PRE-GAME Round 7 - Broncos vs Storm

[Morepudding]

I’m not knocking Bird’s performance at all, but how much of Saturday was down to Bird being a better fit, and how much was it down to the field position and momentum we had?

It seemed to me to be an Origin I vs II thing, where Milford had limited opportunities behind a beaten pack in Game I, but Munster had a blinder in Game II when Smith pulled his finger out and orchestrated momentum.

Would Nikorima have looked better than he has been in Bird’s place on the weekend?

My argument to this would be that we had more momentum because he didnt let the opposition make a half break everytime they ran at him... Nikorima and our right edge defence has been a large part of why we have been under pressure. Gillett was playing busted and missing tackles and Nikorima is just too small.

 

[Morkel]

My argument to this would be that we had more momentum because he didnt let the opposition make a half break everytime they ran at him... Nikorima and our right edge defence has been a large part of why we have been under pressure. Gillett was playing busted and missing tackles and Nikorima is just too small.

Fair point.

 

[Maroon4life]

It won’t say shit about him. Wayne has done the opposite of what he has told the media countless times. How can you have followed any of his career and not realise this?

So his thing is to say one thing and do the opposite?

That’s a backflip, Wayne’s held to the same accountability as everyone else, leaving bird as #6 is a backflip, it’s the right decision though, he’s allowed to get it wrong.

 

[lynx000]

I think it is an absolute no brainer that you pick Bird at 5/8 this week. What is more, you have quiet words in his ear all week, that it is his job to make sure that every time Munster gets the ball somewhere near him, to smash him as hard as he legally can. Ditto for Smith.

 

[broncos4life]

So his thing is to say one thing and do the opposite?

That’s a backflip, Wayne’s held to the same accountability as everyone else, leaving bird as #6 is a backflip, it’s the right decision though, he’s allowed to get it wrong.

He has done it many times, he doesn't give a **** what he tells the media.

Why do you even care? This smacks of trying to have a go at Bennett just because you don't like him. Honestly, after a good win I thought we could have a week off from this bullshit, apparently not.

 

[Maroon4life]

He has done it many times, he doesn't give a **** what he tells the media.

Why do you even care? This smacks of trying to have a go at Bennett just because you don't like him. Honestly, after a good win I thought we could have a week off from this bullshit, apparently not.

He comes out and backs an underperforming #7 guaranteeing himmthe spot for the season, I want too see if he sticks with him after a good win, will tell slot about him
As a coach and a person.

Personally I think he’s fucked up with such a statement and I’m
Sitting back waiting with anticipation.

 

[Jason Simmons]

So his thing is to say one thing and do the opposite?

That’s a backflip, Wayne’s held to the same accountability as everyone else, leaving bird as #6 is a backflip, it’s the right decision though, he’s allowed to get it wrong.

Wayne is not beyond admitting he is wrong. He admitted it was wrong to put Sammi in at hooker, post Dragons match as the most recent example I can think of. I’m sure there are plenty others.

 

[Hammerman47]

I hope Bird plays at 6 and C Smith has an off day... cos that sneaky bastard will find any weakness in birds game and exploit the crap out of it.... but if the forward aim up again this week...Bird and Milf click some more and C Oates is fit we may just pull off a great win..... I hope... praise the lord and pass the moonshine.

 

[Super Freak]

I wish I could be confident for this game. I really do. But I've been hurt too many times by this fucking Melbourne side to believe. Even when it looked like we would win, they just find a way. They always do at Suncorp.

Surely we are due for a win, though? Surely. It's been 9 years since our last win against them. 9 years.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

The lack of Cronk may be the difference this time.

 

[broncos4life]

He comes out and backs an underperforming #7 guaranteeing himmthe spot for the season, I want too see if he sticks with him after a good win, will tell slot about him
As a coach and a person.

Personally I think he’s fucked up with such a statement and I’m
Sitting back waiting with anticipation.

He publicly backed him to show support and try and give him confidence. Which ever way Bennett goes it won’t show anything about him.

 

[Super Freak]

The lack of Cronk may be the difference this time.

I would like to think that, but then I saw how easily they dominated the Knights.

If Croft was still in the team, I would be more confident. But they dropped him. Then they brought in Jacks and boom. Melbourne were back to their 2017 form.

 

[scobie]

I think it is an absolute no brainer that you pick Bird at 5/8 this week. What is more, you have quiet words in his ear all week, that it is his job to make sure that every time Munster gets the ball somewhere near him, to smash him as hard as he legally can. Ditto for Smith.

Why only legally?

 

[Brotherdu]

I haven't looked at the stats, so I could be off the mark here, but I think a lot comes down to the defensive capabilities of Bird and Nico which made a difference last week, not necessarily the attack. Nico puts the defenders on either side of him under pressure because he can't hold his own in 1 on 1 tackles against the big men and it's not his fault, it's just physics. Due to this, there are more gaps because other players are trying to cover for him. That lack of confidence causes uncertainty and leads to poor decision making.

Bird didn't have a blinder in attack last week, he just wasn't a liability in defence and our whole defensive unit looked better even though the Warriors forwards started on fire.

I'm not saying this is the sole reason for the win, we obviously went over there with the right attitude, but Nico lining up with Sua (new and still learning) has a whole different feel to it that of Bird and Sua. I know who I'd prefer to be facing the Storm pack who are still pretty huge.

To my uneducated eyes, let Bird keep it simple, defend well, play direct when he has the ball, feed Jimmy the ball early and let Milf chime in at the end of sets and be creative/kick. Bird seems like a a bigger personality than Nico and Milf and is in his element demanding the ball and bossing people around. It doesn't seem to be natural for either Milf or Nico, so let Milf do his thing and over-ride calls when he sees an off the cuff play pop up.

I don't mind Nico on the bench either, i think he offers more that Sims. I know Macca is an 80 minute player, but is it an option for him to cover Moose when he goes off for a short breather and Nico comes on for a burst at dummy half at the end of the half? You then have backs cover in that if push comes to shove, Bird can move to Centre/Wing/FB and Nico can go back to Half.

 

[BroncsFan]

I haven't looked at the stats, so I could be off the mark here, but I think a lot comes down to the defensive capabilities of Bird and Nico which made a difference last week, not necessarily the attack. Nico puts the defenders on either side of him under pressure because he can't hold his own in 1 on 1 tackles against the big men and it's not his fault, it's just physics. Due to this, there are more gaps because other players are trying to cover for him. That lack of confidence causes uncertainty and leads to poor decision making.

Bird didn't have a blinder in attack last week, he just wasn't a liability in defence and our whole defensive unit looked better even though the Warriors forwards started on fire.

I'm not saying this is the sole reason for the win, we obviously went over there with the right attitude, but Nico lining up with Sua (new and still learning) has a whole different feel to it that of Bird and Sua. I know who I'd prefer to be facing the Storm pack who are still pretty huge.

To my uneducated eyes, let Bird keep it simple, defend well, play direct when he has the ball, feed Jimmy the ball early and let Milf chime in at the end of sets and be creative/kick. Bird seems like a a bigger personality than Nico and Milf and is in his element demanding the ball and bossing people around. It doesn't seem to be natural for either Milf or Nico, so let Milf do his thing and over-ride calls when he sees an off the cuff play pop up.

I don't mind Nico on the bench either, i think he offers more that Sims. I know Macca is an 80 minute player, but is it an option for him to cover Moose when he goes off for a short breather and Nico comes on for a burst at dummy half at the end of the half? You then have backs cover in that if push comes to shove, Bird can move to Centre/Wing/FB and Nico can go back to Half.

Like it all and think your call for Macca to lock while McGuire is off is a good one.

That 4th bench player is getting 10-20 mins a game and is barely recognizable whereas Niko could score a try in that same time whilst macca holds his own in the middle

 

[Unbreakable]

Good News On Lodge Injury

Author
broncos.com.au
Timestamp
Tue 17 Apr 2018, 09:22 AM

THE Broncos have received some positive news on the rib injury Matt Lodge suffered against the Warriors on the weekend.
As was first diagnosed by Broncos' medical staff, scans taken yesterday have confirmed he does not have any fractures in his ribs, and it is indeed a rib cartiliage injury.
It means discomfort will be the biggest issue for Lodge, who is judged a chance of playing against the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium this Friday night.
“It is a cartiliage injury, so he has damaged the cartiliage where the ribs join,” said Broncos’ High Performance Manager Jeremy Hickmans.

“He will not be able to train much this week, so we will manage him through some sessions and just see how it goes.
“If he can handle the discomfort, he is a good chance of playing against the Storm.”
Kodi Nikorima is expected to return to the Broncos’ squad when it is named this afternoon after overcoming the effects of a corked thigh suffered against the Titans in round four.

Source: https://www.broncos.com.au/news/2018/04/17/good-news-on-lodge-injury/

 

[Morkel]

Rib cartilage injuries hurt like a motherfuck. He'll need to be needled up if he's going to play. He'll be in agony for a few days after (as he likely has been this week), but the way he came back on against the Warriors makes me think he can tough it out.

 

[Sproj]

Rib cartilage injuries hurt like a motherfuck. He'll need to be needled up if he's going to play. He'll be in agony for a few days after (as he likely has been this week), but the way he came back on against the Warriors makes me think he can tough it out.

Yeah I'll say. See Sims should look at that and feel ashamed. Lodge goes back out with an extremely painful injury and still bends the line left, right and centre. Sims goes back out and drops off tackles, walks back into the defensive line and drops like a sack of potatoes when hit.