General NRL Discussion

Brisbane had a good defensive tactic today. Try to allow as many offloads as possible and apply no pressure. It was a risky tactic, unfortunately didn't pay off today. We have the defensive players to make that tactic work like Roberts, Milford, Nikorima and even TPJ put his hand up today.

 

The biggest issue is the horrible recruitment. Bennett is still a top man manager, but he likes horrible players. His reasoning for recruiting Bird is because "he's a footballer". Well, sorry, that doesn't deserve 900k.

The biggest issue is the halfback, Broncos need to throw a lot of money at a 7 that will compliment Milford. I think Bennett will coach next year, and when he finishes up Boyd needs to finish too. The best option would be to throw big dollars at Ivan/Nathan.

 

Johns called that play brilliant, IIRC.

 

Nikorima at least tries to tackle. Some of the attempts by our forwards were laughable.

No clue how to do a 2+ man tackle. Everyone is fighting to be the legs guy giving easy offloads.

 

The exit was expected, just a week earlier than I thought. I wasn't completely shocked, I had a sneaky wager on Dragons, they were massive overs.

 

I think Bennett still has plenty to offer the game, however not as a head coach of a club side.

I think this is highlighted in the Jack Bird signing 3 months after losing Hunt. While the Bird signing in and of itself wasn't poor; in the whole scheme of things it was.

A side steered around the park by a 1 legged Boyd, a robot hooker, Milf and Diet Milf was a horror to behold. When looking back at the season, good plays/tries were all from individual brilliance of players, not a result of good gamesense, or structure.

Turpin is clearly the player we should be investing in. He's signed for next season but it's becoming apparent that Benny views him as a backup rather than someone to elevate. I'd hate to lose him as he's a player a side/gameplan can be built around, just as Parcell; the last hooker we let go is (though a different breed of player). McCullough is a good player, he just doesn't have the ceiling that Turpin appears to have. With the amount of loose cunts we have defensively, and the sheer size of our pack/bench; Macca could perhaps revive the DJ-style middle defence orientated player, while providing the utility of kicking and quality backup hooking options.

Broncos also need a legitimate organiser, even just an OK one. As Milf and Milf-Zero don't have an organizational bone in their bodies.

That's what I'd try if I were Broncos coach anyway.

 

Cleary was the difference in getting the Panthers back in the game.
The panthers have been going to Maloney in most of the games, Cleary has been taking a back seat, it was noticeable in the game. I’m not sure what the catalyst was but there was a point where he said stuff Maloney his off his game today I’m taking control of this team. Actually it may have been once May came into hooker, he was always looking to get the ball to Cleary as his first choice and then the team just started building off his energy.
Brooks has been in a similar situation all year with Marshall.

In my opinion, Cleary is very much a Trent Barrett, Mitchell Pearce mould.
Brooks is more like Hunt and Townsend. But the obvious thing is they are all halfbacks and need running half’s with ball playing skill to complement.
Having another organiser alongside them stunts their game.