PRE-GAME [Round 4, 2025] Broncos vs Dolphins

[Fitzy]

Look I think Shiba fixes or at least minimises our inability to get out of our own end. I think Mariner lacks a tough carry and metreage at the minute. Put Kotoni back in that side and drill that he needs to play a role there.

Think that and defence is what needs to be absolutely drilled into Deine. Don’t think he is that far off in either and once he gets it he will be an exceptional footballer. Shiba worked hard, Deine responded well to the pressure Madge put on him. Madge is building a culture and environment I think Deine has become a bit of a scapegoat of.

Heaps classier than Gehamat and will prevail in the end. If he doesn’t it means the club is doing well so either way I’m not to concerned. Deine shouldn’t take it to harshly. Just get to work really concentrate on those 2 facets and come out of it an exceptional footballer.

I think in every area except carries he is better than Shiba so it’s a weird one. Shiba has played well though and his carries are handy so you have to applaud him.

Deine gets nothing out of this if he doesn’t take it constructively and get to work on a few areas. He is fixing some of these issues away from being an elite level centre.

 

[Fitzy]

Worth noting that Mozer is in the reserves list for Souths in cup this week alongside the other broncos boys yet to be confirmed.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Worth noting that Mozer is in the reserves list for Souths in cup this week alongside the other broncos boys yet to be confirmed.

It's one of my great concerns with Madge, that he simply forgets Mozer even exists and he gets an offer from somewhere else that he can't refuse.

 

[Scorchie]

I feel sorry about that guy I met at Roma Street Station he used to a broncos supporter then he went to the dark side aka being a dolphins supporter I asked him why because the Broncos were losing their matches mind you this was 2023.

Not really a fan then. Just someone who follows whatever the media tells him.

 

[Santa]

When we win we can override my mum's Tigers

Your mum goes for the Tigers!? I never would have guessed.

 

[1910]

It's one of my great concerns with Madge, that he simply forgets Mozer even exists and he gets an offer from somewhere else that he can't refuse.

He's been cleared to play Sunday.

 

[Big Del]

Pretty befuddled by Shiba sticking around.
Everyone said his D was why he is there and I haven’t been wrapped with that.
The effort in round one on Dom Young’s try was abominable.
I don’t think its hyperbolic to say that Payne has more pace than him which is crazy work for a centre.
I have been impressed with one thing, which is his tough stuff out of our end.
Does that outweigh Mariners strike?
I guess Madge sees it that way.

For a long time Payne was the fastest at the club over 30 metres .

 

[Big Del]

He's a prolific try scorer from the wing not centre.

Wing: 17 Games - 19 Tries
Centre: 13 Games - 3 Tries

Damn statistics !

 

[Big Del]

If anything the choice should be between Arthars and Mariner for the balance of the team and Jesse has it over Mariner at this stage.

I think Arthars is a little more safe under high balls .
Though neither are guys I would bet money on to defuse a bomb .

Mariner broke his back last year jumping for a high ball . I reckon that would be on his mind .

 

[Kooly87]

It's one of my great concerns with Madge, that he simply forgets Mozer even exists and he gets an offer from somewhere else that he can't refuse.

I'm going to give Madge and the current Broncos management the credibility to presume they don't just simply 'forget' about a guy in their current NRL squad.

It's not like we still have Paul White at the helm...

 

[Kooly87]

He's a prolific try scorer from the wing not centre.

Wing: 17 Games - 19 Tries
Centre: 13 Games - 3 Tries

Anecdotaly, I'd imagine most guys who shift around the backline in the NRL have similar varying strike rates when it comes to tries in each position.

 

[1910]

Payne v Saifiti is a good watch.

Payne is playing smarter than ever before, that try he scored against the Cowboys- Cotter had made three tackles in a row and Payne sees it.

He could have kept going and got at Dearden but he comes back inside where McLean, Robson and Cotter have never got back or worked from marker and runs a very Tallis line back at the markers and A defender.

He's looking up and making choices instead of just running.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Shibasaki is certainly earning his spot with his work ethic but gee I think everyone knows Mariner is the guy that should be playing left centre.

 

[BroncsFan]

Shibasaki is certainly earning his spot with his work ethic but gee I think everyone knows Mariner is the guy that should be playing left centre.

And it's more than likely that he will, but need to make sure he earns it first.

Howarth down in Melbourne got a big contract as a second rower, only to play 40 odd games of qcup and people questioning whether it was a shit deal from storm... he has now earned his spot at centre in first grade and doesn't look like losing his place... he's probably getting close to origin selection (mainly because qld depth in the backs is horrendous)... but he's only at 19 NRL games.

Mariner is up to 30 NRL games but only played like 20 Qcup... he was brought in too soon as it is, but it won't kill him to drop back to Qcup and take the jersey off Shiba.

It shouldn't be a hard task to do.

Piakura is going through similar, but already he's starting to take minutes off Gos.

I don't think Madge wants Gos and Shiba over Piakura and Mariner, but he's at least making them take the jersey off someone instead of it being gift wrapped to them like it was last year

 

[TimWhatley]

Shibasaki is certainly earning his spot with his work ethic but gee I think everyone knows Mariner is the guy that should be playing left centre.

Eh not me. I hate the way he gets manhandled in tackles. It used to happen to Herbie too until he put more weight on, now he busts tackles for fun.

 

[Big Del]

Shibasaki is certainly earning his spot with his work ethic but gee I think everyone knows Mariner is the guy that should be playing left centre.

That`d OK if you want to score long range tries from the 40m .

Selwyn and Shiba have to make the hard yards . Because Reece / Jesse / Kotoni are not known for their metres out of defence .
Take away Shiba and your gonna need Reece kicking at lot more to make ground . Then Reece can`t get tackled on the 5th Milf style because he has to kick . Not as simple as it may look .

 

[Big Del]

It used to happen to Herbie too until he put more weight on,

He needs to get on a horse meat diet and pump that iron .
I said he looked light . Some folks told me he was fine as he was .
Well in the fullness of time that hasn`t proved true . Still getting out muscled . Like 2 seasons ago .

 

[theshed]

And it's more than likely that he will, but need to make sure he earns it first.

Howarth down in Melbourne got a big contract as a second rower, only to play 40 odd games of qcup and people questioning whether it was a shit deal from storm... he has now earned his spot at centre in first grade and doesn't look like losing his place... he's probably getting close to origin selection (mainly because qld depth in the backs is horrendous)... but he's only at 19 NRL games.

Mariner is up to 30 NRL games but only played like 20 Qcup... he was brought in too soon as it is, but it won't kill him to drop back to Qcup and take the jersey off Shiba.

It shouldn't be a hard task to do.

Piakura is going through similar, but already he's starting to take minutes off Gos.

I don't think Madge wants Gos and Shiba over Piakura and Mariner, but he's at least making them take the jersey off someone instead of it being gift wrapped to them like it was last year

I love Melbourne’s view on doing a Q Cup apprenticeship before first grade. I think a lot of our young guys had a stunted development from being brought through too soon.

It’s a big part of why their footy IQ has seemed so low.

I know Mariner is at about 20 games already but I would have an almost bare minimum target for all young players - something like 27 minimum.

Then in 5 years time when they are the established playing group and becoming leaders you can start putting it on the wall as a point of pride like Melbourne do. So the next generation don’t feel like it’s below them.

They say Madge has about 2 years with a playing group before he burns them out, if he does eventually get to that point with the first grade team - I think he’d be great managing our emerging talent. Imagine the standards and grit he would set for young players, then just when they get sick of him they move on to first grade and he gets to torture the next crop