Round 5 - Titans vs. Broncos - Post Match Discussion

[Burg]

A couple of really good posts by Porthoz and Mr Fourex, both seemed to have summed up my thoughts as well, although I think something that most have missed with the inclusion of Prince into the team is what he is bringing to our game off the ball. I feel everyone is purely judging him on how many tries he sets up or how many tackles he misses. While this is totally understandable, I think that it is more than coincidence that the Broncos have been playing with a lot more width than last year and our outside backs are actually scoring tries. I'm seeing him do more "Generaling" of the troops and that is something we have sorely missed since Locky retired.

We don't have the "Superstar" players and so playing as a team is critical to our chances this year and I must say that I'm very happy with how the team is playing, hard to find a stand out player, and for me, that is the most impressive thing of our efforts in the past couple of weeks. The line speed has been great, the forwards are making ground and giving our backs the room to move. All and all some real positive signs. Sure there will be a few poor games to come, but as long as they keep this type of effort for the whole year a Top 4 is a chance. A big ask I know, but they have displayed they are capable of it.

 

[Mr Fourex]

*gets excited that we are playing well, then realizes origin is on in a few weeks to **** our season up anyway* :(

:001_rolleyes:

 

[pennywisealfie]

I know you love origin and all, and I know I probably sound like a broken record, but this is legit how I feel. Everytime I get excited over an early season win, I then remember every other year I do it and say we are a premiership chance, only to tank after origin.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Lets just enjoy the moment and let the future take care of itself.......:winky:

I really can't see us being too hurt by SOO this year anyway.

 

[Alec]

Lets just enjoy the moment and let the future take care of itself.......:winky:

I really can't see us being too hurt by SOO this year anyway.

Thaiday and Hannant will undoubtedly play for QLD, and McGuire has a good chance of playing too, now that Civo retired. It would be great for us if QLD pick Papalli or Te'o over Gillett and Tate over Hodges. QLD can do without them and any other Bronco, and it would definitely help us have the best Origin period in years.

 

[pennywisealfie]

Thaiday, Hannant and Hodges will no doubt get picked and probably Gillett, Parker & McGuire as well.

 

[rnabokov]

Except Parramatta plan on him playing 5/8. At this stage of his career he is far better off playing fullback, to aid his development. Whether he wants to ir not. If it was good enough fir Locky to do, then it is good enough for Norman

Agree. I forgot about that. Meh!

As for all the other posts, including the legit criticisms (at half time I was wondering why Prince was on the field at all) I still maintain: if it ain't broke, don't fix it, including Maranta, unless he becomes a proven liability.

IMO, this team should be left alone and just keep working on the combinations, and yes yes - DEPTH. What a difference hey!

If we can put 26 points on the Storm and lose only cos of the ref, then flog the Titans, anything is possible - assuming the discipline and commitment stay.

For mine: if we keep working the combinations + discipline + commitment (defence last night was superb) = top 4 no sweat.

I actually think Origin this year will help us premiership wise for the first time in memory - I can't see Parker or McGuire making Origin, and last night we showed what we can do without Thaiday (sorry Sammy).

 

[Big Pete]

How good did it feel waking up this morning? Felt like ages since we managed to pull off one of those wins and boy did I appreciate this victory.

Hook nailed it in the post-match press conference, it was a controlled performance from the boys which was won on the back of defence. They didn't do anything overly flashy but they showed good patience and made it very difficult for the Titans to build any momentum or pressure.

Forwards were immense I thought. Parker, Hannant, Sanderson (defensively), Gillett all stepped it up and took it to one of the better packs in the competition.

In saying that, I thought Norman was the star. Was pretty shitty with him early in the night when he went to Maranta when Gillett was clearly the right option but he kept his head up and was a true weapon for us. Definitely a good game to add to his resume, but still some concerns there with his play and I don't know if he's going to be able to fix them within a season. Happy to be proven wrong though.

Halves were mixed. Down right ordinary in the first half before they got into a nice rhythm in the second. Both have plenty to work on but at least this is a decent platform to build off of.

Mixed performance from Macca too. Still good defensively and of course the GC score a soft try through the middle as he goes off but before then was guilty of picking some bad options and looking a little lost at acting half. Much better second stint but he did have the luxury of coming on when the game was basically over. Hunt made some bad choices too but I really appreciated that grubber behind the line for Reed. Very good half play.

Maranta is still green and is never going to be a superstar but I find him to be very reliable and does a job for us. Very good under the high ball, knows how to position himself and is putting his hand up through the middle. Needs to work on his finishing though and yeah I believe those track and field days are well behind him.

Other thoughts

- Loved watching Hodges step up to Bird and protect Maranta. Even better to watch him belt him with a great hit.
- I tried being a bit more accepting of Raaaaaaaaaaaay this year but after 40 minutes of him playing arm-chair referee I had enough. Bring back Voss!
- On the subject of commentators. He's my favourite player of all time, but Locky continues to get worse.
- I still question Reed offensively, but defensively he's been very good for us since at least Round 3. Only aspect of his defence I don't like is his tendancy to give away blatant blocking penalties - he needs to work on that.
- Didn't mind the use of our bench. Slyney probably should have come on earlier but the use of Lui and Hala was good. Nice signs there from both I thought, shame about the injury to Dunamis.
- Be nice if we got the rub of the green for once. We got two calls our way, a 50/50 and a late strip penalty. Still didn't compare to the 5-7 calls the Titans received though.

 

[Coxy]

I know you love origin and all, and I know I probably sound like a broken record, but this is legit how I feel. Everytime I get excited over an early season win, I then remember every other year I do it and say we are a premiership chance, only to tank after origin.

I hear ya, but as others have said, our contribution will be small. At most I think it'll be Hodges, Thaiday, Hannant and Gillett. After last night, Gillett played all over Dave Taylor, who looks absolutely useless at the moment, so Gillett will probably get picked ahead of him.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Parker could be there also. I think Harrisons SOO days are behind him.

 

[Coxy]

Parker could be there also. I think Harrisons SOO days are behind him.

True, Corey was solid in his appearances last season and is finding his form at club level at the moment.

 

[jakepearce94]

can the broncos still exercise this Rd 13 last right of refusal thing with Norman ?

we can, but norman doesn't want to miss out on his millions.

 

[Alec]

Forgot about Parker. He definitely deserves to be there for QLD, especially after one of his performances last year where two of his great offloads led directly to two QLD tries...