Round 20 - Titans vs Broncos - Build Up Thread

[Bucking Beads]

So our attack in under performing and the solution is to play musical positions and to drop our most dangerous player.

PLEASE EXPLAIN IN WORDS WHY THE TEAM YOU HAVE NAMED IS A GOOD IDEA???????

 

[The Brizz]

It was mainly a hypothetical thing Beads. I don't expect it to be named it is more about the amount of frustration in watching Hoffman and Hodges in the last month or so. We are looking very bad in attack and our over-reliance on an out of form Hodges and lack of a contributor at fullback are a massive reason for this. Also I just want Hunt to get a decent shot in the halves because I think overall he has more ability than Norman.

 

[Bucking Beads]

It was mainly a hypothetical thing Beads. I don't expect it to be named it is more about the amount of frustration in watching Hoffman and Hodges in the last month or so. We are looking very bad in attack and our over-reliance on an out of form Hodges and lack of a contributor at fullback are a massive reason for this. Also I just want Hunt to get a decent shot in the halves because I think overall he has more ability than Norman.

Too much change. We won't for a second be a better team for dropping Hodges and playing Whitchurch in the centres. It really is fantasy land stuff. It comes down to what we are doing on the training track I reckon. We must be training the same way as we play surely. Hoffman is a big problem but with Beale leaving and Norman not really up to fullback I fail to see the move happening. Would be nice to see Hunt play in the halves but I think that ship has failed. Hook has faith in this team we probably need to be patient with them. Lockyer is a massive massive hole to fill and currently we are 3rd on the ladder which ain't bad.

 

[The Brizz]

No doubt Beads. On all your points. It is too much change and it would never happen, I just don't enjoy the way we are attacking and would just love to see a bit more creativity and more structure because right now they just throw it around flat and hope for the best or just let Hodges run from half by himself. I wouldn't actually change the team this late in the season I just want more from this team when we have the ball.

 

[Bucking Beads]

It is what we all want and I think it is up the Hook and the team to delivery it. If we can just stand deeper in attack I think our game would drastically improve.

 

[pennywisealfie]

My favourite game of the year!

 

[ningnangnong]

View attachment 401

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Why post this crap? It's completely unnecessary and adds nothing to the discussion.

By all means, disagree with Brizz, but argue your points with words (like you've done further on in the thread!). :handshake:

 

[Bucking Beads]

Why post this crap? It's completely unnecessary and adds nothing to the discussion.

By all means, disagree with Brizz, but argue your points with words (like you've done further on in the thread!). :handshake:

 

[Big Pete]

1.Norman
2.Hoffman
3.Beale
4.Whitchurch
5.Maranta
6.Wallace
7.Hunt
8.Hannant
9.McCullough
10.Civo
11.Glenn
12.Thaiday
13.Parker

14.Gillett
15.Te'o
16.McGuire
17.Lui

Flame away, but I would love to see that side take the park. Hoffman needs to be there but isn't smart enough to be at fullback and I have lost all confidence in Hodges ability to contribute.

:laugh: I just feel like flaming for seeing Lui there.

Out of all our depth players, he's probably our biggest hack.

Annoys me, because he has the talent, he just isn't applying it.

Otherwise, time to set up the ol' Rugby League 3 on Wii and experiment.

 

[Porthoz]

Haven't seen the replay of the Warriors game, but my feeling is that the problem is more one of training and structure than individual players. Dancing chairs is imo not the way to go, as it would more than likely upset our strong defense and the routines built over time.

Like Coxy said, I'm starting to feel that Hook may need help in the attacking department. We have a very young team, which implies there should be plenty of room for improvement, especially when it comes to the decision making process, but also with executing set plays. I mean, if Nathan Friend is capable of doing last night's play, any Broncos player can as well!

Hoffman is struggling, as are Norman, Wallace and even Hodges, but we are 3rd on the ladder, 1 game away from 1st and we can't get worse in attack than last night. Speaking of attack, maybe people should remember that we are only 36 points behind the best attack in the competition!

Anyway, except for Maranta or Whitchurch in Copley's spot, I wouldn't touch last night's team against the Titans.

 

[vertigo]

Whitchurch for the size factor or Maranta for the no mistakes factor...

Personally I'd rather Maranta since hes in my SuperCoach team haha.

 

[Coxy]

Confirmed Copley has a fractured fibula a la Reed. That's a blow.

I'm guessing they'll do what Porthoz suggests and just put Maranta in.
I wouldn't mind seeing Whitchurch on the bench though. He can play back row, centre or wing. Gives some flexibility to bring him on and shift Glenn to back row. And if our back injury curse continues he can cover. I keep seeing how often Hoffman looks wounded and I think we almost do need cover for him.

 

[ningnangnong]

Maranta's done an admirable job so far this season, but I'd prefer to see Whitchurch in the side. There's just something about him... he's got a bit of panache.

I'd still be happy with Maranta though!

 

[Son Edo]

Titans were beginning to hit some form but the Origin period really hurt them in the injuries department, losing Bailey, Myles, Harrison and Bird. I was nervous about this one however we can take advantage on their poor form.

 

[Dexter]

I'd like to see Norman pushed 1 wider in attack from time to time. If all he is going to do is pass ( 2 runs against the Warriors ) then Glenn or whoever is playing backrow can come closer in and pass to Norman and see if we can get something going from there.

 

[noisetheory]

I'd like to see Norman pushed 1 wider in attack from time to time. If all he is going to do is pass ( 2 runs against the Warriors )

to be fair most of his criticism on this forum has been that he runs it one out too much.

im gonna keep harping on the lack of depth to our backline. even when the ball does get wide we're so flat that the defense is already in the face of the attacker. you need to give centres room to move when they get the ball.

this should be a good game and im sure the titans will turn up. when is bird due back? i have no idea but i just assume it will be against the broncs. as much as i hate him, he makes a massive difference to their team.

 

[rnabokov]

Haven't seen the replay of the Warriors game, but my feeling is that the problem is more one of training and structure than individual players. Dancing chairs is imo not the way to go, as it would more than likely upset our strong defense and the routines built over time.

Like Coxy said, I'm starting to feel that Hook may need help in the attacking department. We have a very young team, which implies there should be plenty of room for improvement, especially when it comes to the decision making process, but also with executing set plays. I mean, if Nathan Friend is capable of doing last night's play, any Broncos player can as well!

Hoffman is struggling, as are Norman, Wallace and even Hodges, but we are 3rd on the ladder, 1 game away from 1st and we can't get worse in attack than last night. Speaking of attack, maybe people should remember that we are only 36 points behind the best attack in the competition!

Anyway, except for Maranta or Whitchurch in Copley's spot, I wouldn't touch last night's team against the Titans.

This, and what Alec posted earlier.

It's all about structure.

In defence, the Broncos can be, and have been, as good as it can get. Against the Warriors, it showed. Despite some help from the weather, our strong, disciplined, well structured defence by and large nullified their key play makers, and made Maloney and Mateo look rather ordinary.

And yes, Hoffman is terrific in defence at the back but, and for mine it's a big but, he so far has shown no INSTINCTS in his attacking plays. I don't see him so much as struggling, I see that he simply can't see, think or feel what a Slater, or Bowen, or Stewart, or Barba or Inglis do "naturally". I just don't know if instincts like that can be coached.

For me it is a huge issue coming into the finals when we are going to need as many attacking options as possible against sides who will or can, match us in defence, BUT have more point scoring options in them, particularly rehearsed 2nd man plays where their FB is so often involved.

And then there is the issue, as Porthoz and Alec say, of structure in attack, e.g. regularly executing effective set plays. Those top teams do it. We don't. It's not because the plays aren't there, it's because there seems to be no-one to call them, to, dare I say it, organize the team.

What makes it really frustrating is that IMO, Hodges and Reed and now Glenn, are not, as Alec posted, getting quality ball from the halves. Hodges therefore goes looking for the ball and basically ends up being a hooker playing in the centres.

Equally frustrating is the consistent waste of Gillett and T'eo - and yet this year on a few occasions, for whatever reason, I have seen some stunning plays, particularly a couple involving Macca and Gillett, Glenn & T'eo out wide, but they have been too few and far between.

I agree with Beads and others. Musical chairs isn't the solution, especially in defence, but something needs to be done about having someone from our "spine" or even maybe our captain, calling rehearsed, set plays, and working out someone to come up as the extra man out wide.

As it stands, I just can't see us beating the Dogs, Cowboys, Sharks, even the Rabbits, and, if they regain form, the Storm and Manly. If our defence keeps to form, and our forwards keep dominating up the middle as they can and do so very well, there won't be much in it, but at this point, I am getting ready to be disappointed for the rest of this season.

Damn I hope I'm wrong. I love my team so much.

 

[Huge]

Just a thought on Hoffman. When he was hit by Wade Grahame recently ( the in goal hit ) he was, to my mind, out on his feet. He had been hit twice in the ten minutes previous to that and to me did not look as though he actually knew where he was and what he was doing.I thought they may have taken him off previously to the Grahame hit .It reminded me of a boxer who has been knocked rotten but somehow remains on autopilot. Seemingly okay but not okay at all.

I'm actually a bit worried about Josh Hoffman. I was hoping he would be rested for the following games and his health closely monitored. That is not to say that is not already the case but he just doesn't seem okay. He's taken some major hits lately especially the pounding he received from GI. A few years ago there was genuine concern for K Hunt when he endured a similar run. Maybe I'm way off base but Hoffmans recent form is now being questioned. He may not be right/well enough.