PRE-GAME [Round 8, 2022] Broncos vs Sharks

[McHunt]

It started with Pies. Unfortunately his ill-thought out 'burn the boats' strategy underpinned the further dismantling of a team that was moribund after the 2015 disaster instead of the start of the re-build.

As a result, KW had to start afresh and begin by totally rebuilding the very foundations of the club. Fortunate for us KW has been able to (largely) recreate the ingrained DNA of the original Broncos from memory. The only problem being that his memory recall is that of past player and therefore his recollection of what made the Broncos great will only go as far as culture and team spirit.

If we wish to see the re-build progress further we need to employ an assistant that knows the current game (whatever Vlandy says it is that week) and is able to convey those tactics to the team.

The changes in society, the overwhelming influence of individuality and social media means the player of today is 'naturally' inclined towards self-interest as opposed to a team ethos.

Any successful team in the 21st century will have at its core four players who are individually talented enough to work within a basic structure. They are called the spine for a reason. Without them the whole body of the team collapses.

Our re-build will be complete when we identify those four players and find a modern coach who knows how to stroke their egos to produce a team effort.

That's an interesting take. I think we've been in a rebuild since Alfie retired, with some pretty good teams and some all time greats, in between, but all the time rebuilding.

The societal culture change doesn't explain why the Storm has had a steady production line of top end talent, or why the Panthers are also running so hot. A lot of smack gets talked about the Pasifika factor, but that's right across the board and it's clearly not holding the Storm or Panthers back.

I think what our club has been lacking more than anything else is brains.

 

[McHunt]

Left vs Right has a lot to do with which hand they prefer to carry the ball in and which foot they like to step off .

Is Cobbo left or right footed ?
I have seen him place the ball on the ground with his right hand and play the ball with his left . A la Dane Gagai .

But that kick the other night for Kennedy to score was off his right boot ?

Selwyn is perfect where he is for now. Kevvie said so much. If he keeps maturing at the current rate, and builds his relationship with Kotoni and Adam, a lot of those almost tries are going to start piling up on the scoreboard.

 

[Jedhead]

That's an interesting take. I think we've been in a rebuild since Alfie retired, with some pretty good teams and some all time greats, in between, but all the time rebuilding.

The societal culture change doesn't explain why the Storm has had a steady production line of top end talent, or why the Panthers are also running so hot. A lot of smack gets talked about the Pasifika factor, but that's right across the board and it's clearly not holding the Storm or Panthers back.

I think what our club has been lacking more than anything else is brains.

When Alfie retired we still won premierships. The Storm has had a steady production line because they have had stability. They started off by transplanting the Broncos' blueprint and have managed to keep that going because they have owners/CEO's who do have the required nous to keep a good thing going. So yeh our club has lacked a brains trust, partly because of their owners.

 

[Tim K]

I've watched the latest game replay a few times and it is really becoming obvious how frustrated Oates is with Herbie continually stepping inside when there is a chance to set him up for an open run. As much as I love Herbie, his is definitely costing us try scoring opportunities on that left side.

Yep. You can see Oates visually frustrated on a couple of occasions.

 

[McHunt]

When Alfie retired we still won premierships. The Storm has had a steady production line because they have had stability. They started off by transplanting the Broncos' blueprint and have managed to keep that going because they have owners/CEO's who do have the required nous to keep a good thing going. So yeh our club has lacked a brains trust, partly because of their owners.

We have, but I've never been completely satisfied with a halves pairing since Langer/Walters. That's a long time between drinks.

 

[pagey]

When do you estimate the rebuild started, and when do you expect us to be ready?

when Kevvie started, we only a few more astute signings and i think we'll be close.

 

[McHunt]

I've watched the latest game replay a few times and it is really becoming obvious how frustrated Oates is with Herbie continually stepping inside when there is a chance to set him up for an open run. As much as I love Herbie, his is definitely costing us try scoring opportunities on that left side.

There's a bonkers theory in here that Herbie's role is to settle the ball to attract defenders over to the left so the ball can switch across to Selwyn's wing. In which case, might as well shift Payne and Patty to the centres. They might even get an offload away.

 

[McHunt]

when Kevvie started, we only a few more astute signings and i think we'll be close.

I would gladly like my hamburger today.

 

[Jedhead]

Of course our continued rebuild will take a massive hit next year when we have to contend with the turmoil caused by FIFA taking over our ground for a large part of the season to host the womens soccer world cup as well as the Dolphins coming into the comp.

 

[ZTop]

Didn't a couple of our tries to the right come off the back of us spreading it to the right and a quick herbie play the ball? Gamble mentioned it in his interview thats what they were trying to do, open up the one side of the field, which is intelligent.

Herbie needs to learn to pass sure, but it's not the end of the world he isn't, so please fucking stop bringing it up in every single thread, our right side defence is much more of a worry!

 

[McHunt]

Poetic justice: referee gets sent to the bin for being let down by the bunker.

 

[lynx000]

That's an interesting take. I think we've been in a rebuild since Alfie retired, with some pretty good teams and some all time greats, in between, but all the time rebuilding.

The societal culture change doesn't explain why the Storm has had a steady production line of top end talent, or why the Panthers are also running so hot. A lot of smack gets talked about the Pasifika factor, but that's right across the board and it's clearly not holding the Storm or Panthers back.

I think what our club has been lacking more than anything else is brains.

At all levels unfortunately. I have harped on this for years, but our succession planning has sucked since about 2000 and where we are at now is the net result of years of neglect and poor planning and a lack of due diligence in recruiting of both players and coaches.

 

[Dazza 92]

Herbie is our starting left side centre...for now.

Frankly theres no one else. I still think he can imporve but for continuity sake leave him there. I mean you cant swap him and Oates around.

No, if we are looking to the market to bring in a new number 1 (say its Walsh), then by the salary cap calculations, we would need to make a decision on Niu, Oates or Herbie as the one to make way for cap purposes.

So, if its Oates, then Herbie becomes the new left winger and gets paid accordingly.

Which means Nius now the new left centre?

So you'd have Walsh at the one, Herbie and Niu on the left and the rest as it is now?

That means its Oates on the way out; or its Herbie because he can get more coin elsewhere?

 

[Morkel]

There's a bonkers theory in here that Herbie's role is to settle the ball to attract defenders over to the left so the ball can switch across to Selwyn's wing. In which case, might as well shift Payne and Patty to the centres. They might even get an offload away.

You have your poopy pants on for some reason about this. I didn't say this was his role and I certainly didn't say it was his only function in the team. I said he had some great runs that scattered defenders that allowed us space on the other side.

 

[Jedhead]

You have your poopy pants on for some reason about this. I didn't say this was his role and I certainly didn't say it was his only function in the team. I said he had some great runs that scattered defenders that allowed us space on the other side.

And this observation has genuine merit. The best chance of scoring against organised defensive lines is to be able to quickly react to a broken structure. Harbie's runs are notorious for playing havoc with the oppositions set line up.

 

[Xzei]

Herbie is our starting left side centre...for now.

Frankly theres no one else. I still think he can imporve but for continuity sake leave him there. I mean you cant swap him and Oates around.

No, if we are looking to the market to bring in a new number 1 (say its Walsh), then by the salary cap calculations, we would need to make a decision on Niu, Oates or Herbie as the one to make way for cap purposes.

So, if its Oates, then Herbie becomes the new left winger and gets paid accordingly.

Which means Nius now the new left centre?

So you'd have Walsh at the one, Herbie and Niu on the left and the rest as it is now?

That means its Oates on the way out; or its Herbie because he can get more coin elsewhere?

probably farnworth because he will be able to start at right center

 

[McHunt]

And this observation has genuine merit. The best chance of scoring against organised defensive lines is to be able to quickly react to a broken structure. Harbie's runs are notorious for playing havoc with the oppositions set line up.

You have your poopy pants on for some reason about this. I didn't say this was his role and I certainly didn't say it was his only function in the team. I said he had some great runs that scattered defenders that allowed us space on the other side.

Wasn't just you, actually, but now I remember you were the one who gave Herbie all the credit for stuff that happened on other side of the field.

Never mind him playing like a front rower, my pants are definitely piling up with poop over his unwillingness to share the ball with anyone else, and his 9/10 consistency in running away from support players rather than linking up with them. We all can see how much better we look as a team when our right centre does the opposite of that. We start piling up points rather than metres.

**** Herbie and all his metres gained by not giving the football to Corey Oates.

 

[Sproj]

Deine Mariner hopefully will be that long term option for us if Herbie leaves.

Of course but we need some options until he is ready, especially if Herbie leaves as expected.