Round 21 - Knights vs. Broncos - Pre Match Discussion

[noisetheory]

maybe with a bit of confidence we can convert the 8+ early leads into 18+ early leads :D

 

[Grimmiq]

1 - Hoffman
2 - Byrnes
3 - Oates
4 - Hodges
5 - Kahu/Maranta
6 - Prince
7 - Hunt
8 - Dodds
9 - Macca
10 - McGuire
11 - Gillett
12 - Thaiday
13 - Parker

14 - Granville/Baptiste
15 - Hannant
16 - Tasi
17 - Slyney/JWallace/Molo

Oates and Byrnes is a very young/inexperiences pairing..but hopefully having played together in NYC they might work well together.

 

[Porthoz]

Is Glenn injured, or did you leave him out on purpose?

I was more worried about the game in Townsville against a team whom despite being down, has infinitely more potential than the Novocastrians. Hopefully we will improve on last Friday, but I can't see a reason why our forward pack shouldn't totally dominate theirs, especially with Snowden out.

 

[Huge]

Is Glenn injured, or did you leave him out on purpose?

I was more worried about the game in Townsville against a team whom despite being down, has infinitely more potential than the Novocastrians. Hopefully we will improve on last Friday, but I can't see a reason why our forward pack shouldn't totally dominate theirs, especially with Snowden out.

Looks like Glen is out with a broken thumb ( fracture ? )

 

[Grimmiq]

Yeah left him out because he's apparently out for a week..if he isn't..then Glenn to 11, Gillett to 17 to sub in for Thaiday.

 

[Alec]

How about Thaiday to 17? It'll never happen, of course.

 

[Huge]

It seemed like the Broncos had some support in Townsville the other night but that will be missing in Newcastle ! Hometown penalties will be the go with the boos starting every time the Broncos are in defence. It would be hard to bear if WB is responsible for snuffing out our last remaining chance.

 

[noisetheory]

mason has torn a calf today so knights will be missing both their starting props.

 

[Huge]

That's handy ! Timing is everything ! If we bring last games standard we will be even money. Exceed that and we will win.

 

[rnabokov]

Yeah left him out because he's apparently out for a week..if he isn't..then Glenn to 11, Gillett to 17 to sub in for Thaiday.

Given Gillett's effort v Cowboys, I am absolutely baffled how anyone could even think of benching him. Just check out his stats and compare them to Thaiday, Glenn, in fact every forward bar Scott and Parker.

Some people .... :001_rolleyes:

 

[Alec]

Given Gillett's effort v Cowboys, I am absolutely baffled how anyone could even think of benching him. Just check out his stats and compare them to Thaiday, Glenn, in fact every forward bar Scott and Parker.

Some people .... :001_rolleyes:

I'd personally bench Thaiday, but Gillett off the bench shouldn't be a bad option. That's when the game should start to open up, and him coming on fresh would be perfect.

Of course, with he Broncos that's when the game starts to "close down" instead, so it seems kinda useless right now.

 

[rnabokov]

I'd personally bench Thaiday, but Gillett off the bench shouldn't be a bad option. That's when the game should start to open up, and him coming on fresh would be perfect.

Of course, with he Broncos that's when the game starts to "close down" instead, so it seems kinda useless right now.

Since Hunt looks like he is finding his 1st receiver's feet after having had them Hookered out from under him, and, since Gillett has lifted his work rate and Maranta's appalling defensive reading is no longer Gillett's millstone, for mine, he and Parker are our 80 minute weapons.

I would hope Hunt and Gillett spend time together working out plays all over the park, but particularly close to the line for the short flat pass.

Thaiday is the most logical choice for bench IMO, and McGuire is my choice for the ideal impact player off the bench, assuming Hannant starts, with Dodds, and Macca coming off only if he is injured or his play is sub-standard, and NOT when our momentum is moving nicely like on Friday night.

 

[Bucking Beads]

The Thaiday hate is mostly rubbish TBH. He isn't perfect and needs to improve but he is a key player to us. He does look unfit though and is prone to a terribly lazy missed tackle that costs us a try.

 

[rnabokov]

That is why I would bench him. I rate and always have rated Thaiday very highly, but I seriously question his fitness.

 

[Big Pete]

Both Gillett and Thaiday needed stints on the bench on Friday but due to the poor performance from Tasi who was very loose defensively I don't think Hook had much choice on the night. Hopefully Hannant can return and fix that issue.

 

[Grimmiq]

Given Gillett's effort v Cowboys, I am absolutely baffled how anyone could even think of benching him. Just check out his stats and compare them to Thaiday, Glenn, in fact every forward bar Scott and Parker.

Some people .... :001_rolleyes:

Yeah, let's compare a guy's stats from 2nd row with someone playing centre.

From their last 5 80min performances in 2nd row, here's Gillett's stats compared to Glenn's.

17 less metres
4 more errors
1 more line break
8 more missed tackles
11 more offloads
3 more penalties against
6 more tackle busts
2 more tackles

Offloads and tackle busts for him are great
Errors, Penalties and Missed tackles are bad.

I make no claim of being "in the know" and have no experience playing competatively..but wouldn't a player that makes less errors, penalties and missed tackles be more suitable for 80mins..while tackle busts and offloads be better suited for impact players off the bench?

 

[rnabokov]

Yeah, let's compare a guy's stats from 2nd row with someone playing centre.

From their last 5 80min performances in 2nd row, here's Gillett's stats compared to Glenn's.

17 less metres
4 more errors
1 more line break
8 more missed tackles
11 more offloads
3 more penalties against
6 more tackle busts
2 more tackles

Offloads and tackle busts for him are great
Errors, Penalties and Missed tackles are bad.

I make no claim of being "in the know" and have no experience playing competatively..but wouldn't a player that makes less errors, penalties and missed tackles be more suitable for 80mins..while tackle busts and offloads be better suited for impact players off the bench?

I won't dispute the longer term stats you have taken the trouble to compile - and thanks, I enjoyed reading them.

My point aboutGillett (and Glenn in the same way) is, and I have been making it for years, that they were at their peak when Lockyer was playing and used them both until he retired.

Since then, because of a nufflie coach and poor halves, our brilliant back rowers have been wasted.

IMO, part of what makes good coaching and smart halves is to work closely with your back rowers and have a repetoire of set plays all over the park, especially creating holes. Both Gillett and Glenn are devastating hole runners.

I argue for both of them playing 80 on the assumption they are fit enough, AND, hopefully Hunt (and Prince) will make use of them like Lockyer did. In other words, I think having 2 strike weapons on field for as long as possible is the way to go

 

[Raw Boned Youngster]

It seemed like the Broncos had some support in Townsville the other night but that will be missing in Newcastle ! Hometown penalties will be the go with the boos starting every time the Broncos are in defence. It would be hard to bear if WB is responsible for snuffing out our last remaining chance.

actually, the Broncos have a very healthy following in the Hunter Valley- there will be plenty of support there on Friday in night.