PRE-GAME Round 3 - Panthers vs Broncos

[Danoz Direct]

JAMES Roberts has dealt with his charge for touching a referee and moved on - even if he can't remember the incident.
Roberts took an early guilty plea on the contrary conduct charge after he was caught lightly patting the ref on the chest.
And the new recruit showed he has moved past the incident when quizzed about it after training today.
"It's not my call and to be honest I can't remember it happening," he said.
"But the NRL has dealt with it in their way and that's all we can do."
Roberts took questions from worried media today about the fact he had not yet scored a try for the Broncos, even though the season is only two games old.
The Broncos scored two tries against the Warriors down the right-hand side last week as defenders over-corrected while marking the lightning-fast Roberts.
Tries to Darius Boyd and Matt Gillett were scored directly inside in the space created by Roberts.
But he said getting over the line was not his concern.
"It's been a bit quiet but I'm not worried about attack," he said.
"Here we pride ourselves on our defence, so as long as we keep that right edge strong I am happy.
"That's my main goal this year, to improve my defence.
"I scored some tries last year so I don't really need to prove I can score points.
"Holding that right side down (defensively) is my main priority for the team at the moment.
Roberts said he was noticing more attention from defenders,
"For sure - everyone does after you have had a good year," he said.
"But I don’t mind - I'd rather score no tries and win a game and the boys be happy, than score three tries and lose."

No Concern For Roberts - Broncos

 

[LittleDavey]

Roberts sounds like he's got the right attitude, I like it. And who cares if he doesn't score if he creates the space for others to? That's the beauty of having those players with speed, you put the defenders in two minds. And with our halves' passing games, they can hit the right man with the ball. If they hang on Roberts there will be space elsewhere. If they give him space, he's through. We're good.

Broncos by 12+

 

[ivanhungryjak]

"But I don’t mind - I'd rather score no tries and win a game and the boys be happy, than score three tries and lose."

Hey Titans
[video=youtube_share;DklJ9ITPisU]http://youtu.be/DklJ9ITPisU[/video]

 

[Unbreakable]

Bit of word going around that Te Maire Martin will debut for the Panthers tomorrow night, with Waqa Blake out.

1. Smith
2. Mansour
12. Yeo
4. Hiku
5. Watene-Zelezniak
18. Martin
7. Soward
8. McKendry
9. Wallace
10. Campbell-Gillard
11. Cartwright
6. Peachey
13. Merrin

14. Akauola
15. Latimore
16. Matagi
17. Taylor

 

[Rally Towel]

Bit of word going around that Te Maire Martin will debut for the Panthers tomorrow night, with Waqa Blake out.

Don't care if Godzilla and Bruce Lee are late inclusions.

Panthers are toast. Statement win coming up.

Parker might even nail a conversion as icing on the cake.

 

[Brett]

My meme in preparation for this game...

 

[GCBRONCO]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...p/news-story/251ba3fb3b08b300930cea0d30ea08c6

PANTHERS V BRONCOS
7.30pm AEDT Saturday at Pepper Stadium

Panthers - Updated 10.30am Friday: Coach Anthony Griffin says James Fisher-Harris and Leilani Latu are chances of earning bench spots. Waqa Blake (cork)was forced to play the final minutes last week on one leg, with the Panthers out of interchanges. However, he has trained this week and is expected to play. Will Smith returns to the NRL side at fullback, with Dean Whare (calf, round seven) dropping out of the backline.


Broncos: No changes expected, despite some training hiccups during the week.Anthony Milford (groin) limped off on Wednesday, but will be right to play. Darius Boyd, Jordan Kahu, Josh McGuire, Alex Glenn and James Roberts all trained on modified programs, but the club expects them to play. The Broncos hope all will take part in the final run on Friday.

 

[ningnangnong]

Debating whether I should drive down for this or not...

 

[Rally Towel]

Debating whether I should drive down for this or not...

Do it. Reckon it'd be a good game. Unless you're a Panthers fan.

 

[Sproj]

Why would you even be debating it [MENTION=1848]ningnangnong[/MENTION]? ;)

 

[Unbreakable]

Eden in, Maranta just weeks away - NRL.com

Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett confirmed on Friday that Greg Eden would start on the wing in place of the injured Corey Oates.

It ended days of speculation surrounding the rumoured early return of winger Lachlan Maranta, who himself is recovering from an off-season wrist injury.

Saturday night's match against Penrith will now be of utmost importance for Eden as he looks to cement his position in the Broncos' starting 17.

Bennett said Eden needs to take his opportunities after a shaky debut against the Eels two weeks ago.

"It's a chance for him to step up. He needs to now take his opportunity," Bennett said.

"He was a bit patchy when we played Parramatta but he's better than that.

"I don't expect him to have any more work coming his way than normal. He's quite good under the high ball. I've got no control over the tactics Penrith use.

"Greg's done all the training so I'm very confident in him."

Brisbane will start 1-17 and Eden must now prove he is first grade material after making four errors in a below-par performance in Round 1.

Maranta trained hard all week and the 23-year-old is expected to be fit to return within the next fortnight.

With Oates out for at least six weeks, the pressure is on Brisbane's English import to perform well this weekend and keep Maranta out of the side.

Maranta has a strong case for selection when he returns as he finished as Brisbane's leading try-scorer in 2015 with 15 tries in 20 games.

Bennett says although Maranta won't be back this week, his return is not far away.

"Lachlan Maranta is pretty close to returning but he went to the doctor the other day and the doctor wasn't quite happy with where he's at," he said.

"He's not far off. He will probably be another two weeks.

"I didn’t think he would be back this week. He needs to be cleared by the doctor before I have any thoughts of bringing him into the side. The doctor wasn't totally happy with where his wrist is at so he won't be back this week."

 

[subsbligh]

How far is your drive??? What's parking like at the stadium?

 

[ningnangnong]

Why would you even be debating it @ningnangnong ? ;)

How far is your drive??? What's parking like at the stadium?

Well, it'd be a two hour drive there, and two hours back.

Parking doesn't worry me. But I do a three and a half hour round trip every day from Monday to Friday for work, so spending my Saturday evening driving down to Penrith and back isn't greatly appealing haha. At the moment I'm leaning towards not going... I know, I know, I'm a shit fan.

 

[broncos4life]

Well, it'd be a two hour drive there, and two hours back.

Parking doesn't worry me. But I do a three and a half hour round trip every day from Monday to Friday for work, so spending my Saturday evening driving down to Penrith and back isn't greatly appealing haha. At the moment I'm leaning towards not going... I know, I know, I'm a shit fan.

Jesus 3 and a half each day???? Where do you live and work?

 

[Mitch06]

Mckendry and Matagi really impressed me last week. A lot of strong hit ups from both of them. I have a feeling this will be Hunt's game. Good luck to Eden too.

 

[KnToad]

moved

 

[Brett]

So, 5:30 kick off QLD time?

 

[Danoz Direct]

So, 5:30 kick off QLD time?

No, 6:30 kick off QLD time.