Round 5 - Rabbitohs vs Broncos

[WASSHHH]

This week, he put in three bad kicks (the clearing kick that turned into a grubber, the bomb that barely travelled and that shank which ended up going dead) and just couldn't get into the game with his attack.

I think you might be forgetting the one he absolutely drilled into the back of the defence and we ended up losing ground.

 

[Financeguy]

I'm not sure a lot of our young blokes are overhyped tbh. I think they have been thrown into playing NRL footy before they can handle it and its taking a toll.

Fully agree we have thrown these guys in too early but I still think our players get overhyped compared to pretty much every other club even though for the past 18 months we have been a disaster.

Players like Niu getting called out as the next Lockyer ffs, he wouldn't get a look in at most clubs starting 17 and Dearden has had his fair share of hyped up articles across the media outlets. Coates has also had his share.

Looking at players at other clubs like Brian To'o, Fotuaka, Bradman Best, Toby Rudolf etc are allowed to go about their business with minimal fuss but if they were Broncos we would be fending off multi million dollar contract offers to keep them.

 

[Big Pete]

I think you might be forgetting the one he absolutely drilled into the back of the defence and we ended up losing ground.

I'm pretty sure you're talking about the first example I gave, where Brisbane were deep and he went for a clearing kick but it was at such a low trajectory it came off the defence.

 

[Sproj]

I'm pretty sure you're talking about the first example I gave, where Brisbane were deep and he went for a clearing kick but it was at such a low trajectory it came off the defence.

It was essentially an overpowered grubber, it was embarrassing for a professional player.

 

[broncsgoat]

It’s not a popular meme at all.

Before you get defensive, if you have time, honestly go back and watch some of his kicks from last night in particular (although I’m sure there were more than a few examples in the other 4 games so far). At least every third (but every second wouldn’t surprise me) kick he put in he was not tackled, not interfered with and had ample time to chase if he wanted to.

I genuinely think you’ll be both shocked and appalled at the lack of effort.

I went back and watched the first 10 minutes of the game and his kicks matched @Huge's description for sure. But then I noticed Reynolds' did as well.

It's not union where you either have to be behind the kicker or get run onside by someone, you just have to be outside 10 meters of the ball receiver if you're a chaser (something like that).

I am certain if Milf was making an attacking kick when we were marching down the field he would chase but he is constantly flat footed playing behind beaten packs so we don't get those opportunities.

 

[WASSHHH]

I'm pretty sure you're talking about the first example I gave, where Brisbane were deep and he went for a clearing kick but it was at such a low trajectory it came off the defence.

We might be talking about the same thing.
If so, what about the one that was meant to be an inside out bomb, but ended up being a slightly elevated long kick that was about 15m too long? Is that the third one?

 

[WASSHHH]

I went back and watched the first 10 minutes of the game and his kicks matched @Huge's description for sure. But then I noticed Reynolds' did as well.

It's not union where you either have to be behind the kicker or get run onside by someone, you just have to be outside 10 meters of the ball receiver if you're a chaser (something like that).

I am certain if Milf was making an attacking kick when we were marching down the field he would chase but he is constantly flat footed playing behind beaten packs so we don't get those opportunities.

I’m not about to argue with you; I understand he doesn’t have to put his chasers on side, but surely doing so can only benefit us by removing the requirement for our big forwards who are (most likely) offside to give the fullback / winger 10 metres?

From where I sit, I have been paying particular attention to his kicking game to start 2021 and have observed that if he wanted to (like Lockyer and Thurston were so fucking fantastic at), he could chase his kicks, or at least some of them.

But he doesn’t and the only thing you can really put that down to is a lack of effort.

 

[broncsgoat]

I’m not about to argue with you; I understand he doesn’t have to put his chasers on side, but surely doing so can only benefit us by removing the requirement for our big forwards who are (most likely) offside to give the fullback / winger 10 metres?

From where I sit, I have been paying particular attention to his kicking game to start 2021 and have observed that if he wanted to (like Lockyer and Thurston were so fucking fantastic at), he could chase his kicks, or at least some of them.

But he doesn’t and the only thing you can really put that down to is a lack of effort.

Yup ok.

 

[Wolfie]

Fully agree we have thrown these guys in too early but I still think our players get overhyped compared to pretty much every other club even though for the past 18 months we have been a disaster.

Players like Niu getting called out as the next Lockyer ffs, he wouldn't get a look in at most clubs starting 17 and Dearden has had his fair share of hyped up articles across the media outlets. Coates has also had his share.

Looking at players at other clubs like Brian To'o, Fotuaka, Bradman Best, Toby Rudolf etc are allowed to go about their business with minimal fuss but if they were Broncos we would be fending off multi million dollar contract offers to keep them.

The press do like to hype up a Bronco. For the people that watch them, its easy to see which players are overhyped, you just have to ignore the press.

 

[Scorchie]

I went back and watched the first 10 minutes of the game and his kicks matched @Huge's description for sure. But then I noticed Reynolds' did as well.

It's not union where you either have to be behind the kicker or get run onside by someone, you just have to be outside 10 meters of the ball receiver if you're a chaser (something like that).

I am certain if Milf was making an attacking kick when we were marching down the field he would chase but he is constantly flat footed playing behind beaten packs so we don't get those opportunities.

Milf tends to kick it and instead of chasing, returns to his position at centre or the wing before moving one in. Happened a few times last night

 

[Huge]

So Dearden should be shown the door because someone overhypes him. He is 20 games into a career and hasn't had the luxury of a development year in Q cup. The club sees something in him worth exploring but we have other clubs trying to poach him including Melb.
Didn't Bellyache have him on a depth chart. It's not just the Broncs who think he has talent.
Seriously, after 13 games we just say, **** it, you've had your chance.
Flegler, I like. He had a very good first year and has been average since but I think he will develop. The biggest criticism of Tom has been he is overpayed. That's probably true but as far as showing him the door, it's too early.

Flegler can play the game the way we need him to. The money is irrelevant. Keep for sure. Him and Kennedy, either of them start with Lodge. Straight hard and for 20 minutes. We should concentrate on using our strengths and we have enough forwards NOW after getting Haas and Lodge back. We didn't go too bad without them in fact. We were competitive but now we have added fire-power.

We could bring Haas in instead of playing him such long minutes. Start with Lodge Turpin Flegler, Riki and Glenn , TPJ.
Bring Haas and Kennedy on after 20 to continue the barrage.

 

[calsy]

Criticism of these young guys is completely misplaced. Why are a bunch of 20 year olds with no experience and no guidance on the field taking on the responsibility of pulling a team out of a huge slump and getting everyone on the same page to win in 1st grade?

It's comparable to someone who's just finished high school and starting his first day on the job. The boss runs up to him screaming 'Thank god you're here, you need to take responsibility for saving this business.'.

Why aren't the REAL people responsible for this recruiting and contractual mess fronting up? Bending over to player managers, falling for hype and bizarrely believing lengthy contract periods are good ideas. Talk about money, they get their share while doing a good job of avoiding criticism. Whats it like in the office on a Friday morning when the Broncos lose? Does anyone know? 'We are having lots of meetings', was there go to for apparently improving things. Last year there was lots of frustration and questions being asked to admin, now it seems to be a resigned misery and silence.

It's a real concern as the club looks to be heading over the cliff and there might be many more years like this to come. Whatever the Broncos were will be just a memory, not a benchmark to aspire to. Players talk, a team that players hoped to be a part of will now be one they want to avoid.

Just for comparisons sake, how many years were the Brisbane Lions sitting at the bottom of the ladder, 15 years? They are lucky they don't have to compete with another team in Brisbane which will soon be the case for the Broncos.

 

[Nerd]

Milf has been terrible but is that the cause of the team being trash or a result of the team being trash?

Bit of A and a bit of B. We build to the end of an attacking set then Milford either gets caught with the ball or puts in a bad kick releasing any pressure on the opposition. His low long kicking in the second half was better but for the money he's removing from the cap he needs to be performing as good or better than Reynolds. Our defence was better this week but with Milfords poor end of set options it's like we are constantly defending in our half instead of getting repeat sets or putting pressure on the opposition as they wear themselves out trying to get out of their half. Milford isn't the only reason we are struggling but being easily the most out of form player in the team and in one of the most important positions his lack of form and therefore execution at crucial times are killing any momentum we get.

 

[mstreet]

I swear it was stated that Croft would run the team. I could be wrong on that though.

anyway I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses for milf, but he’s expected to do everything and hears externally that he needs to a) run the ball more and b) take control of the side. I think he’s confused at what to do and it’s just making him play like pus.

The amount of shit he’s getting in the media is fucking shameful the **** will probably have a nervous breakdown

A lot of pressure on Milf. Easy target and understandable with his salary. Hindsight is a gift that armchair critics love; me included. Big learning curve for Milf too.

I want him to stay. I want him to agree to 300k, and use the money to buy a dominant 9 or 7. Show us what he is capable of when not weighed down with a mega deal. Fly under the radar again. Let others take the heat. He is an x factor but needs to be in a dominant side; given a freedom from responsibility. I think many of the top teams will try to seduce him. He is a game breaker. He just isn't a dominant player like a Johns, Smith, Lockyer, Thurston.

It feels like that relationship that promised so much. You dismissed little red flags. Thought they would come around.

It just pisses me off that the top teams are going to reap the benefits of all our suffer and money.

 

[mstreet]

Here’s a question to ponder, do you think our defence is better or worse than last season?

Please baby jesus, do not make me watch 2020 again. I will do whatever you ask, but please, not that.....

 

[Midean]

A lot of pressure on Milf. Easy target and understandable with his salary. Hindsight is a gift that armchair critics love; me included. Big learning curve for Milf too.

I want him to stay. I want him to agree to 300k, and use the money to buy a dominant 9 or 7. Show us what he is capable of when not weighed down with a mega deal. Fly under the radar again. Let others take the heat. He is an x factor but needs to be in a dominant side; given a freedom from responsibility. I think many of the top teams will try to seduce him. He is a game breaker. He just isn't a dominant player like a Johns, Smith, Lockyer, Thurston.

It feels like that relationship that promised so much. You dismissed little red flags. Thought they would come around.

It just pisses me off that the top teams are going to reap the benefits of all our suffer and money.

I disagree.

He has had every opportunity, multiple coaches, halves partners, excuses, and positional changes and 5 years to show us something.
He has a fat bank account, which he was happy to take, and shown nothing for it.
Milford is lazy, there is no doubt about it, he is down on confidence sure, but it is rare i see him actually put in a full 80 minute performance, in fact, i cant remember the last game of his i watched where he didn't go missing for half the game.

The time for excuses is well past for Milford, he was a gamble by the Broncos based on his potential, and that gamble did not pay off.

 

[nopatience101]

So Dearden should be shown the door because someone overhypes him. He is 20 games into a career and hasn't had the luxury of a development year in Q cup. The club sees something in him worth exploring but we have other clubs trying to poach him including Melb.
Didn't Bellyache have him on a depth chart. It's not just the Broncs who think he has talent.
Seriously, after 13 games we just say, **** it, you've had your chance.
Flegler, I like. He had a very good first year and has been average since but I think he will develop. The biggest criticism of Tom has been he is overpayed. That's probably true but as far as showing him the door, it's too early.

Politis wined & dined him before he went after Walker.

 

[pagey]

Politis wined & dined him before he went after Walker.

Yep wanted Dearden first so must be something about him.