POST GAME [Round 3, 2022] Broncos vs Cowboys

[HarryAllan7]

As much as it seems appealing to move Herbie to fullback, we’re weakening one position to strengthen another. The club willingly went into this season banking on Niu as our fullback and thus far it seems a totally negligent decision… apart from being non-existent in attack, Niu lacks any power in kick returns, is constantly out of position and is either shaky under the high ball - at best - and at worst, totally unwilling to even engage with balls kicked in his direction.

While we lack options at 1, our problems at 9 are all our own doing. Turpin’s service is erratic and predictable, he refuses to run and engage markers at all and at times he will actually pick up the ball, double pump and take several steps before passing which does nothing but slow our attack even further. Paix showed plenty of promise in the trials and should be given his shot.

I have no idea what is going on with Staggs, but it’s concerning. Put him on notice and give him one more week to show some good signs otherwise he can go to reserve grade until he learns to play again.

Ryan James has to be replaced with Flegler, Jensen should be replaced with Piakura (or Robati).

If you had told us before the year that we would be 2-1 after 3 rounds I think we all would have taken it. There’s been some good signs of improvement so far this year so let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water, but today was disgraceful and there are some changes we can (and should) be making ASAP.

 

[pagey]

I’d have even been happy with Nick Meany.

for the Storm or doggies because he wasn't that good for being around awhile

 

[Fernando]

Panthers: Edwards
Roosters: Tedesco
Storm: Paps
Cowboys: Hammer
Dragons: Sloan
Dogs: Dufty
Raiders: CNK
Eels: Gutho
Knights: Ponga
Warriors: Walsh
Titans: Campbell
Sharks: Kennedy
Tigers: Laurie
Manly: Trbo
Bunnies: Latrell
Broncos: Niu

I’m genuinely curious how people think Niu stacks up with this list of fullbacks.

16th

Turpin and Kelly aren't far off the bottom in their positions too. We have 1 spine player sorted, the rest are real bad which is still our big problem.

 

[Accept]

A huge dose of reality today which I knew was coming, I just didn't know when. I do now. The signs were there last week but the cracks were painted over by some Herbie brilliance. One week on with almost identical match stats, the Broncos were schooled at home by a team that won't be around come September.

Plenty of fans calling for change but how do you make changes in a squad that has zero depth? Including the likes of Paix, Lee and Gamble will just make things worse. None of them are the answer.

I tipped them to finish 10th this year and possibly still be in the running for a playoff spot during August. I'll stick with that prediction for the time being.

 

[McHunt]

what's your thoughts on our 9 and 1 options? and do you think Cobbo should go back to cup?

Study this clip and get back to us with your findings. That’s not JT pulling him back, it’s Tom Dearden:

 

[Sproj]

As much as it seems appealing to move Herbie to fullback, we’re weakening one position to strengthen another. The club willingly went into this season banking on Niu as our fullback and thus far it seems a totally negligent decision… apart from being non-existent in attack, Niu lacks any power in kick returns, is constantly out of position and is either shaky under the high ball - at best - and at worst, totally unwilling to even engage with balls kicked in his direction.

While we lack options at 1, our problems at 9 are all our own doing. Turpin’s service is erratic and predictable, he refuses to run and engage markers at all and at times he will actually pick up the ball, double pump and take several steps before passing which does nothing but slow our attack even further. Paix showed plenty of promise in the trials and should be given his shot.

I have no idea what is going on with Staggs, but it’s concerning. Put him on notice and give him one more week to show some good signs otherwise he can go to reserve grade until he learns to play again.

Ryan James has to be replaced with Flegler, Jensen should be replaced with Piakura (or Robati).

If you had told us before the year that we would be 2-1 after 3 rounds I think we all would have taken it. There’s been some good signs of improvement so far this year so let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water, but today was disgraceful and there are some changes we can (and should) be making ASAP.

It isn't necessarily weakening centre though because Lee is a pretty good back up option, he did play origin after all and has won a premiership there.

And if Herbie really smashes it at FB, it might well sort out a bucketload of problems moving forward as well, especially given we have Mariner coming through who looks to be a really, really special centre.

 

[Aldo]

You don't get rid of Isaako and bank on Niu and Cobbo to be your fullbacks over the next couple years as both are so far away from being NRL ready. Surely Ikin was talking shit when he said we won't be going to market next year?

 

[Sproj]

You don't get rid of Isaako and bank on Niu and Cobbo to be your fullbacks over the next couple years as both are so far away from being NRL ready. Surely Ikin was talking shit when he said we won't be going to market next year?

You would think so. Although Donuts and Ikin have done some massive improvements all around the club, one of the poorer decisions in my opinion has been to let Arthars go to the Warriors. He's a solid player and would be a handy fullback option, particularly in light of Isaako leaving.

 

[Sanjit Joseph]

Study this clip and get back to us with your findings. That’s not JT pulling him back, it’s Tom Dearden:

not gonna change anything but now was Dearden in front of the kicker and gets involved ?
just asking for rule purposes as well

 

[I bleed Maroon]

I don't typically like to stick the boot into the coach when it can be avoided, but I have to say Kev bares something like 90% of the responsibility for today's result. The team was severely undercooked, looked sluggish and exhausted real early, his bench usage was amateur hour and he continues to pick players that are just not up to it like Turpin. When you've got players like Staggs and Reynolds performing that poorly, it says a lot. The gaffe showing at the presser was just the final slap in the face. It isn't panic stations yet but his stocks took a big hit today.

 

[Super Freak]

It would be great if Cobbo had Hodges next to him. Someone that could give him a kick up the ass to get that stupid shit out of his game.

That attempt at scoring in the corner, it wasn't on. It was never on and it never should have been attempted. But instead he goes for it, doesn't even come fucking close and we cough up possession at a crucial stage.

It's dumb shit like that that hurts us.

 

[1910]

As I understand it Herbie played some fullback, but during ISC he was almost exclusively playing wing.

His "fullback coming through" could've been playing fullback in Manchester as a 13 yr old... he played several years in ISC and was almost always a winger... left sided winger I believe.

I believe the only out and out fullback coming through as a junior was Tesi (i.e. "the next Darren Lockyer" and "only had to watch him for 5mins"). Even Cobbo was outside backs / centre, and I think as a kid he was also in the forwards??

I think Herbie is potentially our best bet at fullback though, but I think he would very much be learning on the job... what I would say is that for most criteria required for a fullback it's potentially only ball playing that is lacking.

He's good under the high ball, massive engine, strong runner of the ball, strong 1v1 defender, pops up everywhere and can bust the line.

I think he could be lethal playing through the middle and taking advantage of any quick ptb's by running it straight back down the guts and keeping momentum going.

It would also solve a problem we have with our backs... we have Staggs, Cobbo, Herbie and then Mariner, but need to figure out where to put them all.

Most of them at this stage are suited to centers or wing, but we can't keep investing huge cap space in outside backs. We need one of them to step up as a spine player, otherwise the big decision has to be made on who to cut... and we don't like FOMO.

If Herbie can actually become a fullback it solves an issue... and maybe Cobbo takes the role in a few years with Herbie moving back to the wing.

Wing 24 games- 23 tries and 68 goals
Centre 1 game- 1 try and eight goals

 

[Big Pete]

not gonna change anything but now was Dearden in front of the kicker and gets involved ?
just asking for rule purposes as well

Forget the name of the rule, but if you give the opposition 10m to catch the ball you're ruled back onside. You can hear the official in the clip give Dearden the OK once Cobbo catches the ball.

The bigger issue was the lack of a held call which never seems to be consistent.

 

[ozzball]

Slow, clunky, clueless, no direction, zero enthusiasm, error-riddled, shall I go on. With 15 to go I went to the dunny (do my best thinking in the dunny) thought **** it, there's a train back to Ipswich leaving soon, hate leaving early but why would I hang around when 17 blokes spent 80 minutes giving me dozens of reasons why giving up my Sunday to watch that steaming pile of mediocrity wasn't one of my better ideas.

 

[lynx000]

I am just relieved that although I have been around for donkey's years on here, that I have far less than 15K posts. Having found out that all you merkins with 15k+ posts are responsible for our poor form in the last 10 years, you can all **** off after today.

 

[the_next]

Genuinely do not see what the club sees in Tesi to bank on him being our FB moving forward. He just seems like a shorter version of Isaako; still not good with his hands, doesn’t defend well and is found out of position constantly.
I don’t know what we do to fix it, other then plug another player there, Mead, Pereira?
Or maybe the coaching staff have a chat with Cobbo about he being our future FB? If so, he would have to go back to cup and have a year there and come back next year.
Personally, I’d be trying to get Walsh back here for next year. I think that’s our best option moving forward.
Its certainly a large issue that needs to be dealt with pretty quick.

 

[Johnny92]

As I understand it Herbie played some fullback, but during ISC he was almost exclusively playing wing.

His "fullback coming through" could've been playing fullback in Manchester as a 13 yr old... he played several years in ISC and was almost always a winger... left sided winger I believe.

I believe the only out and out fullback coming through as a junior was Tesi (i.e. "the next Darren Lockyer" and "only had to watch him for 5mins"). Even Cobbo was outside backs / centre, and I think as a kid he was also in the forwards??

I think Herbie is potentially our best bet at fullback though, but I think he would very much be learning on the job... what I would say is that for most criteria required for a fullback it's potentially only ball playing that is lacking.

He's good under the high ball, massive engine, strong runner of the ball, strong 1v1 defender, pops up everywhere and can bust the line.

I think he could be lethal playing through the middle and taking advantage of any quick ptb's by running it straight back down the guts and keeping momentum going.

It would also solve a problem we have with our backs... we have Staggs, Cobbo, Herbie and then Mariner, but need to figure out where to put them all.

Most of them at this stage are suited to centers or wing, but we can't keep investing huge cap space in outside backs. We need one of them to step up as a spine player, otherwise the big decision has to be made on who to cut... and we don't like FOMO.

If Herbie can actually become a fullback it solves an issue... and maybe Cobbo takes the role in a few years with Herbie moving back to the wing.

I think he ticks every box apart from the ball playing but you look at some of the great fullbacks over the past years like Slater, Tedesco, RTS, Minichiello ball playing only came to them later on their running game was the strong point which Herbie has down pat and can only get better by being more around the ball.
Cobbo has looked most comfortable at centre then any other position he has played, ATM he looks like a player thats learning to play on the wing which isn't helping him with Kotoni playing poorly.
If Kevvie can get Slater in to give Herbie some pointers I think we could solve a big problem.

 

[Skyblues87]

You would think so. Although Donuts and Ikin have done some massive improvements all around the club, one of the poorer decisions in my opinion has been to let Arthars go to the Warriors. He's a solid player and would be a handy fullback option, particularly in light of Isaako leaving.

Letting Arthars go out on loan is a strange one. Must be something in it for us down the track not just easing our salary cap.