LIVE GAME Round 5 v Broncos

[The_Patriot]

He has been good defensively over his career. His positional play is questionable and it looks like he’s wary of injury this year. He will be fine he’s a star in the making. He’s only played 43 games in his career. Too much expectation is placed on young players by Tigers fans it’s ridiculous.

It's not too much to expect your star fullback to follow the ball and be in position to cover if a break is made etc.

You only have to look at Leeds, Jack, Brasher and Hodgson to see what should be done. We have a long history of outstanding defensive fullback play. Bula needs to do better and accepting it is the thing that is ridiculous here.

 

[clontarfkid]

I agree , bula is not the gun that people think he is , his defence is really bad when needed , u need to open ur eyes , he is a great runner of the ball , but defence he is very poor

He has the talent and athletism to be a gun,but hes just not improving..like many
Best season was his first
Maybe we send him to Bellamy for 12 months too ...Bud still may play a role next year

 

[king_sirro]

I find Benji pretty impressive in the press conferences

 

[liltiger]

Willison changed the game man is a beast. Goal kicking also crucial. Refs awarded two tries one dropped by broncos and the other 3m forward.

I'll add Walsh's cut out pass to set up the try before the try that was scored with the 5 metre forward pass to Billy Walters. Walsh passed it 1 metre infront of the 20 I think it was and the winger caught it on about the 17 metre mark.
3 garbage tries allowed that killed us, but the main thing us we crack down on highshots, even when the ball carrier is at the defenders waist height. Velandys and Abdo need to piss off, they've ruined the game for us supporters to appease the corporates for their money and media coverage. Don't get me started on the quality of ref's we are producing, or should I say total lack of quality, iv never seen a generation of N.R.L refereeing this bad ever, prob starting at about 6 or 7 years ago. Last decent ref running around was Badger, they punted him, should have realised then it was a sign of things to come. More and more I'm starting to think this N.R.L commission is a cancer on the game a level of beaurocracy that is totally incompetent. Just like all govts. Left and Right.

 

[liltiger]

My take from today. Benji will make it as a coach.

I was on the fence in the preseason still not sure, guess cause of the way he got the gig. Though the last 5 weeks have shown the improvement in the squad, in terms of personnel and ability to play on the pitch that prove to me he knows what he's doing. We have improved out of sight from last year, we are 2 - 5 to start the year, but could very easily be 4 - 1. No one would be surprised, he and his assistants and Richo have done an amazing job. This week will be his biggest test though, the lads had a white hot crack last night and the scoreboard didn't reflect it, he needs to motivate them not to drop their chins and believe in the direction they're heading to get up for next week's game. Only issue I have with Benji, he has a lot to learn about using his bench effectively. He will get there eventually, iv seen enough that prove to me Benji knows his stuff and is a first grade coach.

 

[JC99]

He has the talent and athletism to be a gun,but hes just not improving..like many
Best season was his first
Maybe we send him to Bellamy for 12 months too ...Bud still may play a role next year

Bula is not improving? Not sure what you're watching. His playmaking ability had improved leaps and bounds - which was also pointed out by Benji

Last year he had a habit of playing sideways and running his outside men out of room. This year he's straightened up much better and set up his outside backs plenty already.

Still very safe under the high ball and a great runner of the footy too. Bula is the very least of our worries in the team, and he won't be getting dropped any time soon.

There's not many "defensive" fullbacks in the league at all, but he's not bad at it either. Last two seasons he's been up the top for try savers.

 

[liltiger]

I find Benji pretty impressive in the press conferences

Even in the press conference the day before the game last week, I was thinking he is totally different from the Benji who was on fox. Now he just shuts down stupid questions I love it. Last night in the presser they asked him about the crackdown, he said I really don't know, then they asked Api and Benji said he's got nothing to say he doesn't know either. Lol.

 

[liltiger]

I'd like to see Luke Lualilii stay
If that means moving Turuva to centre, so be it.

🤝

I don't know Demps Turuva has been one of our best every week. Why couldn't we train Luke in the centres, were light there atm.

 

[Ron Brodrick's Spirit]

Bula is not improving? Not sure what you're watching. His playmaking ability had improved leaps and bounds - which was also pointed out by Benji

Last year he had a habit of playing sideways and running his outside men out of room. This year he's straightened up much better and set up his outside backs plenty already.

Still very safe under the high ball and a great runner of the footy too. Bula is the very least of our worries in the team, and he won't be getting dropped any time soon.

There's not many "defensive" fullbacks in the league at all, but he's not bad at it either. Last two seasons he's been up the top for try savers.

His effort on the Hunt chip kick was Ron Massey level poor. He needed to either commit to the ball or to smash Hunt, instead he just stood in no man's land.
He doesn't have the positional sense of a top fullback.

 

[Speed2burn]

His effort on the Hunt chip kick was Ron Massey level poor. He needed to either commit to the ball or to smash Hunt, instead he just stood in no man's land.
He doesn't have the positional sense of a top fullback.

Yes this was a big ick last night… Reynolds had so much space and room to move with that chip kick.

People see him do good things in attack then completely forget how awful his positioning play is in defense sometimes

 

[Needaname]

There's not a fullback in the league that stops that 40/20 it was inch perfect. Bula is in a decent position and gets on his bike early, and doesn't get near it.

Couldn’t see it on tv, are you saying he was positioned well for it?

 

[JC99]

His effort on the Hunt chip kick was Ron Massey level poor. He needed to either commit to the ball or to smash Hunt, instead he just stood in no man's land.
He doesn't have the positional sense of a top fullback.

I don't agree but that's okay. It was a perfect kick and a perfect bounce, much more a showcase of Hunts skills than Bulas lack of effort

The defensive side of his game does need work, and it will be worked on and improve.

Just seems very strange to me that out of everything, Bula is the one getting singled out every time we lose when he's been doing a pretty good job overall

Everyone can have their opinion 👍🏻 I think he's far too good to be talked about being dropped. Onto next week

 

[mtd#2]

blows my mind people think we are the same spooners as last year after some of our efforts. Time will prove you wrong

 

[JC99]

I think if full strength we will beat Knights next week

 

[Ron Brodrick's Spirit]

I don't agree but that's okay. It was a perfect kick and a perfect bounce, much more a showcase of Hunts skills than Bulas lack of effort

The defensive side of his game does need work, and it will be worked on and improve.

Just seems very strange to me that out of everything, Bula is the one getting singled out every time we lose when he's been doing a pretty good job overall

Everyone can have their opinion 👍🏻 I think he's far too good to be talked about being dropped. Onto next week

I think a lot of his deficiencies can be traced back to not being taught the fundamentals at an early age.
The try that he did his best to bomb by trying to run Turuva out of space showed an inability to draw and pass that players should've mastered at a junior level.

 

[Needaname]

Of course it is play on if he runs past the decoy. I don't agree he did at all.

https://imgur.com/a/BhA0yk5

Well it is possible to Captains challenge it.
It certainly looked like it was too easy for the forward to crash over due to something from that inside runner during the live game. Broncos are as untouchable as Bennetts Bunnies though.

 

[Sunstripe]

Well it is possible to Captains challenge it.
It certainly looked like it was too easy for the forward to crash over due to something from that inside runner during the live game. Broncos are as untouchable as Bennetts Bunnies though.

Can't captains challenge a try. Video ref has already looked and confirmed

 

[Vicious]

I think a lot of his deficiencies can be traced back to not being taught the fundamentals at an early age.
The try that he did his best to bomb by trying to run Turuva out of space showed an inability to draw and pass that players should've mastered at a junior level.

He was in the middle of the field when Hunt received the ball 20m in from the touch line for the 40/20.
A fullback should always been in line with the kicker and if that was the case he probably would have got the the kick on the full.
I don’t mind how Bula is playing so far this season, but we need a few match winning games for us real soon, preferably next weekend against the Knights.

 

[magpies forever]

blows my mind people think we are the same spooners as last year after some of our efforts. Time will prove you wrong

I agree. We have got better and I would say no longer spooners- anywhere 14th through 10th at end of season would be a pass mark. Reckon we are in the higher spots of the lesser 1/2 of the comp teams.

We still have too many players in the 30 roster spots that cant do it and will be replaced at seasons end, our depth resultantly will be tested with suspensions and injuries and we are already carrying Olam with no decision yet on medical retirement compensation for salary cap purposes- dont know what the hold up is there but it is starting to look ominous.

 

[Needaname]

I'd need to watch mate, but it was first play after half time on tackle 3 or 4 so either way it was unexpected

Are you sure? ball shifted to blind on tackle 3 to the 5/8 inside of the 40.
my question was did Bula react once the kick was made or did he come across with the ball when it went out to hunt.
If he was following the play he would of got there that’s the point I’m making and it’s more a general question, do fullbacks move across with the direction of the ball or generally stay middle of the field until plays 4 or 5?