Round 1 vs. Cowboys Discussion + Voting

[Dazzat]

Apparently that was the main focus of the off season so lets hope we see major changes, for the good.

That's interesting news ... the only upside of THAT Canberra game.

 

[Big Pete]

No Nerves For Young Broncos : Henjak
Trad McLean
Bronco Media

11/03/2010 5:08:55 PM



IVAN Henjak says he has not sensed an ounce of nervousness in the group of young players set to make their NRL debuts against the Cowboys tomorrow night.
Three WOW Brisbane Broncos players - Corey Norman, Matt Gillett and Mitchell Dodds - will play their first matches in the big time in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium.
But Henjak said there has been nothing amiss at training.
"I haven't seen any nerves or anxiety or anything - it's been like a trial game for them, in terms of their body language and their demeanour around the place," said the Broncos coach.
There are under 3000 tickets left for the match.

http://www.broncos.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=23316

 

[beads6]

I hope these young boys stand up and prove Henjak right.. He has taken a fairly big risk IMO. Lets go boys punish the Cowgirls!!

 

[Shorty]

Tal, are you a Philidelphia Eagles fan as well?
You're so negative.

Neil Henry isn't stupid, crucial areas would have been fixed in the off season....just like defence was fixed last year.

On the game, I'm struggling to find a winner but I think we have a good shot at winning, inexperience is a huge risk for the Broncos and Lockyer might be rusty as he's getting older.

 

[Talanexor]

Tal, are you a Philidelphia Eagles fan as well?
You're so negative.

Neil Henry isn't stupid, crucial areas would have been fixed in the off season....just like defence was fixed last year.

On the game, I'm struggling to find a winner but I think we have a good shot at winning, inexperience is a huge risk for the Broncos and Lockyer might be rusty as he's getting older.

Not at all - usually I'm too far the other way and far too optimistic. But it's no secret that our outside backs were the weak link last year and our attack never really flowed. I know Bani had a very disrupted season, and a lot of the other backs struggled with injuries.

All I was trying to point out is that the Broncos backline is an unknown quantity. They could all suck horrendously or they could play the house down. Nobody knows. Most of the Cowboys backline have been running around for a few seasons now, and we know what we can expect from them.

I hope just as much as you and every other league fan the Cows get back to their razzle-dazzle best and can score from anywhere on the field, but on paper, we have one of the weakest backlines in the NRL.

 

[Shorty]

Thought Bani did well last year, with a full off season of training I see him being very good.
Ty isn't the exciting player he was but he's got fantastic defence and now plays a good supporting role.
I know a lot of people despise Ash (or the derogatory 'Gash') but even if he is p*ssweak at defence his attacking prowess far outweighs his weakness.
You will find with most speedy and opportunist backs that they struggle with defence, see the Eels and Eric Grothe (someone who played absolutely wonderful for them at the back end of the season).

Darren Lockyer is another who has terrible reads in defence but has an attack that by far outweighs his issues.
And with both of those, the team was eventually developed to protect those weeknesses.

And Tal, all those young guns you want to have a go will probably be just as much, if not more ineffective with defensive reads but will also make rookie errors.

Brisbane tend to go with more youngsters because the structure of the team has been solid for years, they have a good leadership group that can recover if the rookies make errors.
We don't have that, Thurston rules the roost with an iron fist and so it's all on him to recover and the rest have no clue what to do.Not nearly as widespread with responsibility.

 

[user_nat]

I think you guys are in the wrong thread

Although I guess you are talking about Brisbane as well.

 

[Dazzat]

Awesome game ...

2. Parker ... for leading a young pack and showing the way
1. Norman ... three saved tries and a hand in two/three tries for the Broncos
1. Gillett ... first time I've seen him ... great running game on the left hand side, impressive.
1. Wallace ... 10/10 for defensive effort and attack wasn't far behind.
1. Lockyer ... nothing needs to be said.

 

[Ghoulies]

3. Norman - What a dynamic first 50 mins in first grade. I thought he let his head drop a little after the mistake that led to a Cows try, but he well exceeded my expectations.
2. Gillett - Another debutant who did very well for himself. Great stepping and passing set up a few promising attacks, including the match winning try.
1. Lockyer - Not a spectacular performance, but very controlled and effective when combining with his rookie backline.

Special mention to Kemp; he turned the clock way back to 2008 with tonights effort.

 

[Seagullsrock]

Didn't think Norman was impressive as everyone is saying. He made a few one on one tackles which you'd expect a first grade footballer to make. Threw a few passes in the lead up to tries but he also bombed two by going back to the inside and not to the outside. His attempt to defuse the Thurston kick was also very lazy. The bounce of the ball wasn't that bad, he just didn't get down low enough. I agree Gillett was impressive but I though a few of the forwards were ordinary i.e Kenny, Thaiday etc.

 

[beads6]

3. Norman - What a dynamic first 50 mins in first grade. I thought he let his head drop a little after the mistake that led to a Cows try, but he well exceeded my expectations.
2. Gillett - Another debutant who did very well for himself. Great stepping and passing set up a few promising attacks, including the match winning try.
1. Lockyer - Not a spectacular performance, but very controlled and effective when combining with his rookie backline.

Special mention to Kemp; he turned the clock way back to 2008 with tonights effort.

X 2 I agree 100%

 

[Talanexor]

Didn't think Norman was impressive as everyone is saying. He made a few one on one tackles which you'd expect a first grade footballer to make. Threw a few passes in the lead up to tries but he also bombed two by going back to the inside and not to the outside. His attempt to defuse the Thurston kick was also very lazy. The bounce of the ball wasn't that bad, he just didn't get down low enough. I agree Gillett was impressive but I though a few of the forwards were ordinary i.e Kenny, Thaiday etc.

Congrats on the win. Actually, I thought Norman was the standout player - completely outplayed Ty Williams, had a hand in several tries and saved several more - all on debut, and out of position. He'll be even better when he packs on some more muscle - looks very skinny for a first grader.

Parker's goal kicking has improved out of sight compared to last year. Beale didn't seem to do a whole lot however.

I think sticking Folau at left centre and Glenn at right centre will do you wonders, even allowing for Hodges return.

Also, I'm glad Henjak's gamble on the younger players paid off. It must be nice playing for a club that tells you there is no pressure to perform, just to have fun and enjoy your footy. I wish Neil Henry would do the same at the Cows. Certain players (Bani, Ty Williams, Rovelli, Ash Graham) just aren't good enough for first grade.

 

[Country Bronco]

Wow!!! What a night. I'd have to say a tale of two halves is a pretty good assessment of this first round clash. I guess, i'm satasfied as a broncos supporter but not going to get carried away.

3 Thaiday a forward leader now in many respects. Rarely has a off game. I liked the way he lead by example.

2 Parker A carbon copy of thaiday's performance. We really need for our forwards to step up this year and these two senior forwards did that tonight.

1 Norman. Fudge one mistake. He really fits in well. Exceptional try saving tackles in first half and participation lead up work to tries. They say good playmakers always seem to have time on their hands and thats what i see with him. Wouldn't go as far to say he's made it but a better than average beginning.

 

[hellteam]

3 Norman - Good all round game, defence and attack, set up a few tries, even for the Cowboys!.... good start
2 Gillett - Really good player. Could see he had it in him from the moment he started playing Q Cup for Norths
1 Kemp - Enthusiastic, did everything he had to and more, great last try

 

[Big Pete]

I really don't know what to make of the victory. Yes there was about a 30 minute period that was impressive an extremely fun to watch (20 minute mark to 50th) but before and after that I was fairly concerned for the side.

I honestly couldn't believe the Cowboys didn't score in that opening exchanges. They were breaking the line at will during those stages and had certain things gone their way, I could've easily seen them leading by twelve about 15 minutes in.

However, the Broncos I thought replied really well - showed their credentials close to the line. That opening try for me really came off of Matt Gillett and his quick play the ball which Lockyer being the champion he is took full advantage of. Folau from that far out is never going to be stopped.

The makings of the second try to me showed all the signs of a team just having some fun with the football. Winterstein, in any other game would've just gone in-field with it, but the work of him and I believe Beale (could be wrong, memory is getting fuzzier) to get the ball to a charging Lockyer, who knew what to do, was great.

Third try was just awesome.

Forth was easy as you like.

But from there the match went to s**t. The Broncos, much like those around me, really grew tired and lost focus on the game. Norman really should've cleaned up that ball and while I can't blame Beale, given he really isn't a winger but still, that about there nearly ruined the night for me.

What did though was the right hand side. Folau really was slow getting back which the Cows took full advantage of. Suddenly you had Lockyer going up against four men while Kemp kind of...I don't know...played around a bit...unless he has the ball or is chasing to get the ball, Kemp hates defensive work which to me showed when he failed to collect Tonga in the first half on the amount of occasions the Cows went that side.

Did love that last try, which again, credit must go to Gillett for initiating the play. Without him engaging the Cowboys defensive line and giving his outside men the time, the play never would of worked as smoothly as it did. Instead, the Broncos score and come away with the two points as a result. By the by, loved Kemp's reaction. Really was like 08 again.

This was really a weird match for me. On the plus side, I thought we showed more variety in attack than last year and some of the young guys (Norman, Beale, Gillett, McCullough and Anderson) really impressed tonight. However on the other hand, there were definately some major criticisms to take out of tonight, and I'm hoping Henjak plans on fixing those up.

3 - Corey Parker
2 - Matt Gillett
1 - Corey Norman

 

[kruzin]

Well its suprising how when the forwards drive forward and the 2nd phase comes into play, noone can outplay the broncs, but once they get tired, and do 1 up shiz, they get hammered...prime example of it was tonight..Best part of the game, Booing Willie Mason, oh..and Kevin Dudd

3 Norman
2 Lockyer
1 Glenn

 

[The 18th Man]

3 - Corey Norman; sensational debut.
2 - Corey Parker; 10pts, 49 tackles and 119m.
1 - Darren Lockyer; wily performance, scored a try, played his hand in another.

 

[Frank_Grimes]

3. Darren Lockyer - A captain's knock no doubt. Directed his young charges with a calm head and proved again, that he is the master of support play.
2. Corey Parker - Superb kicking effort from the sidelines and looks to have picked up where he left off last season with regard to his work rate.
1. Corey Norman - Sensational debut for the young fullback whose preferred position is actually 5/8th! I noticed in some of the cut out man plays that he passed to his centre a tad early. Hunt would usually attack the line more and completely draw in the defence before passing. Hopefully this will come with experience in running the play.

1 point was going to go to Wallace for his denfensive efforts, if not for that shocking misread on the Thurston try to level the scores.

BTW - Welcome home Denan

 

[The 18th Man]

3. Darren Lockyer - A captain's knock no doubt. Directed his young charges with a calm head and proved again, that he is the master of support play.
2. Corey Parker - Superb kicking effort from the sidelines and looks to have picked up where he left off last season with regard to his work rate.
1. Corey Norman - Sensational debut for the young fullback whose preferred position is actually 5/8th! I noticed in some of the cut out man plays that he passed to his centre a tad early. Hunt would usually attack the line more and completely draw in the defence before passing. Hopefully this will come with experience in running the play.

1 point was going to go to Wallace for his denfensive efforts, if not for that shocking misread on the Thurston try to level the scores.

BTW - Welcome home Denan

Good observation. Yeah, there was a couple of occasions where he either passed too early or simply held on to the ball when in actual fact if he gives it to the outside man, the Cowboys are in trouble. With experience, decision making at this level will improve.

 

[Frank_Grimes]

Should mention Winterstein had a great 1st half (completely embarrassed John Williams down the sideline), but does anyone know what kept him from the field in the 2nd?