PRE-GAME Round 3 - Broncos vs Bulldogs

[Rico]

Croft shocker? Not sure what he did wrong. Milford had a shocker. Croft's stats tell a different story and no, not his tackling which was excellent but try assists, line breaks, line break assists. Think you'd benefit from watching a replay. I'd take his performance everyday of the week. Hope he plays like that all year. If we could get rid of the shockingly bad Milford defence and the poor misses by Asiata and Nui we'd have a much better result.

I agree although from memory there was that god awful attempted kick (two others did the same including milford) with a man right on him but that can be fixed up. What croft doesn't have to fix up is his attitude which is reflected in his improved defence. When he's getting moved to cover a guys defensive rubbish after 180 games is a sign that he rightly remains in Kevs plans. As for Milford, I think he'd have to bully the dogs and has 80 mins tops to stay at our place beyond this week.

 

[Wolfie]

Oh Wolfie, I think you might need to be muzzled for this one.

They are worse than us by a long way. I cant see any way we can lose. We are going to react in a positive way.

 

[theshed]

I'll be surprised if Walters makes any changes.

Yeah and nor should he imo. The only player that really played themselves out of a shirt is potentially Isaako and Milf. Milf should get another chance because he might click but mostly because Dearden needs to develop. Isaako has been pretty bad twice but there is some promise there and no one is exactly banging down the door (except Walsh lol).

The only change that should really be made is perhaps someone to relieve Turps for a bit of a spell - which at this point is Paix by default.

 

[pagey]

They are worse than us by a long way. I cant see any way we can lose. We are going to react in a positive way.

I hope so

 

[Allo]

We're actually bookies favourites at $1.70 to Dogs $2.18

 

[Huge]

Yeah and nor should he imo. The only player that really played themselves out of a shirt is potentially Isaako and Milf. Milf should get another chance because he might click but mostly because Dearden needs to develop. Isaako has been pretty bad twice but there is some promise there and no one is exactly banging down the door (except Walsh lol).

The only change that should really be made is perhaps someone to relieve Turps for a bit of a spell - which at this point is Paix by default.

Isaako had the ball dislodged in a pretty darn good tackle and that was 35 metres away, directly in front of me so I remember it well. I am wondering what else people on here thought he'd done wrong. It's a serious question and if you can think of something can you include a time so I can look at it. My impression was aside from the odd handling error he ran hard and created a few half chances.

 

[Foordy]

It's going to be literally impossible for us to lose this game.

don't make me reach into the computer and slap you silly

 

[Sproj]

Isaako had the ball dislodged in a pretty darn good tackle and that was 35 metres away, directly in front of me so I remember it well. I am wondering what else people on here thought he'd done wrong. It's a serious question and if you can think of something can you include a time so I can look at it. My impression was aside from the odd handling error he ran hard and created a few half chances.

I think it is the 'odd handling error' is the big issue. By NRL standards, he has really poor handling and the errors tend to happen at critical junctures in games. I don't have stats to back that up, just seems to be the case.

 

[Foordy]

Yeah and nor should he imo. The only player that really played themselves out of a shirt is potentially Isaako and Milf. Milf should get another chance because he might click but mostly because Dearden needs to develop. Isaako has been pretty bad twice but there is some promise there and no one is exactly banging down the door (except Walsh lol).

The only change that should really be made is perhaps someone to relieve Turps for a bit of a spell - which at this point is Paix by default.

I wouldn't be against someone like Hethrington in that sort of role. can give Turps a 10minute spell. but also can play in the backrow. so we wouldn't need to limit his minutes to just giving Turps a spell

of course he would need to be upgraded from a development contract first.

also i have no idea if he is NRL ready.

this would then allow Paix to develop as a hooker properly

 

[Sproj]

don't make me reach into the computer and slap you silly

 

[theshed]

Isaako had the ball dislodged in a pretty darn good tackle and that was 35 metres away, directly in front of me so I remember it well. I am wondering what else people on here thought he'd done wrong. It's a serious question and if you can think of something can you include a time so I can look at it. My impression was aside from the odd handling error he ran hard and created a few half chances.

I really like his running game. He almost always makes the first tackler miss and he runs hard. There’s a touch of RTS about it.
He ran 181m and broke 8 tackles, and put in a nice grubber for a set restart. Also put his body on the line to deny Sivo (it was called back for a forward pass but that doesn’t change the fact) - which is quite an accomplishment.

He missed 80% of his tackles and made 2 other errors on top of the one you mentioned. He also caused attacking plays to break down with timing errors but that’s not all on him. he still looks shaky under the high ball, and his positioning needs work.

There is potentially a pretty good fullback there but he is just too raw at the moment. He’s another player I wish we had the luxury of letting develop in Q Cup for a season.

 

[Morepudding]

This game is probably for the wooden spoon. I think the spoon is down to Broncos and Bulldogs. Cowboys, manly and the dragons will be down there too but all three are going to do better than us. We need to get this win because we aren’t going to get one for a month or two after this game.

 

[Huge]

I really like his running game. He almost always makes the first tackler miss and he runs hard. There’s a touch of RTS about it.
He ran 181m and broke 8 tackles, and put in a nice grubber for a set restart. Also put his body on the line to deny Sivo (it was called back for a forward pass but that doesn’t change the fact) - which is quite an accomplishment.

He missed 80% of his tackles and made 2 other errors on top of the one you mentioned. He also caused attacking plays to break down with timing errors but that’s not all on him. he still looks shaky under the high ball, and his positioning needs work.

There is potentially a pretty good fullback there but he is just too raw at the moment. He’s another player I wish we had the luxury of letting develop in Q Cup for a season.

Cheers. I think the 80% missed tackles is an error I'm sure. In the two games he's made 4 and missed 6 so...not 80%. Mind you fullbacks do have a lot of missed tackles generally but he definitely needs improvement there, no doubt. Overall I think there's improvement there to be had. I think we should stick with him for a while longer.

 

[Fitzy]

I think there is a way to make this team serviceable, at least patch up some of the GLARING deficiencies. We can score, there is enough talent across the park to fluke something. What we can't do is defend set after set or hold the ball. So I think we need to get rid of some of the worst culprits at both defense and ball dropping. Therefore, I'm sorry to say but Flegler, Issako, Oates and Milf, you can't make this side until you prove you've changed in Q-Cup. Carrigan you stay but FAR less minutes cos you suck under fatigue but if you fail that badly again, Flegs is rotating with you.

This is not a pretty team but it will be far safer than the usual trash that goes out there and it may just paper over the cracks and get us through the season less scathed:

1. Farnworth
2. Mead
3. Niu
4. Copley
5. Coates
6. Dearden
7. Croft
8. Pangai Jr
9. Turpin
10. Kennedy
11. Glenn
12. Riki
13. Asiata

14. Hetherington (He can play the B.Smith role, elevate him)
15. Flegler/Carrigan
16. Bullemor
17. Teo

Look, I know this team is a mess but it is a safer mess than the current rubbish being put out...I think.

No I can’t believe some of you criticise than this is your fucken fix to it

 

[Fitzy]

Isaako had the ball dislodged in a pretty darn good tackle and that was 35 metres away, directly in front of me so I remember it well. I am wondering what else people on here thought he'd done wrong. It's a serious question and if you can think of something can you include a time so I can look at it. My impression was aside from the odd handling error he ran hard and created a few half chances.

Now imma stop you just in that last sentence... that’s my only issue with him at the moment at some very key times especially defensively his effort is a bit half arsed

 

[Huge]

It's going to be literally impossible for us to lose this game.

The bookies agree.

 

[Midean]

Doggies will be thinking the same as us.
They know we are the only team they have a chance to beat, and they know that the winner of this game may just avoid the spoon.
I think we have a better chance against a team that underestimates us, than a team determined to beat us to avoid the spoon.
Got a bad feeling about this game.

 

[Big Pete]

Dobbo Report

Dearden to come into the starting team. His tip is that Croft is the one who will drop out but that sounded like speculation based on Dearden/Croft failing in the trials.

Matt Lodge to return.