PRE-GAME Round 2 - Titans vs Broncos

[abashii]

Boyd said it was just a game, James Graham this week said he believed the sport was something he was willing to die for. McKinnon, JYY and Dwyer, etc have ended up permanently disabled. Concussion is a huge issue for a number of players. How seriously should players take this game?

We're all individuals, each player should take it just as seriously as best suits them. I know that sounds like a non-answer but think of the differences between Graham and Boyd. If someone with issues around depression, anxiety, perfectionism decides to ride every game so hard, put their sense of self-worth onto their perforances every game, how long before their mental well-being, and their performance, start to suffer. Whereas someone like Graham, based on what I've read from him anyway, can absolutely ride or die on the outcome of every game because after it's done it's done - he can draw a line under it and move on while a different type of player would still be chewing over every mistake, every missed opportunity and every what if and if only.

People lambast Boyd for saying it's just a game and he was trying too hard because it's easy to have a poke at the guy based on a headline or no-context quote, but when you read what he actually said and think about it in the context of someone with a brain which works that way, there's a real depth and wisdom there. Don't forget one of the reasons we don't have u20s any more is because a number of guys got so wrapped up in the game and put so much pressure on themselves they ultimately crumbled, in some cases fatally. So I'd never judge a player by how seriously other people say they take football, you never know what's in someone else's head.

 

[McHunt]

From the Titans camp.

AJ Brimson:

“I used to like the Broncos, yes, I was born in Brisbane and was a Broncos-Queensland fan. Will was in the under-20s system there and I got picked up by the Titans. We had different pathways. I’m obviously a diehard, through and through Titan now. I always love these battles. I respect the Broncos as a club and look forward to these local derbies. There is always that little bit in the back of your head because it’s that ‘big brother, little brother’ club and they’re up the highway."

“They feel the same way, too. We always have our little battles. It’s a little bit more special, especially for the fans, they always get behind it. It will be a good atmosphere. It’s obviously a big game every year, we’re definitely going to be up for it and I’m sure they will be too. I’m sure it’s going to be a pretty physical game.”

“We definitely didn’t go in there ahead of ourselves. We knew it was going to be a hard challenge and we spoke about that sort of stuff. It was round one frantics (sic) and unfortunately we had a bad game and underperformed. We didn’t play the way we trained all pre-season and that was frustrating. But I don’t think that was due to us thinking we were better than we are."

“It was similar to last year, the way we started the year. We’re a lot further than we were at this time last year but it was a similar narrative. We’ve got to start well. We’ve already addressed that and are looking forward now. We owe it to the fans and we’re grateful they will be supporting us here in numbers. Our plan is definitely to not let them down. We spoke about that as a club, that’s what we want to be a part of – making the Gold Coast community proud. We’re definitely going to be putting on a good performance for the fans. You can’t not get up for this game. We will show that on Friday night.”

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who quit the Broncos after they signed NSW rival Payne Haas:

“Watching the Queensland derbies last year, they’re always fiery and the boys will be up for it. It will be very fiery and I can’t wait to get amongst it. The Broncos were my team growing up. I supported them. Since I was 11 or 12 I was in their development squads on the Sunshine Coast until I was 16 and I made my way down south. I thought it’d be a good opportunity to go down there and be under Craig and (Cameron Smith) and the older fellas down there. It was the best move I’ve made. I learnt a lot from them and am learning a lot here too.”

“There’s a lot of things to work on and a lot of good things we can take out of our last game. We need to improve our discipline and little areas in defence. We will come out better this week and hopefully get the win. We all shied away from what we’re good at and didn’t really use that on the weekend. We know what we need to do and will hopefully use it this week. We don’t see it as too much pressure, that’s what everyone else is saying. It’s good pressure and motivation for us to show everyone what we’re made of and can do. We’ve got to get this week right and hopefully get the win.”

Fa’asuamaleaui’s manager, Simon Mammino:

“Tino was at the club before Payne Haas, but the Broncos brought him to the club and then eventually signed him to a six-year deal. Tino wasn’t initially offered a top-squad contract by the Broncos until the Storm came into the picture. The Broncos thought Tino could play, but they only showed real interest after Melbourne came along. The Storm tabled a very good offer which reflected their commitment to him and as part of it Tino went straight into the full-time squad. The Broncos also brought Payne Haas in over the top and those two factors convinced Tino to leave Brisbane. The best pathway to the NRL in Tino’s eyes was leaving the Broncos to get an education under Craig Bellamy. The Broncos had big plans for Payne Haas and he has gone on to be a very good player.”


McHunt

 

[theshed]

From the Titans camp.

AJ Brimson:

“I used to like the Broncos, yes, I was born in Brisbane and was a Broncos-Queensland fan. Will was in the under-20s system there and I got picked up by the Titans. We had different pathways. I’m obviously a diehard, through and through Titan now. I always love these battles. I respect the Broncos as a club and look forward to these local derbies. There is always that little bit in the back of your head because it’s that ‘big brother, little brother’ club and they’re up the highway."

“They feel the same way, too. We always have our little battles. It’s a little bit more special, especially for the fans, they always get behind it. It will be a good atmosphere. It’s obviously a big game every year, we’re definitely going to be up for it and I’m sure they will be too. I’m sure it’s going to be a pretty physical game.”

“We definitely didn’t go in there ahead of ourselves. We knew it was going to be a hard challenge and we spoke about that sort of stuff. It was round one frantics (sic) and unfortunately we had a bad game and underperformed. We didn’t play the way we trained all pre-season and that was frustrating. But I don’t think that was due to us thinking we were better than we are."

“It was similar to last year, the way we started the year. We’re a lot further than we were at this time last year but it was a similar narrative. We’ve got to start well. We’ve already addressed that and are looking forward now. We owe it to the fans and we’re grateful they will be supporting us here in numbers. Our plan is definitely to not let them down. We spoke about that as a club, that’s what we want to be a part of – making the Gold Coast community proud. We’re definitely going to be putting on a good performance for the fans. You can’t not get up for this game. We will show that on Friday night.”

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who quit the Broncos after they signed NSW rival Payne Haas:

“Watching the Queensland derbies last year, they’re always fiery and the boys will be up for it. It will be very fiery and I can’t wait to get amongst it. The Broncos were my team growing up. I supported them. Since I was 11 or 12 I was in their development squads on the Sunshine Coast until I was 16 and I made my way down south. I thought it’d be a good opportunity to go down there and be under Craig and (Cameron Smith) and the older fellas down there. It was the best move I’ve made. I learnt a lot from them and am learning a lot here too.”

View attachment 11853

“There’s a lot of things to work on and a lot of good things we can take out of our last game. We need to improve our discipline and little areas in defence. We will come out better this week and hopefully get the win. We all shied away from what we’re good at and didn’t really use that on the weekend. We know what we need to do and will hopefully use it this week. We don’t see it as too much pressure, that’s what everyone else is saying. It’s good pressure and motivation for us to show everyone what we’re made of and can do. We’ve got to get this week right and hopefully get the win.”

Fa’asuamaleaui’s manager, Simon Mammino:

“Tino was at the club before Payne Haas, but the Broncos brought him to the club and then eventually signed him to a six-year deal. Tino wasn’t initially offered a top-squad contract by the Broncos until the Storm came into the picture. The Broncos thought Tino could play, but they only showed real interest after Melbourne came along. The Storm tabled a very good offer which reflected their commitment to him and as part of it Tino went straight into the full-time squad. The Broncos also brought Payne Haas in over the top and those two factors convinced Tino to leave Brisbane. The best pathway to the NRL in Tino’s eyes was leaving the Broncos to get an education under Craig Bellamy. The Broncos had big plans for Payne Haas and he has gone on to be a very good player.”


McHunt

And look at how he repaid the Storms commitment. He’s a great player but the media keep trying to paint us as being silly to have let him go, but look how that ended for the Storm.

 

[BooKhaki]

There are far worse. He’s not a world beater, but I think with consistent game time he can be quite solid benchie and has a nice offload on him

He has never done this. He has more defensive lapses than good efforts.

 

[Finbar]

He has never done this.

Never offloaded? Last year in his 13 appearances he made 11 offloads.

 

[Foordy]

Never offloaded? Last year in his 13 appearances he made 11 offloads.

shhh ... facts have no place around these parts

 

[Broncapz]

Boyd said it was just a game, James Graham this week said he believed the sport was something he was willing to die for. McKinnon, JYY and Dwyer, etc have ended up permanently disabled. Concussion is a huge issue for a number of players. How seriously should players take this game?

Here's my metrics in regards to Boyd and Graham -

If you're falling to the ground before contact is even made, you're not taking the game seriously enough.
If you're biting someones ear off, then you're taking the game too seriously.

 

[rnabokov]

What curse?

I'm predicting Titans 6 Broncos 36 for this week.

Phew. I was beginning to worry. Good to see you've come out from behind your tea leaves and Tarot cards.

I can just see it now. Broncos up 34 - 6 with 2 minutes to go and Patty calls for the ball and kicks the field goal.

Love your work Wolfie, you always make me smile as I carry my flat screen to the pawn shop

 

[Sproj]

From the Titans camp.

AJ Brimson:

“I used to like the Broncos, yes, I was born in Brisbane and was a Broncos-Queensland fan. Will was in the under-20s system there and I got picked up by the Titans. We had different pathways. I’m obviously a diehard, through and through Titan now. I always love these battles. I respect the Broncos as a club and look forward to these local derbies. There is always that little bit in the back of your head because it’s that ‘big brother, little brother’ club and they’re up the highway."

“They feel the same way, too. We always have our little battles. It’s a little bit more special, especially for the fans, they always get behind it. It will be a good atmosphere. It’s obviously a big game every year, we’re definitely going to be up for it and I’m sure they will be too. I’m sure it’s going to be a pretty physical game.”

“We definitely didn’t go in there ahead of ourselves. We knew it was going to be a hard challenge and we spoke about that sort of stuff. It was round one frantics (sic) and unfortunately we had a bad game and underperformed. We didn’t play the way we trained all pre-season and that was frustrating. But I don’t think that was due to us thinking we were better than we are."

“It was similar to last year, the way we started the year. We’re a lot further than we were at this time last year but it was a similar narrative. We’ve got to start well. We’ve already addressed that and are looking forward now. We owe it to the fans and we’re grateful they will be supporting us here in numbers. Our plan is definitely to not let them down. We spoke about that as a club, that’s what we want to be a part of – making the Gold Coast community proud. We’re definitely going to be putting on a good performance for the fans. You can’t not get up for this game. We will show that on Friday night.”

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who quit the Broncos after they signed NSW rival Payne Haas:

“Watching the Queensland derbies last year, they’re always fiery and the boys will be up for it. It will be very fiery and I can’t wait to get amongst it. The Broncos were my team growing up. I supported them. Since I was 11 or 12 I was in their development squads on the Sunshine Coast until I was 16 and I made my way down south. I thought it’d be a good opportunity to go down there and be under Craig and (Cameron Smith) and the older fellas down there. It was the best move I’ve made. I learnt a lot from them and am learning a lot here too.”

View attachment 11853

“There’s a lot of things to work on and a lot of good things we can take out of our last game. We need to improve our discipline and little areas in defence. We will come out better this week and hopefully get the win. We all shied away from what we’re good at and didn’t really use that on the weekend. We know what we need to do and will hopefully use it this week. We don’t see it as too much pressure, that’s what everyone else is saying. It’s good pressure and motivation for us to show everyone what we’re made of and can do. We’ve got to get this week right and hopefully get the win.”

Fa’asuamaleaui’s manager, Simon Mammino:

“Tino was at the club before Payne Haas, but the Broncos brought him to the club and then eventually signed him to a six-year deal. Tino wasn’t initially offered a top-squad contract by the Broncos until the Storm came into the picture. The Broncos thought Tino could play, but they only showed real interest after Melbourne came along. The Storm tabled a very good offer which reflected their commitment to him and as part of it Tino went straight into the full-time squad. The Broncos also brought Payne Haas in over the top and those two factors convinced Tino to leave Brisbane. The best pathway to the NRL in Tino’s eyes was leaving the Broncos to get an education under Craig Bellamy. The Broncos had big plans for Payne Haas and he has gone on to be a very good player.”


McHunt

We should get someone around the squad and in the media to do a reverse Titans and say we are sick of losing guys we want to keep and who are Broncos fans, we should never have lost them and we want to bring them back, you can be sure we'll be coming for them hard next contract. Start fighting back through the media and get other clubs to up the salaries like everyone does to us.

Do the same with the Roosters and Walker. Let them know he was one who should never have got away and we will be coming hard now a new regime is in town.

No matter if we are serious or not, we will start getting other clubs under the spotlight for once.

 

[Huge]

Kennedy is up there with the worst players in the NRL. How he keeps getting games is beyond me.

It's probably because he's quite talented and you're a dreadful judge. I'd say that's the most likely answer. Of course there's the remote possibility that you know better

 

[McHunt]

Brent Tate MKII

 

[Thelmus]

Brent Tate MKII

He's got the Brent Tate take look happening after inspiration from the old boys. So long as the titans don't do the same and wear one of mal's arm braces.i swear he stuck an iron bar underneath when he played us :p

 

[Culhwch]

*Cowboys legend Brent Tate.

 

[Allo]

*Cowboys legend Brent Tate.

*Warriors immortal Brent Tate

 

[Culhwch]

Goddamn I loved Brent Tate. Can't say I've had the kind of love I had for some of the old boys for anyone in the current team. Hodgo and Parker were the last.

Hopefully this year and the next couple will start to spark those same kind of feelings. I feel like Herbie, Patty, TPJ and Dearden have the best chance for me, but I'm always open to a bolter. I'm already looking forward to weekends and the game much more than I have the last couple of years.

#vivalakevolution

Broncos by 18 this week.

 

[McHunt]

Goddamn I loved Brent Tate. Can't say I've had the kind of love I had for some of the old boys for anyone in the current team. Hodgo and Parker were the last.

Hopefully this year and the next couple will start to spark those same kind of feelings. I feel like Herbie, Patty, TPJ and Dearden have the best chance for me, but I'm always open to a bolter. I'm already looking forward to weekends and the game much more than I have the last couple of years.

#vivalakevolution

Broncos by 18 this week.

Suspect most of us are in that boat. Tate was one of those rare players who just got better with age. And tougher, like Mal and Kevin Campion.

It's a long time since we've had a player who got the home crowd chanting his name and the away crowd booing like Gordie, Wally and Alfie. Okay, Matt Lodge got a bit of the latter, but not much of the former. And Alfie didn't get much booing, but he got enough.

 

[BooKhaki]

It's probably because he's quite talented and you're a dreadful judge. I'd say that's the most likely answer. Of course there's the remote possibility that you know better

He is quite talented? He has only gotten games because of his size, and he has extremely limited talent. He will only ever be a minimum wage squad player, because his best games get you thinking "oh he wasn't horrible tonight, I guess he can be useful" and he follows that up with a soft defensive effort and rubbish offload in a 10min stint making you question his spot in the squad.

 

[BroncsFan]

Well unlike most on here I'm very worried about this game.

I feel we could be the better team on the night; however I am so accustomed to the garbage that is current NRL that I feel we will be completely reffed out of this game to make sure the fake tits get a W.

Unfortunately I dont think we have enough game breakers in the team to be able to "take it out of the ref's hands" and so we will be reliant on grinding out wins, and therefore susceptible to losing games due to 10mins of poor footy.

Mix in some inevitable injuries and extended periods of having to defend our own try line with little chance of getting out of our own end, and I feel it could be a tough night where the boys will be valiant, but ultimately unable to overcome the NSWRL fairytale agenda