2018 Rd 16 V Broncos: Game Day

[Dr Zaius]

Abbey looked really good in the first half. 2nd half he looked shot. Something happened and his confidence went down the toilet. A fairly good reflection of the team as a whole tonight.

I thought he looked to be struggling to catch his breath in the second half. Pace of the game would be a few notches up on his usual.

I thought his form changed when he took a catch and got belted- massive crunch to the neck/spine as his head was ducked as a chest crashed into him. I remember at the time thinking he looked like he should have got a HIA. But it was effectively a huge accidental crusher type impact on the neck. He never looked right after that and dropped the next ball that came his way.

And the Broncos crowd booed him for getting up slowly after that. Literally booed him. They are the **** worst.

[BadnMean]

Me being a defensofile, I was particularly noticing Abbey's defence. There was a tackle he made right on our goal line late in the first half which stopped a try that I was impressed with. It was just before Croker put a shot on Jimmy the Jet. He got cleaned up by fellow Kiwi Alex Glenn about 15 minutes into the second half and it shook him for a while. But he is a FG rookie (5 games?) and I think a very good prospect for us. Good step. Ok speed. Willing to have a go. There were a couple of mishandles of bombs after the Glenn shot but I well remember Jack at the back doing the same as he was learning.

Just reading through the thread- I think that's the shot I was talking about. Saw it the same way.

Abbey was ok but I'd much rather see Rapana or Cotric at FB next year long term. Wighton to #6 if we can't buy Norman or a quality half.

[Timbo]

I think Wighton at 6 as a running half is probably the way to go. Hodgson to take more of the kicking.

[Roger Kenworthy]

Abbey looked really good in the first half. 2nd half he looked shot. Something happened and his confidence went down the toilet. A fairly good reflection of the team as a whole tonight.

I thought he looked to be struggling to catch his breath in the second half. Pace of the game would be a few notches up on his usual.

I thought his form changed when he took a catch and got belted- massive crunch to the neck/spine as his head was ducked as a chest crashed into him. I remember at the time thinking he looked like he should have got a HIA. But it was effectively a huge accidental crusher type impact on the neck. He never looked right after that and dropped the next ball that came his way.

Didn't notice that so could well have been it. He definitely looked to be on weaker legs that second half.

[Roger Kenworthy]

I think Wighton at 6 as a running half is probably the way to go. Hodgson to take more of the kicking.

I agree. The problem is just Sezer's horrible kicking game. Williams and Wighton would compliment each other much better on attack IMO. With no Austin would we be able to hide Williams in the line? I doubt it as we're terrible in covering our defensive flaws.

[Timbo]

I think Wighton at 6 as a running half is probably the way to go. Hodgson to take more of the kicking.

I agree. The problem is just Sezer's horrible kicking game. Williams and Wighton would compliment each other much better on attack IMO. With no Austin would we be able to hide Williams in the line? I doubt it as we're terrible in covering our defensive flaws.b

Yeah I can see that, but Williams as a long term fix just creates a whole new set of problems. It’d also mean we have no long kicking game at all.

[Green Taipan]

It doesn't matter what players are bought or which position players are select in, Ricky will cruel it. He has to go. Good summation of the game by Dan at Sportress. Asks questions that we would all like answered: https://sportress.wordpress.com/2018/07 ... itability/

[raiderskater]

I think Wighton at 6 as a running half is probably the way to go. Hodgson to take more of the kicking.

I agree. The problem is just Sezer's horrible kicking game.

?!?

I actually thought Sezer's kicking game was pretty good last night.

[Hazza]

The non use of Knight was staggering. Not the 1st time he's done it either. He must've just forgot about him. It's the only logical explanation

[sprintman]

Hard to believe but Stuart is actually getting worse.

[afgtnk]

I think Wighton at 6 as a running half is probably the way to go. Hodgson to take more of the kicking.

I agree. The problem is just Sezer's horrible kicking game.

?!?

I actually thought Sezer's kicking game was pretty good last night.

You think every thing Sezer does is good. He could literally kneel down, tie up his shoe lace, only for you to quickly interject in the game day thread to say 'OH GREAT WORK SEZER, BRILLIANT!!!'.

**** nut hugger extraordinaire.

[Roger Kenworthy]

I think Wighton at 6 as a running half is probably the way to go. Hodgson to take more of the kicking.

I agree. The problem is just Sezer's horrible kicking game.

?!?

I actually thought Sezer's kicking game was pretty good last night.

May have been okay yesterday but I think in general it's all over the place. Very inconsistent.

[Grün Maschine]

When tapine went off for hia there was footage of Ricky talking to knight as if he was giving him direction to come on (or telling him he wasnt playing) he must of forgot after that

[Kryptonite]

Can't wait for 2019, at least it won't be 2018. Plus we'll have doubled our poms and they seem to be the guys consistent so I've already settled on my new reason for being optimistic. We'll be a completely different team who has a mobile pack that promote the ball, get a lot of second phase for our dangerous backs to be on the end of and most importantly defend like demons, actually holding teams to 0. I can see it now...

I like your optimism but the dark cloud hovering over next year's team is this year's coach. Ricky has the unique ability to kill talent and enthusiasm in all his players with the exception of Hogdson.

Cant wait for 2019, at least it will not be 2018.

[-PJ-]

When tapine went off for hia there was footage of Ricky talking to knight as if he was giving him direction to come on (or telling him he wasnt playing) he must of forgot after that

I saw Knight running down the sideline as well.

Ricky sent him for a large latte with two sweetners..

[-GD-]

Liam Knight Supercoach update: he has been downgraded to 0 points.

[creevy]

Have finally worked out how to follow the Raiders and deal with the results.Had $50 on the Raiders at $2.30 with sportsbet, leading by 12, they pay out. Beautiful, up $65, rang at half time and had $50 on the Broncos to win at $4.50.Thanks guy's, a profit of $230. It helps to know your teams limitations. Jack gets paid, I get paid, all good.

[gangrenous]

Well at least someone is learning from the Raiders mistakes. Nice work creevy.

[Dr Zaius]

After last night there is a fair gap between us in 9th and the Broncos in 8th. History would suggest that the Top 8 at this point isn't the final Top 8. There'd have to be some extraordinary changes in form for that Top 8 to change however.

[-TW-]

Liam Knight Supercoach update: he has been downgraded to 0 points.

Emptied the tank

[LastRaider]

Just listened to the presser. Would it Kill Croker to show some passion and disappointment about the performance last night? Like come on, we just lost our chance of making the top 8! He infuriated me just as much as Stuart’s comments saying “it’s not mental”. Instead Croker just commented on how good the team rallied behind Abbey and mention nothing really in regards to the loss.

We know Stuart’s a lost cause, but it would be good to see our Captain come in filthy about a loss for a change!

At least Papilii showed some passion in his full time interview on Fox Sports. Papa called it as he saw it and you could see he was pissed off!

Finally if not being able to defend an error isn’t mental, I don’t know what is...

I hate our leadership and management at the moment. Just hate it.


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse

[Sun Coast Raider]

Think you're expecting a bit much from a presser. I don't even bother watching them for exactly that reason.

I think in general the players are lacking passion and committment - few exceptions of course and people show it differently I know.
Have a look at Hoffman at the Storm and the play he pulled off on the charge down - there's a committed football player. We seem to be lacking in that department.

[LastRaider]

Think you're expecting a bit much from a presser. I don't even bother watching them for exactly that reason.

I think in general the players are lacking passion and committment - few exceptions of course and people show it differently I know.
Have a look at Hoffman at the Storm and the play he pulled off on the charge down - there's a committed football player. We seem to be lacking in that department.

Yeah Hoffman is an old war horse. Team first, body second!

And maybe your right, I shouldn’t watch the pressers


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[Peter]

Croker sometimes looks like a school kid sitting next to their principal. Very carefully watching what he says after the customary hand over the face before his first response. This is the reason the journos rarely ask him more than question. Speak from the heart Toots. You'll be here longer than Stuart will.

[twistedbydesign]

The first thing that has to be said about this game is that the Broncs were dreadful. Honestly they're a poor side, and they were beyond awful in the first half. This game should have been well and truly over when the teams went to the sheds for the break.

The next point that's inescapable is how easily they were able to get back into the contest. If you hold a decent amount of footy and structure your play to attack our right edge defence then you beat us, it really is that simple. It has been for a year and half now, with no signs of improvement.

I can understand the criticism of Croker as a captain. I'm a fan of his, but his body language is horrendous. It's obvious that we need a change of coach, and it's increasingly hard not to feel that some changes within the leadership groups of players may be necessary also. That said, I don't go along at all with the criticism of his as a player. Our left side is vastly superior to its equivalent on the right both with and without the footy - Messrs Austin and Leilua head the list of players who should start looking up the directions to Mounties for next weekend. Crokes is no world beater, but he's a very strong performer week in, week out in the NRL.

Lastly, it was a massive shame to see Oldfield and Abbey make late errors. I thought they both filled in admirably, hopefully they keep theirs chins up for the games to come.

[raiderskater]

I think Wighton at 6 as a running half is probably the way to go. Hodgson to take more of the kicking.

I agree. The problem is just Sezer's horrible kicking game.

?!?

I actually thought Sezer's kicking game was pretty good last night.

You think every thing Sezer does is good. He could literally kneel down, tie up his shoe lace, only for you to quickly interject in the game day thread to say 'OH GREAT WORK SEZER, BRILLIANT!!!'.

**** nut hugger extraordinaire.

And you think every thing Sezer does it bad. He could literally single-handedly win us a premiership and you'd still be in here banging on about how **** he is.

[afgtnk]

..... except that he's actually crap, something which the vast majority of ours fans have now realised, and he will never, ever lead any first grade team to a premiership - let alone us.

[greeneyed]

Round 16 Gallery: Raiders v Broncos: https://www.pinterest.com.au/theghraiders/pins

https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2018/07 ... v-broncos/

Vote Now: Man of the Match Round 16: http://greenroomdigital.snapforms.com.a ... ek-round16

Round 16 Play of the Week: Nick Cotric Try: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2018/07 ... otric-try/

By the numbers: Raiders v Broncos: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2018/07 ... v-broncos/

[greeneyed]

Video: Abbey's special moment: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2018/07 ... al-moment/

[Green eyed Mick]

..... except that he's actually crap, something which the vast majority of ours fans have now realised, and he will never, ever lead any first grade team to a premiership - let alone us.

He is average at best but he's still much better than any of our alternatives.

[Foordy]

One man is happy and that’s Sutton - his record is nicely intact - is it 12 games straight to the Donkeys at Suncorp that he has reffed?

Mate, you have the wrong Sutton ... Chris was the ref on Saturday, not Gerard ...

and you certainly can't blame him for your boys not putting us away