vs Broncos Rd 2

[Meth]

Where would you put him?

Centre. Swap him with Ayshford (who has played well enough, but just don't look at all threatening). Either that, or he takes Roache's spot on the bench and we develop him into a utility. Personally, I prefer the former

 

[AuckMel]

It was encouraging to see some small improvement at least and they were unlucky with the two injuries. Hopefully things can start to click a bit more.

SJ was shocking and RTS' defensive efforts were poor.

Muted the commentary with 10 to go as I just couldn't listen to the Fox crews shit anymore.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Centre. Swap him with Ayshford (who has played well enough, but just don't look at all threatening). Either that, or he takes Roache's spot on the bench and we develop him into a utility. Personally, I prefer the former

x2. He is wasted on the wing. He's not particularly a natural finisher, nor a ball carrier - he is a decent ball distributor with a good step, not good enough for the halves but certainly can be a centre if he is given time and space. We'll all presume Hurrell gets the centre spot if Ayshford is out, but I'd be giving it to Lolohea. They must've been considering him there given he played there v the Dragons in trials.

Bit of a lol on Mr Angry's SJ theory. I'd like to know why he made one run, however, and Robson 8 or 9. SJ's kicking game was also poo. He started last year poorly and Townsend was the dominant halve as well. Why does this happen?

I should say that it is heartening that we dug in a bit, made (most) of our tackles and held onto the pill. But man, did anyone see anything that resembled a game plan or attacking systems? Was the plan to beat the Broncos in a grind? Because you'll never do that, especially not us. Taking the penalty in the 1st half annoyed the sh*t out of me for many reasons. We don't win grinds - not since Ivan - and obviously we don't back our attack. We were completely bereft of ideas and our main attacking weapon went MIA. I don't blame RTS, he was given shitty ball and expected to jink through a thousand bodies in a well-set defensive line.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I think I'm just as disappointed as round one given the first week I thought yeah okay, shit attitude that hopefully they can rectify. But this week, they put in and there was just zero idea how to win that game. Johns' article was written before the game and it was spot on in terms of that performance. We didn't play to our strengths. We signed a 'star' spine and then shovelled it sideways to the bald 30-odd year old dude, then bombed to a 6 foot 5 guy over our much shorter non-leaping opponent or kicked it dead along the ground.

 

[Meth]

x2. He is wasted on the wing. He's not particularly a natural finisher, nor a ball carrier - he is a decent ball distributor with a good step, not good enough for the halves but certainly can be a centre if he is given time and space. We'll all presume Hurrell gets the centre spot if Ayshford is out, but I'd be giving it to Lolohea. They must've been considering him there given he played there v the Dragons in trials.

Bit of a lol on Mr Angry's SJ theory. I'd like to know why he made one run, however, and Robson 8 or 9. SJ's kicking game was also poo. He started last year poorly and Townsend was the dominant halve as well. Why does this happen?

I should say that it is heartening that we dug in a bit, made (most) of our tackles and held onto the pill. But man, did anyone see anything that resembled a game plan or attacking systems? Was the plan to beat the Broncos in a grind? Because you'll never do that, especially not us. Taking the penalty in the 1st half annoyed the sh*t out of me for many reasons. We don't win grinds - not since Ivan - and obviously we don't back our attack. We were completely bereft of ideas and our main attacking weapon went MIA. I don't blame RTS, he was given shitty ball and expected to jink through a thousand bodies in a well-set defensive line.

If Vatuvei and Ayshford are out, Hurrell and Wright probably come in. If so,

2- Wright
3- Lolohea
4- Hurrell
5- Kata

admittedly, that looks like a disastrous defensive edge....

But it will likely be-

2- Lolohea
3- Hurrell
4- Kata
5- Wright

 

[Meth]

The other factor to last night of course is that the Broncos are just a better team than us right now

 

[JJ]

The other factor to last night of course is that the Broncos are just a better team than us right now

That's the main factor - they are much much better...

I don't buy the combinations shite, that's what practice and preseason is for, and they've all played together before aside from Robson - who at least looks like he's trying, as does RTS to be fair he's just been poor.

Yes there are some players I'd want to be rid of, but at the end of the day the coaching and organisation is appalling - Luke looks fat and disinterested, and was never an 80 min hooker anyway, and rather than him making the Souths and Kiwis forwards look good, perhaps they made him look good? Our pack fine, but not a powerhouse like those two packs. I always thought RTS would struggle relative to his Roosters performances, he's a huge talent but not the finished product - he's gone from gone of the best and most well organised systems to arguably the worst...

Again, I have no doubt they'll make a mid season run as usual, but they are a long way short of the better teams - the Tigers are crap, and Brisbane were pretty mediocre last night, but it never (to me) looked like they had to get out of 2nd gear...

Did Johnson play? He's either not sure of his leg (understandable), or something's wrong - that effort was very ordinary

 

[Mr Angry]

Always respect your views MrA, but I hope to hell you are wrong on this one.

So do I, really, but otherwise I cannot explain it.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Prior to concussion, Ayshford was fine, but hardly looked likely to break the line.

We should have been ahead at HT really.

Ayshford played like Ayshford the Tiger and Ayshford the Shark. He was strong and a hard man to put down at times but he's no Hurrell. I'd like to see Hurrell come in for Kata and Ayshford stays put. Kata did run strongly last night though.

I think we were ahead at half time. Only by 2 but we were ahead.

Love me some RTS, but he is already 0/2 on one on one try savers. Kind of stuff Tomkins got killed for.

That's one of the reasons why we got RTS isn't it..for his try saving abilities that his youtube highlights are full of.

You want everyone to make their tackles that's a given BUT any fullback really shouldn't be making any tackles. To get to the fullback you have to beat the Frontline defence so the focus should be who was beaten first.

Also, bloody hell, get Lolohea off the wing. Absolutely wasted there!!

He's not as good a winger as Wright. Wright to me is plain, just does his job. The more Johnson bombed for him, the more this highlighted Loloheas inability to jump and catch which is what we look for now in a modern day winger.

Where would you put him?

HALVES. No he might not be a good half but I think he's better than Robson. Robson dummies and ran quite a bit last night, my question is..who would you rather watch dummy and go? Robson or Lolohea?

He'd be a very good fullback but we got RTS. The Panthers could use him. Mate he goes to the Panthers at fullback and don't be surprised if Lolohea starts shining.

The other factor to last night of course is that the Broncos are just a better team than us right now

HARD.

 

[Meth]

I thought Robson went ok last night.

 

[Rich102]

Robson went OK and we have seen Lolohea at half before and it ain't pretty.

Mr A. I think you may well be right.
Dummy spitting time.

 

[Cheops]

Johnson was voted MoM on this forum last week. Are we really arguing that he cracked the shits about wearing 6 in the last 5 days?

 

[Fast Eddie]

That's one of the reasons why we got RTS isn't it..for his try saving abilities that his youtube highlights are full of.

You want everyone to make their tackles that's a given BUT any fullback really shouldn't be making any tackles. To get to the fullback you have to beat the Frontline defence so the focus should be who was beaten first.

Load of rubbish

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Robson last night let's see...

Start from the start of the game

The Warrior completed a well worked set with a great platform for the halves to pull off a variety of last tackle options. They give it to Robson for his FIRST TOUCH ..oh he kicks it dead.

Robsons second touch..oh he runs it! BOOM he gets smashed.

Later in the game..

'Out to Boyd..Boyd burns Robson' oh Robsons let in try. Robsons let in a try a week so far. Wow!

Look there's a few other things he did that I missed including good ones. He does try his best and that's what most people want. I can't take away his efforts but I can't help but feel he has not improved our attack so far. So far nothings changed other than we have an old man with experience.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Load of rubbish

You definitely haven't played League ever.

 

[Fast Eddie]

You definitely haven't played League ever.

I have an expectation that the guy trying to be the best fullback in the world should be improving defensively in one on one situations. Ala the best full backs of the last 7-8 years

Oh they made a line break, don't worry about being an effective last line of defense RTS because we just want you to be good on attack and can blame the guys in the defensive line who also missed a one on one tackle anyway. Can already tell from your posts you just want blame everything on certain players and have no critcism in the slightest of others. Tomkins copped grief for it and RTS should as well.

 

[ozbash]

I'm wondering if SJ was playing to a plan..

Robson seemed to be the designated paymaker and SJ was left with the scraps..

worst Ive seen him play in a long time.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Load of rubbish

I have an expectation that the guy trying to be the best fullback in the world should be improving defensively in one on one situations.

Oh they made a line break, don't worry about being an effective last line of defense RTS because we just want you to be good on attack and can blame the guys in the defensive line who also missed a one on one tackle anyway. Can already tell from your posts you just want blame everything on certain players and have no critcism in the slightest of others

EVERYONE KNOWS that the first LINE is to blame for any LINE breaks not the fullback. The fullback did not make the initial miss tackle, he is the one to sweep up some one ELSE'S mistake. That's what you hear the expert panel say, the coaches say, those in the know sat..it's just plain and simple.

Like I said before, it's a given that ALL players should make their tackles even the fullback BUT if the defence is solid and everyone is making their tackles then the fullback shouldn't have to make any.

Other thing is when the fullback makes a tackle it DOES NOT MEAN it's over especially if it's midfield. RTS makes a tackle and there's tackles left for the attacking team it's still on.

 

[JJ]

Think we were having these discussions last year when Johnson disappeared and everything revolved around Townsend... that points to the coach...

But Robson's a good veteran, he knows his role (even if the coach doesn't) and the importance of Johnson - I'd fully expect the two of them to work it out.

I was 100% convince McFadden should only have been an interim coach (and Elliott was a ridiculous appointment) - nothing has changed my mind - if it makes us less attractive to top coaches, so be it, we have never attracted any anyway... he should go, and they need to get someone experienced in. This is (on paper) a talented group, and there's a limited time to make an impact - I've seen nothing to suggest that will happen with McFadden as head coach, unfortunately

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

And Billy Slaters the best fullback in the world. I don't care how good RTS goes but he's not my favourite.