POST GAME Round 25 - Broncos vs Eels

[Dee]

Any true fan isn't concerned that we lose - it's how we lose that is concerning.

Beaten by a better team - acceptable.
Beaten because of poor refereeing - acceptable (well, moderately).
Beaten because of poor luck - acceptable.
Beaten because your attitude stinks and, aside from a few, you don't put in the effort or seem to care when there is so much at stake - that's the bitter pill to swallow.

It certainly shouldn't be panic stations yet, but as far as I am concerned there is simply no excuse for dishing up tripe like last night. Only a few can hold their heads high, the rest should feel ashamed. To make matters worse, this happened only 3 weeks ago against the same team - last night should never have been a surprise.

As you say, we will lose games again, every team does. But what separates us from, and I hate to say it, the winners like Melbourne, is attitude. Melbourne are ruthless and seem to have clones of Cronk, Slater and Smith sitting, waiting to take over when they retire. Aside from the Manly GF where they were blasted by 40 (a lot of that has to do with stealing victory the week before from us), I can't remember the last time Melbourne turned it up like we did last night - it is just not in their DNA.

Absolutely spot on.

I can accept a loss, I understand we can't always win but to dish that performance up last night with so much to play for and 2 weeks out from the finals, is completely unacceptable. We should be playing consistent football each week this time of year, not putting 50 on teams one week, then getting 50 put on us the next.

 

[Accept]

If the scoreline and total game scenario had have been exactly reversed, we would have just waved off the last two four pointers as consolation tries. The 34 points scored means nothing, Parra had the game wrapped up at 24-0 and did enough to win after that. Any which way you want to look at it, it was a very bad loss and one that has turned the Bronco's season upside down.

 

[Danoz Direct]

If the scoreline and total game scenario had have been exactly reversed, we would have just waved off the last two four pointers as consolation tries. The 34 points scored means nothing, Parra had the game wrapped up at 24-0 and did enough to win after that. Any which way you want to look at it, it was a very bad loss and one that has turned the Bronco's season upside down.

How has it turned it upside down? Maybe turned our season to one side, but not upside down.

 

[mrslong]

I don't agree that, that example was a fair indication of Milford's game management. We were down by heaps and needed to score, so I was fine with him taking that option at that point in the match, would have been nice if could have held onto it though for sure though.

I agree he is still working on his game managment but I don't think it is that bad.

No, we needed to complete a set and defend. It was about halfway through the 2nd half and we had all the momentum. All we needed was to complete a freaking set.

 

[mrslong]

He must of had something going on at home.. maybe argument with the mrs, that always saps your energy and motivation. He was not at the game at all last night. Hopefully he sorts out whatever was bothering him.

This. It's the only explanation.
Or contractual dramas etc. His head was not in Lang Park.

 

[BroncsFan]

Look, I'm biased as the leader of his fan club and I know he didn't have his best game but behind a pack that has the impact of a snail hitting a wall at speed, what was he supposed to do last night? Name one non-JT or Cronk halfback he would have been able to do anything.

Milford showed some great things last night I was thoroughly impressed with him. In a team that was showing absolutely nothing, apart from a few players, and senior players completely losing their bundle, Milford was pretty damn good for us when he could've quite easily thrown it in with the rest of them.

It was a great show of leadership from him to still be putting points on and trying his ass off despite being in a 24 point hole almost immediately

 

[WASSHHH]

Milford showed some great things last night I was thoroughly impressed with him. In a team that was showing absolutely nothing, apart from a few players, and senior players completely losing their bundle, Milford was pretty damn good for us when he could've quite easily thrown it in with the rest of them.

It was a great show of leadership from him to still be putting points on and trying his ass off despite being in a 24 point hole almost immediately

Agreed. I mentioned in an earlier comment, he and McGuire were playing like they were captains last night - the rest of the team, bar a couple, were just making up the numbers.

 

[BroncsFan]

We just weren't at the races last night, no one really wanted to dig in save for a few individuals. Boyd had a shocker, I thought a poignant moment was when he fumbled the ball out of touch in the first half and got pushed over my Moereoa or someone, he just meekly got up and walked away.

I thought to myself, is that the body language you want to be showing as captain to the rest of your side? You're literally getting pushed around on and off the ball, and your response is to skulk away like an animal that's been defeated in a mating ritual, tail between the legs. Not exactly inspiring or motivating to the rest of the side.

Out-enthused in every aspect of play. No team has won the premiership after conceding 50 points in the regular season.......

I think the biggest disappointing moment for me was the kick return when he passed 30m to a flat footed Oates.

The kick chase from eels was very poor in the middle all Boyd had to do was hit the middle for an easy play the ball 40m out if he had of pinned the ears back he would've probably been over the 50m on play 1. Instead he jinked and fucked around before telegraphing a 30m loopy garbage pass to his winger in the only part of the field where the kick chase was actually present. Oh and he also threw it at his feet.

It was a total disgrace from a captain when your team is under the pump and he had a glaring opportunity to at least lead through action.

 

[_wwong]

I think the biggest disappointing moment for me was the kick return when he passed 30m to a flat footed Oates.

The kick chase from eels was very poor in the middle all Boyd had to do was hit the middle for an easy play the ball 40m out if he had of pinned the ears back he would've probably been over the 50m on play 1. Instead he jinked and fucked around before telegraphing a 30m loopy garbage pass to his winger in the only part of the field where the kick chase was actually present. Oh and he also threw it at his feet.

It was a total disgrace from a captain when your team is under the pump and he had a glaring opportunity to at least lead through action.

He has the worst jink in the game. It's too slow and fools no one. He used to pin the ears back and return with vigor. A few of the guys mainly Blair and Boyd need to get back to basics this week and just tuck the ball under the arm.

 

[Renegade]

I think the biggest disappointing moment for me was the kick return when he passed 30m to a flat footed Oates.

The kick chase from eels was very poor in the middle all Boyd had to do was hit the middle for an easy play the ball 40m out if he had of pinned the ears back he would've probably been over the 50m on play 1. Instead he jinked and fucked around before telegraphing a 30m loopy garbage pass to his winger in the only part of the field where the kick chase was actually present. Oh and he also threw it at his feet.

It was a total disgrace from a captain when your team is under the pump and he had a glaring opportunity to at least lead through action.

yes all of this, i blew up about it last night when it happened. it was symptomatic of boyd in general last night, just didn't want to be involved.

oates made a few errors but also had two hospital balls thrown at his feet by boyd and roberts.

 

[Thelmus]

Whilst it was somewhat disappointing (am I in contention for understatement of the year?) I think its important to remember one thing: its one game. Three weeks time if we win this game will count for nothing.
Would parramatta be more confident go into the final series: yes and rightly so. Its better to be winning, this close to the finals than not.
We got toweled (there's no sugarcoating it). Our confidence will be shot. Our player were second guessing team strategies and ad-libbing their individual games. The mistakes came from some of our most experienced players. People who are supposed to lead, not be led. And that's what parramatta did time and again. We played into their hands and their traps.
What can we do? Start by looking at where and how we won. They weren't flukes and they weren't against ordinary teams. We didn't win by playing safe. That's the first temptation after a game like that and the wrong one. We didn't win by trying to manufacture a change in momentum or play as an individual.
Our players attacked all night. It wasn't a mistake. What was, was compounding mistakes by making further errors trying to change the course of a match single-handedly. By failing to execute simple skills by letting self-doubt erode selfconfidence, by failing to play as a team and help each other, when mistakes happen. Blair's error on the 5th holding the ball, early in the match was as much thaiday's for passing to him. Why wasn't thaiday thinking 5th tackle. For that matter why wasn't a half or even just a handy back who can kick screaming for it. Kodi going into his shell after a bad game is understandable if not forgivable. Thaiday not thinking, for that matter Boyd or Milford is worse. Milf is expected to lead, regardless of his age, and Darius, thaiday because oftheir age. If they do so, and err, playing a role not of their normal game, (or milf because he is young and inexperienced), it should be accepted. But to go into your shell leave others, grasping for leadership that is not forthcoming, is the biggest blight of that game and one that needs correction ASAP.

 

[_wwong]

yes all of this, i blew up about it last night when it happened. it was symptomatic of boyd in general last night, just didn't want to be involved.

oates made a few errors but also had two hospital balls thrown at his feet by boyd and roberts.

Oates always tries his guts out even after making mistakes. Him, Glenn, McGuire and Milford are the heart beat of this team.

 

[Splinter]

He must of had something going on at home.. maybe argument with the mrs, that always saps your energy and motivation. He was not at the game at all last night. Hopefully he sorts out whatever was bothering him.

You could be right. This is two weeks in a row as he was not good last week either

 

[KnToad]

I'm glad I'm not the only one getting sick of Boyd crying foul every time someone holds down. Yes, more often than not he has a case, but I'm yet to see a ref change their mind because a player simply had a cry about it. Reminds me too much of Gallen, and I loathe Gallen.
All it achieves is to slow any momentum we have, it needs to stop.

+1

Been bugging me for ages. Sets a bad example to the team too. Like you said, never seen a ref agree. If anything it tends to lead to the ref ignoring what's actually going on...

 

[KnToad]

I woke up today and honestly feel worse than I did last night. What a nightmare that game was.

What I see from our boys is so incredibly frustrating because I truly believe we have a team this season that can win the premiership, no doubts at all about that. But, they are just so inconsistent with their attitude that you just don't know what they are going to dish out and as a fan, it's a real bumpy and frustrating ride.

One week, they are defending like their lives depended on it, playing for one another, not giving away silly penalties, not making low percentage plays such as offloading on the 1st tackle of the game inside our 10 metre line etc. They play confidently throwing the ball around but also structured and disciplined, you can see they believe in what they are doing and we comprehensively beat teams. Then the next week, we dish up what we did last night. No enthusiasm in defence, not playing for each other, giving away penalties, silly offloads, knock ons etc. Just look really disinterested and like they don't want to even be there in front of their home crowd.

We got well and truly bullied last night and we couldn't respond. We had everything to play for and we got absolutely smashed. I just don't get these guys, I don't understand where their heads are at. What are they thinking? What are they doing? It's so sad to watch your team get bent over and dominated in every facet of the game. From metres gained, to line breaks, to missing more tackles, to tries scored etc. We were pathetic last night, there's no avoiding it and we are TWO WEEKS out from playing finals footy.

The signs were there against the Dragons. We looked disinterested at times, we looked flat with no intensity but we did just enough to get the win. And that's our attitude most times, we play to the level of our opposition and do JUST enough to win and we're all happy. It's not good enough this time of year. Yes we are 2nd but how in the hell can we dish that up last night and still be called contenders?

I just don't know what to expect from our boys this season, I truly don't know if we are good enough to win the premiership or if we are truly pretenders. I know for certain that when we turn it on, and we play to our potential and play for each other then there is no team that can stop us. Yes we can beat the Storm and we can absolutely win the comp. But, on the other hand, do we really want to win the premiership? Are we hungry for it? At times I can say yes, most times I say no, and I just don't know anymore. It's frustrating. Us fans look forward every week to see our boys play to their potential and the inconsistency is killing me.

Thoughts?

Sums it up pretty well...

The signs were there against Dragons but we were all too busy high fiving about being second on the table.

Don't think we can beat Storm anyway. Unless they have a major injury loss or somehow show up and play a game like the garbage we dished up last night.... and I just can't see that happening. They are too well organized and way too disciplined to serve up anything like that.

 

[BroncsFan]

+1

Been bugging me for ages. Sets a bad example to the team too. Like you said, never seen a ref agree. If anything it tends to lead to the ref ignoring what's actually going on...

It's already starting to creep in to the rest of the team. Milf, Gillette, Moga all like to have a whinge.

I get so angry with them as it kills off momentum. Yes you got tapped high or they were in the ruck too long, but if there's no whistle then **** it and move on. You're only letting the defence get set and screwing up the timing for the rest of the team who are set for the next play.

Boyd complaining 1m out from his try line just means the next guy is running into a brick wall hell bent on pushing him backwards. All because his captain decided to put in a weak kick return and got dragged back. It happens all the time, but if you don't get dragged into the in goal it's never going to be a penalty so move the **** on

 

[Danoz Direct]

No, we needed to complete a set and defend. It was about halfway through the 2nd half and we had all the momentum. All we needed was to complete a freaking set.

Completely a set is all well and good, but if you are down by 20 with not that much time left you have to be trying to create opportunities, especially only on the 3rd.

 

[Crazy Sam]

I'm struggling to recall a game that was more unwatchable than last night's from start to finish. The only saving grace was winning the second half.