PRE-GAME [Round 5, 2025] Broncos vs Tigers
- Thread starter ningnangnong
- Start date
Piakura has everything to play for the next 2 weeks and everything to lose. He's got his spot for the next 2 weeks, but it's his to lose.
Best case he has a couple of blinders and gives Madge something to think about when Ricki returns, maybe even forcing someone else to the bench.
Worst case and he shits the bed, we leak some soft tries, he has ill discipline and Madge brings on Hunt. Piaks then drops down the ladder potentially losing his bench spot to Hunt.
Just like we had with Staggs injured for a few weeks, with Shiba and Mariner fighting it out, over the next 2 weeks, we get a side by side with Paiks and Jetski fighting it out
Best case he has a couple of blinders and gives Madge something to think about when Ricki returns, maybe even forcing someone else to the bench.
Worst case and he shits the bed, we leak some soft tries, he has ill discipline and Madge brings on Hunt. Piaks then drops down the ladder potentially losing his bench spot to Hunt.
Just like we had with Staggs injured for a few weeks, with Shiba and Mariner fighting it out, over the next 2 weeks, we get a side by side with Paiks and Jetski fighting it out
Big Del
State of Origin Rep
- Apr 22, 2017
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I think weakness in defence re Piakura is greatly exaggerated .
It`s not technique or vigor . It was communication and co ordination with his team mates .
Last cpl of weeks I don`t recall him missing tackles ?
Also I think him defending next to Reyno will be a lot different to him defending next to Ezra . Reyno rarely misses tackles and I`d wager is a better communicator than Ezra at this stage of his career .
Apparently he prefers right side too .
- Aug 25, 2018
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I agree with you in general, but from what we've seen from Madge is he's been admirably pick-&-stick. I don't think players have to fret they're one or two bad games away from QLD Cup.
It looks to me that Madge determined his pecking order in the preseason, and he's not in a hurry to shuffle it. The way I see it, Piakura has the bench for the forseeable future. And he's good there.
There are still a few rungs in the pecking order that are, as yet, unrevealed. They'll only be activated by injury/recovery/suspension/rep selection.
In order, they would be:
1. Hooker/14: we don't know if Mozer is in front of Billy, but preseason reporting suggested he is. Madge is doing the right thing by giving Blake time to prove his shoulder is up to the task. If he continues last week's form, he should eventually leapfrog Billy, and that won't be a flippant selection. It will stick.
2. 6/7: we don't know who's behind Reyno and Hunt, before Mam returns. Madden, probably. But it could also be Billy. Rogers seems Sunday too far away. And Latrell probably isn't even on the radar.
3. Fullback: we have NFI who's cover for Reece with Hayze out for the best part of the season. It shouldn't be Latrell. Most likely it will involve musical chairs with Mariner elevated to wing.
4. Centre/wing: Mariner is next off the rank, with Leota, Karapani, and Hoeter fighting for distant second.
5. 2nd Row: Hunt is next up. I don't have a second. Fletcher who?
6. Prop: an embaressment of riches. BTK, Taupau, take your pick.
7. Lock: at a guess, I think Smoothy might be backup for Hetherington.
8. Ezra: I expect he'll slide into 14 upon return. Replacing whom? TBA.
Big Del
State of Origin Rep
- Apr 22, 2017
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Some good points, and that's the beauty of having a side by side comparison the next few weeks. Do we want Riki and Piakura, or Riki and Jetski.....not forgetting Hunt will get some game time too.
I've tried to find some stats on where we are conceding our tries, but wasn't able to, however I feel as though our left middle edge has been pretty leaky on occassion and our right middle edge has been fairly solid, although I may be incorrect.
If that holds up and Piaks plays right edge, then we're comparing him to Riki. So time will tell. He's only played limitted minutes over the last few weeks, so we will see if his D drops much under fatigue.
I agree, I don't think Madge will over react, but Piakura had a penalty and then binning and played 30 sec in his first game, and has had fairly limited game time since, although I think it is trending up.
So we're potentially arguing about who is the better bench player between Jetski and Piakura over the next 2 weeks.
I was just calling out that there is some potential for the conversation to shift to who is the better bench player between Piakura and Hunt if things go really badly for Piakura over the next 2 weeks.
Big Del
State of Origin Rep
- Apr 22, 2017
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Canberra got tries there .
The Pommie kid got a double . Reyno is a better defender than BHunt though so that`s a big factor .
- Sep 6, 2013
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Rightio, time for the head to head thingy:
1. Walsh (Broncos) (was really impressed with him last week, hope he plays with his head in again)
2. Cobbo (Broncos)
3. Staggs (Broncos)
4. Shibasaki (Broncos)
5. Turuva (Tigers)
6. Galvin (Tigers)
7. Reynolds (Broncos)
8. May (Tigers) (Come at me!)
9. Koroisau (Tigers)
10. Haas (Broncos)
11. Fainu (Tigers)
12. Seyfarth (Tigers)
13. Hetherington (Broncos)
14. Walters (Broncos)
15. Hunt (Tigers)
16. Willison (Broncos)
17. Bird (Tigers)
9-8 Broncos - It will either be very close or we will blow them away. I'm not sure who wins a close one.
1. Walsh (Broncos) (was really impressed with him last week, hope he plays with his head in again)
2. Cobbo (Broncos)
3. Staggs (Broncos)
4. Shibasaki (Broncos)
5. Turuva (Tigers)
6. Galvin (Tigers)
7. Reynolds (Broncos)
8. May (Tigers) (Come at me!)
9. Koroisau (Tigers)
10. Haas (Broncos)
11. Fainu (Tigers)
12. Seyfarth (Tigers)
13. Hetherington (Broncos)
14. Walters (Broncos)
15. Hunt (Tigers)
16. Willison (Broncos)
17. Bird (Tigers)
9-8 Broncos - It will either be very close or we will blow them away. I'm not sure who wins a close one.
- Dec 12, 2014
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Have you been drinking?
Harry
NRL Player
- Jul 20, 2017
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Let's be real, there is maybe 3/4 players in the whole Tigers squad who would make our starting 13.
These clown are perennial wooden spooners who have proved this year is different by..... beating the two worst sides in the competition (Eels, Dolphins).
It would take a truly horrific game from us to lose this.
Harry
NRL Player
- Jul 20, 2017
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Agreed.
Feels like make or break for Piakura.
Unfortunately, he's one where a long apprenticeship in QCup probably would have really benefitted him and he could have developed his game and come into first grade really ready. At the moment it looks like he's a victim of being thrown in the flames (and the big money) far too early.
theshed
Just a Game
- Aug 28, 2010
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Galvin might be a fun one day but he’s not fit to tie Hunt’s shoelaces at the moment.
May is a very good prop, but to select him over Patty should get you banned
Mick_Hancock
NRL Player
- Feb 26, 2023
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Mick_Hancock
NRL Player
- Feb 26, 2023
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We’ve seen it. Well, sort of.Can’t wait to see his other son Mike play too
Michael De Vere’s name before he changed it was Hunt. It’s something like his step dads or mums name or something like that.
Which is apparently why he hated being called Mike.
Mick_Hancock
NRL Player
- Feb 26, 2023
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Mick_Hancock
NRL Player
- Feb 26, 2023
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Can’t remember who it was on here that made a great point.
Paiks is a great tackler. That’s different to being a great defender.
At this stage, I wouldn’t re-sign or feed him.
Side note: loved the shot on Herbie
Broncapz
NRL Captain
- May 1, 2016
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Galvin over Hunt ? That's grounds for dismissal. Only one of these two is origin ready and hardened in big games, who also happened to be 2024's leading try assists.
I demand a recount!
