POST GAME World Club Series - Wigan Warriors vs Brisbane Broncos

[Socnorb]

This World Club (non) Challenge might need a revamp next year and beyond, particularly if they're thinking about playing it here .. Maybe the poms could start the game as our teams are boarding their planes to fly over there? It's worth considering ...

Biggest thing I took from watching this morning was how the squad is a notch or three ahead of where it was this time last year ..

Maybe they should play the teams who finish in the bottom 3

 

[kingpest]

Wigan were too worried about Roberts and Boyd sweeping out the back which allowed Gillett to slot through untouched. I think we should be able to utilise Matt a lot more this season as a result of Jimmy's speed.

Option 1. Hit Roberts early if there's space
Option 2. Hit Boyd with the sweeping play who can link up with the winger
Option 3. Go short to Gillo

 

[Rabbir]

If we don't win the comp this year I see no point in going over again.

 

[broncos4life]

I think you won't be able to carry a utility on the bench this year. Nikorimia is deserving of a spot but I don't think you can use a interchange getting him on for what could be 10 minutes or not at all.

Front row would be the only specialist spot I would carry and then mobile versatile forwards.

I think you definitely can with a forward pack like ours. They are all mobile and play big minutes, leaving a spot for Knik to come on and run amok around tired forwards.

 

[nostradamus]

Huge mention to those players that are regularly hated. Wallace, waddell and macca. Had awesome games!

Waddell broke some tackles and had an impact when he came on (not saying he had a blinder but did his job)

Wallace ran some nice lines, scored a try and played decent minutes. Wallace needs to still cut back the penalties but so do everyone else. (Gillett gave away more but it doesn't matter when they defend it.)

Thaiday is looking fit! He seemed to have some extra speed i haven't seen from him in a while. Put on some awesome shots, had hard runs. One momentin the game when he'd just came on really, he made a tackle put on the left hand side of the field (4th tackle), then put in a huge effort to charge the ball down on the opposite side of the field - chased it down and got momentum for his team by defusing their attacking kick. Huge play.

Macca had a brilliant game. I've been saying it this preseason, without Hodges stealing his thunder from dummy half, he now has the freedom to really make the position his own. Chose great times to run and grab metres, had at least one very good kick early in the count that put us in a great position to start our defense 10 out from their line.

Even boyd played with a new dimension.. had a couple of nice grubber kicks - one leading to a try, the other a line drop out.

Milf and niko really impressed me. They controlled the game really well. Good kicks in play. Elements i thought they'd struggle with but wow they stepped up.

Parker's goal kicking was perfect. 6 from 6.

**** the haters. That was an impressive preseason game!

Roberts was quiet but i knew that'd happen. Give him a while, don't put too much pressure on him to blow everyone away... It'll take time

Marty good to see you still have no love for your favourite PLAYER was the best forward on the ground by a mile and the only thing you can credit him for is giving away ONE and only one penalty! Maybe you should watch a replay of the game.:tape:

 

[pennywisealfie]

We are a very good team :)

 

[Tera]

How bloody good is Anthony Milford?

 

[Broncoman]

The future of the WCC might be in trouble if that is the best the North can offer. Wigan offered no resistance and it was just a training run. On a positive note it was good to see everyone chip in and do their part for the team. Nikorima did well at halfback so we have someone to depend on there if Hunt/ Milford go down.

Those commentators made the game far more entertaining their bias was awesome. My favourite was Oates's second try and they were saying 'how cruel we were turning defense into attack' nothing cruel about punishing a team for making cringe worthy mistakes inside our own 20 and bringing the ball up their end and showing them how it's done, just as being a good team. They gave me and my dad some much needed laughs.

 

[1910]

I think you definitely can with a forward pack like ours. They are all mobile and play big minutes, leaving a spot for Knik to come on and run amok around tired forwards.

That was my previous thoughts but I think now having seen training and games that teams are preparing to not do that but to have their key players- halves and hooker on then and them lift the tempo of the game. Not bring an interchange on to do it.

Getting a Nikorima on for that role could leave you short later.

I think that the plan will be more short interchanges of play between your three main players- similar to the Broncos try against the Roosters in the finals- McCullough, Hunt and Milford all interchanged with short passes up the middle third. As well as fast outside backs coming infield Slater like.

I think you'll only want 2 maybe 3 interchanges first half.

 

[kingpest]

We only have Niko signed for this season right? I'd say this will possibly be his last. With Milf and Hunt around he won't be getting a starting spot barring injury and he's too good to be a bench utility. After the way he played this morning and in parts last season, clubs will be sniffing. Titans in particular.

 

[Art Vandelay]

That was my previous thoughts but I think now having seen training and games that teams are preparing to not do that but to have their key players- halves and hooker on then and them lift the tempo of the game. Not bring an interchange on to do it.

Getting a Nikorima on for that role could leave you short later.

I think that the plan will be more short interchanges of play between your three main players- similar to the Broncos try against the Roosters in the finals- McCullough, Hunt and Milford all interchanged with short passes up the middle third. As well as fast outside backs coming infield Slater like.

I think you'll only want 2 maybe 3 interchanges first half.

8 interchanges only allows you to bring each of your bench players on for one stint before taking them off - and that's with absolutely no wiggle room for injuries. Today we'd used 8 interchanges after just 60 minutes. I think that will mean that at least one bench player will have to stay on the field for the remainder of the game when they come on, and I think that will be Nikorima. I also think there's going to be a few farcical games where the new interchange restrictions will leave teams a player short for a large period of time and more games where inexperienced fringe players named on the bench don't see any game time at all. I wouldn't be surprised if more coaches adopted St George's Merrin tactic of having their forwards with big motors play 50-60 minutes from the bench to save an interchange.

 

[Morkel]

It's a catch 22. By having a utility on the bench, it means our forwards each have to play longer minutes. Longer minutes means more fatigue which means it leaves us similarly vulnerable to a smaller, faster player tearing us up.

Hunt & Milford have shown they can can provide that spark, especially at the end of games. They will be helped by fresh forwards putting the opposition on the back foot.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Actually I need to make a mention about Blair. I'm a bit disappointed, both in the Nines and again tonight he didn't seem to want to take on the line much. I hope that's more of a "it's not the season yet" rather than his actual attitude because he's thrown some real hospital passes lately instead of just taking the hitup himself. He's putting pressure on others and it's caused some errors, it just doesn't need to happen. Hopefully Bennett snaps him out of that.

/end rant, I'll go back to basking in the win again.

He won't take on the line as much with McGuire fit. His runs increased 50% immediately when McGuire went down. He did the same thing at the Tigers when Woods was out for 5-6 games. When Woods came back, Blair reverted to the style of game he played before Woods' injury.

 

[winslow_wong]

How bloody good is Anthony Milford?

Biggest signing in the clubs history. Folau a distant second.

 

[benandfaith]

My recorder didn't record... so bummed.

Anyone know where I can watch a replay?

 

[Brett]

My recorder didn't record... so bummed.

Anyone know where I can watch a replay?

Here's some highlights for you at least...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnCUgfLveBE

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

Marty good to see you still have no love for your favourite PLAYER was the best forward on the ground by a mile and the only thing you can credit him for is giving away ONE and only one penalty! Maybe you should watch a replay of the game.:tape:

I don't understand this. . I was pointing out how well the most hated players on our team went. Wallace, macca, thaiday .... and how well much of other players' flaws seem to have improved over the off season (milfords kicking, boyd's contribution etc)

 

[Rhino1001]

Was very impressive by eden i am expecting him to get the wing spot and he deserves it, a lot of hardwork involved(moving from England and adapting to the weather). According to NRL.COM he made a game high 223m but thats mainly from his linebreaks. Also looked quite comfortable under the high ball