Round 2 - Broncos vs Cowboys - Post Match Discussion

[Unbreakable]

I'm not sure how many people have said that Hoffman played bad tonight.. I think most would agree he had a good game, despite the lack of genuine play making abilities.

 

[Ari Gold]

The real problem I have, even if he's just considered "short-term", is that he's a bridge to Kahu at five-eight. If we were waiting for Lockyer to return and just wanted someone to do a safe job, then I'd understand. But Kahu has never played #6 at NRL level; from what I understand he has played bits and pieces in the position at lower levels but is by no means a specialist.

When your top 2 halves options are Ben Hunt and Jordan Kahu, and one is injured, I'd rather we tried to find a 3rd genuine option, rather than use a safe option to keep the team in a good position until one of the top 2 returns. I mean, we are 2/2, so you could say it's worked, and in the short-term it has. But if Kahu struggles to return to fitness, or doesn't work out, or if Ben Hunt fails to play better, then we are going to be in a hole at the 6 & 7 positions, and having played Hoffman at 6 these early games will have in no way helped us find a way out of said hole.

Hopefully it won't come to that, but frankly, I don't hold out great hope for a Kahu/Hunt halves combination.

 

[Porthoz]

Put Sandow in tonight's team, and we lose... guaranteed!

Proud of the boys for a fantastic gritty win. People say it wasn't pretty, but all three tries were actually nicely set-up.

Gillett was much better than people give him credit for, Thaiday and Macca were massive, Vidot and Copley excellent (despite the single mistake by each one of them) Hunt was too poor to be true, being bettered in the halves by Hoffman of all people! Speaking of whom, he was quite alright doing the job he was given... he'll never be a 5/8, but he is certainly more deserving of his spot than Hunt at this moment.

Rest of the team, of those that played did the job. Too bad about McGuire's penalties, probably needs to be more careful.

All in all, in a game against a supposedly favourite side, with no less that the best 5/8 in the world, the Australian props, two of the most exciting young second rowers in the game, and despite the opponent's getting the rub of the green, we won!

Great atmosphere at Suncorp, enjoyed watching the game in good company (you know who you are), and shout out to Penny whom we crossed at the exit of the stadium. A truly and thoroughly enjoyable evening!

 

[Manlyman]

Didn't tip you last week. Didn't tip you this week and won't tip you next week.Hunt is a terrible halfback, the attack looked so much better this week though.

I would not wish Sandow on my worst enemy.

 

[88to2006Glorydays]

Get Kahu in the halves, Hoffman at centre, Reed to take the 17. off Wallace (but actually play), Hodges in with Maranta out and we have a much stronger all round team. Maranta out because I think Vidot, Barba, Hodges, Copley, Hoffman are all ahead of him but he'll be first pick to cover injuries.

I agree but would go one further

1 Barba
2 Vidot
3 Copely
4. Oates
5. Hoffman
6. Hodges. (For some creativity)
7 Hunt but would prefer Sandow

 

[uptheguts]

Great gutsy win . Very good running by Thaiday this week. He seemed to put more thought into it. Can someone teach Hunt to pass the ball? He should watch a video of DCE from the last nite's game. His passes are so smooth and on target. I can't fault Hoffman's passing game because he didn't throw any. He will never be a 5/8. I would move Hoffman to centres or wing and Reed to bench ( or Qld cup) and just find a fill in 5/8 from Qld cup. Just someone who can pass and kick for this year.

 

[Splinter]

All I ask of Hunt is improvement each week and his overall game last night improved on the Bulldogs match. That included his kicking
His vision and ability to deliver under fatigue after being trampled all night by Taumolo won us the game at the death. He made two plays one putting Thaiday over the top of JT to take him out of the line and then followed with a superb pass to Copely on the next play for a try to Macca

 

[Bucking Beads]

If Hunt can just get his kicking game better (doubtful) he can do a good enough job for us. Our defence and game style is actually quite good. With good halves I'd think we can challenge for the title. Our forwards are muched improved on last year. The only worry is burning them out because they do a lot of the work and our poor kicking game makes it harder for them. Full credit to Hook for having this team playing for each other and for him. The danger for Hunt is that Hoffman has improved and he didn't. I was really hopeful he had more in him but unless he is down the blindside he rarely does. At least he has a red hot go in defence though.

Copley looks to be a star IMO. Made a mistake but he is really good in defence and attack es ever improving. I think most of our wins will come in a similar fashion to last night. Tough gritty defensive based performances.

 

[Manlyman]

Anyone remember the days of the kb cup? Hunts backwards bombs would have been good 30 years ago...

 

[Waynesaurus]

Well I thought last nights effort from the boys was great.

Whilst not brilliant in the halves there was definitely improvement . Hoffy's defence was great, I think he could certainly be a serviceable ball-running 5/8 but Hunt needs stand up and lift his game. Kicking is still a major worry, but if we improve this I think it will take pressure off the other areas of our game and free us up in the points scoring department.

Vidot was great he really chewed up the meters early on, Maranta was also pretty good, clearly with a bit of confidence he can do good things.

Big Sam............well he was tremendous, he really stood up last night.

Barba still looks a bit underdone or still suffering from that ankle, if we can cotton wool him we will seem much bigger things, it great to watch him chime in as second receiver or from the back. This boy can play.

Copley is primed for a big year, hopefully he can keep injury free.

I would prefer Lowrie to drop off the bench, move Hannant or Kennedy to start, either Gillett or Glenn to to the bench, move Parker back to lock and have Granville on the bench. I'n not really sure why Gillett, Glen and Sam aren't in rotation and why Kennedy isn't getting more game time.

But anyway I'm proud of the boys effort and positive play, the most pleasing was seeing them celebrate and look like they were enjoying playing the game again.

 

[Socnorb]

Wrong person buddy. I never said he is the worst.

Sorry. My mistake. I blame alcohol.

 

[ningnangnong]

BTW, how good was Dale's try saving tackle on Linnett!

I thought he was a certainty to score, but Copley just launched himself at the fella and used his brute strength to roll him and force the ball loose.

Copley is the man. :rockon:

 

[rnabokov]

I can't figure out what is going on with Barba. His lack of involvement bothers me.

We signed who many think was/is a superstar, and in these 7 pages, he gets what, 3 or 4 passing mentions?

Is he injured? Is our game plan so different to what he is used to that he can't figure out what to do, or we just don't give him the opportunities?

Frankly, I was disappointed with his showing given the wraps on him, and his previous form. If he is injured, he shouldn't be there. If we don't know how to use him, we ought to learn.

Yes, he has done some very nice things so far, but for mine, too few and far between, and I have been expecting so much more from him.

Hoffman. We will meet a top side soon where we will need serious, consistent play making creativity to win by actually scoring points rather than hoping our defence will win us the game by stopping points. That kick was good, his defence was great but 5/8? We will learn hard lessons soon.

I still would put Barba at 5/8

We really don't know how to set up our outside backs consistently. Copley has been so good yet he hardly gets the ball. Reed is squashed in a narrow corridor.

Parker must move back to lock and start offloading. I don't remember one last night. What a waste.

I thought Hunt was ok but really needs that kicking game to come good real soon.

Overall, a very good effort. As BP said, it was won on character and determination which shut the Cows down more than anything. Trouble is, we can't really capitalize on it in attack .... so far.

 

[Sproj]

I reckon Hunt is in for a massive game next week. I know no one will agree but despite his terrible kicking, he was involved in everything that looked promising in our attack. He's got good vision, just give him some time to get confidence and the execution and slickness will come. The way he took that last few minutes on his shoulders and ran Thaiday at JT, then quickly shot it out to Copley in a hole to set up Macca was sheer quality. That was a pressure play and will do wonders for his confidence.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I reckon Hunt is in for a massive game next week. I know no one will agree but despite his terrible kicking, he was involved in everything that looked promising in our attack. He's got good vision, just give him some time to get confidence and the execution and slickness will come. The way he took that last few minutes on his shoulders and ran Thaiday at JT, then quickly shot it out to Copley in a hole to set up Macca was sheer quality. That was a pressure play and will do wonders for his confidence.

His kicking game has been his worst attribute by far this year. If he can do less shit kicks he won't be criticized as much.

 

[Morkel]

I reckon Hunt is in for a massive game next week. I know no one will agree but despite his terrible kicking, he was involved in everything that looked promising in our attack. He's got good vision, just give him some time to get confidence and the execution and slickness will come. The way he took that last few minutes on his shoulders and ran Thaiday at JT, then quickly shot it out to Copley in a hole to set up Macca was sheer quality. That was a pressure play and will do wonders for his confidence.

Yeah, have to give him credit for that.

 

[Morkel]

Just watched the highlights. Some people might remember me bitching at the game about Tamoa's pass to be Thurston being forward. The replay shows it was massively forward and Thurston was actually off-side. The pass to Tamoa was also forward. I know it doesn't matter, we got the 2 points, but I'm still bitter that this shit doesn't get pulled up.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Does J. Wallace play Q Cup this weekend??