Round 5 - Broncos vs Eels - Pre Game Discussion

[Super Freak]

I'm guessing the Broncos are doing the same thing that they did with Lockyer when he was coming back from his knee injury. Instead, they have opted to start Hodges and will take him off probably 15-20 minutes into the second half.

If that is the approach they're taking, I would have preferred they bring Hodges off the bench.

Maranta is probably there because he is safer than Oates. I'm pretty sure that's the side Radradra is on.

I guess we'll find out in the Eels game.

 

[rnabokov]

Hoffman is making more tackles than Reed and Reeds missed tackles are leading to tries.

Hoffman is in the middle as well as on the edges. Of course he is going to have to make more tackles.

I accept Hoffman is the 5/8 we have to have, but I don't accept Reed is the centre we have to have. All our outside backs have let in tries because of missed tackles, as has Hoffman.

As BP said, our defence out wide is a bigger worry, and I add on both sides, not just the left, and this week, Hayne and Norman with their cut-out passes, and Hayne in general, will be a good test.

What I am particularly interested in is the tries we score against a team that I rate twice as good as the Dragons, who I am tipping to finish in the bottom 3

 

[Old Mate]

Hoffman shits me to tears, drop him and give Strasser/Kahu/Cullen/Maranta/anyone else a go.

 

[Brett]

Maranta over Hoffman at 5/8. That'll just about do me.

Excited for this one. Really keen to see Hodges back. I think he'll be a real calming influence out wide for Hunt and Barba. He doesn't need to do too much, just play his own game.

 

[Financeguy]

Hoffman shits me to tears, drop him and give Strasser/Kahu/Cullen/Maranta/anyone else a go.

We were 5 mins away from being 4 wins from 4 games and people are willing to play Maranta at 5/8th over Hoffman or 2 other players that are yet to even taste first grade NRL, really?

Hoffman may not be everyones ideal 5/8th but its not like he is keeping Wally Lewis or Brett Kenny on the sidelines by playing there for us.

Lets lose a few matches before we call for changes to what is currently a winning formula.

 

[Brett]

I will just say though, I think it's a mistake to push Copley to the Wing. I would move him to Left Centre and push Maranta outside him, while moving Reed to the bench. But, that's me. Copley is a killer Centre.

 

[Danoz Direct]

I think it would be best to have Reed completely out of the team, with Copley to left centre, this will let us have the strongest bench/side possible.

 

[subsbligh]

Copley and Vidot kick returns = metre eaters

Hodges out of dummy half.

Barba sniffing out Hodges line breaks.

Winning!

 

[rnabokov]

Copley and Vidot kick returns = metre eaters

Hodges out of dummy half.

Barba sniffing out Hodges line breaks.

Winning!

Ah, ever the optimist! Of course I totally agree. It's about time for Barba to get more involved, and for the game plan to involve him.

One thing is for sure: if we kick down Hayne's throat, and don't move up on him but drift laterally, we are going to have a very busy night chasing both Hayne, his support runners and the scoreboard.

But then, the Eels will be saying the same thing about Barba, won't they.

Hayne v Barba, and the return of Hodgo makes this one hell of a game I am looking forward to watching.

 

[jarro65]

I'm another who would have preferred to keep Maranta on the wing and move Copley to Reeds spot alongside Hodges.

Hodge should help fire up the backline a bit more, and players like Vidot and Barba will likely benefit from him just being there....the man still commands a lot of respect from opposition defenders.

 

[coreyh88]

Only slight reservation about copely centre is i haven't seen him put a winger away. Hodges shouldn't be with vidot as neither are good in air

 

[Unbreakable]

I've been happy with Barba's involvement so far this season, I don't want us to become a one trick pony like Canterbury was in 2011 (out the back to Barba, every play).

I am however not totally happy with his execution and the lack of big plays, which I think is due in part to the inexperienced halves and also I think he's still not close to 100%, my guess would be 60-70%

 

[subsbligh]

Gonna be a tough night I think. Danger game for sure.

A few times the Eels have touched us up in similar scenarios.

There's a feeling about this Broncos squad that they are taking nothing for granted and are treating every game with high intensity.

 

[Ari Gold]

I will just say though, I think it's a mistake to push Copley to the Wing. I would move him to Left Centre and push Maranta outside him, while moving Reed to the bench. But, that's me. Copley is a killer Centre.

I think Radradra might have played a role in the decision making. Whilst Maranta has been much improved this year he still has less size than Copley and frankly I'd much rather we had Dale mark Semi than Lachlan.

 

[jarro65]

Only slight reservation about copely centre is i haven't seen him put a winger away. Hodges shouldn't be with vidot as neither are good in air

Vidot is awesome in the air .... watch some clips of him playing for Canberra/St.George .... the kid knows how to leap.

I'm wondering whether he's been told NOT too ???

 

[winslow_wong]

Vidot is awesome in the air .... watch some clips of him playing for Canberra/St.George .... the kid knows how to leap.

I'm wondering whether he's been told NOT too ???

he's looking too heavy to leap this season

 

[redbur95]

he's looking too heavy to leap this season

We did make a big deal about him being 110 kg when we signed him.

 

[Old Mate]

Maranta over Hoffman at 5/8. That'll just about do me.

Excited for this one. Really keen to see Hodges back. I think he'll be a real calming influence out wide for Hunt and Barba. He doesn't need to do too much, just play his own game.

Pretty sure Maranta has spent a bit of the at 5/8, Hoffman is lost.