PRE-GAME Round 8 - Warriors vs Broncos

[The Strapper]

If not 1 of Boyd,Milford,Oates, is dropped this week I'm done with this year.

I hope you mean just to the bench because that's the most I can see happening otherwise you will be done for the year.

 

[rnabokov]

This is why Milford was signed on big money. The big difference in these videos is other players are moving. That's why I've been defending Milford this year. When he gets the ball. No one else is there in support of moving.

The whole team is a rabble. Whoever the fullback is needs to be behind milford the entire game. Look at gutho. Has less talent than isaako or niu but so much bloody effort and always there in support. The try Wallace got at the end of the video, running hard onto the ball. None of our forwards do that.

I liked the way Niu did support some of our forwards given his inexperience, like following TPJ in that excellent edge play at the start where we nearly scored save for Niu's inexperience again in not throwing the dummy and walking over. Good signs from him. He has good instincts, central to a quality FB, but yes, get him supporting our halves a lot more.

 

[Ironbroncos]

Despite the Warriors in a bad place at the moment with Kearney gone and players supposedly thinking of going back to NZ..

they will beat us.

 

[rnabokov]

Man, the biggest difference between now and then is determination. I don't think he's that far removed from the player he was there in terms of footwork or speed, a lot of the tries he used to score were from pure desire to get to the line. If you put him in the same scenario now as most of those tries he'd just succumb to the first contact or crab across field and put in a kick. I really don't know why his mentality has turned to shit..

Probably because everyone else's has. It's a disease infecting the whole team
[automerge]1593312051[/automerge]

Despite the Warriors in a bad place at the moment with Kearney gone and players supposedly thinking of going back to NZ..

they will beat us.

If the Warriors win it will be only because we let them

 

[BroncsFan]

With Lodge injured (and needing to get fitness anyway) I'd be looking at going with the below.

1. Niu (seems to be the long term option so leave him there)
2. Herbie (left side... we lose out on his dummy half runs at center... I know he had like 11 runs against Titans, but I think most of those were in attacking positions with the opposition in his face. If he's playing left center then Isaako for left wing)

3. Isaako/Coates/Herbie?? (I don't know... whoever is earmarked to be left center get them in there)
4. Staggs
5. Coates / Isaako (I like Coates on the right wing... his aerial abilities are great, he's a big strong body for hit ups and his preference is right center so having him on right wing is useful for his development at this stage... In saying that we need to sort out left center so if he's moving to the left or Staggs is moving to the left (I wouldn't) then maybe it's best to get him over there now, but I think our defence is too fucked to put a relative rookie into that position)

6. Milford (sort your shit out Seibold and get him some ball in good positions)
7. Croft (still doing a job out there... not sure he is the problem at the moment)
8. TPJ (I think TPJ has played his best football in the middle, whether that's off the bench or starting. Yes he is a weapon on the edge, but just because he starts in the middle doesn't mean he can't drift out there at times in attack. His aggression in defence is also better utilised in the middle (i.e. his hits on Klemmer, Tmol, etc.). Him shooting out of the line from the edge when he doesn't even know how to defend out there in the first place is not good for an already dysfunctional defensive line)

9. Issac (might even be a better option than Turps... looks very smooth out of dummy half)
10. Haas
11. Glenn (Oates could be the longer term option if TPJ is moved into the middle)
12. Fifita (and put him on the right... he spent all his juniors on the right... he has a right arm carry and offload FFS)
13. Carrigan

14. Turps / Dearden / Paix (hooker relief... but I also think Turps could be a useful undersized middle forward in the same mold as BSmith and Jazz. Turps hits like a hammer in defence and had the stamina for 65 tackles (so that's not an issue). Him taking hit ups in the middle isn't great, but he supports through the middle on breaks and he could develop a sneaky little passing game based on his play as a halfback)

15 & 16. Lodge/Offa/Flegs/Kennedy/Teo/Bullemor (no one is really stepping up at the moment for the middle rotation... Lodge should be fine when he gets some fitness, but Offa and potentially Flegler need to trim down for the new rules. Kennedy didn't seem to be a liability in defence yesterday either, but can he be trusted for 40 minutes a game. Teo may be the modern style middle forward moving forward. Undersized, but has enough physicality to hold his own with the middle forwards; agile, aggressive and solid defence. Would need to pick up his stamina to be a permanent in the middle rotation)

17. Teo / Oates (move him to the 2nd row already... he may be a decent option on the left long term option if TPJ moves to the middle)

 

[McHunt]

 

[Accept]

Despite the Warriors in a bad place at the moment with Kearney gone and players supposedly thinking of going back to NZ..

they will beat us.

Two awful teams who are both a rabble for differing reasons and who are counting on each other to prop them up from the cellar. Flip a coin for this one.

 

[theshed]

I don't think pissing Croft off is any solution. For starters, neither he nor Milford can do much when the structures and shapes just aren't being implemented.

If you look at Croft's game, right at the start, when some optimism on my part appeared (briefly) he was set up TPJ with a nice pass as 1st receiver which led to TPJ dragging in 2 defenders and his offload put Niu into a hole, Niu who was following in support as a good FB ought to. Farnworth was out wide as was Coates. It was a good shape, it was quality edge play. We almost scored except for Niu's inexperience. It used TPJ's power on the edge to perfect effect.

Thing is, why didn't we replicate that throughout the game? That is what pisses me off. We do know what works but we don't do it enough.

Later, Croft put through a nice short kick behind the line for Herbie to score. Why only 1 kick for the whole game?

It's those things which frustrates me so much aside from our shitty defensive style. We have what it takes only we don't do it often enough.

Reminds me of how Croft kicked endlessly to Coates that one game like it was our only plan and then has barely done it again since.

 

[Thelmus]

So the rookie fullback had a 'solid' game and been named for a week again. I must have had my ignore-mediocrity glasses off when watching.
Bombed a try, shaky af under the high ball, a gift intercept try...I shudder to imagine the pages of comments shredding him to bits if his name had been Isaako.
FMD, fans have become just as tunnel visioned as our award winning rookie coach.

He has played one game starting on a losing side. I don't see the point of playing him at all if you are going to drop a spine player after one game.
He has to be allowed to make mistakes. That is the point of having a young team: that they will learn.
Id go with the following
1. Nui
2. Kennar (if staggs unfit, otherwise farnsworth
3. Staggs or farnsworth
4. Boyd
5. Coates
6. Dearden
7. Croft
8. Haas
9. Luke
10. Carrigan
11. Glenn
12. Oates
13. Offa
14. Paix
15. Kennedy
16. Tevita
17. Flegler
We need player who will work in defence. I'm not sure if Kennar is that kind of player but at this point I'm throwing the dice. We need direction in attack and Milford isn't giving it. I'm almost tempted to throw him on the bench but his defence is the concern, and whilst he has skill when in form and confidence there is none showing.
I expect dearden to struggle at 5/8 but you don't pick halves for a single game, and I hope he will grow with the experience.
I want our experienced players to lead. I've thrown offa into that kind of role and want carrigan playing in the role that suits him best. Likewise I expect to give this team direction. Boyd to organise the defence whilst but learns his role. But if those players fail, Milford can attempt to redeem himself, flegler can come in for offs, Isaako for Kennar or Boyd etc.
In short I want players accountable. Milford and recite pay the price this week (not just for form, but a failure of leadership), but others to follow, unless we turn it around.
Beyond some kicking drills, I'd concentrate on defence between here and the next game.
Note this team probably won't win but it's not about that. It's about putting the pieces in for the seasons to come. Dearden and But are the beginning.

 

[BroncsFan]

View attachment 8358

Was this the same as Fifita??

Also on Fifita who the **** decided it was a good idea to send him in for surgery after the lockdown.

Everyone knew that the comp continuing on for round 3 was dicey at best... I believe they said he picked it up in Round 1, so they should've seen the writing on the wall after round 2 was without crowds and booked him in for surgery as soon as the comp was called off.

I think elective surgery was still possible at that stage and he would've been able to rehab through the shut down period.

 

[WASSHHH]

A key issue this. Who is calling the plays out there, in the middle, where it counts? Who's job is it. Given that we so often have " ... a forward standing, passed the ball then runs." nobody is calling any plays.

Usually, it is the hooker, like Smith. You build a structure around a key organiser. Maybe Luke needs to be given that role. I dunno. Back to that old chestnut - we need a game manager, a leader in the middle calling the plays, and we don't have one. I can't see it being Croft or Dearden - too young and inexperienced trying to sort out a dog's breakfast. Milford isn't a game manager - never was or will be. A core issue for mine that needs sorting.

I actually think in 1-2 weeks time, Luke will be the one guiding the attack around the park, which will probably make our underperforming, misfiring halves job a bit easier (there were definitely glimpses last night).

Of course, Seibold will then drop Luke for Turpin and shit will start to unravel again.

 

[rnabokov]

I actually think in 1-2 weeks time, Luke will be the one guiding the attack around the park, which will probably make our underperforming, misfiring halves job a bit easier (there were definitely glimpses last night).

Of course, Seibold will then drop Luke for Turpin and shit will start to unravel again.

THIS.

For mine, this can't happen soon enough. I reckon it is the root cause of our mentality of failure on the park. When the chips are down, we have nobody out there in the middle where it counts, organizing and inspiring. Our shapes and structures, such as they are go to shit and nothing gets done to fix them. Players drop their heads, their shoulders and just give up. Glenn tries hard but he is not in the middle. Maybe put him at lock, away from the edges to help, however it is a key playmaker who has to lead, as does Smith.

Until that happens, nobody can fix this mess OTHER than getting the defensive pattern to change immediately, with the line moving up ata rate of knots to suffocate the opposition's forwards and their play makers. We give the opposition way too much room to organise and implement attacking plays. We know this, and that is on Seibold, as much as it is to get some leadership happening in the middle.

 

[Aldo]

I think the bye would put up more fight than us at the moment. Warriors by 10.

 

[Big Pete]

Ofahengaue set to miss three weeks for his shot on Lisone late in the game.

Doesn't look good.

 

[Old Mate]

Yep, we get a **** suspended every game.

 

[Locky’s Left Boot]

His kicking game is excellent though. Right on target, in the hands of the opposition player, every time. Except that out on the full, very out of character.

I’m trying to work out why the Storm of all teams labelled him a Cooper Cronk in waiting. Or maybe it was the media? I can’t remember. It it wouldn’t surprise me.

 

[WASSHHH]

THIS.

For mine, this can't happen soon enough. I reckon it is the root cause of our mentality of failure on the park. When the chips are down, we have nobody out there in the middle where it counts, organizing and inspiring. Our shapes and structures, such as they are go to shit and nothing gets done to fix them. Players drop their heads, their shoulders and just give up. Glenn tries hard but he is not in the middle. Maybe put him at lock, away from the edges to help, however it is a key playmaker who has to lead, as does Smith.

Until that happens, nobody can fix this mess OTHER than getting the defensive pattern to change immediately, with the line moving up ata rate of knots to suffocate the opposition's forwards and their play makers. We give the opposition way too much room to organise and implement attacking plays. We know this, and that is on Seibold, as much as it is to get some leadership happening in the middle.

I was actually impressed with how Glenn tried to inspire the team with his defence, but you’re right, unless the other blokes buy into it (which Darius did, albeit too late in the game to actually matter), there is little else he can do.

I don’t know that Luke is the saviour (and boy, that’d be unfair to expect of him seeing he’s only been here 2 weeks), but I saw enough last night to know that he is going to threaten out of 9 and create chances for others with his experience.

If nothing else, next week I would like to see a game plan based around having bodies (not just one bloke) running off or in support of him (and on both sides of the ruck). He is clever, coy and cunning enough to recognise chances and experienced enough to make the right choice more often than not.

Honestly, as far as game plans go, they don’t get much simpler than that, so surely we can execute it. Shit, if it works, after 50 or so, we could even start going a bit wider as their middle defence gets fatigued and torn apart.

 

[Accept]

Ofengahue gone for two weeks.