PRE-GAME Round 7 - Dragons vs Broncos

[I bleed Maroon]

I don't often think this, but this is one game where I am convinced we're going to destroy them

 

[Super Freak]

Copley vs Aitken, that's a match up I'm looking forward to.

A lot of people seem to have big wraps on Aitken.

Hopefully we can give Copley some room to move in this game, and we'll see how the kid handles it.

 

[Huge]

Seriously, the only games that the Dragons have looked decent in are their two most recent games., Newcastle and the depleted Dogs. I actually thought the Broncos would beat the Roosters by a good margin but the Roosters were really up for the challenge and surprised me. I have no doubt that the Dragons will be prepared and will be expecting a firestorm from us but knowing it's coming and stopping it are two totally different things.

Forget the Roosters as any sort of barometer or gauge, it is this mid tier game which will tell if we are serious contenders for 2015. If we don't win and are beaten by a healthy margin then we will have to think we are kidding ourselves . If we do win and win convincingly then I will be certain we are the real deal. This is our biggest test to date. It is also WBs biggest. I'm thinking WB will come up trumps.

 

[1910]

Broncos haven't won at Kogarah since 1998. The Tallis come back game.

 

[broncos4life]

Broncos haven't won at Kogarah since 1998. The Tallis come back game.

Do they not play at kogarah often? Because on the surface that seems odd seeing we have had the wood on them for some time

 

[rhino]

Big spiraling bombs and great chasers, test the young guys Nabuli and Aitken with high ball after high ball. No tyson so pack is a little down make sure we set the pace from word go.

 

[Big Pete]

Do they not play at kogarah often? Because on the surface that seems odd seeing we have had the wood on them for some time

Brisbane have only played there one other time, when they lost 11-4 in 2007. The game is remembered for Lockyer copping an incidental dangerous tackle that removed him from the rest of the game. For Brisbane, that was all she wrote as the Broncos succumbed to a very unlikely Dragons outfit very meekly.

To say it was disappointing would be an understatement. A week prior, Brisbane had put Newcastle to the sword, winning 71-6 and were odds on favourite to break their run of losses against an out of form Dragons.

Finally, the game marked the club debut of eventual premiership winning five eighth Jamie Soward.

 

[Renegade]

I remember that game, Soward had transferred midweek from the Roosters.

 

[1910]

I'm hoping Thaiday continues with his "enforcer" role and a few other forwards follow suit, and Milford does a lot more running with the ball from behind rather than in the line.

Our support play looks on the improve too. When Hunt went in for the winning try, he got the final pass from Gillett who ran around Hunt and followed him all the way to the line. Good to see.

That wasn't by design, Hunt turned him in to head to the posts to set for the field goal but Gillett came back and gave him the ball again.

 

[Mitch06]

Mike Cooper may be out with a Hamstring, waiting on scans.

 

[Foordy]

With Hodges a certain starter, i really hope that Copley stays in the centers and isn't pushed back to the wing.

 

[Super Freak]

I hope Copley replaces Reed.

He's had enough games to turn it around, and he still hasn't. I'm sick of them giving him chance after chance.

 

[Morkel]

I'd be happy with Hodges simply replacing Maranta and the rest of the backline staying as-is.

 

[Porthoz]

I'd be happy with Hodges simply replacing Maranta and the rest of the backline staying as-is.

Everyone knows how I feel about Maranta, so this couldn't be more honest...

No to Hodges at fullback. His defense and bomb defusing skills are probably the worst of all of our backline players. His infusion in attack works well, but please put someone back there with a semblance of a defense!

 

[Huge]

​nooooooooooooooooooo please noooooooooooo

I'd be happy with Hodges simply replacing Maranta and the rest of the backline staying as-is.

 

[K-Style]

Everyone knows how I feel about Maranta, so this couldn't be more honest...

No to Hodges at fullback. His defense and bomb defusing skills are probably the worst of all of our backline players. His infusion in attack works well, but please put someone back there with a semblance of a defense!

Agreed. Pretty sure Hodgo said in a postmatch recently that jumping for the highball was for the youngsters these days. I remember him trying to bend over to pick over a grubber kick when he last played fullback. It was a sad sight.

 

[rnabokov]

That wasn't by design, Hunt turned him in to head to the posts to set for the field goal but Gillett came back and gave him the ball again.

You are absolutely right about that.

However, What I liked was that Gillett ran around Hunt in support and stayed with him all the way, and Hunt threw a dummy to him which wouldn't have worked if Gillett wasn't there. No Gillett - no try for mine. RTS had Hunt lined up and there another defender there as well (who Hunt beat after dummying RTS to Gillett/

That is what good support play does. We need more of it

 

[Super Freak]

I hope we give Milford room to move.

Take a look at the 78th minute last week. Milford had a heap of room to move in, and he broke through the defense and got Broncos in the perfect position to set up for a field goal.

He nearly broke through a couple more times when he had room to move.