POST GAME TRIAL 2: Broncos vs Titans

UPDATED TEAM LIST

Haas and James have been rested.

Titans v Broncos

Gold Coast Titans versus Brisbane Broncos match centre includes live scores and updates. Includes official live player and team stats. Run metres, fantasy points scoring.

www.nrl.com

All remaining trial games will be broadcast on Fox/Kayo. In QLD time:

Feb 19, 7pm: Broncos v Titans. Cbus Super Stadium, Robina
Feb 26, 8pm: Broncos v Cowboys. BB Print Stadium, Mackay

Other matches in AEDT. Subtract an hour for QLD:

6pm — Friday February 18: Roosters vs Raiders
8pm — Friday February 18: Tigers vs Sea Eagles
4pm — Saturday February 19: Storm vs Warriors
6pm — Saturday February 19: Rabbitohs vs Cowboys
4pm — Sunday February 20: Panthers vs Sharks
6pm — Sunday February 20: Eels vs Dragons
7pm — Monday February 21: Bulldogs vs Knights
6pm — Friday February 25: Sea Eagles vs Raiders
8pm — Friday February 25: Roosters vs Tigers
3pm — Saturday February 26: Warriors vs Titans
5pm — Saturday February 26: Panthers vs Eels
7pm — Saturday February 26: Rabbitohs vs Dragons
5.45pm — Sunday February 27: Storm vs Knights
7pm — Monday February 28: Sharks vs Bulldogs

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Going in to bat for my boy here.

We all know Paix is a good attacking dummy-half, but so far all I see him do is run. Haven’t seen him do anything else

He also shies away from defensive work. Now does that make him ‘smarter’ so he has energy to attack? Perhaps, but it also burdens forwards with doing that work so he has to keep that attack up for him hiding in defence to remain a net positive for the team.

Also, Paix had the fortune of coming on to the field against a third-string side or teams that have been worn down in the past in NRL.

Give him a season or two getting slogged for 80 and I think you’d find he’d end up in a similar situation to Jake, who was the same when he came in over Macca.

It’s funny how no one’s had a go at Paix for getting held up the first time. Guarantee if it was Jake he’d be drawn and quartered on here. Sure Paix did get over eventually - against a single marker in an 18yo defensive line with 5 mins to go in a trial. Any player could’ve scored that one.

No one praised Jake for his constant readiness for offloads and that shoelaces catch-and-pass but hey, people see what they want to see I guess

The last thing we need is another McCullough, and that is what Turpin is shaping up to be. Modern dummy halves ARE attacking weapons more-so defenders. If the forwards can't carry that weight defensively, that's on them, because the likes of Melbourne, Penrith and Sydney don't seem to have as much trouble with it.

 

[theshed]

Someone posted a post match interview with Kev that I can’t find anywhere now. Does anyone have a link please?

 

[Foordy]

Someone posted a post match interview with Kev that I can’t find anywhere now. Does anyone have a link please?

Brisbane Broncos

Kevin Walters talks to Fox Sports after his side's pre-season match against the Gold Coast Titans

www.nrl.com

 

[Johnny92]

Brenko has to be there. If we've learned anything from the last 2 years it's defence wins game and our defence sucks. We need someone like Brenko for his maturity and defence. Niu can stew in reserves for all I care.

1. Herbie
2. Pereira
3. Brenko
4. Staggs
5. Cobbo
6. Walters
7. Reno
9. Paix


Oates can also spend the year as injury depth then find a new club where he puts effort in before it's contract year.

This is the backline I'd go for.
Fullback is Herbie's position he played in the juniors, he doesn't need to ball play just support every play and get the sets rolling with good metres. He can be really damaging if he does these two things.
Brenko is a specialist centre and Jordan is a specialist winger, if you were to throw Mam in at 6 you'd feel confident with him defending between Capewell and Lee.
I'm not sure how much wing Cobbo has actually played but he's a talent, maybe even let him rove to get him more involved.

 

[1910]

then i have to ask if you've watched the trials because Billy and Mam have both done really good jobs.

Really good jobs is a stretch- Mam didn't kick and only made five tackles and missed two- he will be making 25 against backrowers that will want to destroy him in the NRL and will have to kick. He hasn't done the role of a 6 to NRL standard yet.

I said this all last year, just running and having fun is not NRL number 6- it's learning your role.

 

[nopatience101]

It was like a showbag; looked alright but when you delve deeper it was all broken and cheap.

 

[1910]

What part of cup is going to fix his defence. Nothing. You saw how atrocious it was last week and even in previous years. It might improve the slightest bit but if you seriously think he will be any better (/much better) in 12 months because of defending in cup your kidding yourself. I agree Billy should be 6 but your fucken kidding yourself if you think he will grow that much in cup. May as well chuck him in now and he would grow just as much in 5-10 games next to Capewell than he would a year in reserve grade. If Brenko gets the left centre spot I think you chuck him in and if not you go Billy.

He'd be another year older and physically developed and tackling men. Get his management of game skills up at a slower pace away from pressure and add other skills to his bag other than broken field running and running.

Smith played 28 ISC games and Mam is ready after 11- think about that.

 

[Justwin]

The last thing we need is another McCullough, and that is what Turpin is shaping up to be. Modern dummy halves ARE attacking weapons more-so defenders. If the forwards can't carry that weight defensively, that's on them, because the likes of Melbourne, Penrith and Sydney don't seem to have as much trouble with it.

It would be good to know the number of effective tackles made per game/season by the comps’ top tier hookers since the rule changes. If Turps is smashing out 45+ on average and smith, grant, cook, etc. are at 35 there could be something in it.

Defensive balance in the pack will obviously be different from team to team and there’s something motivating for everyone when they see their dummy snap a dude in half, though it would be interesting to see if there is a trend. From memory Turpin’s numbers were always very high, that may translate to a lack of spark/energy in attack.

The best hookers are probably those with the right balance of effective defence and sharp attack and an ability to adapt during the game rather than a constant heavy weighting either way. Not the case with Turpin.

 

[mstreet]

What part of cup is going to fix his defence. Nothing. You saw how atrocious it was last week and even in previous years. It might improve the slightest bit but if you seriously think he will be any better (/much better) in 12 months because of defending in cup your kidding yourself. I agree Billy should be 6 but your fucken kidding yourself if you think he will grow that much in cup. May as well chuck him in now and he would grow just as much in 5-10 games next to Capewell than he would a year in reserve grade. If Brenko gets the left centre spot I think you chuck him in and if not you go Billy.

Is this how you teach a kid to swim? Row him far out into the ocean. Throw him overboard, and in between the gulps for air, tell him dinner will be on the table.

Worked wonders for Seibold, White, and Nolan....

 

[Huge]

Well let’s hope he gets a chance in the final trial to do just that.

That said, I wouldn’t say Isaako has even gone close to demonstrating he can execute the link play. At the very least, Herbie has time to prove one way or another, whereas Isaako has had 5 seasons of first grade to show what he’s got and we’re still left wanting.

Aside from that time he threw the cutout pass to allow us to score. Oh, and the 200 metres he ran for the other night. Thought he played reasonably well. He'll be picked at 1 on merit and not by default. Of course, he might be the worst ever player but WB doesn't think so. What would he know of course.

 

[Skathen]

Of course, he might be the worst ever player but WB doesn't think so. What would he know of course.

Conversions are super important to Wayne. He'll probably pick him on that alone and park him on the wing.

 

[Allo]

It would be good to know the number of effective tackles made per game/season by the comps’ top tier hookers since the rule changes. If Turps is smashing out 45+ on average and smith, grant, cook, etc. are at 35 there could be something in it.

Defensive balance in the pack will obviously be different from team to team and there’s something motivating for everyone when they see their dummy snap a dude in half, though it would be interesting to see if there is a trend. From memory Turpin’s numbers were always very high, that may translate to a lack of spark/energy in attack.

The best hookers are probably those with the right balance of effective defence and sharp attack and an ability to adapt during the game rather than a constant heavy weighting either way. Not the case with Turpin.

I do think how our form has been the last two years and the treatment we get with the 6-agains, particularly in the first 30 mins of a game, has a lot to do with this

Halves are also important, and having halves that know what they're doing can make things easier in both attack and defence. We have more structured and purposeful attack, something the hooker can work with, instead of getting the ball out and just shoveling it to the nearest forward. And in defence, provided the attack is improved, they'll be in better field position or we can be dominating the game and thus have to defend less.

That's not to say Turps doesn't need to up his attack on his own, he's even admitted that, but I don't think he deserves to be outright dropped yet. Give him some time with Reynolds and Walters/Gamble/whoever and see if it can be successful.

 

[Dazza 92]

I know Turps is getting pelters lately, but i do believe the club havent done him any favours when you consider the quality of the primary ballhandlers he has had to play with over the last few years.

I reckon the club can do the right thing by him by spelling him regularly during the season, 60-65 mpg should be what he gets with Paix + someone else covering the remaining minutes.

Rugby League Writers wrote about this and i tend to agree; Turps shuld be solely concerned about attacking the ruck.

Steer our forwards in and around space created by slack marking.

Flegler is showing some real promise right now with his speed and legwork for carries, if Haas can continue to develop his offloads in traffic & guys like Capewell and Riki with their tackle breaking ability, i think we can certainly cause real damage around the ruck this year.

So im prepared to give Turps the benefit of the doubt. Reynolds should take a huge load off him...

 

[McHunt]

It would be good to know the number of effective tackles made per game/season by the comps’ top tier hookers since the rule changes. If Turps is smashing out 45+ on average and smith, grant, cook, etc. are at 35 there could be something in it.

Defensive balance in the pack will obviously be different from team to team and there’s something motivating for everyone when they see their dummy snap a dude in half, though it would be interesting to see if there is a trend. From memory Turpin’s numbers were always very high, that may translate to a lack of spark/energy in attack.

The best hookers are probably those with the right balance of effective defence and sharp attack and an ability to adapt during the game rather than a constant heavy weighting either way. Not the case with Turpin.

Same. I'm somewhat perplexed by Jake's morphing into Macca MkII. He really isn't adding anything to attack anymore. Can we be sure this isn't what Kevvie wants?

As for tackling hookers, this reads like a who's who. Jake only scrapes into the top ten.

Players

Players

www.nrl.com

 

[Big Del]

huge liability in defence.

Hmmmm ?
I saw him put a shot on a forward that jolted the ball loose . Looked promising to me . Were you taking a piss when that went down ?
It`s not like he`s getting run over every time a 2nd rower runs at him .

 

[WASSHHH]

Aside from that time he threw the cutout pass to allow us to score. Oh, and the 200 metres he ran for the other night. Thought he played reasonably well. He'll be picked at 1 on merit and not by default. Of course, he might be the worst ever player but WB doesn't think so. What would he know of course.

What cutout pass would that be? I remember him doing the obvious draw and pass to Brenko (who still had to do likewise to JP who then had to beat his man and kick in field for Brenko to score) like any U/15 fullback could and would do, but I don’t recall any cutout passes that led to tries. And when you say 200m, I assume you actually mean the 85m (or 53m according to Fox) he had against the Titans?

Those two false, erroneous claims aside, as always, you’re right.

I’m sure Bennett sat in all the recruitment meetings and declared “we simply must target Isaako, as I think he’s the best fullback I’ve ever seen and my opinion is backed by Huge, so with that endorsement, this is obviously non negotiable.”

Of course, it could also be that they simply have to sign players for 2023 and none of the other fullbacks worth feeding are available, but let’s go with option 1

 

[Mightybroncs2k17]

Like most i had a pretty mixed reaction to that trial. Got into the arm wrestle early then lost our way bad only to regain some momentum. I don't know what to think of the poor ball control discipline. Some days teams just cant hold the ball so hopefully it was one of those days and it doesn't become a habit.

As many disappointing individual performances as there was, the big name regualr first graders were generally very solid. Kobe, Flegs, Capewell, Lee were good. Happy staggs blew out the cobwebs and showed a glimpse of what makes him so good.

I must admit i was less then excited about the signing of Billy but he's been a real standout. Makes me wonder if he's just late to mature or never been given a genuine shot or maybe joining the Broncos and playing under his dad he's just grown an extra leg?

If you want to look at it from a football perspective we had a really poor period of the game and were punished for it. But unlike years gone by we didn't drop our bundle and managed to fight back for a draw.

Good to get a hitout under the belt and while not a performance to brag about I'd be expecting improvement come the next trial.

 

[TimWhatley]

Makes me wonder if he's just late to mature or never been given a genuine shot or maybe joining the Broncos and playing under his dad he's just grown an extra leg?

I caught the second half of a random Tigers game either last year or the year before where Billy came on as a utility half and I remember being surprised at how good his decision making was compared to Brooks. Pretty sure he was still benched the next week or dropped completely because I haven't seen him play since then.

It's not much to go on but I was always curious why he got so few games.