The telling difference between Broncos and Cowboys in 2018

[Super Freak]

The difference between Broncos and Cowboys in 2018

June 29, 2018

The repeated ability to produce match-winning clutch plays when the game is on the line has been a feature of Brisbane's surge into the top eight in 2018.

In contrast, the North Queensland Cowboys have consistently failed to put games to bed in tight matches.

If you were to look for a reason why the two Queensland powerhouse clubs have had such contrasting seasons then look no further than the massive gulf in that key area.

The reasons teams win and lose games are not down solely to what happens in the closing stages, but more often than not those moments determine which team claims the competition points. The Broncos have 18 points and the Cowboys, premiership favourites at the start of the season, just eight points after 15 rounds.

Brisbane’s eight wins have been by nine points or less. By comparison, eight of the Cowboys’ 11 defeats have been by 10 points or less.

What is so hard to fathom is the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Michael Morgan and Kyle Feldt have a history of being able to conjure up wins with decisive plays.

This year that ability has deserted the Cowboys. Coach Paul Green has scratched his head as to why but despite changing his line-up, they have not found their groove.

The Broncos have been well served by their energetic and youthful rising stars when games have hung in the balance. This season they have produced one winning play after another.

In round two in the 24-20 win over the Cowboys it was a massive defensive effort at the death by Tevita Pangai jnr to deflect prop Scott Bolton into the goalpost pad that proved decisive.

The following week Jamayne Isaako was Brisbane's "iceman", landing four penalties from four attempts and a field goal to snare a 9-7 golden point victory over the Wests Tigers.

It was a late Isaako penalty from wide out in normal time to level the scores that spoke volumes for the NRL rookie's ability to step up under pressure.

In the round-nine 22-20 victory over the Bulldogs, a rampaging Joe Ofahengaue scored under the posts to level the scores in the 74th minute. Right on full time- James Roberts demanded the ball, put up a towering bomb which eluded Canterbury and led to a penalty being awarded for a push in the back on Darius Boyd as he chased through.

A fortnight later with Brisbane trailing the Roosters 22-16 in the 73rd minute, Roberts scored a mesmerising 70m try out of nothing before Isaako weaved his way through tired defenders in the dying stages to seal the deal.

At Cronulla in round 15, winger Corey Oates break a 16-16 deadlock in the 69th minute with one of the great finishes in the corner that you will ever see.

And the Broncos' 24-20 round-eight win over the Rabbitohs in Sydney was memorable not so much for a clutch play at the end but for a 20-minute cameo by teenage giant Payne Haas in the second half. Haas entered the fray with the Broncos trailing but his energy and punch proved to be a lightning rod that electrified his teammates.

Contrast all of those key moments with the Cowboys' inability to ice the cake in similar circumstances. Johnathan Thurston served up a match-winning opportunity for Bolton on a plate in round two but the prop fluffed his lines.

The Cowboys led 19-18 in the final minute against the Rabbitohs in round 11 but conceded an 80th-minute penalty in front of the posts to lose. The following week they missed two field goal attempts late in the game against the Storm. Cameron Munster nailed his shot to give Melbourne a 7-6 victory.

The narrow round eight and round 10 losses to the Raiders and Wests Tigers respectively were examples of the Cowboys being well in the game but lacking mojo when it counted. They had an 87 per cent completion rate in the 22-12 loss to the Warriors in round five but their final-play options came up empty on many occasions.

Whether all these magic moments provided by the next generation of Broncos stars lead to the ultimate glory at the end of the season is yet to be decided. More will certainly be needed from halves Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima and the Broncos will also need to learn how to control and dominate a game from start to finish if they are to go deep into September.

But based on what we have seen, Brisbane's young guns will only gain more confidence from what they have already achieved when under the pump.

The Cowboys' finals hopes are already over and you can partly put that down to a lack of creativity, polish and energy when the game is on the line. That is from a team stacked with representative stars and NRL veterans.

Source: NRL.com

 

[Jedhead]

It's like the Cows tried to 'win it for JT' when he was out last year and in doing so are physically and mentally drained this year when he returned. The whole team seems to be down on energy. Losing a GF can scar a team for years.

 

[Mitchell_Broncos]

Karmas a bitch CowGirls

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

View attachment 3298

The difference between Broncos and Cowboys in 2018

June 29, 2018

The repeated ability to produce match-winning clutch plays when the game is on the line has been a feature of Brisbane's surge into the top eight in 2018.

In contrast, the North Queensland Cowboys have consistently failed to put games to bed in tight matches.

If you were to look for a reason why the two Queensland powerhouse clubs have had such contrasting seasons then look no further than the massive gulf in that key area.

The reasons teams win and lose games are not down solely to what happens in the closing stages, but more often than not those moments determine which team claims the competition points. The Broncos have 18 points and the Cowboys, premiership favourites at the start of the season, just eight points after 15 rounds.

Brisbane’s eight wins have been by nine points or less. By comparison, eight of the Cowboys’ 11 defeats have been by 10 points or less.

What is so hard to fathom is the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Michael Morgan and Kyle Feldt have a history of being able to conjure up wins with decisive plays.

This year that ability has deserted the Cowboys. Coach Paul Green has scratched his head as to why but despite changing his line-up, they have not found their groove.

The Broncos have been well served by their energetic and youthful rising stars when games have hung in the balance. This season they have produced one winning play after another.

In round two in the 24-20 win over the Cowboys it was a massive defensive effort at the death by Tevita Pangai jnr to deflect prop Scott Bolton into the goalpost pad that proved decisive.

The following week Jamayne Isaako was Brisbane's "iceman", landing four penalties from four attempts and a field goal to snare a 9-7 golden point victory over the Wests Tigers.

It was a late Isaako penalty from wide out in normal time to level the scores that spoke volumes for the NRL rookie's ability to step up under pressure.

In the round-nine 22-20 victory over the Bulldogs, a rampaging Joe Ofahengaue scored under the posts to level the scores in the 74th minute. Right on full time- James Roberts demanded the ball, put up a towering bomb which eluded Canterbury and led to a penalty being awarded for a push in the back on Darius Boyd as he chased through.

A fortnight later with Brisbane trailing the Roosters 22-16 in the 73rd minute, Roberts scored a mesmerising 70m try out of nothing before Isaako weaved his way through tired defenders in the dying stages to seal the deal.

At Cronulla in round 15, winger Corey Oates break a 16-16 deadlock in the 69th minute with one of the great finishes in the corner that you will ever see.

And the Broncos' 24-20 round-eight win over the Rabbitohs in Sydney was memorable not so much for a clutch play at the end but for a 20-minute cameo by teenage giant Payne Haas in the second half. Haas entered the fray with the Broncos trailing but his energy and punch proved to be a lightning rod that electrified his teammates.

Contrast all of those key moments with the Cowboys' inability to ice the cake in similar circumstances. Johnathan Thurston served up a match-winning opportunity for Bolton on a plate in round two but the prop fluffed his lines.

The Cowboys led 19-18 in the final minute against the Rabbitohs in round 11 but conceded an 80th-minute penalty in front of the posts to lose. The following week they missed two field goal attempts late in the game against the Storm. Cameron Munster nailed his shot to give Melbourne a 7-6 victory.

The narrow round eight and round 10 losses to the Raiders and Wests Tigers respectively were examples of the Cowboys being well in the game but lacking mojo when it counted. They had an 87 per cent completion rate in the 22-12 loss to the Warriors in round five but their final-play options came up empty on many occasions.

Whether all these magic moments provided by the next generation of Broncos stars lead to the ultimate glory at the end of the season is yet to be decided. More will certainly be needed from halves Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima and the Broncos will also need to learn how to control and dominate a game from start to finish if they are to go deep into September.

But based on what we have seen, Brisbane's young guns will only gain more confidence from what they have already achieved when under the pump.

The Cowboys' finals hopes are already over and you can partly put that down to a lack of creativity, polish and energy when the game is on the line. That is from a team stacked with representative stars and NRL veterans.

Source: NRL.com

I said it at the time and I’ll say it again. The run to the grand final was the worst thing to happen to the cowboys. It covered up a lot of massive cracks in the team. People forget they only made the finals because the dragons shit the bed massively (like they will do this year again, guaranteed to drop out the first week of the finals). The cowboys won something like 1 out of their last 6 games before the finals. They fluked it into the gf because no team took them seriously and they played with passion. The golden run has set them back years.
And if we complain about our recruitment/retention then imagine being a cowboys fan! Ponga and kikau let go for coote and lowe? Those 2 players were solid first graders in their day, at least our players were estabilished rep stars or had massive break out seasons to lean on.
I have to admit, I bought into the hype too about their premiership favouritism. One thing us league fans dont have, and its why bennett always has the last laugh, is patience “but this time its different”. We all rushed in with thinking the cowboys were unbeatable rather then looking at 3 or 4 weeks prior when they were so poor they didnt deserve to be in the top 15 teams never mind a gf..

 

[Sproj]

I said it at the time and I’ll say it again. The run to the grand final was the worst thing to happen to the cowboys. It covered up a lot of massive cracks in the team. People forget they only made the finals because the dragons shit the bed massively (like they will do this year again, guaranteed to drop out the first week of the finals). The cowboys won something like 1 out of their last 6 games before the finals. They fluked it into the gf because no team took them seriously and they played with passion. The golden run has set them back years.
And if we complain about our recruitment/retention then imagine being a cowboys fan! Ponga and kikau let go for coote and lowe? Those 2 players were solid first graders in their day, at least our players were estabilished rep stars or had massive break out seasons to lean on.
I have to admit, I bought into the hype too about their premiership favouritism. One thing us league fans dont have, and its why bennett always has the last laugh, is patience “but this time its different”. We all rushed in with thinking the cowboys were unbeatable rather then looking at 3 or 4 weeks prior when they were so poor they didnt deserve to be in the top 15 teams never mind a gf..

I mostly agree with you, I was caught up in the hype too.

Though I think one of the big cracks in the side is that there are too many veterans who now, clearly, have gone a year too long, even their legend of a halfback very sadly.

The Ponga decision seemed stupid from day 1, like the Broncs signing Bird to play kick and letting Arrow walk IF that was the case (I don’t know, hence the massive if but if it was the case, helps to understand the massive stuff up that was) and Kikau looked like he would be something but so do so many other young big guys.

Hindsight certainly looks a glaringly bad decision but not necessarily at the time. I also wonder how much Lowe’s regression is down to that neck injury, which causes me the same worry with Gillett. Plus, Lowe is a pretty good goal kicker.

I do agree they had a favourable run to the GF but everyone was just waiting in line to be beaten by Melbourne anyway, just a case of when. The Cows did really well to get there though and saying they got lucky, although true to an extent for sure, takes some deserved credit away from them.

Their problem has always been depth and now with such an old team, it getting exposed, regardless of injuries. In which case, letting go of your next genuine superstar you could build the side around in Ponga was just absolutely stupid, there are no excuses.

 

[holdzy]

I said it at the time and I’ll say it again. The run to the grand final was the worst thing to happen to the cowboys. It covered up a lot of massive cracks in the team. People forget they only made the finals because the dragons shit the bed massively (like they will do this year again, guaranteed to drop out the first week of the finals). The cowboys won something like 1 out of their last 6 games before the finals. They fluked it into the gf because no team took them seriously and they played with passion. The golden run has set them back years.
And if we complain about our recruitment/retention then imagine being a cowboys fan! Ponga and kikau let go for coote and lowe? Those 2 players were solid first graders in their day, at least our players were estabilished rep stars or had massive break out seasons to lean on.
I have to admit, I bought into the hype too about their premiership favouritism. One thing us league fans dont have, and its why bennett always has the last laugh, is patience “but this time its different”. We all rushed in with thinking the cowboys were unbeatable rather then looking at 3 or 4 weeks prior when they were so poor they didnt deserve to be in the top 15 teams never mind a gf..

Fair points but most of us expected that if you drop Thurston into that team, they become a lot more dangerous. This year though they basically dropped Thurston in and Morgan out - so the predicted natural ascent was set back. Would have to be a brave pick by anyone at the start of the year with Thurston coming back for his last season that they would be third last heading into the finals.

 

[BroncsFan]

I think the cows are just playing very strangely. It's like the reigns have been given back to JT but he's happy to sit back and let others take a more prominent role but no one is standing up.

Maybe JT's shoulder injury is hampering him too much and they should've handed the reigns to Morgan earlier in the year

 

[Cult]

The difference is we have one of the worst halfbacks in the game and they have Jonathan Thurston who is playing like he wants to be the worst halfback in the game.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

The difference is we have one of the worst halfbacks in the game and they have Jonathan Thurston who is playing like he wants to be the worst halfback in the game.

Why does that excuse them from retention/recruitment criticism?

First off, they have him in the team this year and it hasnt got them this years premiership so its obvious he went a year too long to everyone. Secondly, he wont be there from next year.... lets be honest, the difference is it isnt the broncos so they escape criticism

 

[cakeGG]

This is the real cowboys team. All those massive leg ups they got over the last 3 years aren't working anymore. Even if they have received the most penalties out of all clubs so far this season, they are still too shit this year to capitalise on them. Thurston owes the NRL a wooden spoon anyway for 2010 so hopefully he goes out with one this year. (Ffs Eels wake up.)

They can stay wooden spoon material for the next 10000000000 years. Their **** fan base deserve it.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

I mostly agree with you, I was caught up in the hype too.

Though I think one of the big cracks in the side is that there are too many veterans who now, clearly, have gone a year too long, even their legend of a halfback very sadly.

The Ponga decision seemed stupid from day 1, like the Broncs signing Bird to play kick and letting Arrow walk IF that was the case (I don’t know, hence the massive if but if it was the case, helps to understand the massive stuff up that was) and Kikau looked like he would be something but so do so many other young big guys.

Hindsight certainly looks a glaringly bad decision but not necessarily at the time. I also wonder how much Lowe’s regression is down to that neck injury, which causes me the same worry with Gillett. Plus, Lowe is a pretty good goal kicker.

I do agree they had a favourable run to the GF but everyone was just waiting in line to be beaten by Melbourne anyway, just a case of when. The Cows did really well to get there though and saying they got lucky, although true to an extent for sure, takes some deserved credit away from them.

Their problem has always been depth and now with such an old team, it getting exposed, regardless of injuries. In which case, letting go of your next genuine superstar you could build the side around in Ponga was just absolutely stupid, there are no excuses.

I think a terrible decision was the 10 year deal for taumololo. Dont get me wrong, the best forward in the game and an extrodinary talent... but, >4 year deals never work out and no matter how good a forward is, even taumololo, are what he brings worth more then a top level game winning spine player? I dont see taumololo calling for the ball in the 79th minute of a grand final with the scores tied, looking to kick a field goal or throw a miracle cut out ball. Also, as teams number up on him more and more will his game stay at the same level ($1.2 million + a season worth)?

 

[Morkel]

I think a terrible decision was the 10 year deal for taumololo. Dont get me wrong, the best forward in the game and an extrodinary talent... but, >4 year deals never work out and no matter how good a forward is, even taumololo, are what he brings worth more then a top level game winning spine player? I dont see taumololo calling for the ball in the 79th minute of a grand final with the scores tied, looking to kick a field goal or throw a miracle cut out ball. Also, as teams number up on him more and more will his game stay at the same level ($1.2 million + a season worth)?

To be fair, Taumalolo is quite often the only one capable of getting a team the field position or space for a 79th minute field goal or attacking raid.

I agree on the 10 year deal being a massive risk, but it's worked out pretty well for the Cowboys. He's performed exceptionally in the last 2-3 years and because he's young, he's not looking like slowing down for the next 5-7 years. It's big money per year, but I'd say they're more suffering by having someone like Scott being almost non-existent while being on massive money (they had to fight hard to stop him going to the Knights).