PRE-GAME Round 7 - Broncos vs Sharks

[Alec]

Yep, no other half back options either. We need to be patient with him, he is still only 23, he is gradually becoming a better player. I have been his biggest critic but I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel for him.

He's 25 and Milford is just about 25.

 

[holdzy]

Perhaps Staggs could fill this role ?

He's a bit more robust than Kodi and is also pretty quick.

He probably could, jeez if we had one eyed Moose giving it a crack I'm sure Staggs could. But we need him for cover for Jimmy as well.

 

[Accept]

Perhaps Staggs could fill this role ?

He's a bit more robust than Kodi and is also pretty quick.

I agree and he is pretty sound defensively as well. Maybe someone should suggest it to Seibs because I guarantee the thought hasn't even crossed his mind.

 

[Accept]

He's 25 and Milford is just about 25.

Shit, he is too. Still young though and there isn't much point in axing a HB who has been in the role for two years. Especially, like I said before, there are no other options.

 

[Unbreakable]

Shit, he is too. Still young though and there isn't much point in axing a HB who has been in the role for two years. Especially, like I said before, there are no other options.

I wouldn't call 25 that young, especially if we're talking about in terms of halves making drastic improvements to their games. I can't really think of any halves who have taken massive steps forward after the age of 25, maybe Cronk?

To put his age in perspective, Thomas Dearden will be the same age as Kodi Nikorima in 2026.

 

[Accept]

I wouldn't call 25 that young, especially if we're talking about in terms of halves making drastic improvements to their games. I can't really think of any halves who have taken massive steps forward after the age of 25, maybe Cronk?

To put his age in perspective, Thomas Dearden will be the same age as Kodi Nikorima in 2026.

Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer a much better player than Kodi in that position and as you say, his improvement might be limited for the future. But he is currently the best HB in the club and we have to back him. Dearden isn't ready yet and the likes of SOS and Dargan aren't realistic options. I like Kodi with ball in hand but his game awareness and kicking game need vast improvement for him to ever excel in the position.

 

[winslow_wong]

Whoops, that'll teach me for not reading far enough back on the thread. Macca does need a breather for some impact type player for 20 mins but unfortunately that sort of player doesn't exist at the club.

I wish someone could take dummy half runs like Hodges used to. Boyd seems to do it now but my god is he slow off the mark. Those damn concrete boots of his

 

[Unbreakable]

I wish someone could take dummy half runs like Hodges used to. Boyd seems to do it now but my god is he slow off the mark. Those damn concrete boots of his

Bird does it well, he generally always gets 8-12 metres on his dummy half runs / runs out of our own end. What we really need is Roberts & Isaako to do it more, and more effectively.

 

[winslow_wong]

Bird does it well, he generally always gets 8-12 metres on his dummy half runs / runs out of our own end. What we really need is Roberts & Isaako to do it more, and more effectively.

Ah yes bird should definitely be doing it a lot more and make it his thing.

 

[Matheos]

Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer a much better player than Kodi in that position and as you say, his improvement might be limited for the future. But he is currently the best HB in the club and we have to back him. Dearden isn't ready yet and the likes of SOS and Dargan aren't realistic options. I like Kodi with ball in hand but his game awareness and kicking game need vast improvement for him to ever excel in the position.

What was the point of signing SOS on a 2 year deal then if he isn't a realistic option?

Yes I agree Dearden needs more time, but I see no logical reason why SOS can't be given a shot. Especially when our current line-up is struggling and we have one of the weakest halfbacks in the league.
Albeit brief, he surely would've got some benefit learning off Cronk and the structures that Robinson has in place.

Nikorima's performances so far in 2019 have been full of merit and effort, but he needs to be in a role that favours his natural instincts and running game. IMO, the team would be stronger and greater overall balance with Knik as a back-up utility. Would kill two more birds too by taking the game management away from Milf and getting Macca off the field which this forum is protesting for!

 

[tommy]

Yep, 80 mins was a bit much for him. He did great for a kid playing his 4th game but there were times when he was absolutely exhausted out there. I'd rather he play 50-60 mins keeping him fresh to incorporate his ball playing skills and that step that we all know that he has. Obviously, he has been instructed to hold onto the ball and carry it forward. That will change in time.

In regards to Haas playing the full 80 I think it was only because we were without Lodge and TPJ. This will be the 1st week we have our first choice forward pack I think, providing Lodge plays.

 

[Unbreakable]

An idea I see floated occasionally but not occasionally enough is Nikorima to Fullback. He played quite a lot of Fullback in his NYC career, and was very dangerous.

I can't think of a reason why we shouldn't do that, it'll add an extra element to our attack with his speed & ball playing on those sweeping plays on both sides of the field, his defense can't be any worse than Boyd's, so we can just chalk that up as a net break even.

It'll also obviously allow us to give O'Sullivan a chance at 7, who has been quietly the best of the 4 young halves in the ISC with his kicking game from the highlights and stats I've seen. Put Boyd on the right wing if we have to keep in the team, Isaako needs a break to go play 80 minutes at Fullback in QCUP to get his confidence back anyway. Hopefully by the time Isaako has hit his straps in QCUP we can just move him straight in to Fullback, unless the Kodi experiment is working unbelievably well.

 

[1910]

I wouldn't call 25 that young, especially if we're talking about in terms of halves making drastic improvements to their games. I can't really think of any halves who have taken massive steps forward after the age of 25, maybe Cronk?

To put his age in perspective, Thomas Dearden will be the same age as Kodi Nikorima in 2026.

Daley was still floating around in the centres and sometimes halves five years in and improved. Fittler was too, Fittler was a much better 6 later in his career.

Not sure if massive improvements.

 

[ostin86]

Almost time for the most exciting part of the week.

 

[broncos4life]

Almost time for the most exciting part of the week.

Exciting? You mean when the same team list is copied and pasted?

 

[ostin86]

Exciting? You mean when the same team list is copied and pasted?

Sooner or later his hand will be forced and changes will happen.

 

[Alec]

Su'a has been dropped, Lodge still out looks like.

 

[1910]

An idea I see floated occasionally but not occasionally enough is Nikorima to Fullback. He played quite a lot of Fullback in his NYC career, and was very dangerous.

I can't think of a reason why we shouldn't do that, it'll add an extra element to our attack with his speed & ball playing on those sweeping plays on both sides of the field, his defense can't be any worse than Boyd's, so we can just chalk that up as a net break even.

It'll also obviously allow us to give O'Sullivan a chance at 7, who has been quietly the best of the 4 young halves in the ISC with his kicking game from the highlights and stats I've seen. Put Boyd on the right wing if we have to keep in the team, Isaako needs a break to go play 80 minutes at Fullback in QCUP to get his confidence back anyway. Hopefully by the time Isaako has hit his straps in QCUP we can just move him straight in to Fullback, unless the Kodi experiment is working unbelievably well.

O'Sullivan's kicking was good on Saturday, because he got to do some. But it has been far from good.

Half his kick distance has been in one game- 248m v Townsville, up from 6m the week before, 185 and 75.

I said on Saturday night his kicking went well and it goes to the same point I keep making regarding Wynnum and Dearden they're not doing it enough in their teams.

Boyd is the only one that is kicking consistently in quality and amount.

Compare frequency between them and their partner.

Scarlett 83 v Dearden 18
Donovan 31 v Paix 25 v Pratt 20 v Nikorima 19- Dolphins are more equal but sharing it four ways.
Ahearn 36 v Dargan 19 v O'Sullivan 21
Boyd 45 and next best Magpie is 10