PRE-GAME [Round 21, 2023] Broncos vs Rabbitohs

[something]

Hopefully with capes on the left edge and Ezra coming up quick (as he tends to) we can shut down Graham … he had a field day against us last time

 

[peter09]

Paix’s agent Paul Hogan:

“The comments about Cory are another example of social-media gone wild. Any suggestion Cory is fighting with Broncos players couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s nothing but false and malicious allegations. If the posts continue we will explore legal options because it’s basically defamatory what Cory is being subjected to. Naturally he would love to be playing NRL, but he has no issue with ‘Kevvie’ (Walters) or anyone at the Broncos. Cory is determined to fight his way back and play NRL again.”​

Paix (possibly in Feb):

“It’s great to have my future sorted – there’s no other place I would rather be. I certainly love the Broncos, I started here in the juniors, so I had no intentions of leaving and there’s a lot I want to achieve here. I now feel I belong in the NRL at hooker. I have been here through the tough times and now we are in a position where we can do something as a club and I want to be a key part of that."​

​

“For the last few years, I have been coming off the bench and now as I’m getting a bit older, I’d like to move into that starting role at hooker to complement ‘Reyno,’ Ezra and Reece. I feel like I can do that and really take the team with me.”​

Why would an Nrl player be that worried about a bit of crap written about him in a bloody forum for christs sake

 

[GCBRONCO]

 

[McHunt]

Why would an Nrl player be that worried about a bit of crap written about him in a bloody forum for christs sake

I think the subtext of the rumour isn't about him being offside with the playing group but with the coach for gifting his son the 9 over him. And that subtext is he didn't earn it.

It's actually a pretty corrosive rumour if you're trying to work your way back into the team. He's right to clear the air. It's his career being threatened, and from a casual observer's outside view, I think he and Billy are friends IRL.

 

[Dash]

Graham destroyed Herbie last time but Madden played a part in that I feel. That to me though is the big worry. Walker can be contained and frustrated, I feel comfortable with that but Graham, to me, is the best centre in the comp now.

That's not really how it happened though. One of Graham's tries was off a dropped cross-field kick (because other teams are allowed to turn their back and jump into our players), another he ran straight through Capewell and Madden from a scrum play, and the third Herbie wasn't on the field.

Herbie ran for 184m, made a linebreak and missed 0 tackles according to Fox NRL. He did make a couple of errors and get sin binned for a trip, but we can't exactly credit Graham with those.

Mam and Capewell are the biggest worry for mine, especially with Koloamatangi out there.

 

[Kaz]

Wally Lewis's son? Lincoln? He's had a decent go at acting.

He's been in Home and Away. Enough said.

 

[BroncsFan]

That's not really how it happened though. One of Graham's tries was off a dropped cross-field kick (because other teams are allowed to turn their back and jump into our players), another he ran straight through Capewell and Madden from a scrum play, and the third Herbie wasn't on the field.

Herbie ran for 184m, made a linebreak and missed 0 tackles according to Fox NRL. He did make a couple of errors and get sin binned for a trip, but we can't exactly credit Graham with those.

Mam and Capewell are the biggest worry for mine, especially with Koloamatangi out there.

He won't have to worry about getting binned for tripping, because the NRL has done away with that based on evidence over the last 2 weeks or so where at least 3 players have been put on report for tripping, but got to stay on the field

 

[Sproj]

It is an interesting head to head this week:

1. Walsh (Broncos)
2. Johnston (Rabbits)
3. Staggs (Broncos)
4. Graham (Rabbits)
5. Cobbo (Broncos)
6. Walker (Rabbits)
7. Reynolds (Broncos)
8. Tatola (Rabbits)
9. Cook (Rabbits)
10. Haas (Broncos)
11. Koloamatangi (Rabbits)
12. Arrow (Rabbits)
13. Murray (Rabbits)

14. Even
15. Burgess (Souths)
16. Hetherington (Broncos)
17. Taupau (Broncos)

So 9-7 to Rabbits with one even. Flegs would even that up to 8-8 if he was in and Riki would probably push it Broncs way. Should be a fantastic game. They have us in the spine, we have them in the backline and it is even in the forwards. Our bench overall is better but they have Burgess and he is an absolute weapon off the pine.

 

[Fitzy]

from a casual observer's outside view.

Safe to say someone is distancing themselves from the situation.

 

[Morkel]

It is an interesting head to head this week:

1. Walsh (Broncos)
2. Johnston (Rabbits)
3. Staggs (Broncos)
4. Graham (Rabbits)
5. Cobbo (Broncos)
6. Walker (Rabbits)
7. Reynolds (Broncos)
8. Tatola (Rabbits)
9. Cook (Rabbits)
10. Haas (Broncos)
11. Koloamatangi (Rabbits)
12. Arrow (Rabbits)
13. Murray (Rabbits)

14. Even
15. Burgess (Souths)
16. Hetherington (Broncos)
17. Taupau (Broncos)

So 9-7 to Rabbits with one even. Flegs would even that up to 8-8 if he was in and Riki would probably push it Broncs way. Should be a fantastic game. They have us in the spine, we have them in the backline and it is even in the forwards. Our bench overall is better but they have Burgess and he is an absolute weapon off the pine.

Murray above Carrigan is not going to win you friends.

 

[Sproj]

Murray above Carrigan is not going to win you friends.

Hey I’m incredibly popular on here, ask my mum, she’ll tell you.

But I try to be as unbiased as possible with these to the point of being harsh on the Broncs players.

 

[Santa]

I think the media hype has got us more worried about this game then we should be.

Souths are overrated, we'll win this by a large margin.

 

[HarryAllan7]

God I wish there was still footage of the old 'Friday on My Mind' intro on Youtube

 

[TimWhatley]

I think the media hype has got us more worried about this game then we should be.

Souths are overrated, we'll win this by a large margin.

It's not the media hype that worries me, it's the insane form they were in before origin and the fact that they easily beat us last time.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

 

[HarryAllan7]

This year, everytime there's been a big game where I thought we'd struggle, this team has really shown up and established themselves as serious contenders (Panthers Round 1, Sharks Away game, Warriors away game without origin players, Dolphins @ Gabba).

There's been a couple of unexpected slips along the way in games we should have won (Titans, Raiders)... Although in both of those the refereeing beat us as much as the opposition.

Then there's been a couple of games against real powerhouses where we lost but held our own (Panthers Round 12, Storm).

The Rabbits are a contender this year - especially with their full squad back. They belted us last time and we should be out for revenge. I've been hesitant to get carried away and label us as genuine premiership threats just yet, since we still have a young, at times inconsistent team which seems just half a step behind really polished sides like the Panthers / Storm... But if the boys get up tonight then in my mind it will really establish us as genuine contenders and set us up for a run into the business end of the season. If we can't win this one, it feels like we're probably just not quite ready this season and just a step behind the leaders.

 

[Organix]

I don't get the betting market, Souths are favourite for this game yet we have lower odds for the premiership.

The game is even played in SEQ.

It leads me to believe they know something we don't...

 

[BroncsFan]

I think if the game is allowed to be toe to toe and minimal refereeing influence, then we can definitely win it.

I think it was flagged at some point that Souths score a lot of their tries off penalties... and from the eye test they look to be the most potent attacking team inside the 20-30m, but I'd be interested to see stats for long range tries beyond the 50m.

I'd say we are one of the most potent long range attacking teams with an ability to score from anywhere, but Souths may not be and are instead more reliant on getting inside the 20m.

If the game is allowed to play out like a top 4 slugfest with minimal ref input then we should be a very good shout off the back of a strong middle rotation and Reynolds kicking them to death... as well as strike from anywhere on the field.

If the ref gets involved and is blowing soft yardage penalties... or we struggle to win the territory battle (for whatever reason), then I think we play into Souths hands.

We want the game played between the 20's with minimal stoppages, Souths want a stop/start game played inside the 20's.

Refereeing will have a lot of say as to where the game gets played tonight