The Brisbane Broncos are building some strong form and will be out to heap more misery onto a struggling Penrith Panthers outfit in Round 9. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
Brisbane have had an indifferent start to the season, playing in – and winning – a lot of close games. There are still questions being asked about where their form truly is, but it’s hard to complain given a five and three record leaves them fifth on the table after a third of the season.
The Broncos have shown us glimpses of how good they can be, but things are a little tough without Ben Hunt. Three weeks ago, their attack looked to be firing as they ran up 38 points against the Sydney Roosters.
The games since though saw them get taken all the way by the Gold Coast Titans, where they won with a last minute try from a chargedown, before it took an Anthony Milford field goal to sink the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The combination of Milford and Kodi Nikorima in the halves seems to be there, but still a little clunky. That combined with the Broncos drifting in and out of matches is why they are yet to dominate. Darius Boyd could be the key man in bringing the 17 together though, and his form has been impressive.
Brisbane will also be boosted by the return of Jordan Kahu on the wing, with David Mead back to the bench after struggling last week.
If Brisbane are almost there, then the Panthers are so far below their potential it’s almost a bad joke. For a team who came into the season as premiership favourites, they look lost on the park and are buried on the ladder with a record of two and six.
Penrith have been woeful, to put it nicely. They were held scoreless by the Cronulla Sharks a fortnight ago and it just about sums up where the side is at. Their attack was patheticly bad, their defence not much better and that didn’t improve in an almost must-win game against the Parramatta Eels last week, when they went to halftime 18-0 down.
Anthony Griffin has a mountain to climb for his side to get back anywhere near form, and Te Maire Martin appears to be the scapegoat, given he didn’t play last week (although that was to a reported neck injury) and has been dropped again this week 24 hours before kick-off.
Penrith are trying to re-create the magic of Bryce Cartwright and Nathan Cleary in the halves, but neither are playing well and with a forward pack performing poorly, there is no turnaround in sight for Penrith.
Prediction
If the Panthers couldn’t get up to face the Eels last week when five and two, it’s not going to change when six and two in Brisbane. This could get quite ugly if Penrith get off to another slow start.
Broncos by 18.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Round 9 opener from 7:50pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Driver came late. Ball was already down well before McGuire got there. Bit strange to send it up though because he never touched any panthers players anyway.
Britexit
Guest
Where in the rules does it say that and the commentators disagree with you
Britexit
Guest
Tony "All legit penalties" - they didn't show the first one as they had mead on the bike and Bennett in the coaches box on screen. Gray-Hand "Just proves how desperate fans of losing teams are to blame anyone but their team" And here Brexit was complaining about the penalties at the end given to Penrith to try to even it up. Gray-Hand try watching the game sober next time or when writing comments because they don't make sense.
Britexit
Guest
The penalty count isn't the issue -its when and how they are given ( 1st or 5th tackle). Its more about getting a close game.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Thing I found funny was Blair being penalised for the lightest of facials and in the next tackle Boyd is on the ground and the Panthers prop is rubbing his head into the ground like his grinding out a fine hazelnut powder. I get it that he had the ball but surely that was a bit much.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
Hear hear.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
I counted two major advantages in the Broncos favour last night, most notably the 40 missed tackles by Panthers players , the 17 errors despite the 50% of position the Panthers enjoyed. There were no unfair advantages, just superior play by the Brisbane team and a largely overhyped, underperforming Penrith team. To bring the referees into this is to take away from a great effort for three-quarters of the game by Brisbane.
Emcie
Roar Guru
All good mate, when I reread what I wrote it did come across a lot more negative then I intended, the joys of trying to convey an opinion over the internet. I look forward to discussing your next peice
Gray-Hand
Guest
Just proves how desperate fans of losing teams are to blame anyone but their team.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No worries mate - I probably over reacted a little there... Even if I don't reply to every comment on all my articles, I read each and every one, and let it be known all the feedback is taken on board from people who are as or more passionate about rugby league than myself. Trust me, being a Dragons supporter I've spent the last few years spending more time trying to defend my team than anything else - it's not much fun, so I understand how it can be frustrating. I love the debate though, so don't let it stop that... I just get frustrated when people call me out before I've had a chance to put my words on the site - once they are, go for your life, as you and others have rightfully done in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. Still, I get where you're coming from. I'm guilty of it, but there is no way the Broncos have got the credit they deserve so far this year. They haven't been the best, but they are still at the top which is quality. I try to be pretty unique in the talking points as well and that probably ruffles a few feathers, but I guess at the end of the day, as you say, that's why you come to The Roar - to debate footy every day. Be a boring old world if we all thought the same.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Sorry mate, that was in no way ment as a swipe against you. I look forward to your talking points pieces (it's in inverted commas because i didn't know what to call it...) as they're not just the same old points that every other outlet repeats. But I can see how after conceeding 18 points at the back end of the game and the last couple weeks of close games against struggling teams there is going to be some discussion about the broncos attitude on the roar and after the last couple weeks I feel like I've spent more time defending my team then discusing the actual footy. Again mate, I wasn't having a go at your writing, I come to the roar because its full of people writing about league because they care about it and not for the coin, I don't come here to agree with people that agree with me
Tony Jugoslav
Roar Rookie
Yes it is a night game, only Saturday game Broncos get so far this year at Suncorp. Thank you Manly for bringing your home game to Suncorp.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Still a night game - they'll be right.
Scott Pryde
Expert
I think you make an interesting point about McGuire mate - I was really concerned for how Brisbane were going to replace Parker this year, but he has risen to the top and then some. Absolutely brilliant effort each week. McCullough seems such a consistent player, but now you mention it he does tend to fade at the back end of the games. I also think some of his kicking from dummy half is at times, not the correct decision.
Scott Pryde
Expert
I'm not writing to please you Emcie, but I will admit I've been way too hard on the Broncos attack this year. What I write this week - who knows at this point, but if you are going to pay me that much respect in your last paragraph (i.e. none), don't bother mentioning me please. Talk about tonight's game all you want - and I agree with you. The Broncos were the dominant team and the referees really had nothing to do with it - but don't take an unnecessary shot at predicting what I'll write because of what I have written...
Emcie
Roar Guru
Not according to NRL.com. Lost penalty counts to the Storm, Raiders, Bulldogs and now Panthers
Emcie
Roar Guru
A couple guys here are going overboard. Theres no point going back through the game looking for every slight against your team. I can handle decisions I don't like going against my team, but i really dont like it when teams coming from behind are given a run of penalties to make them competitive. (To be clear, I don't think the refs were trying to give the panthers the game, they got a quick run of penalties and nothing after that. I just think that refs tend to knitpick more when a team's getting smashed and a blowout's on the cards) The Broncos were completely dominant for 60 minutes then the refs gives the panthers more penalties in two minutes then the broncos got over the whole game. The panthers went from nothing happening in their own half to getting three repeat sets close to the line and points. The broncos didn't see the ball for 10 minutes and the panthers scored 18 points off pressure they didn't earn. Give me this one Barry, now Scotts going to write that the broncos can't play the 80/swich off during games/don't respect their opposition in his next "various number of talking points" piece and I'm getting sick of defending my team every week...
Tony Jugoslav
Roar Rookie
Obviously Wayne Bennett, it is just before the annual brown paper bag buffet for the players followed by the TPA conference where every company in Australia pitches multi million dollar deals exclusively to the Broncos players.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
It's 6 of 9 in 2017
Aaron
Guest
Exactly. And what's more, the facts don't even corroborate their ridiculous conspiracy theories. Panthers won the penalty count 7-3. Panthers completed at just over 50%, with the Broncos completing at almost 90%. It's almost impossible to win if you can't hold onto the ball. A strange Bunker call in the first 5 minutes doesn't override the next 76 minutes of pathetic ball control and Swiss cheese defence.