Round 6 - Broncos vs Panthers

[Nerd]

Yeah we should be expecting Dearden who was only a teenager until last month and who has only played a handful of first grade games for a bottom of the ladder team to be running circles around the Panthers like he's Lockyer incarnate? Anyone remember how Cleary played when he was called up to first grade?

At least with Dearden on the team seems to actually give a s**t about playing as a team. Look at last week, couple of plays from Dearden got the boys charged up for the first time in years, something we are really missing. It lasted all but 5 minutes when Milford took the tackle on the 5th and kicked it dead in-goal.

My thoughts too. Cleary was pretty average in his first season but had Maloney steering the ship while he found his feet. Dearden has shown enough in glimpses to warrant giving him some time to gain more experience. Put it this way if I had a choice of a rookie kid like Dearden or Milford I would take Dearden every day of the week. If Milford wants to turn his career around he needs to go to another club or the UK.

One thing I wasn't happy with was when Dearden got taken out late after kicking (which somehow Atkins missed...) a Broncos forward should have come over and roughed up the Penrith chaser. The forwards need to protect their halves from this sort of treatment and especially a rookie like Dearden.

 

[Midean]

For me the best part of tonight was our defence. Haven't seen it as good as that for ages. Walter's looks like he is getting through to the players at last. I'm expecting it to get a lot better now that he has. The players must be stoked. Better things to come methinks.

I know you are a strong supporter of Milford, but i would be interested to know your thoughts on last nights performance without him.

 

[Thelmus]

Ok Fifita had a blinder last week I’ll give him that but even his game against us wasn’t like that... TPJ was outstanding in every sense of his game to igjt

I actually thought both TPJ and Lodge showed real leadership qualities that the younger players latched onto and ran with (this is not a knock of Glenn who was fine especially given he was sick).
Lodge has been talking to the press and TPJ was even referred to by the ref like he was captain on the field. They certainly played an outstanding game too.
Kevie is starting to get into their heads with a few nuanced moves. I swear it looks like they are prepared to walk through fire for him.

 

[gUt]

Like probably most I thought that game was pretty good, just some desperation in place of patience cost us some chances. Their tries came on the back of fundamental errors and the ref did us no favours at home. Also our kicking game was pretty average, always kicking in down the throat of the catcher even though the kicking strategy seemed well planned and followed.

I think we gave them a real scare and if Penrith weren't as good as they usually are, it's because our boys didn't allow them to be. One to grow on.

 

[Morepudding]

Watching the highlights all you see is some awful defence by Dearden and not a single good attacking play. Let him go to the cowboys, this guy isn’t it.

 

[theshed]

All right, third post on this. Genuine question, is dearden supposed to be a game controlling half or a ball running occasionally kicks it half? I’m not being smart or anything of the like, I’m just confused as he kinda just reminds me of Croft...not a horrible thing but is it what we’re looking for? I’ve been a detractor Of Milf as “most” of us have but his defence has improved in the last couple and I can’t help but feel if he was playing, we win that game off the back of his boot.

Again, I think it was the right thing to do from Kev, as it clearly set a standard and it showed tonight in the forwards.

I should just let it rest till next week see how he goes.

Just talking out loud really.

It’s playing hypotheticals because you can never know for sure but from all the evidence I’ve seen, we don’t play like we did if Milford was in the team. Croft was obviously given a game plan to follow and he followed it perfectly. Something Anthony has never shown an ability to do. We’ve had brief periods of performing like we did last night when Anthony was in the team but it fades away because he constantly makes the wrong decisions. Whether that be kicking, his jinking runs, or his refusal to straighten the attack. Croft played a cheap imitation of golden era Melbourne. He kept the attack simple and boring to the point that a team like the panthers who rely on excitement and flair were unable to do their Harlem globe trotter act.

I don’t think you’re allowed to say Milford would’ve won us that game, because the game wouldn’t have gone the way it did with Miflord in the team.

Dearden didn’t show much last night but I think what he did show is that he is willing to play the way the coach asks him and the team needs him. It seems obvious Kev wanted Croft to control the attack and to take the kick (kick to To’o and let defence prevent him from doing his thing). On top of this I would guess that Kev asked the halves to keep it simple and think run first, defend well. Which is exactly what they did. If they continue to play like this they will be able to grow on it and start adding more complex plays. You have to start somewhere when you’re at the bottom.

I haven’t seen much from Dearden to impress me but I won’t hold tonight’s efforts against him. I think he mostly did exactly as he was asked.

 

[rnabokov]

I know you are a strong supporter of Milford, but i would be interested to know your thoughts on last nights performance without him.

Frankly I was overall very surprised by that performance. I didn't see it coming, especially our defensive effort. As a Milford supporter I thought about his absence a lot during the game. While one could argue that he might have contributed a bit more than Dearden or Croft, I disagree, simply because his defence, especially compared to Croft last night has been poor, and he hasn't integrated with the team as well as Croft did last night.

But, the thing that I contemplated most was the sudden, stunning reversal in form, in the game Milford was dropped. I wonder if there is any friction between him and the team. So that was and remains at the forefront of my mind. For such a form reversal, it does make me wonder if Milf is indeed a good fit for this side. What I certainly hope to see is him really lifting in ISC, but now, I have this feeling that he won't be back. That's a shame for me simply because he has skills Croft doesn't, particularly kicking. I hope Croft keeps growing and developing. His effort and energy were good to see.

I didn't think Croft or Dearden did much in attack save Croft's brilliant set play with Bull (more of that PLEASE). Our set plays fizzled out, and as Walters said in his presser, our execution was off. We miss a strong organising leader in the middle. I hope Croft steps up.

Nevertheless, on that performance, I can't see Milford returning for a long time, if at all. I certainly wouldn't have him back until he returns to his old self. Not gonna happen methinks.

 

[Gaz]

no pressure at all on Cleary kicking the field goal . No game awareness.. they charge him down and he misses the game could have ended up our way .

Game changer was Coates being caught out with the 40 20.
That allowed them to get out of their half to be in that position.

 

[Sproj]

Love all the shade on Dearden. /s

The kids not going to suddenly turn into cronk especially after his entire NRL career has been in a team getting absolutely smashed week in week out.

Not willing to pass any real judgement until the team at least plays with some ticker like they did tonight for 5-10 games first. Walker is flashy and has been absolutely surrounded by the best in the NRL. Can play with confidence that one error in attack is not going to cost them the game. For our boys, those shots in attack are rare and often have a lot riding on them. Not saying he's great... but he deserves half a season at least in a team winning some games at least.

To be fair, most of said shade is coming from one poster who keep droning on and on about the same thing desperately trying to get a response.

I think most realise he’s a kid and he has some moments that are both good and bad. He’s still just a kid.

 

[Midean]

Frankly I was overall very surprised by that performance. I didn't see it coming, especially our defensive effort. As a Milford supporter I thought about his absence a lot during the game. While one could argue that he might have contributed a bit more than Dearden or Croft, I disagree, simply because his defence, especially compared to Croft last night has been poor, and he hasn't integrated with the team as well as Croft did last night.

But, the thing that I contemplated most was the sudden, stunning reversal in form, in the game Milford was dropped. I wonder if there is any friction between him and the team. So that was and remains at the forefront of my mind. For such a form reversal, it does make me wonder if Milf is indeed a good fit for this side. What I certainly hope to see is him really lifting in ISC, but now, I have this feeling that he won't be back. That's a shame for me simply because he has skills Croft doesn't, particularly kicking.

I didn't think Croft or Dearden did much in attack save Croft's brilliant set play with Bull (more of that PLEASE). Our set plays fizzled out, and as Walters said in his presser, our execution was off. We miss a strong organising leader in the middle. I hope Croft steps up.

Nevertheless, on that performance, I can't see Milford returning for a long time, if at all. I certainly wouldn't have him back until he returns to his old self. Not gonna happen methinks.

Cheers for your insight, It is interesting because i think everyone acknowledges Milford has the skills and talent, and you simply cannot blame the performance of an entire team on one guy, but last night was a polarizing look at the team without him. Weather or not it was a coincidence or not will only become clear over the next few weeks without him in the side i suppose.

 

[Midean]

Game changer was Coates being caught out with the 40 20.
That allowed them to get out of their half to be in that position.

That 40/20 from Cleary was an outstanding kick though and i reckon anyone chasing it down would have struggled with it.
Was for sure a momentum changer, but i dont think that was because Oates was poor, and more that Cleary's kick was on point.

 

[Culhwch]

That 40/20 from Cleary was an outstanding kick though and i reckon anyone chasing it down would have struggled with it.
Was for sure a momentum changer, but i dont think that was because Oates was poor, and more that Cleary's kick was on point.

The bounce got Coates. Looked like he had it covered if it rolled on but it suddenly stood up and he'd overrun it. Just the way it goes sometimes.

 

[rnabokov]

To be fair, most of said shade is coming from one poster who keep droning on and on about the same thing desperately trying to get a response.

I think most realise he’s a kid and he has some moments that are both good and bad. He’s still just a kid.

Yes, he is still just a kid, however, when I watched Walker last week, there's something he has at 18 that Dearden at 20, with a lot more experience doesn't, and that's composure, and seeing opportunities before they form, and then taking them. However, the Rorters are a different proposition to us, so I will cut him some slack until our side learns to work together a lot better in attack. I don't think at this stage that Dearden deserves some of the hype he is getting.

 

[Socnorb]

Brisbane just provided the template to combat the Panthers,
Belt them, Belt them, and keep belting them. see how they pull up after 4 straight weeks of that.
Mind you, this is the template to use against every team.

 

[rnabokov]

That 40/20 from Cleary was an outstanding kick though and i reckon anyone chasing it down would have struggled with it.
Was for sure a momentum changer, but i dont think that was because Oates was poor, and more that Cleary's kick was on point.

And it exposed the difference between their and our kicking game. For mine, that was the most important difference between the 2 sides. If we are going to compete with the very best, our kicking game just has to improve. Mind you the kick chase was so refreshing to see. That's a great start.

 

[pagey]

Croft was as good as Luai but Dearden looked like a 5th grader against cleary

How do you even compare the two, you really like to pick out some people and death ride don't you. Miserable ****!

 

[Gaz]

That 40/20 from Cleary was an outstanding kick though and i reckon anyone chasing it down would have struggled with it.
Was for sure a momentum changer, but i dont think that was because Oates was poor, and more that Cleary's kick was on point.

Not blaming Coates - was a great kick with a horrible bounce for Xavier. Just pointing out it was the game changer IMO.

 

[Mister Wright]

Croft was excellent in defence last night. Makes me think he’d be worth developing as a hooker. Obviously, not as strong as Turpin in defence, as Turpin made some monster hits, but he has playmaking vision that Turpin lacks and a far better kicking game.