POST GAME [Round 7, 2026] - Broncos vs Tigers

[Fitzy]

Far too many people in here patting themselves on the back by putting others opinions down.
It doesn't validate your opinion or make it right.

The point is that he had a good enough pass to play NRL when he was 17, it’s nothing new. He showed last night he was years off first grade. Yet there are people doing team lists for him to be in the side next week or saying he is better than Mozer.

I let people go nuts with there Bukowski is better than Mozer rants 95% of the time, despite not even remotely agreeing with it. This is not some I told you so moment this is a can we have an actual discussion about what happened conversation. He will be 21 before seasons end.


I saw more concerns than positives and what I’m saying is that really should be the point of discussion here rather than people jizzing themselves over his pass that could have given a 90 year old man who hasn’t gotten his **** up in 3 decades a stiffy when he was 17. Which has already been well established on here.

He hasn’t really been progressing in q-cup this season (albeit early and Wynnum dreadful), his coach at stages hasn’t had faith in him in reserve grade as well. A nearly 21 year old hooker shouldn’t look that out of his depth in defence and thrown around like a bean bag if he gets caught with the ball. That unfortunately doesn’t come down to nerves. The dropped ball and a couple of twitchy movements off the line, yeah nerves, and I am not remotely concerned or judging his game based off of those things.

Luckily for Cameron he will know that he has stuff to address, and he can now go work on it. But you don’t make up that much of a deficiency in a couple weeks and honestly not in a couple months either. He was a long way off the level required in defence unfortunately. But better for him to know that now, cause that is not as glaringly as obvious a thing in reserve grade at all. Back end of next year start of 28 is really where I see him being at a level to re-introduce to first grade with some opportunities. He has got the taste now, it’s time to go back to work and get to a level that’s required in these areas. And a part of that development is for him simply just filling out and gaining size, 100%.

Madge has shown he doesn’t give two shits about how good your pass is if you cannot get the defence right. Paix is our number one hooker right now. He doesn’t have a running game and his ruck ID and pass is worse than probably all our hookers. Cory’s work rate and defence though is the best in our hooking stocks (Walters is up there as well but probably can’t do it for 80 like Paixy).

You look at hookers that got there opportunities young and or similar ages the last few years. Mozer, De Silva, Pattie, Beni Ioleu, about a year older when he debuted which changes things but even Ryley Smith. Do I think Bukowski compares to them despite playing more reserve grade and having potentially more skills than all of them when getting there chance? I don’t unfortunately and that’s a glaring truth he has to face and go and work and focus on some things. Theres not many hookers at this age getting first grade and there are very few capable of being the complete package. This is by no means a suggestion Bukowski is off track or is a bust. But relative to the blokes that have gotten there goes at his age he’s a bit off the pace.

I think Cam is in a similar position to Coby at the minute. Coby lives off his kicking game in the same way that Cam lives off his passing game. Better than a lot of blokes in first grade at those two things but there games beyond that aren’t up to it. I do believe that Cam has far more dimensions to his game than Coby did in fairness but they both do have one skill that is far and away better than anything else they offer at this point. These are both skills that create a lot of value for teams but that can’t just be it.

But this also becomes two fold in that if the poor bloke had to go out and put one or two more efforts like that in over the next few weeks the lot of you would be off him. I think we need to be a bit more realistic with him is all I’m saying. It may come off as critical but I’m not here to sugar coat. We all know his upside. No point pretending there wasn’t a lot of downside on show tonight and a lot to work on.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Waking up after that win

As if you weren't touching yourself

 

[Brocko]

Piakura grade 1 crusher - $ Fine on early guilty.

Herbert grade 1 dangerous for his armbar - $ fine on early guilty.

Nothing for Hunt as suspected for the Haas tackle.

 

[Santa]

As if you weren't touching yourself

 

[Alec]

Look he has as good a pass as any hooker in the NRL. Exceptional at it and that’s where a lot of his hype has come from. But for mine at no stage has he ever looked in the same conversation as Blake at cup. Biggest myth and misread ever in this forum. It would be like trying to compare Coby Black to Tom Duffy prior to this year (not quite severe). Just not remotely plausible.

Cameron has only ever stayed in this conversation due to the lack of consistent footy from Blake to string some games together and get into some serious rythym and form. Cam has just as much potential, completely agree there. But at no stage have they looked similar in ability. Baffles me that argument even exists. Blake had a couple lazy efforts in defence his first few NRL games and the lot of you went completely off him and started sucking Cam’s dick instead. Cam has a significantly better pass (but that is deadset nearly the case with every hooker) I will give him that but he doesn’t come close in any other facet at all and definitely not as a total package.

His pass is a thing of beauty though and that creates serious value to teams.

I've only seem him play last night so that's all I have to go by. He seemed to play like more of an old school hooker, quick pass, quick run and support play (which he failed). Seems pretty quick in general.
He was getting absolutely manhandled out there though, like one of those under 8 players trying to tackle an islander under 8 who is twice their size. Definitely not ready but I guess the Broncos had no choice.
Mozer looked better for sure, seen some people post here that old "Charles" is the better prospect but he definitely didn't look as good but also it was a pretty crazy game to make your debut in.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Pro tip. Piss in the shower when you've got a morning wood.

 

[Alec]

Staggs had come such a long way from even about 2 or 3 years ago. He always had talent but maybe he needs an echo because his heart has grown 2 or 3 times in size. There were talks of whether we should keep Cobbo or him, I think it's pretty clear now. Hopefully he comes back just as strong.

 

[Santa]

 

[GCBRONCO]

I've only seem him play last night so that's all I have to go by. He seemed to play like more of an old school hooker, quick pass, quick run and support play (which he failed). Seems pretty quick in general.
He was getting absolutely manhandled out there though, like one of those under 8 players trying to tackle an islander under 8 who is twice their size. Definitely not ready but I guess the Broncos had no choice.
Mozer looked better for sure, seen some people post here that old "Charles" is the better prospect but he definitely didn't look as good but also it was a pretty crazy game to make your debut in.

Lets put it this way. It's a taste of first grade before the ideal period for a player his age and he performed to my expectations. I think too many people jumped on the hype train like they did with Mozer way too early. Let the lad develop. Yes he made mistakes and had a few issues in defense but he is raw and still developing physically and frankly that was a hell of a game to be chucked in considering the circumstances.

 

[BroncsFan]

I think the plan is that both of them eventually become the hookers and Paix becomes the number 3 veteran that can come in and do a job.

But you can see why Paix was extended for 2 more years and it has nothing to do with squeezing Mozer or Cam out of the squad.

Across the squad you need at least 3 first grade standard hookers (and 1 should be able to play 80) and then probably 1 extra hooker who is young and developing, but there for break glass in emergency situations.

Billy is the other option but he's 32 and coming back from an ACL... he adds versatility to hooker and halves, but he could also retire at any point... you aren't getting rid of a young hooker who could be in your 17 for the next 10 years even if Billy is extended ... so he's not necessarily a road block to Mozer or Cam either.

Bhunt wants to go around again as well, but he's in the same boat as Billy... and is probably more the halves depth, but also adding that utility value off the bench.

I see no issues with carrying all 5 of them into next year and it shouldn't have any impact on the development or future for either Cam or Mozer if we did.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Morning wood........ sigh

 

[Foordy]

I think the plan is that both of them eventually become the hookers and Paix becomes the number 3 veteran that can come in and do a job.

But you can see why Paix was extended for 2 more years and it has nothing to do with squeezing Mozer or Cam out of the squad.

Across the squad you need at least 3 first grade standard hookers (and 1 should be able to play 80) and then probably 1 extra hooker who is young and developing, but there for break glass in emergency situations.

Billy is the other option but he's 32 and coming back from an ACL... he adds versatility to hooker and halves, but he could also retire at any point... you aren't getting rid of a young hooker who could be in your 17 for the next 10 years even if Billy is extended ... so he's not necessarily a road block to Mozer or Cam either.

Bhunt wants to go around again as well, but he's in the same boat as Billy... and is probably more the halves depth, but also adding that utility value off the bench.

I see no issues with carrying all 5 of them into next year and it shouldn't have any impact on the development or future for either Cam or Mozer if we did.

not to mention that there is a good chance we keep Cam on the development list for another year, so he wouldn't be taking up a top 30 spot anyway

 

[Swordfish]

Piakura grade 1 crusher - $ Fine on early guilty.

Herbert grade 1 dangerous for his armbar - $ fine on early guilty.

Nothing for Hunt as suspected for the Haas tackle.

That’s the rigged NSWRL right there. If that Royce Hunts tackle is all legal and goes unnoticed, moron Annersley and his puppets are in for a lot of rough days ahead. Inept, corrupt & rigged comp. They’ll need to sacked years ago when that hound racing fcukhead in Vlando introduced 6 agains.

 

[Fozz]

Nothing for Hunt as suspected for the Haas tackle.

 

[beaseagull]

The point is that he had a good enough pass to play NRL when he was 17, it’s nothing new. He showed last night he was years off first grade. Yet there are people doing team lists for him to be in the side next week or saying he is better than Mozer.

I let people go nuts with there Bukowski is better than Mozer rants 95% of the time, despite not even remotely agreeing with it. This is not some I told you so moment this is a can we have an actual discussion about what happened conversation. He will be 21 before seasons end.


I saw more concerns than positives and what I’m saying is that really should be the point of discussion here rather than people jizzing themselves over his pass that could have given a 90 year old man who hasn’t gotten his **** up in 3 decades a stiffy when he was 17. Which has already been well established on here.

He hasn’t really been progressing in q-cup this season (albeit early and Wynnum dreadful), his coach at stages hasn’t had faith in him in reserve grade as well. A nearly 21 year old hooker shouldn’t look that out of his depth in defence and thrown around like a bean bag if he gets caught with the ball. That unfortunately doesn’t come down to nerves. The dropped ball and a couple of twitchy movements off the line, yeah nerves, and I am not remotely concerned or judging his game based off of those things.

Luckily for Cameron he will know that he has stuff to address, and he can now go work on it. But you don’t make up that much of a deficiency in a couple weeks and honestly not in a couple months either. He was a long way off the level required in defence unfortunately. But better for him to know that now, cause that is not as glaringly as obvious a thing in reserve grade at all. Back end of next year start of 28 is really where I see him being at a level to re-introduce to first grade with some opportunities. He has got the taste now, it’s time to go back to work and get to a level that’s required in these areas. And a part of that development is for him simply just filling out and gaining size, 100%.

Madge has shown he doesn’t give two shits about how good your pass is if you cannot get the defence right. Paix is our number one hooker right now. He doesn’t have a running game and his ruck ID and pass is worse than probably all our hookers. Cory’s work rate and defence though is the best in our hooking stocks (Walters is up there as well but probably can’t do it for 80 like Paixy).

You look at hookers that got there opportunities young and or similar ages the last few years. Mozer, De Silva, Pattie, Beni Ioleu, about a year older when he debuted which changes things but even Ryley Smith. Do I think Bukowski compares to them despite playing more reserve grade and having potentially more skills than all of them when getting there chance? I don’t unfortunately and that’s a glaring truth he has to face and go and work and focus on some things. Theres not many hookers at this age getting first grade and there are very few capable of being the complete package. This is by no means a suggestion Bukowski is off track or is a bust. But relative to the blokes that have gotten there goes at his age he’s a bit off the pace.

I think Cam is in a similar position to Coby at the minute. Coby lives off his kicking game in the same way that Cam lives off his passing game. Better than a lot of blokes in first grade at those two things but there games beyond that aren’t up to it. I do believe that Cam has far more dimensions to his game than Coby did in fairness but they both do have one skill that is far and away better than anything else they offer at this point. These are both skills that create a lot of value for teams but that can’t just be it.

But this also becomes two fold in that if the poor bloke had to go out and put one or two more efforts like that in over the next few weeks the lot of you would be off him. I think we need to be a bit more realistic with him is all I’m saying. It may come off as critical but I’m not here to sugar coat. We all know his upside. No point pretending there wasn’t a lot of downside on show tonight and a lot to work on.

I think you’re slightly overreacting here, it’s less Cam not being ready and more him just being in a patch of poor form right now. Wynnum are terrible right now, with a putrid team (they barely even have a halfback) and a shit coach who has no idea how to use his bench, and Cam suffers for it. His confidence is much lower than when he was scoring hatties in semi finals.

I’ve watched every senior game Bukkas has played, and there were moments last year where he genuinely was the best hooker in Cup and probably would’ve looked less out of place if he was called upon than he did last night. I do honestly think he has shown more skill than Blake has, and his ceiling is at the very least on par, if not higher. That's just one man's opinion though.

 

[Bronco94]

Xavier Willson is an absolute beast. I'd be keen to lock him up on a longer team deal. He's not Payne Haas but he can go a long way to replacing him.

Does some things in defence that Haas can’t do.

 

[Kaz]

You can tell the blokes who haven’t watched much Bukowski cause they are to busy creaming there pants over his pass to see how out of his depth he was.

He’ll get there one day but he looks a fair way away from first grade still unfortunately. Defence not remotely adequate unfortunately, and was thrown around if he ran it. He hasn’t been great in cup this year but nonetheless probably further away from first grade then I was expecting. I had a little more confidence he would be more reliable than he was. As long as Paix and Rogers are fit, he isn’t pickable imo.

Thanks you NRL guru.

I wait Madge signing you for your knowledge.

 

[Dexter]

Lets put it this way. It's a taste of first grade before the ideal period for a player his age and he performed to my expectations. I think too many people jumped on the hype train like they did with Mozer way too early. Let the lad develop. Yes he made mistakes and had a few issues in defense but he is raw and still developing physically and frankly that was a hell of a game to be chucked in considering the circumstances.

Just rewatched the game with a particular interest in Bukowski.
There was nothing wrong with his D.
Sure he doesn't smack blokes but he gets in front of the big boys and sticks. I think he had 2 missed tackles and 1 of those he got pushed off but stopped the Tigers player going forward.
He made some good legs tackles too.
Cam Smith played 110 years defending like that.
That was a high pressure 30 mins especially the last 10 and every pass was excellent which says something about his temperament.
I'm more than comfortable with him doing a job.