Round 21 - Broncos vs. Eels - Build Up Thread

[Son Edo]

Thank god we've got depth. Has Hunt played in the halves before?.

Vs Canberra.

 

[Big Pete]

When has Hunt ever been given an opportunity to show what he's made up at this level other than filling in when we're behind or when he was a kid?

I like Hunt, isn't a supreme talent like Norman, but at least he doesn't have rocks for brains either. Stuart maybe a Blue, but he was spot on when he said attitude was key. Look at Josh Reynolds, Adam Reynolds & Ray Thompson. Not exactly talented players, but doing their clubs proud by playing simple but effective footy.

Our halves do that too, which works for our amazing forward pack, but we always seem to trip ourselves up when we try and do something fancy like a chip & chase or this thing called a p...p....*looks at the dictionary* pass.

 

[Alec]

There is every chance Hunt could end up being a real dud too. But looking at the entire competition, genuine ball playing halves are in much, MUCH shorter supply than ball runners, and players like him are becoming much rarer, so I'd rather take a punt on Hunt over Norman.

 

[Big Pete]

I just wish Hunt would get to spend sometime at Norths to show his wares at half. Maybe it's because of Manly and their success with Hodkinson, DCE & T-Rex but clearly it's a great competition to develop halves.

Same goes for Norman and if form warranted, Wallace.

 

[Jeba]

Hunt would be playing for Capras if he was dropped, who are going like busteds. I agree QCup should be used more for developing players but not sure playing behind beaten forward packs week in week out getting 40 points put in you is the best place for Hunt to be.

 

[Big Pete]

I thought the Broncos dropped the Capras?

Wouldn't take much to have him play for Norths, specially when they're using Maranta at five eigth.

 

[Jeba]

Hunt is the only one in the Broncos squad affiliated to the Capras, so they pretty much have dropped them, but they haven't, if you know what I mean.

 

[Big Pete]

But again, it wouldn't take a lot for him to play for the Devils.

I mean, that's where he made his Q Cup debut.

 

[Jeba]

I don't know how those obligations work to be honest.

 

[subsbligh]

Ben Hunt has been shoehorned into a 25 minute per game back up hooker for the Broncos which I don't think anyone here would say is his best position. We are yet to see Hunt get a proper first grade audition in the halves.

Still, I would have preferred Norman to be playing this week. It's a game that the Broncos have to win and would be massive boost for the Broncos if Corey had a big game on Monday night.

 

[subsbligh]

I just wish Hunt would get to spend sometime at Norths to show his wares at half. Maybe it's because of Manly and their success with Hodkinson, DCE & T-Rex but clearly it's a great competition to develop halves.

Same goes for Norman and if form warranted, Wallace.

... and for Ben Hunt to be picked up by another club as a halfback

 

[mieko]

Ben Hunt has been shoehorned into a 25 minute per game back up hooker for the Broncos which I don't think anyone here would say is his best position. We are yet to see Hunt get a proper first grade audition in the halves.

Still, I would have preferred Norman to be playing this week. It's a game that the Broncos have to win and would be massive boost for the Broncos if Corey had a big game on Monday night.

True. While i think Hunt and Norman are both very talented footballers, it feels like Norman is still playing in the 20's and trying to do it all himself. Defense in the 20's is basically non existent in most games with more free flowing / running football...massive differnce to the NRL to where Norman is just getting shut down all the time. Hunt played in the halves against Canberra who weren't going to well at the time and now he may get another chance and it's against the Eels who aren't going that well also at the moment. Hunt is a great player though would be good to see him get a starting gig against a team like the Dogs or Manly and see how he goes.

Norman i feel is a confidence player and if he is good to go Monday against the Eels and plays well it may just turn his whole season around...god knows he needs it with the big 3 games coming up.

 

[noisetheory]

Norman i feel is a confidence player and if he is good to go Monday against the Eels and plays well it may just turn his whole season around...god knows he needs it with the big 3 games coming up.

if this was the case you'd think after scoring that initial grubber-for-himself try against the warriors he would of been in for a big game.

i agree he is running the ball one out like a 20s player. but i've watched a few broncs 20's games at suncorp lately and even they run with more players in support that the first grade side.

someone needs to organise these idiots.

having said that i'm not sure that 'organisation' is quite what is required to do something as simple as supporting the ball runner. its not like the halves are doing anything that the players around them should be suprised by.

petero has admitted his form has been off since origin and maybe the whole team has just been struggling for motivation at the moment. i think gee's comments last week should at least fire up the halves. there is still time for us to turn it around but it will have to happen quickly. the monday game might just be a good thing for us.

 

[Old Mate]

There is every chance Hunt could end up being a real dud too. But looking at the entire competition, genuine ball playing halves are in much, MUCH shorter supply than ball runners, and players like him are becoming much rarer, so I'd rather take a punt on Hunt over Norman.

Agreed by a million, every man and his dog has a big ball runner at 5/8, I want a ball player, would make things so much easier without Locky, might even help the Hoff out.

 

[rnabokov]

I know there's a lot more to it that this, but consistent use of set plays which target an opposition's vulnerabilities is critical. The Dragoons showed that last night.

A simple analysis of the Storm's defensive structure shows that going around them is one important attacking ploy that will get results sooner or later.

And that is exactly what the Dragoons did last night. They just ran 2nd man plays with a lot of wrap arounds to make overlaps all night and got the goodies. But of course, they needed some structured depth, running support players and well timed passing.

It's really that simple. We should try it one day

 

[ningnangnong]

I wonder if the Eels will display the 'we've got a new coach, so let's play as best as we can' attitude.

Would be just our luck... whipping boys all year, and then turn up when we play them!

Hopefully they used up all that attitude last weekend when they did the old 'our coach is getting sacked and we feel bad for him, so we're gonna play as best as we can'.

 

[Son Edo]

Lets take back 3rd prize.

 

[Jeba]

Broncos website has confirmed that Parker will not play.