Round 6 Discussion

[Big Pete]

It's definitely going to be an interesting game on Friday.

While we'll be a much bigger challenge than the Bulldogs, I think the Dragons have definitely played well here and would have beaten a lot of teams today.

Just like last year, we're going to have a game on our hands.

 

[CaptainHook]

It's definitely going to be an interesting game on Friday.

While we'll be a much bigger challenge than the Bulldogs, I think the Dragons have definitely played well here and would have beaten a lot of teams today.

Just like last year, we're going to have a game on our hands.

Agree 100%. I'm a bit surprised at the notion this is going to be an easy game for us. I could understand it if we get some troops back on deck but there's no guarantee of that yet.

 

[Super Freak]

 

[gordjw]

Lol!

The Raiders have been choking in the second half for over 10 years now. When I went to their home games, if they didn't have a 30+ lead at half time, they were near certainties to choke.

 

[broncos4life]

The raiders personify average, and all the signings they are making are just increasing how average they will continue to be. I understand ricky wants to to get first graders to Canberra, but these players (especially for the money they are getting paid) are not going to make a difference. It's weird watching their fans get so excited about signing someone like Aiden Sezer because you know it's not going to end well

 

[Kaz]

That was never going to be a sin bin

Try telling that to the Bulldogs fans on The Kennel.

I did & I am banned AGAIN.

 

[Big Pete]

Was watching replays last night -beginning with Newcastle v Cronulla.

The Sharks are on some sort of roll. A couple of weeks ago, when I was making a big broo-ha-ha about their form, Huge pointed out that it was more or less down to bad luck. Since then, the tide has definitely turned for them because I don't think anyone could have scripted those games better. There's been some real Easter miracles in there, knock ons into penalties that sort of stuff. However, between all the lucky bounces and what not there's been some really good performances.

One player who hasn't been mentioned but has definitely made a difference is Luke Lewis. He's one of those players who sort of goes missing when it comes time to handing out wraps because his numbers are nothing really to write home about but the skill-set he brings and his experience has really given the Sharks a lot of variety on the edges and that's where they're causing most of the damage with the forwards doing a really good job of winning the ruck.

As for the game itself, I thought it was in the balance until Bird swooped on a speculator from Fifita to set up and score his own try. That gave Cronulla the lead and within moments they extended it again when they worked the same outside inside ball play for Bird and they scored another beauty off the boot of Valentine Holmes. It was that man I was talking about Lewis who chased and got himself infront of the Knights backs.

At 12-2, it was all Cronulla and within moments of the second half, Barba pulled the Knights pants down to score a pretty simple try down Newcastle's right hand touchline. At that point, the conditions became god awful and it was always going to be tough to peg back.

If you're going to pull something like that off, you need to play near perfect football. Unfortunately, the Knights were their own worst enemies, coming up with impatient plays and not really playing to their strengths. For instance, the commentators went crook at Gagai for being quiet but I honestly didn't see him get much of an opportunity to get involved. There wasn't much early ball coming his way to try and put his moves on Leutele and the one opportunity he did get, he was able to put Uate over in the corner for an easy try.

Uate's hundreth too.

That's the Knights second loss in a row and their second poor performance in a row. Mind you, even when they were winning I thought a lot of it could be written off as early season form and going up against teams who were missing key players (Warriors, Penrith) or they're notoriously slow starters (Warriors, Cowboys). What I'm saying is, a lot of these problems existed before their losses, it's just very clear now.

They've got to make a call on Sione Mata'utia. There's no doubt he's talented, but this current situation where they change the complexion of the spine is putting the Knights in all sorts. They just lack a little cohesion when he comes on, so either they make a call and have him play fullback in place of Kidley full-time, have him replace McManus on the wing or they let him build some confidence in reserves because right now, it's hindering more than it's helping.

Not sure what's happened to the halves but they've gone from a strength to a weakness very quickly. Mullen had to be playing injured because Graham was getting around him with consummate ease and he really hasn't been himself at all in 2015. And T. Roberts...he's always been an inconsistent player but he's always had something in him. Lately, it's all been dud plays, one after the other and he just isn't asking enough questions of the defence. So far it's all hit-up, hit-up, hit-up, spread to Leilua, put in a ordinary last tackle kick. I mean, they could pay so many ISC halves to do the same thing and basically get around the same if not better results.

Next week they'll welcome back Robbie Rochow which should help. I thought Houston was amongst one of their worst last week and really shouldn't be playing on the fringes anymore. It's lock forward or bustfor him. They may also have to consider re-tooling their bench. Perhaps push one of the Sims brothers to the bench to provide some genuine impact which has been alluding them in recent weeks and giving a Sam Mataora a chance to stake his claim as Stockwell seems to be struggling.

It isn't panic stations yet for them but their halves need to start firing and they need to play more as a team instead of trying to find a way to shoe-horn players into their side.

 

[Sproj]

One of the problems for the Knights still seems to be that the feel they need to include Gidley in the starting side. McManus too has hardly been at his best for the last two seasons. They should probably start Gidley at hooker or the bench and definitely play Sione from fb at the start. Giving Mamo a chance for a few weeks instead of McManus probably wouldn't be a bad idea either.

 

[Big Pete]

Gidley should remain their fullback.

The biggest problem with Newcastle is their lack of cohesion and despite everything else, he's still the best fullback at the club. Defensively he's still very safe and I believe he links better with the outside men than Mata'utia who is something of a ball-hog. In fact, I'd go as far to say that Sione doesn't have a future in that position. If he does play first grade again this season, it should ideally be on the wing unless there is an injury in which case he can play centre or fullback. He wouldn't even be my second choice fullback, that would be Mamo who is a natural in that position but like Sione, is too much of an individual to play it in first grade.

Not only is Gidley the club's best fullback, he's also an ordinary half and a terrible hooker so he really shouldn't be moved around. For now, they should stick with a Clydesdale/Randall combo and see how that goes. However, if that doesn't work, they can always give Danny Levi a shot. He is the best dummy half in the Holden Cup and could be a real weapon coming off the bench.

 

[Super Freak]

Matthew Wright is out. Justin O'Neill takes his place on the wing.

There goes Broncos 1st place finish..

 

[GCBRONCO]

Stewart to play 5/8th for the Rabbitohs, no sutton.

 

[Super Freak]

Stewart to play 5/8th for the Rabbitohs.

Seems an unusual call considering they have Inglis.

I would have thought he would be the obvious choice because of his experience in the position.

 

[GCBRONCO]

1) Greg Inglis (c)
2) Alex Johnston
3) Daryl Millard
4) Bryson Goodwin
5) Joel Reddy
11) Glenn Stewart
7) Luke Keary
8) George Burgess
9) Issac Luke
10) David Tyrrell
15) Chris Grevsmuhl
12) Chris McQueen
13) Jason Clark
Interchange:
14) Ben Lowe
16) Tim Grant
17) Thomas Burgess
19) Nathan Brown

 

[BroncosAlways]

Good call by souths, keeping GI at the back is important for them.

On the other hand, Stewart at 5/8 is going to be pretty weird, surely he'll just play his usual ball playing-backrow style.

 

[Big Pete]

Seems an unusual call considering they have Inglis.

I would have thought he would be the obvious choice because of his experience in the position.

Stewart was the first choice last week before he had to come off.

Plus, they have more depth in the forwards. Have you seen their backs? Millard, Goodwin & Reddy...they're absolutely stretched.

 

[Super Freak]

I did not think of that..

Makes sense.

 

[Super Freak]

Tyrrell crashes over..

6-0

Cowboys off to a bad start.

 

[Super Freak]

What a try from O'Neill. That's the kind of stuff we saw from him when he was at Storm.