LIVE GAME Round 5 v Broncos

[Ron Brodrick's Spirit]

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.

I agree.
Last night showed that we need an injury free season with the top 17 playing every week.
Luai holds that team together defensively with his scramble and his very presence holding those around him to account, he has to be there every week for us to be competitive.

 

[magpies forever]

I agree.
Last night showed that we need an injury free season with the top 17 playing every week.
Luai holds that team together defensively with his scramble and his very presence holding those around him to account, he has to be there every week for us to be competitive.

It will be interesting to see how we bounceback next week- our goal kicking this week was horrible and those points missed made the scoreline just that bit worse. Looking forward to seeing the squad named- hope both Luai, Doueihi and Fainu are fully fit. Not sure how Toa will go with any judiciary appearance.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

His mother may not have been kidding when she said that he is always injured.

I must admit that resigning Galvin is a must!
He is so resilient. Never gets injured and is in everything.
Latu, while being very capable, just hasn't shown that resilience to be on deck every week?
That worries me. Just at the back of my mind.
Wishing he could string10 full games in a row would be nice start, whatever grade.

 

[Needaname]

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

That makes sense. On that note they must of seen something in their 1000 angles that we don’t see in play. Did Paix already pass the ball in the shot you provided? I actually thought what happened live is that Paix ran past Piakura before passing to Williason.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

It will be interesting to see how we bounceback next week- our goal kicking this week was horrible and those points missed made the scoreline just that bit worse. Looking forward to seeing the squad named- hope both Luai, Doueihi and Fainu are fully fit. Not sure how Toa will go with any judiciary appearance.

Think our goal kicking suffered because Doueihi wasn't starting with the job, probably precautionary with the groin twinge, previous weeks he was kicking well.

 

[Sunstripe]

That makes sense. On that note they must of seen something in their 1000 angles that we don’t see in play. Did Paix already pass the ball in the shot you provided? I actually thought what happened live is that Paix ran past Piakura before passing to Williason.

He has passed it. Given we can't see it, Willison is either holding it or it's the split second before he catches it.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

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.

Or fullback in KOE. Better than Mason at fullback.

 

[Ron Brodrick's Spirit]

It will be interesting to see how we bounceback next week- our goal kicking this week was horrible and those points missed made the scoreline just that bit worse. Looking forward to seeing the squad named- hope both Luai, Doueihi and Fainu are fully fit. Not sure how Toa will go with any judiciary appearance.

Toa wasn't charged by the judiciary, so all good there.

 

[magpies forever]

Think our goal kicking suffered because Doueihi wasn't starting with the job, probably precautionary with the groin twinge, previous weeks he was kicking well.

Agree. We need Doueihi for the goal kicking alone. Our other alternates are not great although Api has his good days.

 

[innsaneink]

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.

Yeah... he looked after his (c)...i liked it

 

[Telltails]

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.

Bennett is his mentor afterall

 

[TurnStyle]

I agree with Patriots commentsz, not all of them. But Bula has been caught out positionally for the past two seasons. It isn’t getting better do what has hodgo done to rectify this???
I believe the fact that he’s not a talker goes again him defensively, if he was watching the attack more calling to players to cover gaps I think he would be better cause his head would be more in the game!

Yeh, definitely agree on him naturally being the quiet type being to his detriment as a fullback and probably something he needs to work on.

We can't say for sure, but it seems pretty likely.

 

[TurnStyle]

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

I tend to watch Bula more than other players as I played fullback myself. Could also mean I give him a bit more leeway because I know you can't be everywhere at once.

Still, I respect you have a different view and that's what we're here for. 😊

 

[NT_Tiger]

I hope Benji read Luai the riot act regarding his discipline. We need him out there every week.

 

[mikey]

Hate to sound like a cranky old man but jaysus i hate the video ref.

I cant describe how fun it was to score a try, the ref give it straight away and the joy as you cheered and jumped and yahooed!!

Now you score and watch 48 replays to see if they can find some obscure reason not to give it , it sucks the joy right out of the whole experience.

And what about those six again penalties?? No one even knows what they are for?? You're defending well and boom do it again for another six and boom again try! Its just awful and so not in the spirit of the game.

Now with Saurons eye always watching the most important part of your game is the ability to look agonised when a finger touches your face enough so camera guy gives you a penalty, Players need acting lessons not tackling practise!

I know I'm salty after last night but that experience sucked and tbf ive gone from glued to every game to barely being able to watch us play without throwing my tv out into the street!!

Thing that irks me the most is they can't adjudicate on forward passes - ffs. They can pick up the tiniest wobble of ball control but NO we couldn't possibly judge something so obvious as a 2 metre forward pass if the ref and the touchies miss it.

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

Piakura grade 2 suspension for the May tackle

 

[Telltails]

The 'Defence wins matches' tag line in the modern game after this weekend is fast being challenged by 'forward passes win matches'.
What was once considered good defence may land you in the sin bin.

 

[balmain boy]

Benji's atrocious use of the bench last night is one of the main reasons we lost. Sure the Broncos just have a shit tonne more talent than us but somehow Tony bloody Sukkar played 60 mins last night! And TDS played 20, despite a spine player going down. It made much more sense to move Api to halfback to help guide a struggling Galvin, than to short Doueihi to 5/8, push bird to centre and have Sukkar play out the game.

The fact Sukkar even came on street 20 mins is cause for massive concern. There was no need. Hunt not seen at end of first half was a massive mistake.

Why did we have a different goal kicker for our first 3 shots? Surely we knew who was first choice kicker? This level of disorganisation is unacceptable. Missing those 3 goals was extremely costly. If Doueihi was fit enough to take one he takes them all.

We still pass the ball to Twal far too much, especially in the opposition 20. It's a lead balloon to the attack every time he touches it, he's our least dangerous forward yet he touches it more than any other, even when we don't need a settler.

And Benji needs to get Galvin under control. He keeps trying to be everywhere all the time but then he ends up running in circles and contributing little. He's like a headless chook out there when he's running the ball. He doesn't have the pace Power or skill to be a threat when running, and he needs to be told to be much more selective when he runs. Leave the running to Luai, latu and api.

 

[TurnStyle]

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.

This is so OTT it's not funny. Did you see how the ball bounced? Shane Warne would've been proud.

If he wasn't near the line people would've gone insane he was not positioned for the bomb. Appreciate it for what it was - a brilliant play by a great half back.

Really feel like some people are incredibly harsh on Bula.

 

[stephen]

No doubt at all other teams have identified his poor positional play and laziness following the ball in defence.

It's going to continue to happen unless Benji identifies it and corrects it.

It's costing us.

Bula's a real athlete with unlimited potential but shouldn't be above criticism. Needs to work on positional play & overall focus.Just my opinion but get a vibe that he plays NRL because he can and it's a good earn. I wish he had a bit of Dylan Edwards' desire.