Round 11 V Broncos

[jodragon40]

Well the bookies have spoken Broncos the shortest priced fav to win this weekend $1.29, Dragons despised outsiders at $3.64. So why did I bother spending $180 on 2 tickets to watch the game live? We are up against it as they have one of the best game managers in the comp and arguably the best bookends. Are we about to watch another Anzac Day effort?

Personally I don't believe so.

Positives, Reynolds is playing injured, Mam will be underdone. Their bench has no backs, top heavy with forwards so the game plan is very simple , straight down the middle of the park, outmuscle us and pile on the points.

Our young forwards, Egan/Stewart/Tonga will be up for this game against a daunting but underachieving Broncos pack.

Negatives, Haas/Carrigan v JDB/Klemmer in the front row . JDB wont let us down, im happy he gets the nod to replace young Couchman.

The 3 key issues to this game will be:

1. Our engine rooms ability to be competitive,
2. when in possession our completion rate must improve substantially 73% wont cut it on Sunday.
3. Errors must be compatible.

If we cannot achieve these, then yes, expect another Anzac Day scoreline. Either way I will be there cheering the big red V on.

 

[redv13]

Well the bookies have spoken Broncos the shortest priced fav to win this weekend $1.29, Dragons despised outsiders at $3.64. So why did I bother spending $180 on 2 tickets to watch the game live? We are up against it as they have one of the best game managers in the comp and arguably the best bookends. Are we about to watch another Anzac Day effort?

Personally I don't believe so.

Positives, Reynolds is playing injured, Mam will be underdone. Their bench has no backs, top heavy with forwards so the game plan is very simple , straight down the middle of the park, outmuscle us and pile on the points.

Our young forwards, Egan/Stewart/Tonga will be up for this game against a daunting but underachieving Broncos pack.

Negatives, Haas/Carrigan v JDB/Klemmer in the front row . JDB wont let us down, im happy he gets the nod to replace young Couchman.

The 3 key issues to this game will be:

1. Our engine rooms ability to be competitive,
2. when in possession our completion rate must improve substantially 73% wont cut it on Sunday.
3. Errors must be compatible.

If we cannot achieve these, then yes, expect another Anzac Day scoreline. Either way I will be there cheering the big red V on.

$1.29 for the garbage the broncos have been putting up lately, no sure thing if Saints can just get their heads in the game right from kick off. I can smell an upset baby!!

 

[Eric]

$1.29 for the garbage the broncos have been putting up lately, no sure thing if Saints can just get their heads in the game right from kick off. I can smell an upset baby!!

My only hope is that if it's to be a loss, make it a relatively big loss so Flanno can't say something like, "we are almost there. Just a few mistakes cost us" and then not make any changes for the following game.

 

[redv13]

My only hope is that if it's to be a loss, make it a relatively big loss so Flanno can't say something like, "we are almost there. Just a few mistakes cost us" and then not make any changes for the following game.

It’s a balancing act making changes, sometimes the options aren’t quite ready just yet and we need to be a little patient which is frustrating.

Outside of the roosters game and maybe Canterbury, every other loss we genuinely should have won.

It’s more frustrating than anything cause they showed against Melbourne and Manly that they can do it. Couple of little things here and there in those losses and they could easily be sitting in the top 4, even top 2.

 

[Dragons Chris]

It’s a balancing act making changes, sometimes the options aren’t quite ready just yet and we need to be a little patient which is frustrating.

Outside of the roosters game and maybe Canterbury, every other loss we genuinely should have won.

It’s more frustrating than anything cause they showed against Melbourne and Manly that they can do it. Couple of little things here and there in those losses and they could easily be sitting in the top 4, even top 2.

Can't agree. I bet Souths fans are saying, "We would have thrashed them if we had Murray, Mitchell, Wighton, Arrow available." Parramatta are saying something similar about Moses, Melbourne about Hughes, Gold Coast about Tino, Campbell, Kino, Manly about Tom Turbo.

 

[RedV01]

Will this thing with Martin Taupau have them fired up and playing well, bitter, infighting and playing badly or make no difference? I'm betting it will be the first of those. Seems everywhere Ben Hunt goes, there is bitterness and infighting.

 

[Mug Fan]

Not expecting any late changes.

 

[GCRV]

Not expecting any late changes.

So we lose.

 

[TheRev]

The main positive is we are genuine underdogs, which is when we play our best.. but yah a lot would need to go our way, no Toby/Guler/Ryan leaves us very vulnerable in the engine room.

Genuinely its Mam im most worried about though, its those little nippy guys that break our defensive structure apart, lets hope for some rusty errors.

 

[Ryan]

The main positive is we are genuine underdogs, which is when we play our best.. but yah a lot would need to go our way, no Toby/Guler/Ryan leaves us very vulnerable in the engine room.

Genuinely its Mam im most worried about though, its those little nippy guys that break our defensive structure apart, lets hope for some rusty errors.

Why would you worry about Mam? According to our coach, his opposite number is the best defensive 5/8 in the competition.

 

[jodragon40]

Well It's raining and the forecast is continuing rain. So wet weather footy this Sunday. Thats means 73% completion rate won't cut it this week, unforced errors won't cut it this week.

The game will be played and won in the middle of the park by the more disciplined team. Glad our seats are under cover.

 

[jodragon40]

Why would you worry about Mam? According to our coach, his opposite number is the best defensive 5/8 in the competition.

Mam will be underdone. He will be prone to errors if we can pressure him.

 

[Ryan]

Mam will be underdone. He will be prone to errors if we can pressure him.

Won't be underdone, IMO. Been training at full fitness all off season and had an 80 min hit out in reserve grade last week. Why would he be underdone? But it's ok because according to our coach, we have the best defensive 5/8 in the competition directly opposed to Mam.

 

[jodragon40]

Won't be underdone, IMO. Been training at full fitness all off season and had an 80 min hit out in reserve grade last week. Why would he be underdone? But it's ok because according to our coach, we have the best defensive 5/8 in the competition directly opposed to Mam.

Well in my experience as a coach training time and actual game time are two entirely different things.

He is rusty, last week started slowly. He did get going against a team that will be lucky not to already be given the wooden spoon even this early in the season.

When he became fatigued he became lazy and really should have been suspended for a high shot.

In my view based on my own personal experiences he is well and truly underdone which helps us greatly.

 

[Ryan]

Well in my experience as a coach training time and actual game time are two entirely different things.

He is rusty, last week started slowly. He did get going against a team that will be lucky not to already be given the wooden spoon even this early in the season.

When he became fatigued he became lazy and really should have been suspended for a high shot.

In my view based on my own personal experiences he is well and truly underdone which helps us greatly.

Of course a real game is harder than even opposed training.

 

[jodragon40]

Of course a real game is harder than even opposed training.

Of course. There is no way in my view he will be able to play a strong 80 minutes. It should be part of our game plan to target him

 

[Ryan]

Of course. There is no way in my view he will be able to play a strong 80 minutes. It should be part of our game plan to target him

But again, defensively it should be fine because according to the coach, we have the best defensive 5/8 in the competition.

 

[Justadragon]

Go on tell us Ryan, you really love KF dont you

 

[Ryan]

Go on tell us Ryan, you really love KF dont you

Is it too much? I'm just alarmed by the way Flanno said Kyle has been one of our best.
I don't know about the coaching business. I thought Flanno was right to have a public dig at Ilias but was told in no uncertain terms by other forum members it wasn't. Is Flanno just trying to instill some confidence because for the moment, he feels we have no one better (which might be true)? I got the impression he really believed that which would be alarming.

 

[Justadragon]

Is it too much? I'm just alarmed by the way Flanno said Kyle has been one of our best.
I don't know about the coaching business. I thought Flanno was right to have a public dig at Ilias but was told in no uncertain terms by other forum members it wasn't. Is Flanno just trying to instill some confidence because for the moment, he feels we have no one better (which might be true)? I got the impression he really believed that which would be alarming.

Nah mate its not too much, I completely agree with you, I've just convinced myself that whilst Flanno is in charge , Kyle is untouchable. Dont get me wrong I dont mind the lad, he seems like a good bloke, he's just not up to being a halve in the NRL. Unfortunately the love of a son overpowers the love of a club. Flanno will fall on his sword and he can only blame himself.