Round 20 - Cowboys vs. Broncos - Pre Match Discussion

[Nashy]

1. Joe Bond
2. Josh Hoffman
3. Corey Oates
4. Justin Hodges
5. Peter Gubb *basically anyone not named Maranta*

BAM

Season on the line, you want to make as few changes as possible. The team has gelled together all year, why would you put rookies in. Sure, if we lose the next two games, and finals hopes are completely gone, throw them in, but not until then.

 

[Nashy]

I was going to join the sack hook thread because Maranta was picked but Norman has been dropped so that's good enough for me, shame it was about 20 rounds too late.

Here's hoping Maranta is gone real soon.

*Two seasons too late. He was a nuffie from the get go.

 

[Big Pete]

Season on the line, you want to make as few changes as possible. The team has gelled together all year, why would you put rookies in. Sure, if we lose the next two games, and finals hopes are completely gone, throw them in, but not until then.

We are playing 3 players in positions they haven't played in all year - how are they expected to gel in this game?

Hodges purposefully backs himself because he doesn't trust Maranta either. I like Lachy but right now his form is as poisonous as Norman's - if not worse.

 

[broncos4life]

Kemp's days are over in this sport, it really is that simple. Maranta is a far better inclusion, he knows Hodges game, and Hodges knows his game. Even if it is pretty useless.

You're talking about it being do or die, but want to put an untested Bond in one of our most vital positions, when we have the NZ Fullback in our team already? Not a wise move.

oh god Nashy, I was being sarcastic. terribly terribly sarcastic. I love the team that's been named and was trying to point out how ridiculous it would be to play bond and kemp.

 

[Nashy]

We are playing 3 players in positions they haven't played in all year - how are they expected to gel in this game?

Hodges purposefully backs himself because he doesn't trust Maranta either. I like Lachy but right now his form is as poisonous as Norman's - if not worse.

I don't think we can judge how Hodges feels about passing to him. It wouldn't matter who was out there, Hodges wouldn't trust giving them the ball. It's been one of the biggest gripes I have about him in the game.

We aren't really playing anyone out of position. Winger isn't a position, so Oates is fine. Second Rower Glenn won't feel out of place given our centres are units with a bit of speed, we pretty much use the as outside running second rowers anyway.

Hoffman is moving back into position.

 

[Nashy]

oh god Nashy, I was being sarcastic. terribly terribly sarcastic. I love the team that's been named and was trying to point out how ridiculous it would be to play bond and kemp.

Yeah, I realised when Spwn pointed it out, and I re-read your comments. Carry on!

 

[broncos4life]

I've got my sarcasm detection unit booked in for calibration next week. It's been a little off this week.

hahaha that's pretty funny :)

 

[jarro65]

I'm looking forward to seeing if Hoffmans form and confidence on the wing can translate to him playing in the fullback position.

I do recall him being a very good fullback before Wade Graham beat him up one night.

 

[broncos4life]

Yeah, I realised when Spwn pointed it out, and I re-read your comments. Carry on!

Sorry mate I didn't read spwn's comment until after i posted this... everything is happening so fast in this thread haha

 

[pennywisealfie]

Peter Gubb is too good to put on the wing. Should be halfback tbh.

 

[Alec]

Fudge, I hope Hoffman learns from both his and Norman's mistakes and stops blowing opportunities. It's kind of hard to see it happening though, he seems like a player whose natural instincts just tell him to back himself.

 

[Renegade]

We aren't really playing anyone out of position. Winger isn't a position, so Oates is fine.

???????????????

 

[noisetheory]

maybe hoffman will slide back to wing, oates to centre, and hodges to fb ;) ;) :) BOOM

i think glenn might be a little more effective actually running as a centre. you'd assume gillett will be out on the left with him

thaiday back in his usual right side spot running off short balls from prince with hodges as the option out the back. thurston is going to have his work cut out for him defending that side and im sure thaiday/prince/hodges will aim to tire him out.

 

[Big Pete]

I don't think we can judge how Hodges feels about passing to him. It wouldn't matter who was out there, Hodges wouldn't trust giving them the ball. It's been one of the biggest gripes I have about him in the game.

Yet Hodges didn't have any problems passing it to Kahu.

My point is that they really don't have much of a combination to begin with so there really isn't anything to lose.

Winger isn't a position

??????

Second Rower Glenn won't feel out of place given our centres are units with a bit of speed, we pretty much use the as outside running second rowers anyway.

He's been on record as saying he doesn't want to play there and going by his performances last season I can see why. He doesn't have the mobility to defend out there and we're in big trouble with Taters running at him.

Hoffman should be fine but again, he hasn't played there this season, so the excuse that it preserves the combination is invalid. That's the type of excuse use to retain Norman.

 

[Nashy]

Yet Hodges didn't have any problems passing it to Kahu.

My point is that they really don't have much of a combination to begin with so there really isn't anything to lose.



??????



He's been on record as saying he doesn't want to play there and going by his performances last season I can see why. He doesn't have the mobility to defend out there and we're in big trouble with Taters running at him.

Hoffman should be fine but again, he hasn't played there this season, so the excuse that it preserves the combination is invalid. That's the type of excuse use to retain Norman.

I didn't say anything about the combinations, I'm talking about the team working together. They know each other, they know how they play. Bond, no one knows the kid or the decisions he is going to make.

I don't count the winger as a major position in our team, because no matter who goes out there, our options are useless, unless Yoh Yeh has made a full recovery.

Did Glenn give reasons as to why he doesn't want to play out there? Was he asked while the media scrum were trying to bag out another centre and they wanted him to take another team mate's spot by chance?

 

[Unbreakable]

Pretty decent team, much better with Norman gone and Wallace on the bench. If only we had Reed and Kahu, our team would actually look good for once.

1. Hoffman
2. Kahu
3. Hodges
4. Reed
5. Maranta (Put him on Reed's side, we know Reed doesn't pass to shit players outside him)
6. Prince
7. Hunt
8. Hannant
9. McCullough
10. McGuire
11. Gillett
12. Thaiday (c)
13. Parker

14. Wallace
15. Glenn
16. Tasi
17. Stagg

 

[noisetheory]

i still dont see any solutions from those bagging the backline? normans been dropped hoffman is really the only choice to replace him. you'd rather some nobodies on the wings? or a nobody at fb?

 

[1910]

I know. I can't believe with our season on the line the aren't throwing in a completely untested guy from Q cup (that has been in inconsistent form playing mostly at five eight) at Fullback. And no Kemp? seriously hook now is the time to bring in kemp. I don't care that he's form has been terrible, wasn't able to break into the ****house dragons side last year and hasn't played a game of NRL in years, now was the time to play him! god!

Bond hadn't been playing six.