Round 21 - Knights vs. Broncos - Pre Match Discussion

[Grimmiq]

I agree completely, they are both great hole runners, Gillett has the better footwork and offload, Glenn has better explosive speed and power, and due to either bad coaching or poor halves, they've been used incorrectly for the last couple of years.

But I was responding to the eye roll of how I(anyone) would consider benching Gillett, with how we have been playing, and the lack of set plays involving them, out of the 2 Glenn is the better choice for playing 80mins. He has the endurance to not let his defense/discipline slide in the back end. If we all of a sudden change how Griffin coaches and we throw in set plays for the backrowers, Gillett may become the better choice.

 

[rnabokov]

I agree completely, they are both great hole runners, Gillett has the better footwork and offload, Glenn has better explosive speed and power, and due to either bad coaching or poor halves, they've been used incorrectly for the last couple of years.

But I was responding to the eye roll of how I(anyone) would consider benching Gillett, with how we have been playing, and the lack of set plays involving them, out of the 2 Glenn is the better choice for playing 80mins. If we all of a sudden change how Griffin coaches and we throw in set plays for the backrowers, Gillett may become the better choice.

Perhaps I might clarify. I was referring to the stats for the Cowboys game which from memory, were Gillett's best, and I attribute that to 1) Hunt at half AND no Wallace, 2) Gillett playing on the left (I thought) and 3) Gillett's Origin experience.

In summary, things have changed, and I believe both Glenn and Gillett are ideal 80 minute impact players. I just hope the changes seen in the Cowboys game develop and evolve.

I put it another way a fair while ago. Give Gillett to Toovey or Hasler, and you wil really have a back rower up with the very best of them, SBW included

 

[Grimmiq]

That's the conundrum..If our halves get their act together and Hunt gets more comfortable and can play the full 80 like the 1st 20 on Friday..they will definately be very effective 80min players, so is Parker..where does that leave our QLD and AUS rep Captain? While not great, he rarely plays bad enough to warrant a drop to QLD cup, plus he's relatively likeable and well spoken and for now, the face of the Broncos.

Some people were mildly annoyed when Sam spoke about Benji on the footy show when he basically said if he got a big enough offer he'd leave the Broncos because it would be best for his family's future..I actually liked it. If he gets a big offer from the cowboys, 3 80 min players in the back row would give us a lot more flexability on our bench instead of needing someone to swap in for Sam's 15min breather.

 

[coreyh88]

I think thaiday should play first 20 instead of Glenn and last 20 instead of Gillett. Should mean none of them have defensive lapses and all should comfortably handle having their full impact the entire time on the field. To be honest I think with the current setup parker would go better with a 10 minute breather. Obviously only having one centre means that can't happen yet.

 

[coreyh88]

Additionally I think Dodds and tasi would have much more impact than any of the other props. Dodds seems to come on strong with tackle breaks and tasi with big hits. The others don't ever seem to drop off.

 

[Wicko6]

First post ever y'all.

I am glad I found this page, I thought I was the only one who saw that Thaiday is not the great player everyone makes him out to be.
Also, I dont know if this is the right thread to ask this, but what does everyone think of Maranta ?
Personally, I think he is horrible. As soon as we have any other two starting wingers healthy, he needs to be shown the door.
He is slow, hardly contests high balls, steps back inside everytime he gets the ball, and is not a very good defender. I would have Oats and Kahu on the wings.
Oh and I have a close source that tells me Dunamis Lui is looking to move to either Newcastle or Melbourne.

What I think the side should look like

1. Hoffman
2. Kemp
3. Oats
4. Hodges
5. Kahu
6. Prince
7. Hunt
8. McGuire
9. Macca
10. Dodds
11. Thaiday
12. Gillett
13. Parker

14. Granville
15. Hannant
16. Molo
17. Tasi

Bring back Denan Kemp !

 

[Splinter]

We need to keep winning these games as there is a chance that Sharks lose points before end of season

 

[Kimlo]

First post ever y'all.

I am glad I found this page, I thought I was the only one who saw that Thaiday is not the great player everyone makes him out to be.
Also, I dont know if this is the right thread to ask this, but what does everyone think of Maranta ?
Personally, I think he is horrible. As soon as we have any other two starting wingers healthy, he needs to be shown the door.
He is slow, hardly contests high balls, steps back inside everytime he gets the ball, and is not a very good defender. I would have Oats and Kahu on the wings.
Oh and I have a close source that tells me Dunamis Lui is looking to move to either Newcastle or Melbourne.

What I think the side should look like

1. Hoffman
2. Kemp
3. Oats
4. Hodges
5. Kahu
6. Prince
7. Hunt
8. McGuire
9. Macca
10. Dodds
11. Thaiday
12. Gillett
13. Parker

14. Granville
15. Hannant
16. Molo
17. Tasi

Bring back Denan Kemp !

Welcome to BHQ! You will find almost everyone agrees that Maranta is not cut out for first grade and there's a lot of mixed opinions on Thaiday, I am in the strip his captaincy and bench him camp but there's a fair few who disagree.

I totally agree with bringing back Kemp!

 

[coreyh88]

I actually think maranta had a decent game this weekend but one out of 18 or whatever it's been doesn't cut it. Gubb seems to be a decent winger.

 

[noisetheory]

they won't change a winning team except for hannant in if he's fit.

 

[Splinter]

Apparently both Baptiste and Granville had good games on the weekend. I would like one change only to the team and that would be drop Wallace and give either of these guys a go

 

[noisetheory]

yeah i'd be all for either baptise or granville onto the bench.

will be saying it every week now i guess, but this week is just so important to our run home. a win this week would be huge going into 4 outta 5 games at home playing "relatively" easier opposition for the next month.

 

[Morkel]

Interestingly, I played around with the NRL Predictor and it looks like if we do win the majority of our games that the Knights will be the team to drop out of the 8. We all knew that we had to all our games except possibly one (which we'll pencil in as the Dogs game in R26), but what it means is that our destiny is in our own hands, we don't have to worry about Team X beating Team Y. Beat the Knights twice, or if we drop one, beat the Dogs in R26, and we'll have a shot for the 8. Obviously, Sharks being docked is not in these calculations.

Pretty sure the team this week picks itself, except of course the bloody wingers. Let's hoke Kahu can get back faster than expected. Otherwise, a couple of rookie wingers will have real trouble against McManus & Uate. For that reason alone, I'd hold Maranta purely because defensively he has been solid. While he can of course butcher a try or 4, a rookie winger can defensively cost us just as badly. And poor Wallace, would bleed for his club, but we need spark from dummy-half against a tiring opponent.

1| Hoffman
2| Kahu (Please please please)
3| Oates
4| Hodges
5| Maranta

6| Prince
7| Hunt

8| Hannant
9| McCullough
10| McGuire
11| Gillett
12| Thaiday
13| Parker

14| Baptiste / Granville
15| Dodds
16| Stagg
17| Tasi

As for the game plan, Hoffman at fullback for defence, with Hodges at fullback for attack, is a wonderful way to take advantage of both players' strengths and weaknesses. Hodges would be rooted from the constant movement required to defensively position himself at fullback, especially when defending the line, and Hoffman has shown to be both fearless and dependable. In contrast, a roaming Hodges, with his ability to cause doubt in the defensive line, and silky ball-playing skills, is an absolute must in attack.

I agree with both sides of the Thaiday argument. He is an excellent, hardworking player who unfortunately gives away stupid penalties, makes dumb-arse mistakes, and does not have the fitness for 80 minutes. Whether it's an Origin hangover or he's just off the pace in general, you'd have to lay the blame 50/50 between him and Hook, in terms of managing the interchange.

Now as to the brilliant start, ending up in the not-so-brilliant middle / end of game. In my opinion, the reason it worked so well was the passes were sticking and everything was working out rosy. The problem is, the more you ball-play, the greater the chance of errors, and that's what started to happen. A short pass gets dropped. An intended decoy gets the ball by accident. To me it speaks volumes on why Hook has resisted such creative play - because he is such a percentage-driven coach that he tries to minimise that risk. When things started to go bad, they reverted to the previous game plan of percentage football, minimal risk, one-out posession / field position grind. The positive though is that all it would take is more focus on this ball-playing at training. Sure they'd be pretty well drilled on the skills side of thing, but if the game plan has been away from this side of thing, you'd assume there wouldn't be a huge focus on it. Now that there is a definite shift to this more expansive play, and the coaching staff have definitely acknowledged that it is the way to move forward (both in game plan & team selection), you would think that they'll put more focus on this at training. Let's hope to see crisper passes, much better communication, and more sustained focus on this style of attack.

 

[noisetheory]

We all knew that we had to all our games except possibly one (which we'll pencil in as the Dogs game in R26)

now at this point its all very much wishful thinking, but if we get to rnd 26 without losing a game we'll have won 6 on the trot and i'd put us down as favourites to beat the doggies at home. barba may not even be back by then too.

 

[Morkel]

now at this point its all very much wishful thinking, but if we get to rnd 26 without losing a game we'll have won 6 on the trot and i'd put us down as favourites to beat the doggies at home. barba may not even be back by then too.

Agreed. Which is why I think we'll either win them all or lose a tight one against the Knights, subsequently drop our bundle, and potentially lose the rest. Including the Parra game if Hayne is back :(

 

[Renegade]

Hayne won't be back this season imo.

 

[noisetheory]

stuart said the other day they wouldnt bother risking him this year.

 

[Rabbir]

Hope Gagai diesn't play well. The mob will be out in full force if he does.