PRE-GAME Round 7 - Dragons vs Broncos

[Porthoz]

Just like stagg and lowrie right?

You must have me confused with someone else. But... that's not unusual.

Weren't you predicting Stagg & Lowrie to be in our 17 all season because Bennett only picks veterans who are good defensively?

That argument has sailed my friend.

No I wasn't, but nice try.

 

[M.B.88]

I worry about how much we love Hodges, Copley and Kahu as our centers.. What have they all got in common besides being better than reed in the role?

They're all injury prone. I therefore see the merit in working players up to it for later in the season. Rotating the roster around just as bennett is doing. You guys have to realise that depth players need to have a run now and again to stay on the pulse.. just like he's doing with the forwards, it's the squad who are working us up to the finals. Not just our best 17.

Great preparation for origin too. Get players used to paying for and with each other. Keep up the form and solidify or position on top.

 

[Splinter]

I'm curious as to why Bennett would bother with Oates on the bench when we have other options.

I thought this would have been the perfect time to bring back Joe. The Dragons forward pack is nothing special and I think he could actually do some damage.

He also provides cover for Hodges if the hammy doesn't stand up

 

[Foordy]

I worry about how much we love Hodges, Copley and Kahu as our centers.. What have they all got in common besides being better than reed in the role?

They're all injury prone. I therefore see the merit in working players up to it for later in the season. Rotating the roster around just as bennett is doing. You guys have to realise that depth players need to have a run now and again to stay on the pulse.. just like he's doing with the forwards, it's the squad who are working us up to the finals. Not just our best 17.

Great preparation for origin too. Get players used to paying for and with each other. Keep up the form and solidify or position on top.

Thats all well and good, but Reed has had plenty of games to work up to it for later in the season ... how about we give guys like Anderson, Nem or Drew a shot.

 

[theshed]

We're on a 5 game winning streak leasing into the origin period. Jack has been in all of the games, and we have 2 senior backs returning starting this week, seems unnecessary to blood players at the moment.

 

[Morkel]

Maybe Oates was chastised by Bennett for that poor read that Reed saved? If Vidot was dropped because he did it in a trial game (albeit that being the straw that broke the camels back) then maybe for consistency he had to teach Corey the "same lesson". Made easier by Copley being back, of course.

 

[Big Pete]

If anyone was to come back in, it would be Ofahengaue on the bench.

Bennett has made it clear that he's a project player, and rightfully so. I was surprised when he debuted, he still had a lot of areas that he needed to work on but Wayne gave him the nod because the other players simply weren't as good.

I don't think Molo is ready either. I watched Norths take on the Dolphins and Molo looked out on his feet and was exposed defensively. It wasn't an anomaly either, he's always looked a little sus, even in the trials and he's really going to have to step up if he wants to play first grade again.

So that doesn't leave Brisbane with many other options. Either they bring in one of these young guys, with Garbutt getting Wallace's spot or god forbid, Todd Lowrie gets into team as an experienced option.

Maybe Oates was chastised by Bennett for that poor read that Reed saved?

In the presser he did say something to the extent that he wasn't a real winger when he was talking about players stepping up and doing a job. Could be some weight to it.

 

[M.B.88]

Haha you know lowrie with feature during the origin period when Parker is our right? :P

 

[Foordy]

Haha you know lowrie with feature during the origin period when Parker is our right? :P

There is a good chance Lowrie will feature during the origin period ... And I'm not against that, with Parker, Thaiday Gillett and possibly McGuire missing from our pack, we will be seriously lacking in experience.

 

[1910]

If anyone was to come back in, it would be Ofahengaue on the bench.

Bennett has made it clear that he's a project player, and rightfully so. I was surprised when he debuted, he still had a lot of areas that he needed to work on but Wayne gave him the nod because the other players simply weren't as good.

I don't think Molo is ready either. I watched Norths take on the Dolphins and Molo looked out on his feet and was exposed defensively. It wasn't an anomaly either, he's always looked a little sus, even in the trials and he's really going to have to step up if he wants to play first grade again.

So that doesn't leave Brisbane with many other options. Either they bring in one of these young guys, with Garbutt getting Wallace's spot or god forbid, Todd Lowrie gets into team as an experienced option.



In the presser he did say something to the extent that he wasn't a real winger when he was talking about players stepping up and doing a job. Could be some weight to it.

Same thing happened this week; two tries straight up the middle past him.

 

[1910]

Interesting stat today; Dragons are ranked number one for goal line defence- a try every 25 attacking shots against them. Broncos are second a try every 20 attacking shots against them.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Interesting stat today; Dragons are ranked number one for goal line defence- a try every 25 attacking shots against them. Broncos are second a try every 20 attacking shots against them.

So in short, not many points on offer for either team on friday night

 

[Porthoz]

In the presser he did say something to the extent that he wasn't a real winger when he was talking about players stepping up and doing a job. Could be some weight to it.

Yes, I recall that.
At the time I didn't think of Oates and perceived it more as an indication he doesn't see Vidot as a winger, but that certainly would make sense.

 

[Mosyzlak]

So in short, not many points on offer for either team on friday night

Hoping we croos a few times, this will be my first game in attendance this year and just a 15 minute bus ride down the Princes Hwy from home. Never thought the Broncs would be playing in my backyard!

 

[1910]

So in short, not many points on offer for either team on friday night

Not attacking from 20m or less out.

 

[mitch222]

I reckon Hodges will certainly help with our attack within the 20
He knows when to make a play when its on. Maranta wasn't that good at getting quick balls away to the centre or winger on our sweep plays in the past two weeks.

 

[Huge]

Just looking back over the Saints results has made me think that they will not be as good defensively as it might appear. The first three teams they played averaged around 17 points against the Saints with two of them scoring twenty or more. The next two games they played Manly who have been terrible and Newcastle who had become a bit cocky and finally the Bulldogs , a team struggling to be cohesive.

We on the other hand are certainly looking better each week and I feel that if we avoid reading the press , something I know that WB and the senior men will be all over, we should overcome them early in the second half. I feel better about this game then I did about the Roosters but I am concerned with complacency. I want to see the complete performance, not necessarily error free but tough efficient Melbourne style professionalism.

 

[jarro65]

Nightingale will be a massive loss for them ... he starts/finishes a lot of their attacking plays, as well as saves his fair share of tries through freakish defence.

We should win this easily if we're switched on.