Trial vs. Melbourne

[Big Pete]

Takes place at Browne Park in Rockhampton on Saturday.

Brisbane Broncos
1. Josh Hoffman
2. Gerard Beale
3. Steve Michaels
4. Dale Copley
5. Mitch Rivett
6. Ben Hunt
7. Tim Smith
8. Tim Natusche
9. Kurt Baptiste
10. Matthew Britt
11. Mitchell Dodds
12. Tariq Sims
13. Guy Williams
Reserves:
14. Aaron Summers
15. Corey Norman
16. Kurtis Lingwoodock
17. Michael Spence
18. Dunamis Lui
19. Rohan Ahern
20. Scott Anderson
21. Andrew Clayton
22. Tyron Haines
23. Jade Williams
Coach: Anthony Griffin

Melbourne Storm
Hep Cahill, Matt Duffie, Slade Griffin, Willie Isa, Sam Joe, Sinbad Kali, Luke Kelly, Anthony Killingbeck, Rory Kostjasyn, Luke MacDougall, Alan Munro, Bryan Norrie, Rulon Nutira, Dan ORegan, Anthony Quinn, Billy Rogers, Mailei Seve, Theo Stuart, Ryan Tandy, Gareth Widdop, James Woolford.

 

[Big Pete]

It'd be good to get a Melbourne supporter to do up a predicted line up for us of those squad players to give us an idea of what we're going up against. Just on that point, I'd like to wish every Melbourne supporter good luck and all the best on Saturday and invite them to post in this thread.

Judging on that line up I should point out that both Haynes and J. Williams are Central Comets players who are getting their chance to play with the club. Haynes is a backrow player while Jade is a backline utility.

I'm a little surprised by the starting line up and the bench. Sims and Dodds starting over Lingwoodock, Ahern and Spence is surprising. Same with Natusch and Britt starting over Anderson.

 

[elyod138]

I'll be there.

I might post some thoughts on how some of them played, if I remember.

 

[Noa]

The team will line up something like this. Put a little blurb next to some young players to look out for

1. Gareth Widdop
2. Matt Duffie - Great height, great speed, great leap. Will go close for ROTY if he grabs a wing spot.
3. Willie isa
4. Luke Macdougall
5. Anthony Quinn
6. Dan O'Regan
7. Luke Kelly

13. Billy Rogers - Dallas Johnson reincarnate
12. Anthony Killingbeck
11. Hep Cahill
10. Ryan Tandy
09. Rory Kostjasyn
08. Sinbad Kali

17. Theo Stuart - Bit of Gordon Tallis about him, very promising back-rower
18. Slade Griffen - Can play center and lock. Plenty of skill and hard as nails
19. Alan Munro
20. Sam Joe - got ability but also got weight issues.
21. James Woolford - Germs nephew, similar style of player.
22. Mailei Seve - VRL player, must be impressing.

 

[Seagullsrock]

Widdop is a great young player.

 

[GoTheBroncs]

Does this mean that Kemp is ahead to Hoffman/Beale for the fullback role? Or am I reading too much into it?

 

[Smiley]

Kemp is out injured, should return for the Ballymore trial.

 

[Carnifex]

anyone know the result?

 

[Noa]

24-12 to the broncos

 

[Big Pete]

Tim Smith shines for Brisbane Broncos against Storm

Damien Stannard | February 12, 2010 11:00pm


IF you were caught in line for a pie you may not have seen it. It was more a snapshot than a masterclass but last night's first glimpse of Tim Smith after almost two years away from the NRL will be difficult for Brisbane Broncos coach Ivan Henjak to ignore.
The former Parramatta star looked assured in the No.7 jersey as his new teammates scored a 24-12 win in their trial against Melbourne Storm at Rockhampton's Browne Park.

More than 4000 people witnessed the comeback.

In isolation his exaggerated handclapping and skipping meant little.

But it was evidence of a confident young man ready to lay down a challenge to incumbent halfback Peter Wallace.

"Timmy was good but I thought all our halves were good,'' said stand-in Broncos coach Anthony Griffin.

"He's a confident bloke and fitted in really well.

"He's a bouncy halfback and really communicates well. He'll only get better."

Wallace is expected to be ready for the side's final trial against Redcliffe in a fortnight.

Smith, Ben Hunt and Corey Norman did enough to warrant another trot next weekend against Canberra.

Griffin was also pleased with Josh Hoffman who should be the man to replace Karmichael Hunt at fullback.

He had raps for Mitchell Dodds and Michael Spence, while giant prop Matthew Britt's velocity and workrate was a handful for the Storm.

For Melbourne, few questions were answered ahead of the World Club Challenge against Leeds on March 1.

Prop Brian Norrie toiled hard but sloppy ball control meant the premiers could be judged only on their defence.

Sadly, the chance to shine was cruelly ripped away from Broncos second-rower Rohan Ahern.

The 21-year-old, recently returned to his home city from a stint with the Sydney Roosters, badly injured his right knee in the second quarter and was wheeled off on a stretcher.

Brisbane is thinking positively about the injury but will be anxious until a scan reveals the full extent.

"He's got at least a bad medial strain. Hopefully that's all,'' Griffin said

"He'll be six or eight weeks out. That's the best case scenario.''

Smith's first steps back in the NRL after almost 650 days in the wilderness looked promising.

After signing a two-year deal with Queensland Cup club Easts, the Gold Coast product had been given a chance by Ivan Henjak to show he was not a lost cause.

His battles with alcohol and bipolar have been well documented so he placed himself on a media ban and worked tirelessly to prove his substance.

With handling errors costing Melbourne any chance of gaining early traction, it seemed only a matter of time before Brisbane would post the first score.

The big question was, would it be Ben Hunt or Smith who would prize open the young Victorians?

Up stepped Smith who threw a beautifully timed cut-out pass, long and flat to left winger Gerard Beale who dived over in the corner for the first try.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,26720471-5003409,00.html

 

[elyod138]

Smith looked to be commanding the team around well, though he made a few errors.

Ben Hunt looked a bit timid to me, he played a bit of hooker too.

Corey Norman was awesome off the bench.

 

[beads6]

Hoffman looks to be starting fullback hey, I ain't going to lie I think Kemp is better but I wish Hoffman well.

 

[Carnifex]

24-12 to the broncos

boooooooo :lol:

 

[interested shark]

did anyone see the game. was wondering how bryan norrie went? i liked as a player at sharks and am worried bellemy will turn into something that will come back and bit us. he never got much game time here so don't know full potential.:crazy: