Round 1 vs Rabbitohs discussion + voting

[blaza88z]

Bennett has been heavily criticized by many for "Bennett Ball" and you can see why now, his style of coaching may reap rewards long-term but in the short term it's going to be painful. He is trying to coach an ultra consistent style of Rugby League where the risks taken are minimal, we just don't have the halves to backup that style of game plan though, Hunt is not known for his precise kicking game which is exactly what we need if we are going to play that way.

You can see why he's won comps with the likes of Soward now, Soward isn't a great runner of the ball but he can kick it as opposed to Hunt who is a great runner of the ball and takes on the line but isn't a great kicker of the ball.

Hopefully Milford finds his feet sooner rather than later, it could be a while though.

 

[1qaz]

FFS lets hope Wayne never use Whitchurch as an outside back ever again.
Don't think I seen a game he has played without dropping the pill.
He has worst hands than ron jeremy.
I think Wayne see Whitchuch as some young Beau Scott

HAHA the Whitchurch streak continues.

On to the game...
McTurd continues to be crap. I wonder how much closer the scoreline would have been if Luke and McTurd swapped teams.
The Copley/Reed experiment needs to end right now.
Copley isn't a winger. He looks lost defending.
Reed needs to be dropped to be QLD Cup and play as a backrower.
Best I seen Gillett run in awhile. His attack isn't his problem though.
Lets see how he goes in defense in the next few games.
McGuire continues to be solid.
Early stages for Milford but if he wants to be a success in the 6, he needs to get his hands dirty.
He needs to take the line on, and be prepared to get smashed.
No point just passing it on 5 metres away from the opposition.
All this talk about Kahu being the one to surprise us all this season...well he was just his usual self.
Even before all his injuries, he wasn't some superstar.
He's your typical kiwi utility.. has some skills but not good enough to play 6.. but could do a job anywhere in the back 5.
Pretty much another Beale.

At full strength.. I'm hoping to see something like this for the season

1. Boyd
2. Oates
3. Copley
4. Hodges
5. Kahu

Votes

2. Gillett
2. McGuire

 

[League guru]

Well Vidot for one. Eden could play FB (injecting a bit more speed) with Kahu either at centre or wing. There are options. Bennett went safe, safe, and safe and look what happened. You don't reach the top 6 playing safe!

Then we have the Milford fiasco, and goodness I hate Phil Gould but he is right. Even if Miford is going to be a 5/8th (and I'm hardly convinced) he needs 3-4 seasons of First Grade playing fullback before then. His passing game is rubbish and he has no idea how to run and create lines yet.

So what are the options, Champ. No one except you (apparently) Has even seen Eden play. What are the 5/8 options. Also, Maranta went okay. A lot better the the much hyped, Blair and Gavet.

 

[Pierced Soul]

we got bashed in the forwards and our halves looked like under 12's yet people keep banging on about maranta.....

put any winger in the comp out there with our effort last night and you'll get the same result...

 

[hellteam]

we got bashed in the forwards and our halves looked like under 12's yet people keep banging on about maranta.....

put any winger in the comp out there with our effort last night and you'll get the same result...

Agreed, our forwards were dominated big time last night.

But really, we shouldn't get too carried away with this. We dropped so much ball, and the defending premiers, an in-form team with a settled line up, had around 60 percent of possession (I think). It was the first game of the season and 30 degrees with 90 percent humidity. Any team would struggle with that.

We will improve, you don't win finals in Rd 1

 

[Nerd]

Well Vidot for one. Eden could play FB (injecting a bit more speed) with Kahu either at centre or wing. There are options. Bennett went safe, safe, and safe and look what happened. You don't reach the top 6 playing safe!

Then we have the Milford fiasco, and goodness I hate Phil Gould but he is right. Even if Miford is going to be a 5/8th (and I'm hardly convinced) he needs 3-4 seasons of First Grade playing fullback before then. His passing game is rubbish and he has no idea how to run and create lines yet.

I think you're a bit hard on Milford. After all it is his second game at 5/8 in a new team with a new coach.

To be honest I think he has shown more ability in the Souths and the Wigan games than Barba showed all last season.

 

[Dazzat]

If you look at the game, it was dropped ball in crucial areas that cost us the game. We were holding our own until Gavet dropped the ball in our own 10 metre zone, and then the rot took hold. The heat then became a factor.

Our forwards - apart from Gillett, Parker and McGuire - were dominated from then on in because all their energy was sapped (in the hot humid conditions) getting out of and defending in our red zone. We had nothing left after that.

Gavet made three crucial errors that really lost us the game - but showed glimpses of worth. It will be interesting what Bennett does next week with him.

Bennett has already hinted that Thaiday will either be benched or dropped - which I think is thoroughly deserved. He played a joke of a game last night. Penalties and flops that became almost comical by the end of the game. It looked like he wanted a good lie down straight after every tackle. Not first class material and a bad example.

Milford looked lost. Hunt looked lost. Both looked like they didn't know their roles ... but this is to be expected. It's the start of what we hope is a long-term partnership and as most great things, they have modest beginnings. And last night was very modest.

I can't help but imagine adding Boyd into that mix last night. He surely would have made a difference.

But, we need one more power forward. Blair is NOT a power forward who can make big metres. He's a great addition to the team in terms of his offloading ability, but oh for a Webke or Civ last night.

 

[Snappy]

We still seem to be a big bopper short. Our forwards got owned.

 

[hellteam]

If you look at the game, it was dropped ball in crucial areas that cost us the game. We were holding our own until Gavet dropped the ball in our own 10 metre zone, and then the rot took hold. The heat then became a factor.

Our forwards - apart from Gillett, Parker and McGuire - were dominated from then on in because all their energy was sapped (in the hot humid conditions) getting out of and defending in our red zone. We had nothing left after that.

Gavet made three crucial errors that really lost us the game - but showed glimpses of worth. It will be interesting what Bennett does next week with him.

Bennett has already hinted that Thaiday will either be benched or dropped - which I think is thoroughly deserved. He played a joke of a game last night. Penalties and flops that became almost comical by the end of the game. It looked like he wanted a good lie down straight after every tackle. Not first class material and a bad example.

Milford looked lost. Hunt looked lost. Both looked like they didn't know their roles ... but this is to be expected. It's the start of what we hope is a long-term partnership and as most great things, they have modest beginnings. And last night was very modest.

I can't help but imagine adding Boyd into that mix last night. He surely would have made a difference.

But, we need one more power forward. Blair is NOT a power forward who can make big metres. He's a great addition to the team in terms of his offloading ability, but oh for a Webke or Civ last night.

Unfortunately I think Gavet will be suspended from that brain snap on the last play.

Agreed on most points, but Hunt and Milford weren't too bad. If Milford doesn't drop that ball on the backline play that was a certain try and we were back in it at 10-8 (or something like that anyway).

What was with Thaiday going to ground straight away in every tackle? Was bizarre

 

[lockyno1]

So what are the options, Champ. No one except you (apparently) Has even seen Eden play. What are the 5/8 options. Also, Maranta went okay. A lot better the the much hyped, Blair and Gavet.

Eden at fullback, start from there. Kahu on the wing, he is solid but we need more speed at the back, Eden plays. Don't care if Eden makes an error or two, he is more likely to create. Happy to go with Milford at 5/8th for a month but if it aint working lets not kill him, put him back to fullback where he is comfortable.

 

[lockyno1]

I think you're a bit hard on Milford. After all it is his second game at 5/8 in a new team with a new coach.

To be honest I think he has shown more ability in the Souths and the Wigan games than Barba showed all last season.

If the barometer is the Barba fiasco lets just say I rest my case. I'm not saying Milford won't be a 5/8th. I think he might make it but he needs 3 seasons of experience before he makes the move. I'd actually give McCullough a go at 5/8th (I wish they actually used one of the trials to do this). It seems Bennett wants Milford and only Milford. That is so flawed it isn't funny, you need options.

 

[lockyno1]

Unfortunately I think Gavet will be suspended from that brain snap on the last play.

That isn't unfortunate, our handling would already improve, plus he wasn't that good anyway!

 

[God-King Dean]

Thaiday is reminding me of Heighington in his time with Wests Tigers.
Sheens used to tell him to concede in the tackle, in an attempt to get a quick play the ball.

Though that may be the same case - but judging by Bennett's comments, I guess not.

 

[hellteam]

If the barometer is the Barba fiasco lets just say I rest my case. I'm not saying Milford won't be a 5/8th. I think he might make it but he needs 3 seasons of experience before he makes the move. I'd actually give McCullough a go at 5/8th (I wish they actually used one of the trials to do this). It seems Bennett wants Milford and only Milford. That is so flawed it isn't funny, you need options.

Thanks Gus

 

[Maroon4life]

Heard this 'Milford is not ready for the #6 yet' on a few forums.

His opposite last night (who outplayed the shit out of him) went into first grade without having played any fullback in a first grade team either. Since when was it a pre requisite?

Who gives a f**k what Johns and Gould think? You honestly believe they have the broncos (and Milfords) best intentions at heart? If anything that 3 minute rant about him playing at #6 was a poorly veiled attempt to undermine Bennett, saved only by Rabs neutrality in bringing Lockyer in on the discussion.

 

[Dazzat]

Unfortunately I think Gavet will be suspended from that brain snap on the last play.

Agreed on most points, but Hunt and Milford weren't too bad. If Milford doesn't drop that ball on the backline play that was a certain try and we were back in it at 10-8 (or something like that anyway).

What was with Thaiday going to ground straight away in every tackle? Was bizarre

As someone has already said, it is hard to judge how good Hunt/Milford were because our forwards gave them nothing.

What we have are two halves both with great running games. Potentially amazing. Add Boyd coming in from the back and anything's possible. But it will take time to build combinations.

Maybe Sammy was feeling tired with the heat? Who knows. But it was a bizarre performance - like a training drill.

 

[Pierced Soul]

personally i would have liked hunt to try and take more control. his game management is still a work in progress from last year. our attack will look a lot better once he takes over and runs the team.

gavet's performance- dropped balls and penalties reminded me way too much of A.Sims

 

[lockyno1]

Heard this 'Milford is not ready for the #6 yet' on a few forums.

His opposite last night (who outplayed the shit out of him) went into first grade without having played any fullback in a first grade team either. Since when was it a pre requisite?

Who gives a f**k what Johns and Gould think? You honestly believe they have the broncos (and Milfords) best intentions at heart? If anything that 3 minute rant about him playing at #6 was a poorly veiled attempt to undermine Bennett, saved only by Rabs neutrality in bringing Lockyer in on the discussion.

Keary has played 5/8 all through the grades, big difference. Naturally he does what you expect a 5/8th to do. Milford's passing is poor, and for me that is the biggest thing. You put him at fullback he can work on this whilst at the same time preparing for the 5/8th shift in 2017/18. That gives him 100 odd FG games before he is playing in the front line. He needs to learn the game still, he is very raw. I don't usually agree with Gould and he is a fruit cake, but when he talks actual football he has a good brain. He is right in this instance.

 

[lockyno1]

Maybe Sammy was feeling tired with the heat? Who knows. But it was a bizarre performance - like a training drill.

I have another reason...it is called being a little like a tele tubby! He is very overweight and it shows. However, despite his game it must be said he tried his backside off. I hope he drops a few kilos in the first month, as his mobility last night was worrying. That said I don't want anyone to say drop him, he is way too valuable.

 

[Maroon4life]

Keary has played 5/8 all through the grades, big difference. Naturally he does what you expect a 5/8th to do. Milford's passing is poor, and for me that is the biggest thing. You put him at fullback he can work on this whilst at the same time preparing for the 5/8th shift in 2017/18. That gives him 100 odd FG games before he is playing in the front line. He needs to learn the game still, he is very raw. I don't usually agree with Gould and he is a fruit cake, but when he talks actual football he has a good brain. He is right in this instance.

Fair enough. Who plays 5/8 in the mean time? What do we do with Boyd in 4/5 months time when he comes back?

Ultimately, Milford was bought by the club to be the long term 5/8. No doubt in my mind there is going to be some bog average games but all indications from far better football talent judges than me suggest he has what it takes.

Moving him to fullback now won't solve anything unless we have some masterplan to snatch DCE to play in the halves while we wait on Milford to do an apprenticeship from fullback.

I think we saw the true damage to the team that Boyd's injury caused, he was going to be a great link to help with alot of the backline movements, would have made for a smoother gelling period for Milford & Hunt. For the next few months It's all on them two to learn their trade and win games while their at it, tough gig.