Team for the Broncos

1. Daine Laurie
2. Junior Tupou
3. Brent Naden
4. Asu Kepoau
5. Charlie Staines
6. Adam Doueihi
7. Brandon Wakeham
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Api Korisau
10. David Klemmer
11. John Bateman
12. Isaiah Papalili
13. Joe Offa

14. Luke Brooks
15. Fonua Pole
16. Justin Matuama
17. Shawn Blore

I do believe Wakeham calling the shots with AD playing the running 6 role could work… not like we’re spoiled for choice and Laurie in the front line defensively would be troubling

Btw idk if this is an unpopular opinion but Twal has dropped his form massively and doesn’t deserve to be picked
 
The forwards pick themselves but the backline is like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic without having many alternatives
Bateman seems to be everywhere makes me wonder if he could be no 6 a bit like Munster Douehi at best is a center and Kepoa at best is a bench utility he's a better 2nd row so radical shake up
1.Laurie
2.Staines /Toa
3.Douehi
4.Brooks
5. Tupou /Nofo
6.Bateman
7.Wakeham
8.Utoikimano
9.Korisau
10.Klemmer
11.Papalii
12.Kepoa
13.Pole
Bench : Blore ,Twal, Matamua ,Simpkin
Got 4 wingers there but the ball never gets to our wingers as the play dies before it gets that far so which ones should be who's best under bombs
I've moved Douehi and Brooks away from the playmaking in the center of the field as last throw of the dice with instruction RUN - DRAW -PASS (put wingers into space )
We should have the same spine as last game, with Brooks at 6, Wakes at 7 and Doueihi at 1. Needless to say Api if fit is locked in.
 
Laurie can go, imo.
He's not a first grade standard player imo.

Until we can recruit a new option, I'd be happy to roll with...

1 Staines
6 AD
7 Wakeham

AD obviously under strict direction to have a crack or be replaced / contract terminated.
I’m not against that but Sheens is so pigheaded and now sees AD as a fullback.
 
Brooks will be in the team imo because to not pick him will make Sheens look like a complete hypocrite because it wasn't that long ago that he publically went to bat for him stating that it was borderline bullying etc. He will look like real goose if he drops him now based on a posse of fans calling for it. Have to say Sheens dealings with the media of late have been troubling.
 
Brooks will be in the team imo because to not pick him will make Sheens look like a complete hypocrite because it wasn't that long ago that he publically went to bat for him stating that it was borderline bullying etc. He will look like real goose if he drops him now based on a posse of fans calling for it. Have to say Sheens dealings with the media of late have been troubling.
Bugger looking stupid or a hypocrite… he’s the coach and getting paid to pick players that have the best likelihood of winning us games.
If he can’t do that then he should step aside and admit how stupid he was for giving himself a job he can’t handle.
In saying that I agree with you that he’ll probably pick him.
 
Brooks will be in the team imo because to not pick him will make Sheens look like a complete hypocrite because it wasn't that long ago that he publically went to bat for him stating that it was borderline bullying etc. He will look like real goose if he drops him now based on a posse of fans calling for it. Have to say Sheens dealings with the media of late have been troubling.
From the outside looking in, it seems Brooks' entire career has been connected to overtly sympathetic shows of encouragement and support from the club.

There's always been excuses for him and reasons not to drop him.

How many times have we heard the same trite excuses and reasons he has to play? Off the top of my head:

- He hasn't had the forward pack (he certainly does now and they've been doing their job admirably!)

- it's been coached out of him

- it was the coach (is it 5 now?)

- it's his halves partner (I think they said it was 15 on the weekend. 15!!! 😳)

- this year he's "been given the keys" (audible groan at that one)

- they don't want someone they're paying 7 figures (or high 6?) for playing KOE

- Sheens has backed him, selling the story that this year will be different because he sees something he can unleash, and we've got Benji now!

- playing him at 6 will unlock his running game (okay, I think this worked for 2 weeks)...

And so on....

FFS. What is the common denominator here?

Maybe actually trying a different approach and dropping him (like he should be) will help?! I don't think I've ever heard of him even remotely being put on notice to perform.

Who cares what he is paid? Right now not only is he taking up around what, 8% of the cap ($1M of $12M?), but he is killing the team's attack. All. The. Time!

So they are paying through the nose for a player who is a large reason they're losing.


Seriously, the forwards have done an amazing job this season getting the side into great attacking position (how many tackles do they take in the opposition 20m?) and neither Brooks nor Doueihi have capitalised.

Yet Bateman does great work that leads to a textbook centre's try; Guess he was sick and tired of the forwards doing all the work for no result, so figured they may as well set up the tries as well.

Imo they've tried everything with him. Except drop him!
 
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Brooks will be in the team imo because to not pick him will make Sheens look like a complete hypocrite because it wasn't that long ago that he publically went to bat for him stating that it was borderline bullying etc. He will look like real goose if he drops him now based on a posse of fans calling for it. Have to say Sheens dealings with the media of late have been troubling.
Based on his performances**
 
Wakeham is a specialist half.
In fact he's the only specialist halfback we have.
Brooks looks totally fried so we really need to decide who can play five eighth next to him.
AD and the team looked entirely different in the trial game they had together compared to what we've had dished up until now.
Only problem is that now Sheens thinks he's a fullback again.
If that is what he's sticking with I'd try Laurie next to Wakeham ... he trained there all preseason.
I literally addressed each of those points in the original post. In fact I also addressed your original point.

In the team I listed Wakeham was listed as half.

I named brooks as 5/8 stating that the only person playing worse than brooks was AD.

My final point was that Laurie looks disinterested and out the door. Even though he trained in the halves he clearly has on foot out the door.


Your replies to me have been.

Why did I name brooks if you said he is the worst player?

Wakeham is a specialist half?

Laurie has been training in the halves..

Do you read the posts you reply too, because I’m scratching my head.
 
I literally addressed each of those points in the original post. In fact I also addressed your original point.

In the team I listed Wakeham was listed as half.

I named brooks as 5/8 stating that the only person playing worse than brooks was AD.

My final point was that Laurie looks disinterested and out the door. Even though he trained in the halves he clearly has on foot out the door.


Your replies to me have been.

Why did I name brooks if you said he is the worst player?

Wakeham is a specialist half?

Laurie has been training in the halves..

Do you read the posts you reply too, because I’m scratching my head.
You must be Sheens then…. because I said the only way AD is not 5/8 is because Sheens is too pigheaded to put him there.
That’s the only reason I’d put Laurie there… but you think he’s ‘disinterested’ and ‘has his foot out the door’ anyway.
If that’s the case Brooks also has his foot out the door and, in your opinion he’s our second worst player (my mistake originally thinking you said he was the worst) and doesn’t have a contract for next year.
Reading the comments after the last game I think Brooks well and truly passed AD as our worst player though.
On top of that AD does have a contract and will be here next year… so why persevere with Brooks?
 
We should have the same spine as last game, with Brooks at 6, Wakes at 7 and Doueihi at 1. Needless to say Api if fit is locked in.
What's your reasoning ? Did you watch last game ? Our entire backline 1-7 was completely in effective and that's playing behind a good pack .Both tries totally created by forwards Bateman and Api
 
What's your reasoning ? Did you watch last game ? Our entire backline 1-7 was completely in effective and that's playing behind a good pack .Both tries totally created by forwards Bateman and Api
Teamwork can improve the performance of individuals. We have had a personnel change to the spine every week for the last 6 games. This is a sign that our coach thinks change is somehow going to produce a miracle. It won’t.
Sheensy, if you’re reading this...pick and stick mate. Forget about the wasted trials, now is not the time to be looking for combinations.
Build the team. That’s what you’re good at!
 
I named brooks as 5/8 stating that the only person playing worse than brooks was AD.

They are both pretty bad but at this point I'd have Brooks above AD anywhere in the spine. I'd love to see Brooks at fullback but I figure he'll be a running half again.
 
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