Trial vs Broncos

[One Warrior]

Very impressive trial, admittedly Broncos didn't offer much, but we were very good. Tomkins was as good as I expected & more, Townsend & Bakuya were better than I expected, Townsend is the perfect foil for Johnson and has shades of Maloney. Now for revenge on Parramatta.

 

[ozbash]

Townsend is the perfect foil for Johnson and has shades of Maloney. Now for revenge on Parramatta.

I take back all the bad things I said about Chad, he has slotted in better than I thought he would.... so far.

 

[attila_the_gorilla]

Sometimes everything comes off in a game, you get on a roll and end up winning big. Especially when there's not much pressure. In the Auckland Nines, Johnson and the team went into their shell when the pressure was on. I'm curious to see how they go against quality opposition. Will they have patience and belief? Will they take the opportunities when they do come? Or will they give up when they see they're up against it.

 

[Rich102]

Look, Johnson is Johnson. Great on attack in broken field play; missing under pressure. This is why the Cows were so confident playing us in the semi's of the nines; they knew if they put SJ under pressure they had the game won.
I hope things will be different this season. Against the Broncos the team kept going even with SJ off the field for a half.
I think Tomkins and Townsend are organised enough, with Friend and/or Leuluai, to keep driving the team. Plus the forwards are fitter.
Should be a good season.

 

[attila_the_gorilla]

You're right, the playmaker options are primising. A lot of the tries came from half-breaks that they were able to capitalize on by quickly spreading the ball to overlaps. In the past, they used to be clueless how to take advantage of half-breaks and would just try dummy half running to kill the momentum. Townsend reminded me a bit of a clinical Cronk and Lockyer in how he seemed to demand the ball after a line break and spread it where it had to go, without trying to overplay his hand.