The Brisbane Broncos will travel to Homebush in Round 8 as red-hot favourites to push back into the top four against a struggling South Sydney Rabbitohs outfit. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
The Rabbitohs enter this game in form that speaks volumes about where the club is at. While injuries haven’t helped their cause so far this season, they sit with just three wins – two of them coming in back-to-back weeks and outside the eight.
In fact, it’s just one win from their last four and their last start loss to the Bulldogs on Good Friday summed things up for them.
They haven’t had the consistency in attack or the strength in defence to compete with most sides they have faced. Errors have mounted far too regularly, and with the exception of a little bit of form from Cody Walker, who looks dangerous they have struggled to do much.
The fact they have only scored 122 points, which is the fifth worst in the league illustrates exactly how bad the attacking situation is at Redfern, and even with a stable side – having no changes for this clash – they are going to need to pull some magic out.
The Broncos, on the other hand have been inconsistent but still firing. Their performance two weeks ago to beat the Sydney Roosters was their best so far this season, before dropped ball, poor discipline and ordinary options almost cost them a win against the Gold Coast Titans last Friday.
After a somewhat dour start to the season, where it seemed Brisbane weren’t going to be able to score enough points to be a competitive force, they came out firing against the Roosters, running up 32 in an attacking display from start to finish.
If they can play anything like that, it could be a cricket score. Ben Hunt, who has been in strong form during the year though started his spell on the sidelines last week with injury, and it throws a spanner into the works.
While Kodi Nikorima will be better for the run, he needs to play his role alongside Milford if the points are going to keep ticking over for Brisbane, and a match against the vulnerable Souths defence could be the perfect way to get his season into gear.
Prediction
No Ben Hunt could be an issue for the Broncos, but the Rabbitohs haven’t challenged many sides in the past month and don’t expect that to start here. Could get a little bit ugly.
Brisbane by 20.
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The Barry
Roar Guru
Two 50/50 decisions = embarrassment for the game? I think self indulgent "refs fault we lost" when a team cops a bad call or two while playing poorly most of the night is more embarrassing. That was a hell of a commentary about the refs from someone who "never" comments on officials.
Tom
Guest
If the NRL aren't instructing referees to favour one team for the sake of "entertainment" or "business" which I suspect, then there is major problems with our referee's abilities. It feels like every game a winner has been chosen to receive all of the 50/50 calls. Additionally, at times new rules will be invented or current rules ignored to also give the chosen side a leg up. Newcastle, Wests, Gold Coast and Manly can't take a trick from the refs. Broncos, Eels, Storm and Sharks appear to get the rub of the green almost every game. Something needs to be done. The NRL has gone away from facilitating a fair competition to promoting entertainment and its killing the game.
The spectator
Guest
The NRL need to take serious measures to structure the ref system and promote recruitment for more depth in the ref ranks, the way it is now isnt working while the biggest gripe about the game is growing. How the bejebus did any of that happen last night, ive sat through the yrs souths then roosters were suppose to win the comps and the frustration watching the officials screw up your night, they fall into a pattern of reffing to the bookies, look at the howlers and they seem to always be against the under dogs!
johnno
Guest
that is how I saw it
Aaron
Guest
But what constitutes held up over the line? The rules state: "Grounded: when he is held by one or more opposing players and the ball or the hand or arm holding the ball comes into contact with the ground." 1. He was able to keep wriggling and get the ball free / ball ripped out, suggesting that he wasn't held. Furthermore, the referees didn't call held. 2. His left arm, in which he is holding the ball, never makes contact with the ground So, it's a fair try. Even though it looks dodgy as all hell.
Don
Guest
Go to bed and stop polluting this blog. I follow neither side and I never comment on officials but that was an embarrassment to the game and if you don't think so you are beyond help...
Nicholas Nakos
Roar Guru
I think we can all agree that Ashley Klein needs a break. No first grade refereeing needed, bunker included. He has been the worst official by far this season! I am not usually a referee basher, but some of his decision tonight were downright horrendous! Can anyone clarify whether or not the bunker can rule on a knock on during a scoring play? The field goal which Milford score was a scoring play and I assumed they were able to check such things in that instance?
Haz
Guest
Clems are nice
cam
Guest
Haha another controversial win to the broncs hehe hehe . my crystal ball sees disaster ahead for the game . NRL is heading to the scrapyard .
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
Langer will hold the texta for them...
The Barry
Roar Guru
I called it a knock on from the front on replay but when they showed the shot from behind Milford after the game I thought it bounced in front and he clearly picked it up on the half volley.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Even if he was held and passed afterwards it's a play the ball to Broncos under modern rules and not a penalty.
The Barry
Roar Guru
No it's not. I think the call was incorrect but it was a 50/50 call. I guess it's how you look at the game. Did that decision cost Souths the game? What about Talakai's awful defence that led directly to two tries? What about Gurgess' 5th tackle shoulder charge? What about Farah's shocking last tackle option with 10 seconds to go? As much as it hurts, they had more impact on the result than that one refs decision.
Aaron
Guest
End of story. Period.
Steve
Guest
And?? Whats that got to do with anything....doesn't mean they would have scored. The bottom line is that was an incorrect call that clearly cost the Rabbits 6 points and hence the game since they only ended up wining by 1.
The Barry
Roar Guru
We're starting to get into philosophical differences of opinion. I think the 50/50s went against Souths, but I also think they were genuine 50/50s. I believe in an 80 minute game of footy that there's far more that decides the game than those refs calls. Even if I concede that they were the absolute worst calls I've ever seen, Souths had an ideal opportunity after those calls to take the game into golden point which they absolutely butchered. Refs had nothing to do with that.
Aaron
Guest
Or that he was trying to wrestle his way over to score the try and was stripped in the process. The problem is they have no hard and fast rule as to what constitutes held whilst attempting to score. The referees let that wrestle/flopping continue until the attacking player stops struggling. In real time that struggle is less than a second which is pretty short compared with other similar incidents (note I mean similar to the wrestle in goal. This strip/pass is quite unique). On the Milford "knock on", I'm convinced the Channel 9 commentators just love to drum up controversy. The ball bounces and Milf catches it on the half volley.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Cost them the game? If it wasn't ruled a try it would have been three more tackles a meter from the line anyway
Steve
Guest
Whether it was raked out or passed is irrelevant...the tackle was complete when he was held up over the line.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I agree, just trying to workout their thought process