well drilled side. Its good to see not much has changed.

Problem was that was the exception rather than the rule under Kevvie and thats why we sacked him. We need to see now how we handle being put under pressure because the rorters were very poor.

 

[Scorchie]

Broncos 28-6

 

[Manofoneway]

Problem was that was the exception rather than the rule under Kevvie and thats why we sacked him. We need to see now how we handle being put under pressure because the rorters were very poor.

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.

 

[theshed]

Is it just me or does it not really feel like the NRL season has started yet? The board is pretty dead.

I think the highs and lows of the last 5 years has burnt us all out a little