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

[Brotherdu]

I think this game will tell us a lot about where the team stands. We were able to compete well against the Panthers who are leading the comp. Same with the Roosters, who are a tier down. The Sharks have been really pretty to watch, they play really enjoyable attacking footy.

The Storm game and the Manly game last week where they faltered in the second half, but still won, show that they are not quite consistent enough to compete with the Panthers or Storm on a regular basis.

If we can snag a tough win or loss it shows that the team are heading in the right direction and will do our confidence and combinations a lot of good heading into a few easier match ups.

Make no mistakes, the Sharks are a really good team this year. A heavy loss, which is quite possible given the sharks attacking ability and our struggles with edge defence over the last few seasons could really set our confidence back.

I don't want to be a negative nancy, but let's be honest here, there have not been too many positives, nor consistency over the last few years.

The last time we strung 2+ wins together was round 1 and 2 this year (plus the last game last year). Before that it was round 1 and 2 of 2020. Consistency has not been a theme.

Of the common teams in the bottom of the ladder since 2020, the Bulldogs, Cowboys, Tigers, Warriors and Dragons we have very poor returns against anyone other than the Doggies.

7 wins and 8 losses. One 50+ point game put on us and once we were held to 0 points.

4 of the wins (and no losses) come against the Doggies, so take them out of the picture and we have 3 wins from 9 games against the literal bottom of the ladder.

Every time we go into those games, there is this expectation that we should win, but let's face it, there literally isn't an easy game, or game we should be expected to win outside of the Bulldogs. Those days are gone.

If we go further, there are another four 50+ scores and two time we have been held scoreless in the same time frame. The reading is even more pitiful if you look at 40+ scores put on us, but I won't do that to you.

Bottom line is, we had a win last week..... against our bunny the bulldogs. Odds are very much against another this week against a team on the rise.

We will know the team has turned the corner when we start winning games against the bottom half on a regular basis. Until then, make sure the fridge is stocked and lower your expectations.

I want this team to do well so badly, but this game might be one to watch on replay with less emotion. Otherwise I could be in for a terrible Friday and long weekend.

 

[Sproj]

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

Didn't like pre-drop Hunt and Milf?

 

[Jedhead]

I think this game will tell us a lot about where the team stands. We were able to compete well against the Panthers who are leading the comp. Same with the Roosters, who are a tier down. The Sharks have been really pretty to watch, they play really enjoyable attacking footy.

The Storm game and the Manly game last week where they faltered in the second half, but still won, show that they are not quite consistent enough to compete with the Panthers or Storm on a regular basis.

If we can snag a tough win or loss it shows that the team are heading in the right direction and will do our confidence and combinations a lot of good heading into a few easier match ups.

Make no mistakes, the Sharks are a really good team this year. A heavy loss, which is quite possible given the sharks attacking ability and our struggles with edge defence over the last few seasons could really set our confidence back.

I don't want to be a negative nancy, but let's be honest here, there have not been too many positives, nor consistency over the last few years.

The last time we strung 2+ wins together was round 1 and 2 this year (plus the last game last year). Before that it was round 1 and 2 of 2020. Consistency has not been a theme.

Of the common teams in the bottom of the ladder since 2020, the Bulldogs, Cowboys, Tigers, Warriors and Dragons we have very poor returns against anyone other than the Doggies.

7 wins and 8 losses. One 50+ point game put on us and once we were held to 0 points.

4 of the wins (and no losses) come against the Doggies, so take them out of the picture and we have 3 wins from 9 games against the literal bottom of the ladder.

Every time we go into those games, there is this expectation that we should win, but let's face it, there literally isn't an easy game, or game we should be expected to win outside of the Bulldogs. Those days are gone.

If we go further, there are another four 50+ scores and two time we have been held scoreless in the same time frame. The reading is even more pitiful if you look at 40+ scores put on us, but I won't do that to you.

Bottom line is, we had a win last week..... against our bunny the bulldogs. Odds are very much against another this week against a team on the rise.

We will know the team has turned the corner when we start winning games against the bottom half on a regular basis. Until then, make sure the fridge is stocked and lower your expectations.

I want this team to do well so badly, but this game might be one to watch on replay with less emotion. Otherwise I could be in for a terrible Friday and long weekend.

Just making sure you know it’s on Thursday?

 

[McHunt]

Didn't like pre-drop Hunt and Milf?

I did, but those early Milford years are such a blur now. We cycled through so many combinations of 6, 7 & 9 that all seemed promising. I was a fan of Kodi and Benji too but we never seemed to be able to settle on a combination.

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

I didn't think Hoeter was better or worse than Herbie. His stats from his one game against Penrith are actually better than Herbie's against the Dogs, for what that's worth.

We always have Origin centre Kurt Capewell. Could do worse. It's not like we'll be light in the pack when Carrigan, Willison and Piakura return.

 

[McHunt]

I think this game will tell us a lot about where the team stands. We were able to compete well against the Panthers who are leading the comp. Same with the Roosters, who are a tier down. The Sharks have been really pretty to watch, they play really enjoyable attacking footy.

Absolutely and I, for one, have no fucking clue whether we'll be able to match them. I'm alternating between optimistic and pessimistic, with no idea which is realistic. Been through this scenario too many times over the last few years.

Gamble is a bit of a wild card. I don't rate him at all, but he has a track record of playing out of his skin and upsetting the opposition's apple cart, every now and again. This could be the match his special sauce hits the spot.

That said, I will be more confident on our remaining season if it doesn't come off the back of Gamble's trademark chaos, but looks more like what we saw Reynold doing on the right extending to the left. We also need to see the Billy Walters who tore apart the Wynnum seconds.

 

[Brotherdu]

Just making sure you know it’s on Thursday?

Sure do, that's why I said 'terrible Friday'......day after Thursday last time I checked.

 

[Big Del]

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.

Maybe too much soccer as a kid ?
Beat the man in front then go for a trot . Think about passing later .

When I coached juniors I saw soccer kids who could step people like they were bollards but pass to their team mates , not so handy

 

[McHunt]

Maybe too much soccer as a kid ?
Beat the man in front then go for a trot . Think about passing later .

When I coached juniors I saw soccer kids who could step people like they were bollards but pass to their team mates , not so handy

Haven't seen as much stepping from Herbie lately either. Mostly he just seems to run towards the opposition defence and try to barge through. Like Payne. I liked more what I saw from TMM. Too early to get excited about him, but he and Selwyn are top of my watch list tomorrow night.

 

[theshed]

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?

For me there’s no decision to be had regarding Niu. He’s not an NRL player in any position.

 

[Kimlo]

I think this game will tell us a lot about where the team stands. We were able to compete well against the Panthers who are leading the comp.

I keep reading this, but do people on here actually believe that?

We got absolutely belted 40-12, that's not keeping up, that's getting embarrassed. We managed to go in at half-time 12-6, but that's not keeping up, that's just how the Panthers play, they grind you down, then smash you once you get tired.

Tesi try was individual brilliance by Staggs. Staggs try Reynolds actually exposed them running off the line and kicked behind, quality, except Cleary did that about 4 times to us in the second half.

Every try they scored they basically pulled us to pieces defensively and scored, or straight down the middle against embarrassing defence.

We got outclassed in every measure, we're about 15 leagues away from Penrith. Melbourne will also pull our pants down, keeping up for 30 minutes doesn't mean we're close, it means we're miles away.

When we take the good teams to the 70th minute with the game in the balance, I'll call that keeping up.

Roosters we absolutely do, but Roosters are not in the top tier class, we just have a knack of playing well against them and they seem to have off weeks pretty often.

 

[Brotherdu]

I keep reading this, but do people on here actually believe that?

We got absolutely belted 40-12, that's not keeping up, that's getting embarrassed. We managed to go in at half-time 12-6, but that's not keeping up, that's just how the Panthers play, they grind you down, then smash you once you get tired.

Tesi try was individual brilliance by Staggs. Staggs try Reynolds actually exposed them running off the line and kicked behind, quality, except Cleary did that about 4 times to us in the second half.

Every try they scored they basically pulled us to pieces defensively and scored, or straight down the middle against embarrassing defence.

We got outclassed in every measure, we're about 15 leagues away from Penrith. Melbourne will also pull our pants down, keeping up for 30 minutes doesn't mean we're close, it means we're miles away.

When we take the good teams to the 70th minute with the game in the balance, I'll call that keeping up.

Roosters we absolutely do, but Roosters are not in the top tier class, we just have a knack of playing well against them and they seem to have off weeks pretty often.

That is a good call.

I was alluding to the fact (poorly) that we were in the game....until we weren't. Either way, I think my overarching point is the same regardless.....we're a long way off and need to show we can win games against the bottom half teams with regularity before we can start hoping for wins against the top half.

 

[Sproj]

I keep reading this, but do people on here actually believe that?

We got absolutely belted 40-12, that's not keeping up, that's getting embarrassed. We managed to go in at half-time 12-6, but that's not keeping up, that's just how the Panthers play, they grind you down, then smash you once you get tired.

Tesi try was individual brilliance by Staggs. Staggs try Reynolds actually exposed them running off the line and kicked behind, quality, except Cleary did that about 4 times to us in the second half.

Every try they scored they basically pulled us to pieces defensively and scored, or straight down the middle against embarrassing defence.

We got outclassed in every measure, we're about 15 leagues away from Penrith. Melbourne will also pull our pants down, keeping up for 30 minutes doesn't mean we're close, it means we're miles away.

When we take the good teams to the 70th minute with the game in the balance, I'll call that keeping up.

Roosters we absolutely do, but Roosters are not in the top tier class, we just have a knack of playing well against them and they seem to have off weeks pretty often.

We are miles off Penrith and Melbourne but to be fair, almost every other team is also. A Parra or even someone else may pull out a random win here or there but the comp this year is a two horse race unless there are significant injuries to those two teams.

Given from how back we have come, this week is a good barometer of whether we are in the next group down or the next group after that...or dare I say it...still bottom 4.

 

[theshed]

We are miles off Penrith and Melbourne but to be fair, almost every other team is also. A Parra or even someone else may pull out a random win here or there but the comp this year is a two horse race unless there are significant injuries to those two teams.

Given from how back we have come, this week is a good barometer of whether we are in the next group down or the next group after that...or dare I say it...still bottom 4.

After a close few opening rounds the competition has absolutely become split between the good and the bad. Outside the top 4 (2 even) all other teams are struggling. There is absolutely a easy ride to the top 8 for any of the bottom teams who manage to put the hand up. I’m convinced it’s very doable looking at how poor most teams are. No excuses for not scraping in.

 

[Super Freak]

Gene Miles puts on a masterclass in the second half to destroy the Sharks.

This is one of those games where you see why Gene Miles was so highly rated and why he is regarded by many in the Rugby League community as one of the best players of that era.

 

[McHunt]

In case you missed it:

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Jamayne Isaako: Dropped from two straight sides.

 

[Santa]

Finucane and Graham back for the Sharks, and Hass touch and go to play. Hope the other forwards are ready to step up.

 

[kman]

Jamayne Isaako: Dropped from two straight sides.

Due to not being a quality fullback in the Nrl, he was always going to be dropped back to Qcup sooner rather than later. Yes Tesi hasn't been great and injuries have plagued him but he was the better choice of the two in my opinion.