Brisbane’s NRL premiership campaign isn’t over yet, coach Wayne Bennett insists, but he knows the slump-hit Broncos have precious little time to turn things around.
The Broncos crashed to their seventh loss in nine games to Sydney Roosters on Thursday night, after a flying start to the season that had many pencilling them in for their second successive grand final appearance.
Brisbane have hit the wall, no doubt. But with five regular season games remaining supercoach Bennett believe they can still find some momentum heading into September.
“At the moment we are not thinking about premiership hopes and we are not thinking about finishing in the top four,” Bennett said of his sixth-placed side, who will still be in the top eight at the end of round 21 regardless of other results.
“We just have to get our game back together and if we can get our game back together the finals series is about momentum.
“We still have five games to go if we can get some momentum in the next two to three weeks after that.
“Melbourne showed that last year. They were struggling with three or four games to go (to the finals) all of a sudden they got some momentum. They beat us in Brisbane then they came and beat the Roosters in the first play-off game. The Cowboys got some momentum late in the season (last year also).”
Brisbane pointed to the absence of rep stars Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday (both suspended) and Matt Gillett (shoulder injury) for their lacklustre showing against the Roosters. The trio will all return for Thursday’s clash with St George Illawarra in Wollongong.
The losing streak indicates deep problems at Red Hill, but Bennett wasn’t keen on talking on those.
“I can put my finger on it, but you don’t have enough time to hear it,” he said.
“It is what it is.”
Joelly
Guest
PNG BF88 good comment, can the developers of Roar introduce a like dislike comment system, would go a long way.
Joelly
Guest
Vortex, you have three of your first pick (origin) forwards out, also coming out of origin, not sure what your expecting. I think they should be better than what they are playing, but i don't think they are far off the pace, support your club through the tough and they will deliver.
Dingo
Guest
It was 50-50 or 60-40 a try - what happened to play on if in doubt - if they had awarded it I doubt we would be having aby conversation and didn't the bunker get the memo about close games
Dingo
Guest
Broncos are still getting over SOO, if there were 6, 000 (posted crowd), four thousand of them were in the bar which is impossible
Jara W
Guest
He added about as much clarity as I expected. Lol!
PNG Broncos fan88
Guest
10 weeks ago, their starting GF forward pack were all fit and firing, injury free. Ever since then, this same line up has not been replicated. Round 22 all should be on deck. Our big losses have been when either Gillett or Glen have not been playing, when Milford & Hunt have been targeted in defence. Nikorima and McCullough missing in patches with Kahu & Reed in and out of the backline all year, causing reshuffles and throwing team cohesion out of sync. 5th or 6th by the first week of September is not so bad, keep the faith.
Clint
Guest
Archer's explanation is on NRL website now if you're interested.
scott
Guest
I agree we're really missing Gillett but man Sua can put in a decent shot. He smashed the Roosters' 6 hard enough to make him spew and eventually have to leave the field.
scott
Guest
They had the video paused.
Vortex
Guest
I'm at a loss how this club can turn to into an absolute shambles so fast. Shell of the team they were 10 weeks ago. The fans deserve to know what is really going on. This is the worst season I have endured being a Broncos fan, despite being still in the 8. Worst than the Griffin coached teams.
Jara W
Guest
Ridiculous explanation from the bunker either way.
Jara W
Guest
Ended up looking it up also. Yet came to no conclusion myself. Suppose that's not surprising considering the debate. Clints quotes are the NRL interpretation of the internationals rules. Specifically Section 6 (3) C. Which is titled "Sliding Try". Afraid that doesn't clear anything up in my opinion.
Alex Green
Roar Guru
Thanks Clint! Yeah I agree, from that excerpt it's how he got over the line that is the contentious point, not the arm extension. I don't think Napa 100% causes him to go over the line, but enough to allow the try. Especially as the on field call was a try.
Clint
Guest
Yeah that was the bunker's take on it on twitter. At full speed it doesn't look that way.
Joelly
Guest
Just back to that try with or without double movement, first it is great for the commentators to turn it up on these issues as it gets discussed and sorted for all and even refs where the rule is. One thing that gets me though is how many times of late are we seeing tackled players passing the ball from the ground, just because that particular arm didn't touch the ground. I have seen several cases where players are on their backs for a second and then pass the ball off, allowed to play on by the ref??
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Momentum stopped?
Clint
Guest
From the referees guidelines:: "A try will be awarded if a tackled player’s momentum carries him into the opponents’ in-goal where he grounds the ball even if the ball has first touched the ground in the field of play. - In the process of scoring a try a player in possession must not promote the ball from the position the ball has been grounded. - If the momentum of the player in possession carries him into the opponents in goal area, it will not be a double movement if the ball would have finished over the goal line regardless of any subsequent movement of the ball or the arm carrying the ball." So yes, you can promote the ball if momentum has taken you over the line. I feel that the 50/50 nature of this call boils down to whether you think that Napa causes 100% of the momentum that takes Ese'ese over the line (which Vossy seems to think) or if Ese'ese driving off his feet and rolling over creates the momentum. The bunker seems to think the latter. Here's their summary of the call from twitter: "Arm carrying ball contacts the ground. Momentum stopped. Promotes ball. Double movement"
jamesb
Guest
I don't follow Brisbane.
Jara W
Guest
This gave me a joyful mental image of George Rose trying to roll his way over from 20m out. ... Now that would be suspicious!! I have no idea what the rule is. Surprised someone hasn't gone to the book yet.
Fish
Guest
Yes agree. If he had not extended his arm the infraction would not of occurred. It is the constant exceptions that are driving the confusion. Next week a similar event will be deemed a try and the debate will rage on. It is not the referees that creating this, it is media buffoons trying to make mountains out of mole hills. Elevating themselves to heights that are not deserved. Since money became the driving force behind the game, and rules have been changed to capture the flippant café crowd that sway with the flavour of the day, our beloved game has suffered the Frankenstein syndrome. It is now a patchwork of confounding interpretations that see the core supporter shake their head so constantly they now have shares at their local Chiropractic clinic. Unfortunately I can't see any chance it will ever change, as it adds to the weekly drama that drives social and mainstream media, and let's face it, if it isn't being talked about, it is being forgotten.