POST GAME Round 9 - Broncos vs Bulldogs

[Super Freak]

When he slipped over to miss that ball, that's understandable given the turf. But what happened next was very telling:
Our CAPTAIN, our leader and one of our most experienced players put his head down into the turf and looked defeated. He didn't secure the ball, he didn't look to make sure no dogs players picked it up, he just laid there broken in defeat while a dogs player picks it up and scoots 30m for them to score. A mistake is tolerable - that sort of attitude from our captain is inexcusable.

He tried to secure the ball.. The front on angle showed that. He made a second effort after losing it and wasn't able to secure it.

 

[HarryAllan7]

He tried to secure the ball.. The front on angle showed that. He made a second effort after losing it and wasn't able to secure it.

Looked to me like a half hearted attempt after which he did nothing. He didn't have his head up looking for the ball or for who picked it up... he could have possibly grabbed an ankle or done something to prevent dogs running away with the ball.

And even despite all that, if he did try but failed, lying there with his head down looking deflated isn't how a leader or captain reacts to a mistake, in my opinion.

 

[Mitchell_Broncos]

Haas to be not playing 2-4 weeks ankle injury, Glenn and bird to be fit to play next week

 

[GCBRONCO]

Dean Pay blaming the refs for the loss.

Dogs had plenty of opportunities to win that game, infact I think at times when they took the 2 instead of testing our defence they really let us off. Stupid mistakes proved costly for both teams, Boyd was never going to score that try but that doesn't mean you can willingly take out a player contesting the ball especially when you have no intentions of contesting it yourself, if I was Pay I would be furious at my players for letting a rare win opportunity slip so easily.

 

[Painin the Haas]

Every time I have heard this I have scoffed but maybe Roberts at fullback isn’t the worst idea, perhaps while we work it up the field. You want him supporting in the middle, chasing kicks and not just the ones going down the right side. He’s doing nothing wrong he’s doing a centres job but is under-utilised

Boyd in defence and on the opposition tryline is still the way to go

 

[Super Freak]

Looked to me like a half hearted attempt after which he did nothing. He didn't have his head up looking for the ball or for who picked it up... he could have possibly grabbed an ankle or done something to prevent dogs running away with the ball.

And even despite all that, if he did try but failed, lying there with his head down looking deflated isn't how a leader or captain reacts to a mistake, in my opinion.

He also tried to grab the ankle of Montoya, which is shown on the front on angle, but by then Montoya was too far away from him.

He could have tried it a bit earlier, but he wasn't able to due to a Bulldogs coming over the top of him preventing him from doing so.

There was nothing else he could have done. If he wasn't making any effort, he wouldn't have been there in the first place.

 

[PerthBrissy987]

Haas gone for 2-4 weeks with ankle sprain
Bird and Glenn free to play next week

 

[BroncsFan]

Similar to my comment before, Because we have usually had several superstar players, the points get split. It's 3,2,1 points per game each week. Back in Locky's day you'd have Locky, Walters, Webke, Petro, Carrol, Thorn etc all in the same team. Very hard to win because points are shared between them.

Thats why they have golden boot etc. Which I think is usually actually given to the best player. To which he has 2 or 3 (at least one for fullback and 5/8th)

Exactly which is why I don't consider it to be representative of the best player just best player at carrying their team all year.

Golden boot is far more prestigious but gets little recognition in the face of the dally m. Hell I'd suggest the RLPA player of the year to be more prestigious as it is based on your peers.

 

[Kimlo]

Jeez that was hard to watch.

The biggest takeaway from that game for me was the glaring problem with Boyd - he's not right.. Physically, mentally or both.

When he slipped over to miss that ball, that's understandable given the turf. But what happened next was very telling:
Our CAPTAIN, our leader and one of our most experienced players put his head down into the turf and looked defeated. He didn't secure the ball, he didn't look to make sure no dogs players picked it up, he just laid there broken in defeat while a dogs player picks it up and scoots 30m for them to score. A mistake is tolerable - that sort of attitude from our captain is inexcusable.

Then, for the entire second half he was scared of the ball. We see good fullbacks playing confidently attacking kicks on the full or picking them up after one bounce and bringing them back hard to start the set off on the front foot. Every kick which went near Boyd in the second half, he let it bounce multiple times more than he had to - unwilling to make a play at the ball and looking pretty terrified. It was frankly pretty embarrassing.

The bloke is playing with no confidence, no hunger and no drive. I'm not sure the issue but it's extremely worrying behaviour from our captain.

I don't think you can say no hunger, he regularly rushes up out of the line to make a good tackle, is often first there on kick chases, and his penalty to win the game, he was literally the only player who chased that ball. If he didn't make that effort, it goes to golden point, and who knows if we win it.

I think he's seriously down on confidence, and it's affecting him in a big way, but I also think he'll come good. You don't win two premierships at two different clubs and have the greatest coach in the game back you if you don't have the right attitude to playing.

His form has been concerning this year, but I think he'll get back to his best soon. He turns 31 this year, and it's been mentioned many times how good is he as taking care of himself physically. I don't believe he's physically past it, I think it's all mental, and I believe (or at least hope) he will overcome his mental demons soon and get back to his best, because we need him at his best if we're to be a threat in this competition. We have a lot of fullbacks, but none of them come close to what Boyd at his best can give the team.

 

[Accept]

Why dont we put Sam Scarlett in? or even troy dargan or todd? why did we buy Troy if we arent going to use him

Because those guys have zero NRL experience. Bennett never throws a first gamer into the spine for obvious reasons. The players you mentioned have to do their apprenticeship via a dummy half utility role off the bench.

 

[Accept]

Dean Pay blaming the refs for the loss.

He can see his brief coaching career flashing before his eyes. The hounds are circling.

 

[big k]

Anyone else picked up on the anti-broncos theme to the dally m awards?
Yes we haven't been in form as a team but TPJ has been MoM or close to for 4 matches this year. There are 6 players from worse performing teams ahead of him at the moment (unless last nights game changed that).

The dally m is a joke. I remember in 15 when Ben Hunt was the highest scoring halfback easily and in line to win the big award right down to the wire and they awarded DCE I think it was the halfback of the year over him.

 

[BroncsFan]

Anyone think Wayne will stick with Bird at 7 next week after last nights antics? and barely no touches of the ball

Apparently Bird wasn't hooked just injured and won't play next week.

Might be a good time to give him a couple weeks on the sidelines to sort out the sternum and figure out where the **** he's going to play.

Need to simplify his game considerably. Chuck him in the centres where he's comfortable (albeit left not being his favoured) tell him to focus on defence, kick chase and taking hit ups. Up his workload without increasing the pressure let him settle in and then start expanding his role.

 

[BroncsFan]

Has anyone ever floated the idea of Roberts at 5/8 ? Steady now, before you jump down my throat about him needing space etc he appears to have a reasonable pass and I'm certain last nights winning kick isn't the first time I've seen his kicking game. Jimmy does seem to have a 'footie brain' and defensively I think he could cope.

I'm just putting it up for discussion, I'm not saying we should do it OR that it's a great idea.

If you hate the idea or have a hundred reasons why no could you list them.

Just not sure his vision and playmaking is up to scratch.

Last night RFM was sooo slow covering any spread to Roberts side of the field and was leaving gaping holes that Roberts should've been exploiting, but he either didn't see it or didn't identify that the play was on.

There was one where he had Sua trailing on his inside and he would've burst through the line but he went to the outside and put himself and Isaako under pressure.

That says to me that he would struggle to identify playmaking opportunities for his surrounding men which is half the battle for a half otherwise defence knows you're going to run 95% of the time.

 

[Super Freak]

Have we ever had a dally m winner??

The fact Lockyer never won one kind of makes it a bit of a farce in my eyes as he's a future immortal and one of the best players to ever lace on the boots.... but they trot out the old because he's surrounded by players who were taking his votes.

Shouldn't the award go to the best player of the year not the player best at carrying their team

Allan Langer in 1996.

That's it.

 

[Alec]

Anyone think Wayne will stick with Bird at 7 next week after last nights antics? and barely no touches of the ball

Probably, it's not like Nikorima was particularly better. I doubt Bennett will bring through any of the rookies either.

 

[BroncsFan]

Allan Langer in 1996.

That's it.

Then super league happened and we haven't had a look in since. Haven't even come close IIRC

 

[PerthBrissy987]

After last nights performance