PRE-GAME Round 22 - Dragons vs Broncos

[tommy]

I read a story saying this week is retro round. Does this mean we are wearing an old jersey like the heritage one?

 

[Danoz Direct]

I read a story saying this week is retro round. Does this mean we are wearing an old jersey like the heritage one?

For this game it is women in league round.

 

[tommy]

For this game it is women in league round.

Oh ok, round after then.

 

[winslow_wong]

Hunt and Milford need to just focus on the absolute basics. Repeat sets please. They are guilty of trying to score off every play.

 

[Foordy]

So was there a rule passed that only the bloke with the number 7 on his back can attempt to force restarts? Why does Milf escape criticism for basically everything but in this case restarts? Or is Teflon Milford an actual thing now?

It also seems that he has to be able to force a repeat set from the halfway line, because that is where he is kicking from more often than not.

our pack has struggled this year, and it has had a flow on effect. when our pack does get us into good field position our spine has been able to put on a good attacking display ... unfortunately they aren't in those positions nearly often enough and when you come up against the good defensive units, they are able to repel those rare attacking raids, because they aren't as fatigued as they should be.

 

[vertigo]

I read a story saying this week is retro round. Does this mean we are wearing an old jersey like the heritage one?

No, it's Fox Sports' own thing - nothing to do with the NRL.

 

[talanoa]

So was there a rule passed that only the bloke with the number 7 on his back can attempt to force restarts? Why does Milf escape criticism for basically everything but in this case restarts? Or is Teflon Milford an actual thing now?

i couldnt agree more, i actually think hunt is being used as the scapegoat for our slump which is unfair. i look at him and he is having a red hot crack but things arent lining up at the moment. he virtually carried us last year to the gf.

if we look at the cows, sharks, storm and even canberra they all have multiple last tackle kick options where as we seem to rely on hunt. macca does chip in now and again but with no consistency or conviction.

 

[Sproj]

I too think Milford is a bigger problem than Hunt at the moment. Milf is just not even trying and I wanna know why.

 

[austin71]

I too think Milford is a bigger problem than Hunt at the moment. Milf is just not even trying and I wanna know why.

Blair also doesn't seem to give a toss

 

[Kimlo]

Blair also doesn't seem to give a toss

Really? Blair is an animal, he's one of the few that's always putting in the 1%ers IMO.

 

[Sproj]

Really? Blair is an animal, he's one of the few that's always putting in the 1%ers IMO.

Not since Tallis got in his head.

 

[Broncoman]

Really? Blair is an animal, he's one of the few that's always putting in the 1%ers IMO.

I think he can do a lot better than what he is doing arm.

 

[Big Pete]

Blair was one of the Broncos best against the Roosters. He was one of only a few players controlling the ruck and the only time the Broncos looked dangerous were off his quick play the balls.

As with most players in the side, his form is down compared to 2015, but I'm prepared to blame that on a positional shift more than anything else. He doesn't run the best lines for a backrow and defensive lines have no issue ganging up on him because they're comfortable handling Alex Glenn.

If the Broncos can solve their left centre issue, it will go a long way to turning things around at the club.

 

[broncos4life]

Blair also doesn't seem to give a toss

Rubbish.

 

[2ndPhase]

If we want our best team on the park to see what we can make out of the rest of the season than Wallace plays. Regardless if he is leaving or if you want to see Fai. Wallace has to play.

 

[Porthoz]

i couldnt agree more, i actually think hunt is being used as the scapegoat for our slump which is unfair. i look at him and he is having a red hot crack but things arent lining up at the moment. he virtually carried us last year to the gf.

if we look at the cows, sharks, storm and even canberra they all have multiple last tackle kick options where as we seem to rely on hunt. macca does chip in now and again but with no consistency or conviction.

The common factor in those teams, is that all of them have at least one half capable of organising their team and controlling a game with their kicking (Thurston, Cronk, Maloney, Sezer). In fact, almost every team in the NRL has one of those halves... we don't!

Other than Melbourne with Smith, those other teams also don't have particularly proficient second choice kickers, at least not better than Milford or Macca are.

I think Hunt cops it more because:
- He is the older, more experienced half in the team, and our first choice kicker.
- Milford is regarded as the player with the highest ceiling.
- We let a youngster with those qualities go, because Ben was (rightfully) ahead of him.

I've always said that Hunt is much more of a traditional 5/8 than a halfback, because his strength is his running game, and that is the reason why I originally wanted Milford at fullback (with Boyd as a centre instead of Reed), Hunt at 5/8 and give Taylor a shot at halfback, because despite his youth and inexperience, Ashley has exactly everything we lack in terms or organisation and kicking game.

Admittedly, we probably wouldn't have made the GF last year, and as I mentioned before, Boyd has been doing a fantastic job as custodian, certainly much better than I thought he would be. But on the other hand, we probably would be in better shape for the future, and imagine how handy Boyd would have been with our backline woes this season!

P.S. This isn't hindsight or beating my chest up. It's the opinion I've always had, even if last season certainly made me doubt myself.

 

[Sproj]

1. Milford
6. Hunt
7. Taylor
9. Granville/Parcell

That's what we could have had.

 

[Alec]

I hope Milford fattening up isn't some kind of Griffin-like move because they think you gotta be bigger to defend in the front line. It has seriously impacted his running game and his defence has been just as bad as ever. But then if it's not that, does that mean he just let himself go?