Round 4 - Broncos vs. Storm - Post Match Discussion

[Alec]

When passing to the halves, especially ones running onto the ball, you should be passing straight off the ground in one motion. Prince is probably used to playing with guys like Friend and Srama who do just that. McCullough always picks it up before passing. Sometimes he even dances a bit before passing. He could be such a good hooker if he worked on that a bit more.

 

[ningnangnong]

McCullough didn't pass early to Prince on set play. Result - McCullough forward pass due to Prince over-running.

I commented on that in the match thread - really annoyed me.

 

[rnabokov]

When passing to the halves, especially ones running onto the ball, you should be passing straight off the ground in one motion. Prince is probably used to playing with guys like Friend and Srama who do just that. McCullough always picks it up before passing. Sometimes he even dances a bit before passing. He could be such a good hooker if he worked on that a bit more.

Well, yes and no - depends on the play in question?

Maybe Prince should have been standing deeper, before he started to run to take the pass. I reckon he should have whatever speed or lack of, Macca delivers.

When I watch Cam Smith, it's not just a question of one motion passing off the ground, Smith looks, always, looks but then most of the time he knows he will have options almost always perfectly positioned.

It's that structured understanding, almost clockwork, that is needed in the ruck and the edge which we still can't get right, although it is improving ... marginally

 

[Alec]

Having the same understanding between players as the Storm does is pretty unlikely. No other team has that, not just us. Prince could have stood deeper, I agree, but it's McCullough's job to know where he is and get him the ball as quickly as possible. They are both at fault, I guess. But our halves are ordinary enough as it is, they need all the extra time before reaching the defence they can get. I'd encourage Prince trying to push himself to get the ball on the run and not 5 metres behind the ruck.

 

[nopatience101]

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McCullough didn't pass early to Prince on set play. Result - McCullough forward pass due to Prince over-running.

Macca was at fault, no question, but that wasn't the incident we were talking about.

 

[rnabokov]

Having the same understanding between players as the Storm does is pretty unlikely. No other team has that, not just us. Prince could have stood deeper, I agree, but it's McCullough's job to know where he is and get him the ball as quickly as possible. They are both at fault, I guess. But our halves are ordinary enough as it is, they need all the extra time before reaching the defence they can get. I'd encourage Prince trying to push himself to get the ball on the run and not 5 metres behind the ruck.

Absolutely!

 

[nopatience101]

Copley didn't look anything more than solid when he started either. In fact he probably looked worse, always knocking on and being suspect under the high ball. Maranta has speed, he just hasn't had the opportunity to show it yet.

I don't think copley could really be described as anything other than solid now either, don't get me wrong his returns are great, but hes not the type of player that will constantly threaten the line or offer anything different.

 

[nopatience101]

Yep, it's far too early to predict what type of player Maranta will be. There's so many examples out there of players who haven't looked all that useful in their first season or two, and then all of a sudden something clicks, and they become badass!

Reece Robinson case in point, I'll admit I thought he was fairly hopeless, the guy had lead boots at the broncos and couldn't jump to save himself and looked uncomfortable whenever he tried to pass the ball, now hes a dynamic fullback carrying the raiders.

 

[rnabokov]

I don't think copley could really be described as anything other than solid now either, don't get me wrong his returns are great, but hes not the type of player that will constantly threaten the line or offer anything different.

I reckon we should wait until we have sorted out our attack out wide, especially 2nd man/phase plays. Last night looked promising, although still too flat.

At least Hoffa showed his best spot is wing. He finished very very well.

Copley and Maranta are relatively good under the high ball, and I do like the way Maranta runs the ball back.

 

[Coxy]

Yeah. Copley and Maranta both lack any real footwork. Even Hoffman is better in that department, as he showed with his first try last night. I can't see Copley or Maranta finishing a try like that...in fact, Maranta had an opportunity and didn't.

 

[rnabokov]

Yeah. Copley and Maranta both lack any real footwork. Even Hoffman is better in that department, as he showed with his first try last night. I can't see Copley or Maranta finishing a try like that...in fact, Maranta had an opportunity and didn't.

Well, have they had much opportunity so far this year? Last night was the first time in what, 2 years that we showed any semblance of 2nd man plays and we still are to show any creativity with the ball on the edge of the ruck, and getting an attacking structure happening from within our own half.

 

[Viti]

Yeah. Copley and Maranta both lack any real footwork. Even Hoffman is better in that department, as he showed with his first try last night. I can't see Copley or Maranta finishing a try like that...in fact, Maranta had an opportunity and didn't.

Copley's got a really good step, he pulls it out nearly every kick return he gets and still always beats the first defender to get a quick play the ball

 

[Bucking Beads]

Perhaps Thaiday can go well at prop if he wants to. he certainly did last night. He also has the talents to suck in 3 defenders and get it to a fellow forward and get us more metres.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Also I agree that Copley has a pretty handy step on him. He is more a bash and barge back anyway and he belongs in the centres.

 

[Alec]

Maybe he (and the others) are only bash and barge because that's how they are being coached by Griffin. Size first. Hoffman showed footwork and pace, and looked far more dangerous than any other back last night. Hopefully watching both Hoffman and Slater last night will start to change Griffin's mind.

 

[rnabokov]

Perhaps Thaiday can go well at prop if he wants to. he certainly did last night. He also has the talents to suck in 3 defenders and get it to a fellow forward and get us more metres.

True! But how many off loads did he come up with last night? Then, at the same time, did he look to offload? Did he have support runners?

Our support play up the middle and on the edges SUCKS

 

[Viti]

True! But how many off loads did he come up with last night? Then, at the same time, did he look to offload? Did he have support runners?

Our support play up the middle and on the edges SUCKS

No he didnt, because his job was to cart the ball up and create momentum for the backs to work off of

 

[rnabokov]

No he didnt, because his job was to cart the ball up and create momentum for the backs to work off of

That's only one job of a good prop. The best forwards ALWAYS look to offload no matter what