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But two teams seriously in the crosshairs coming out of the weekend. That was Michael Magguire and the Broncos. They’ve lost five of their last six. Cam. Yep. The latest against the Dragons. And it was at Suncorp Stadium, which used to be a happy hunting ground for them. Yeah. Where’s the fix here? Well, I’m not too sure because if you look back to the way they started the season, they look they look pretty sharp and people were saying, “Well, okay, Mag’s gone up there. He’s made a huge difference to their preparation. He’s given them a hardened edge.” But the last what what what did you say? five, six weeks. Yep. It’s It’s not great watching at all for Broncos fans. And on on on paper, they it’s a it’s a team that should be winning. Yeah. Well, that’s that’s rugby league, though, isn’t it? There’s there’s a lot of great teams on paper, but um you got to make it count when you get out there on the field and and the Broncos just aren’t making it count at the moment. They’re putting themselves in great positions um throughout a lot of these matches that they’ve lost. like they’ve had opportunities to win games, but they’re struggling to find ways to to continue momentum um to make the most of the opportunities that they create for himself. And when things start to go against them a little bit, they just they struggle to find answers. They head into the buy now, Gus, what what should the approach be from from Min and the coaching squad? Yeah, look, there’s a thing in most professional sports, but particularly football, where we compare systems with talent, and we think the system beats talent every time. I think the Broncos rely heavily on talent. Talent can get you through to a grand final. Talent can also see you run second last in a compet. That’s just how it works. Unless you’ve got system. Now, the man at the end of the table was the greatest system player the game has ever seen with probably one of the greatest system clubs, the Melbourne Storm, who had a system and a culture and uh uh and and a principlebased game that stood the test of time and stood under all pressure. Um, the Broncos just haven’t developed that in their persona and in their character and in their football talent. You know, they can beat anyone. They can go out and score 40 points and a half of football because they got talent. They scored tries on the weekend because they’ve got talent, but their system breaks down under pressure. They haven’t got origin to blame coming into this period either if things still stay right. Was it Patty Carrian, Payne Har? Outside of that, it’s pretty lean there as well. So maybe there is an opportunity here for Brisbane to actually in a rare scenario gain some momentum at this time of year. Well, there is brace. Um, and particularly with Ezra Mam coming back on the weekend. He was he was Broncos’s best player. I think he he set up three, scored one himself. Um, was in the thick of the action for pretty much the entire game. So, great to see Ezra back and playing well. Um, you know, he served his time on the sideline, nine weeks. It was one game in reserve, great, of course. But, um, yeah, I think I think it was a pleasant surprise for everyone watching that game to see how well he come back. I think with the Broncos, there just needs to be a bit of accountability. Not a not a sorry. I should say a lot of accountability from the players. A lot of the talk you hear about or coming talking about the Broncos when they fail to win these games. You look back over the last few years, right? So Anthony Seabold too technical. Kevin Walters, you know, wanted to be everyone’s friend. Now imag go and play football. They’re all talented footballers. They’re all NL players. Just get out there and get the job done. So, it’s matched with the headache in Brisbane in Newcastle. It’s Adam O’Brien. Gus, his side. From their last eight matches, they’ve won one. The latest was against Paramata the early kickoff on Friday night. Is there a fix for this team? Well, it’s the same thing. I mean, there’s talent in the team. It’s a little bit confusing as to why they’re struggling to score points the way they are. They’re really, really finding it hard to compete. And once they get a couple of tries down, it starts to get into their head. It gets into their body language. It gets into the way they play. Um, and again, the cheapest thing is to to be blaming the coach or putting out rumors that things aren’t happy. That usually happens in losing situations. It comes down to the team and the players. It comes down to the system. It comes down to what they can believe in and what they can execute. And right at the moment, they just look like they look lost. They look like a lost football team again without a personality. And the halves situation just hasn’t helped either as well. You see Dylan Brown playing against his future team the other night and he was having a bit of fun out there. But that’s next year. That’s not now. Chopping and changing only hurts. No, that’s right. Um but Adam O’Brien came out and spoke about last year he was criticized for chopping and changing which which it happened on numerous occasions throughout the year. This this year he’s tried to stick with a couple of players in that number six and seven jersey and there’s criticism again. So he feels as though that you know what he does is whichever way he he goes in that half situation, he’s he’s cop some flack. But um they’re a strange team. Newcastle, you know, I’ve called a few of their games this year and at times, you know, when they’re at their very best, they can compete with every team in this competition, but when they’re not at their best, there’s such a big gap. you know, the drop off from their best football to their worst football. There’s such a huge gap and you just can’t afford to show up like that every week, right? When you’re playing in this competition, your best is here and your worst is there. You have to try and minimize that gap between those those two. And now no Kalen Ponga with Origin this weekend. They go to Ba’is to play Penri. No grab the best with the hamstring. Well, you know, Origin could freshen Kalen Ponga right up. he comes in and has a big series that could benefit Newcastle when that comes back cuz he’ll have plenty of confidence and he’ll want the ball in his hands and once he’s played in the Origin series, he’ll come back to club football and that’ll feel very much easier for him. So, I think they should be glad that he’s off to Origin for this little period here. It might freshen him up and and get his juices flowing. uh the Knights, you know, there are games there where I think they’re trying real hard in defense, but this frustration of not being able to post points, not being able to come up with an attacking game that puts pressure on the opposition really eats away at them over the period of the 80 minutes, and it’s week eating away week to week now. Um, you know, they just got to push through it. There’s no one going to get you out of this. Mind you, I thought Paramata were really good on the weekend. I thought they played well. They’re getting better every week. So, um, give them some credit, too. But the Knights are in a hole and there’s only one way to get out of it. Let’s work together. Get it done. Michael Chas returning a little later on with Scuttlebutt Central and got a bit of scuttle surrounding Nath Calum Ponga. So really stay around for that one a little later. Uh now time to talk some origin. We talked plenty of it with the coaches and uh players etc. But the final word from you guys as they head into camp the big show next Monday night at Sunorb Stadium to preview it. But why is Queensland going to win the opener at home, Cam? Well, I think they would have learned a lot from from last year. If you think back to, you know, well, game two, they were embarrassed. Um, yeah, that was a big deficit against the Blues. Um, then they showed up at home and look, it I thought game three was a one of the best Origins I’ve I’ve seen in in a long time and I, you know, I was lucky enough to play in in a few um been out of the, you know, origin scene for quite some time now. It had everything. And if you think back to it, it was 2-0 at halftime, four all with 15 minutes to go. And it and it and it took two brilliant plays from Mitch Moses and Jerome Lui to to get the Blues across the line. So there wasn’t much between the two sides and and I think particularly losing that decider at home, I think that would have stung a lot of the players. I know it stung the coach. There’s no doubt about that. And I reckon he’s been thinking about it for about 12 months, Brace. So there’s no doubt that Billy um he’ll have this team well prepared as will the Blues. Um, but I just think, you know, some lessons learned from last year. Um, particularly in the preparation. I just think they’ll be they’ll be tiptop ready to go. To the other side of things, Gus, why are the Blues winning the other Yeah, I’ve got a great deal of respect for the fact that first game’s in Brisbane. I think that, you know, that’s a challenge that’s always up for every Blues team. Yep. I always say you haven’t experienced Origin until you’ve experienced it in Brisbane. It’s a different animal up there. And Brisbane will Queensland will know the importance of this first one. This is their only home game of the series. It’s it’s number one. They won’t want to go down one in the series. So, this will be the biggest challenge for New South Wales. I hope New South Wales just don’t rely on, you know, courage and heart and all those things we talk about with Origin. They’ve got to have a strategy. They’ve got to have a game plan. They got to stick to it. And I think that there are some issues with this Queensland side that they can exploit, but they’re not going to exploit them if they just go up there and play club football. They’ve got to go out and play origin football. They’ve got to have a strategy and they’ve got to have a something that they can focus on and rely on under pressure. And if they do that, I think they’ll be too good. If they haven’t got the strategy, if they haven’t got, you know, some principle based to what they’re trying to do on the night, then Queensland and Suncort will overwhelm them. It will eventually crack them and it’s happened so many times before. You go there without a strategy. You go there just trying to be tough and trying to be origin players. It’s nowhere near enough. You know, you’ve got to have a strategy and that’s where New South Wales need to get it right. All right. And the following night, right after the men’s opener is the women’s finale in Newcastle, too. The Blues sweeping the series, Gus. 3-0, baby. 3-0. No doubt. No doubt. Never in doubt. Well, they they’ve been super impressive, the Blues. They they really have. Um it’s amazing when you think about the fact that they haven’t played, you know, they’ve had to create their own footy play in camp. Yes. To get themselves primed. Yeah. the the buildup, the preparation um brace, isn’t it? They had no leadup games for it. So, you know, they both sides had squads where they played pretty much in-house games against one another for the final selection. And I don’t know, I I just think looking at the preparation that the Blues have had and the way that how fast they look, how powerful they look, they’re a big football side. They’re they’re full of athletes from, you know, 1 to 17. They just look like they’re a bit more physically prepared for the battle. Um, and it was quite ironic watching that game too, you know, coming off the loss in in Queensland for the Maroons. I’m thinking this is deja vu. This is this is exactly like last year. Queensland will get a win and we’ll we’ll tie it up and we’ll go to game three. Um, but once again, New South Wales way too strong. I think they showed their medal. I mean, as you say, they won the first game last year and then lost the next two. They won the first game this year comfortably. Then they’re down 6-0il after a few minutes in the second game. Mentally that could have cracked them. They really were patient. They took their time. Took them 18 minutes to get on the board with some Matau. After that it was pretty much one-way traffic. I think the underestimated part of this, the athleticism and the physicality of the New South Wales girls is really showing out in defense. Queensland are struggling to get line breaks and score points and that’s eating away at them because once they get sort of two tries behind, they lose contact with the with the result. This girl Olivia Kernik has been absolutely outstanding. What a what a player she is. Uh I just think they’re too well prepared at the moment and they’ve probably got a little bit of an edge talent-wise and um and that’s a good time to be going through. They don’t want to waste that. You got to go out and win 3-0. Don’t give Queensland a sniff. Have them wondering about it all summer trying to find some new players for next year. Don’t give them any incentive.
31 Comments
Broncos players need to stay off the white powder 🫵😠
It's the old case of team of super stars over a super star team
Regarding the Bongos, the roster on paper argument is so tired. There's only two players in that side who could claim to be among the best in their position. As a whole, they really don't have more than a handful of complete players.
Athletic talent can help with line breaks and flash skills but if that same talent lacks footy smarts and defensive steel, then it's not sustainable over 80 minutes for 27 weeks. Elite systems, strategies, footy IQ and pack mentality is what championship teams have.
I’m a bronco fan but the last few seasons it’s been a 1:10 pathetic excuse after another.
Penrith, Parramatta Newcastle and GC have only won 3 games all year. We should be talking about Penrith. Not Brisbane. NRL Media are a bunch of grubs
Get rid of the silly timer and side bar . Nothing more than clogging up the screen with distractions .
Mann broke a young girls hip and could have easily killed her, driving without a license and at fault
WELCOME BACK MANN
Taupau pushes a button on a computer
SEE YA
tried to pull their heads in by making example of Taupau but no one fell for it
They should be happy to be even in 1st grade and have a decent contract. Stop being soft 🐓and man up and give that jersey the pride & respect it truly deserves.
Too much Ego, too much Attituted at the Broncos and some players are just Lazy.
So all these experts that blamed Kevvie, give Madge a pass and blame the same (even better because of the lack of injuries) players.
On paper they're a top 4 team but how do u expect to them play when madge tires them out during the week that they play fatigued lol don't get me wrong madge is the best coach they've had since Bennet but they just need to sort out a good balance so the players don't play burnt out during game day
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth". If Madge can't get them motivated then maybe, just maybe, it's not the coach and not their attitude, maybe the players are just not that good, and are way overrated.
Gutho was fuckn amazing to be fair…….
adam o'brien is absolutely responsible for the problems at the knights. he has put together an absolutely horrid roster and he over relies on ponga and bradman best.
Let’s just get a bit real and admit that guys like hetherington Riki and carrigan are completely overrated and Payne hass is only 26 and still a few years away from being a hardened veteran leader. The broncos have needed veteran presence for a few years now and Campbell Gillard would have been a start but going into market for big Nelson asofa solomona or a Fonua Blake or fisher Harris would have been the best option
They are the BRONKIE ROCKSTARS 🤣😅🤣😅
Without Ezra Mam the Broncos are the worst kind of team … mediocre. With Ezra Mam, during an impressive return, they were , at least , competitive at times.
Reynolds is one of the experienced players (after Cherry) but unable to create points during clutch moments.
UP THE WAHS! THANKS FOR LOOSING AND MAKING MY MULTI 7 LEG A 7K WIN 😄 😊
Exactly what I have been saying, stop worrying about social media accounts, the noise, harden up and get in the grind
I know the Broncos and Knights have been poor but still not as poor as Titans
2:33
9 Weeks for putting a family in danger 😂
Let's unpack this why are the broncos losing? In fact they are in a WORSE position this time, than they were last year under ( Kevvie) Its the 2nd half were its all falling apart. Theyve been in front going into half-time in most of those losses 📉 😢 but then it goes to hell. Teams start catching up and putting points on them and they CHOKE. They panic and lose the plot. True or false. Reyno says its a mental thing! Shoud we buy into that. Fact is they look flat, tired, lethargic, fatigued. Thats 1 thing, the 2nd thing is they simply give up the ghost. They stop fighting, they put the sword away. They hope one player will ignite them. Its not to late to save there season but if they don't then its identical to last year. And let's not forget it was said they have too much talent to finish 12th and the coach was sacked accordingly. If you over- train players they will look tired – its like a racehorse to use an analogy you need to be freshened up. Here's the thing right ✅️ training should be serious, but it also should be fun and you need that balance. One other thing id add to the mix is this. How long do you persevere with underperforming players before you send a clear message ( i.e perform or you go to the Qld cup ) there is emerging great talent in mozer, black, tekura ecet. That have toiled away in Qld cup and cant get a start ? Like what the …. There paid big $$$ to perform these professional athletes – and in any occupation if you dont produce …then you are being watched and on notice. No one is above the game or bigger than the game itself or above being dropped. My thoughts anyway. I tell it like it is!!!! P.s Nurture the young talent bring them on steadily…but for goodness sake …give them a Go. Or like Tom dearden they'll walk and you'll lose talent. Young superstars need encouragement 🙏
Unfortunately Luai isn't playing
If this were the Premier League or Football, Maguire's job would be under immense pressure now or he would have been sacked already.
Carrigan is over rated, he runs the ball to the line and just stops
What excuses? Has any Broncos player actually come out & said they aren't enjoying training, that it's too hard, etc?
Broncos players blame everyone but themselves. They've been stacked with good players for years. They're just SOFT.
The old adage A champion team will always beat a team of champions.
Newcastle needs a new coach. AOB has had long enough with them and the results and playing style are terrible
Ezra man should be in jail, not sitting on the sideline for 9 months, no if he wasn’t good with a ball, unlike is he’d be there. They can’t keep blaming the coach, players need tot take accountability.