Round 7 - Knights vs Broncos - Pre-Match Discussion

[noisetheory]

we already have a fullback.

we need a 6 and some structure.

 

[1910]

Oates high hamstring strain from Saturday.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Out of interest, what's the opposition to playing Copley at FB? Didn't he start his career as a FB before NRL level?

He is not a fullback and never has been. Seems stupid to try and turn him into a fullback.

 

[FaceOfMutiny]

@FaceOfMutiny, where you moving to?

London! My visa is approved I haven't told work yet though!

 

[Fighting Irish]

The next 3 weeks is so important for 2014. IMO, it will determine whether we make the Top 8 this year. I don't think this squad deserves to be bundled out in straight sets.

Here's our run from here into the crucial Origin period:

Knights (A)
Rabbitohs (H)
Cowboys (A)
Titans (H)
Tigers (A)

It's probably a softer run than some others. I'd be confident we can win 4/5 there.

Considering then we have then over Origin:

SOO 1/Sea Eagles (H) (Sunday)
Raiders (A)
Bye
SOO 2/Warriors (A) (Saturday)
Sharks (H)
Bye

Road trips to Canberra and Auckland without Origin stars.

Jagging 1 win out of that lot would be handy.

Run home:

SOO3/Panthers (A) -> (Monday)
Warriors (H)
Storm (H)
Sea Eagles (A)
Bulldogs (H)
Rabbitohs (A)
Knights (H)
Dragons (H)
Storm (A)

Storm twice, Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles away. There's 4 losses straight up. Warriors and Dragons, traditionally bogey sides at Suncorp and the Bulldogs are quality opposition as well.

3-4/9 would be a good achievement there.

That places us at 10 wins (plus 3 heading into round 7). 13 wins, 2 byes, 30 points should be enough to scrape into the 8.

But if we continue to blow games we've got sown up, then there's no chance. Heads will roll.

Milford thrown into a mess (probably renege), Barba down the Blake Ferguson route, Hodges last season, our ageing forwards anothe year older.... Bleh...

We will be lucky to win 1 game - don't ask me which one as we just may fluke a game but come end of round 11 we will be 4 and 7 and then its origin time so dumbo will rest all our SOO players so expect another 4 games gone and we will then be 4 and 15 - can you blame Milford if he doesn't come to us once he sees the rabble unfolding

 

[broncos4life]

We will be lucky to win 1 game - don't ask me which one as we just may fluke a game but come end of round 11 we will be 4 and 7 and then its origin time so dumbo will rest all our SOO players so expect another 4 games gone and we will then be 4 and 15 - can you blame Milford if he doesn't come to us once he sees the rabble unfolding

Is this the same definitive vision that you and others told us during the preseason that without doubt we would be 0-6 and hook would already be sacked

 

[Fighting Irish]

Yep and for the grace of God we actually fluked a couple of games but it will get worse I fear - so we all cannot be 100% correct all the time - ah anyway - you just stick with Hook and all your friends and all will be good - at least i putting some options and thoughts out there

 

[CaptainHook]

Is this the same definitive vision that you and others told us during the preseason that without doubt we would be 0-6 and hook would already be sacked

Fair enough, we've done better than expected. Do you think any of our wins have been convincing?

 

[CaptainHook]

and then its origin time so dumbo will rest all our SOO players so expect another 4 games gone and we will then be 4 and 15

Back in 2011, I was in favour of Griffin resting our Origin players. It was clear that he thought a lot about player welfare and wanted to do the right thing by them. I have since changed my mind after hearing Ben Ikin articulate on how if you give a professional athlete a reason for a poor performance (or to take the soft option) they will take it.

It made a lot of sense to me - by resting players it gives the team a reason(excuse) to lose. From now on, if players are declared fit after Origin they need to back up.

 

[broncos4life]

Do you reckon for the sake of discussion people could actually read people's posts? Instead of going "oh wow he's not typing in caps and saying griffin is a fucking retard so he must love him".

I have said I want hook gone, I have said we are going no where with him. I'm just sick of this Nostradamus bullshit where people assure us we won't win shit, and then when we do the just cast a further vision out there.

 

[CaptainHook]

I can understand that b4l. Don't get me wrong we've probably done better than expected and a win's a win and you can't argue with that. My point is if we played the Bulldogs right now, would we get a victory again? I dunno...

 

[Sproj]

Alternatively, if we played the roosters again right now, would we lose? I dunno.

 

[CaptainHook]

Well, we were the better side for 75 minutes or so, so maybe. But, I've been bleating on for a year or so here about wanting to see a quality 80 minute performance from the side but it doesn't seem to be that big of a deal.

 

[Cult]

Every team we have played have looked much worse the week after playing us. Except maybe the Eels. We've ruined the Cowboys, Dragons and Roosters this year.

 

[Fozz]

Griffin is infectious!

 

[Donald]

Thaiday charged by match review committe. Are they fucking serious..?

 

[Fozz]

So was Bailey for tripping Hodges. Idiot refs.

 

[Donald]

Yeah but Thaiday didn't even get charged for the lifting tackle which was bullshit anyway. He got charged for kneck pressure on Myles. That is a joke!!