Round 7 vs. Gold Coast Titans Discussion

[Big Pete]

Gold Coast Titans vs. Brisbane Broncos
Cbus Super Stadium, Saturday 14 April 2023
Kick Off: 7:35pm

1. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu

14. Kruise Leeming 15. Erin Clark 16. Jo Vuna 17. Iszac Fa'asumaleaui

18. Klese Haas 19. Jojo Fifita 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Thomas Weaver 22. Sam McIntyre

1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

14. Cory Paix 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Martin Taupau

18. Jordan Pereira 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Brendan Frei 21. Jock Madden 22. Xavier Willison​

 

[Big Pete]

Brisbane Broncos 43 (Jordan Riki, Herbie Farnworth, Reece Walsh, Jesse Arthars, Kurt Capewell, Ezra Mam, Selwyn Cobbo tries; Adam Reynolds 7/8 goals; Adam Reynolds field goal) def. Gold Coast Titans 26

6-1

The Broncos are back in the winner's circle but it appears old habits die hard. They trailed 14-6 with the Titans going close on multiple occasions before a Jayden Campbell chip and chase failed spectacularly and Farnworth was able to put the Broncos in touch before half-time.

Indeed, before that moment the Broncos were guilty of the same mistakes as last week. With the ball they struggled to string plays together and one good run would immediately be followed by a poor option where the play would die down. Even when Riki opened the scoring, it was hardly a confidence-boosting try for the Broncos. Billy Walters went searching for Reece Walsh who didn't want the ball, so he desperately gave it away to Jordan Riki. Riki happened to find himself up against Jayden Campbell and Kieran Foran who appeared to have him held up short before Brian Kelly decided to grant Brisbane a favour by tackling Jordan over the line.

Then in defence if they weren't getting rolled by the Titans forwards they were giving away cheap momentum-changing penalties. They struggled to subject the Gold Coast to any pressure and were being comfortably outplayed.

Then in the second half, it all swung to the Broncos off the back of a Jordan Riki deflection and regather which led to a big break down the right. Unlike the Dolphins games, the Broncos didn't panic and got into some shape where Reece Walsh took on the line and went over to give Brisbane the lead.

The Broncos found their rhythm after that point. Reynolds' kicking game earned the Broncos more opportunities and they capitalised through Mam who threw a lovely pass to Arthars who did well to stay in the field of play. Then moments later, Mam took on Tino who was caught off-side, made something of a break and got Tino sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul.

The points flowed until Reynolds dropped it cold and Staggs came racing in-field in defence. It gave Kelly options on either side and since Riki was hobbling in defence he was able to sum up the situation easily. With 10 minutes remaining and Tino back on the field there was every chance this game had a late twist, but when Boyd played at a goal line drop-out that was going for all money, that was all she wrote.

- Paix stayed on for the entire second half and played more minutes than Billy. The Broncos appeared more settled with Paix on the field and were able to put on better shapes as a result. Can Paix replicate this performance and will the coach look to alternate his dummy half options after another sluggish start?

- Walsh gave Staggs an almighty spray for running a poor line in the second half. This is the second week in a row where Walsh had the defence in sixes and sevens but didn't have the option for whatever reason. Will Walsh and Staggs get on the same page before the Eels game?

- Hetherington made a successful return. The momentum had already swung when he came on, but his stint only added to the quality of play with 82m from 6 carries that were direct and right behind the ruck.

A loose win but it's still two points. The Broncos have made some improvements on their 2022 side but it's difficult to get too excited, especially after a 43-26 type of scoreline.

 

[Showtime]

Brisbane Broncos 43 (Jordan Riki, Herbie Farnworth, Reece Walsh, Jesse Arthars, Kurt Capewell, Ezra Mam, Selwyn Cobbo tries; Adam Reynolds 7/8 goals; Adam Reynolds field goal) def. Gold Coast Titans 26

6-1

The Broncos are back in the winner's circle but it appears old habits die hard. They trailed 14-6 with the Titans going close on multiple occasions before a Jayden Campbell chip and chase failed spectacularly and Farnworth was able to put the Broncos in touch before half-time.

Indeed, before that moment the Broncos were guilty of the same mistakes as last week. With the ball they struggled to string plays together and one good run would immediately be followed by a poor option where the play would die down. Even when Riki opened the scoring, it was hardly a confidence-boosting try for the Broncos. Billy Walters went searching for Reece Walsh who didn't want the ball, so he desperately gave it away to Jordan Riki. Riki happened to find himself up against Jayden Campbell and Kieran Foran who appeared to have him held up short before Brian Kelly decided to grant Brisbane a favour by tackling Jordan over the line.

Then in defence if they weren't getting rolled by the Titans forwards they were giving away cheap momentum-changing penalties. They struggled to subject the Gold Coast to any pressure and were being comfortably outplayed.

Then in the second half, it all swung to the Broncos off the back of a Jordan Riki deflection and regather which led to a big break down the right. Unlike the Dolphins games, the Broncos didn't panic and got into some shape where Reece Walsh took on the line and went over to give Brisbane the lead.

The Broncos found their rhythm after that point. Reynolds' kicking game earned the Broncos more opportunities and they capitalised through Mam who threw a lovely pass to Arthars who did well to stay in the field of play. Then moments later, Mam took on Tino who was caught off-side, made something of a break and got Tino sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul.

The points flowed until Reynolds dropped it cold and Staggs came racing in-field in defence. It gave Kelly options on either side and since Riki was hobbling in defence he was able to sum up the situation easily. With 10 minutes remaining and Tino back on the field there was every chance this game had a late twist, but when Boyd played at a goal line drop-out that was going for all money, that was all she wrote.

- Paix stayed on for the entire second half and played more minutes than Billy. The Broncos appeared more settled with Paix on the field and were able to put on better shapes as a result. Can Paix replicate this performance and will the coach look to alternate his dummy half options after another sluggish start?

- Walsh gave Staggs an almighty spray for running a poor line in the second half. This is the second week in a row where Walsh had the defence in sixes and sevens but didn't have the option for whatever reason. Will Walsh and Staggs get on the same page before the Eels game?

- Hetherington made a successful return. The momentum had already swung when he came on, but his stint only added to the quality of play with 82m from 6 carries that were direct and right behind the ruck.

A loose win but it's still two points. The Broncos have made some improvements on their 2022 side but it's difficult to get too excited, especially after a 43-26 type of scoreline.

Nice write up Pete. I couldn’t watch the game but I’ve watched the highlights and your post but it seems like Riki had another quality game. I was his biggest critic last year but he’s made me look stupid and IMO looks far superior to Capewell so far this year.

Staggs is an interesting one, he has so much talent but so little impact on a game at times. Almost Fifita like during games when he pulls his finger out.

 

[Big Pete]

I'm glad you brought Riki up. He's been one of the Broncos most consistent players all-season and that kick-chase play for Riki has easily been one of the Broncos best plays this season.

Jordan has been improving every season. They threw him into the deep end in 2021 and teams just tore that edge apart. That poor Riki-Milford-Niu-Coates edge may as well been an open invitation for opposition teams to score. Then in the back-end of the competition he scored a few tries to remind everyone he had something to offer but he looked out of his depth.

In 2022 he was consistently getting through 80 minutes and was doing a fair job of protecting his half. Eventually the grind of 80 minutes took it's toll and he was guilty of at least one brain fade a game and that was often what fans would remember.

So far in 2023 those fades have diminished and he's coming up with more effort plays. The next step will be forming a combination with a half so he can be a threat with the ball. He showed in his early days he's capable of running those lines, he just needs Reynolds to feed him that ball.