PRE-GAME Round 2 - Sharks vs Broncos

[Sproj]

I like that bench much better than round 1 but will like the team so much more when Oates is back in.

What does this mean for Garbutt?

 

[Bucking Beads]

You'd want to hope Bennett uses the bench a lot better this week. McGuire only playing 41 minutes is silly.

 

[Rally Towel]

Vidot wasn't named for the jets this weekend

Wasn't named last weekend either, I believe.

I hope Garbutt and Oates are in our longer term plans, just being given time to sharpen up until they're fit to fill the roles required if them.

Meanwhile Bennett shuffles through our fringe options to see who else is worthy of consideration?

 

[Smokin' Joe]

Wasn't named last weekend either, I believe. I hope Garbutt and Oates are in our longer term plans, just being given time to sharpen up until they're fit to fill the roles required if them. Meanwhile Bennett shuffles through our fringe options to see who else is worthy of consideration?

That's exactly what he is doing. Testing and finding out who can cut it and who can't.

 

[K-Style]

Vidot wasn't named for the jets this weekend

Wasn't named last week either. Confused the Wynnum commentators on their webstream.

 

[broncos4life]

That's exactly what he is doing. Testing and finding out who can cut it and who can't.

Yep I honestly believe this is what bennett is doing. He will use the first half of this year to figure out who has it and who doesn't and then will make moves on the player market depending on what's needed.

Safe to say Whitchurch has a big red line through his name now

 

[K-Style]

I would hope that the big red line is subject to performance in ISC.
I could see Copley getting a red line unless he is switched to centre too.

 

[rnabokov]

Oates belongs in our best 17 but I think Wayne is doing a good job of managing him and ensuring he'll be right for the entire season.

I'm a bit confused by your post BP. IF Oates belongs in our best 17 - with which I totally agree, and which I think Oates has proved over the last 2 seasons, why would Bennett "manage" him? What is there to ensure that he will be right for the entire season? Is he injured?

For mine, he is walk-in to the 17, especially considering Whitchurch and Wallace whom I don't consider anywhere near as talented nor have shown any form comparable to Oates.

It's good logic to trial players and draw red lines through their names if they fail to live to expectations, but Oates? Hasn't he been trialled enough in the top grade now for 2 seasons to deserve a spot in the starting 17?

Wallace as prop I can understand due to injuries and suspensions, but that's it.

I'm sorry, but I can't get my head around Oates being omitted from the team.

As for the outcome v the Sharks, for mine a crucial factor will again be the way Hunt and Milford combine - or don't as they didn't v Souths, and get the ball to our back row weapons in Gillett and Glenn, and Milford improving his support play trailing Parker.

In my view, this is a game we will win on the edges and out wide which is where our strengths lie. Milford and Hunt need to gel and work those edges and get the ball doing the work to our running back rowers and further to Hodges and Reed (sadly not Copley).

Whatever one things of Pearce and Maloney, that's what the they did so effectively using Cordner and Guerra, and their outside backs last week.

We need to pass the ball. A lot really.

Kicking game, missed tackles, dropped balls etc well, they all will come into it of course, but I am pointing to what I think are the main areas where are a win will come (or not).

 

[Morkel]

I'm a bit confused by your post BP. IF Oates belongs in our best 17 - with which I totally agree, and which I think Oates has proved over the last 2 seasons, why would Bennett "manage" him? What is there to ensure that he will be right for the entire season? Is he injured?

For mine, he is walk-in to the 17, especially considering Whitchurch and Wallace whom I don't consider anywhere near as talented nor have shown any form comparable to Oates.

It's good logic to trial players and draw red lines through their names if they fail to live to expectations, but Oates? Hasn't he been trialled enough in the top grade now for 2 seasons to deserve a spot in the starting 17?

Wallace as prop I can understand due to injuries and suspensions, but that's it.

I'm sorry, but I can't get my head around Oates being omitted from the team.

As for the outcome v the Sharks, for mine a crucial factor will again be the way Hunt and Milford combine - or don't as they didn't v Souths, and get the ball to our back row weapons in Gillett and Glenn, and Milford improving his support play trailing Parker.

In my view, this is a game we will win on the edges and out wide which is where our strengths lie. Milford and Hunt need to gel and work those edges and get the ball doing the work to our running back rowers and further to Hodges and Reed (sadly not Copley).

Whatever one things of Pearce and Maloney, that's what the they did so effectively using Cordner and Guerra, and their outside backs last week.

We need to pass the ball. A lot really.

Kicking game, missed tackles, dropped balls etc well, they all will come into it of course, but I am pointing to what I think are the main areas where are a win will come (or not).

He is coming back from injury. And I think it was posted on here that he is down on stamina too. It's the perfect opportunity to test out the fringe players while giving Oates time to build up match fitness and confidence.

 

[gordjw]

I think we're seeing trials during the first half of the season. Come origin time we'll see Oates playing through to Rd 26+. After origin we'll have our best 17 playing every week.

Until then, I think we're going to see a handful of changes from week to week, depending on who's been bad or good, and who WB wants to get the measure of.

 

[Big Pete]

From what I understand, Corey Oates underwent a lot of changes during the off-season. Instead of trying to develop into a backrow, Oates has been made into a winger in order to compensate for the Broncos deficiencies out wide.

That's going to take time and rushing him in with no match fitness doesn't make a lot of sense.

Then again, having him play in the backrow for the Capras doesn't make a whole lot of sense either so who really knows what the deal is right now.

One thing I do know is that Wayne wanted experience on his bench. He likes what he has in Ofahengaue, but doesn't feel secure replacing two of his experienced guys with two rookies. Which is why he's pushed Sam there so when he brings on Joe, he's going to have an Australian Test player by his side helping to guide him.

 

[Big Pete]

RE: Best 17.

24 games is a long time and managing your roster is crucial. It's all well and good for us to play selector and try to fit the best 17 players in a squad but there are so many variables at play that it becomes more about timing than anything else.

Look at the Broncos in 2006.

If they stuck with a spine of 1. Karmichael Hunt 9. Casey McGuire

They don't win a grand final.

It was 1. Justin Hodges 9. Shaun Berrigan that helped them win a premiership but both players clearly had faults where if they had have played an entire season, the opposition would have worked them out and they wouldn't be able to weave their magic.

I look at players like Krisnan Inu and Eric Grothe Jr as players that needed managing. You couldn't expect to get 24 great games out of them every season - they just didn't have that level of commitment. You had to challenge them, spice things up to get them to perform and in the big games, I always thought they had more to offer than others.

With Oates, you've got a young kid choc full of potential but if you rush him or have him go through the motions, take it all for granted, you're going to end up with stock average players.

I can't wait until he returns. I think he'll provide a lot of impact when he does and can see him partnering either Copley or Reed on that left edge.

 

[gordjw]

I don't disagree with that Pete.

My point was that nobody, not even Bennett, knows our best 17 right now. He's testing combinations, starting with the forwards and bench.

By the end of the origin period, he'll know (and we might too), and you'll see a more settled 17 from there on.

 

[broncos4life]

RE: Best 17.

24 games is a long time and managing your roster is crucial. It's all well and good for us to play selector and try to fit the best 17 players in a squad but there are so many variables at play that it becomes more about timing than anything else.

Look at the Broncos in 2006.

If they stuck with a spine of 1. Karmichael Hunt 9. Casey McGuire

They don't win a grand final.

It was 1. Justin Hodges 9. Shaun Berrigan that helped them win a premiership but both players clearly had faults where if they had have played an entire season, the opposition would have worked them out and they wouldn't be able to weave their magic.

I look at players like Krisnan Inu and Eric Grothe Jr as players that needed managing. You couldn't expect to get 24 great games out of them every season - they just didn't have that level of commitment. You had to challenge them, spice things up to get them to perform and in the big games, I always thought they had more to offer than others.

With Oates, you've got a young kid choc full of potential but if you rush him or have him go through the motions, take it all for granted, you're going to end up with stock average players.

I can't wait until he returns. I think he'll provide a lot of impact when he does and can see him partnering either Copley or Reed on that left edge.

(Like)

 

[M.B.88]

I'm expecting garbutt for round 3 based on these intelligent picks from the coach... He's giving everyone a chance to prove what they're worth so he can clean up and clear out players. He's giving those who have been on the roster longer a chance first.

I'm liking the thinking from this forum so much more when it posts thoughtful insight and trusts that the coach is doing the right thing instead of the manic keyboard / player / coach bashing that usually goes on here. I'd be more proud of this place if we kept that up.

 

[K-Style]

RE: Best 17.

I can't wait until he returns. I think he'll provide a lot of impact when he does and can see him partnering either Copley or Reed on that left edge.

No Vidot then?

 

[mitch222]

You'd want to hope Bennett uses the bench a lot better this week. McGuire only playing 41 minutes is silly.

Hasn't McGuire got osteo pubis which is why they are heavily monitoring his minutes this year. That might be the reason why he didn't play big minutes last week. That or the heat factor

 

[Foordy]

Yep I honestly believe this is what bennett is doing. He will use the first half of this year to figure out who has it and who doesn't and then will make moves on the player market depending on what's needed.

Safe to say Whitchurch has a big red line through his name now

Did he really need to play Whitchurch in round 1 to see if he had what it takes to play NRL for the Broncos.

He couldn't have seen that a big red line should have been put through his name after the Cowboys trial or the WCC match.

Personally, i want to see him give Garbutt a run, i like the skills he has in the ISC, lets see how he goes in the top grade.