Will the Brisbane Broncos prove themselves genuine premiership threats? Or will the Melbourne Storm build upon last week’s victory over Newcastle? Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 7:50pm (AEST).
Brisbane have experienced an inconsistent opening to their 2018 campaign. Losses to the Titans and Knights saw experts questioning whether Wayne Bennett’s men would be any real threat in this year’s competition. However, the Broncos answered their critics last week with an unexpected win over the previously undefeated Warriors.
Coach Bennett will be hoping his team can back it up this week and claim another confidence-building win when they take on the defending premiers.
Brisbane recruit Jack Bird was highly impressive filling in for injured halfback Kodi Nikorima last weekend. As a result, the former Shark has been named to again play in the No. 6 jersey with Nikorima to start off the bench.
Brisbane have another tough assignment on Friday night, however, as they prepare for a Storm outfit coming off a dominant 40-14 win. Craig Bellamy’s men reasserted themselves as premiership heavyweights with the 26-point victory.
Halfback Ryley Jacks displayed the control that demoted rookie Brodie Croft was missing in the win and has wrapped up a position in the starting side for the near future. Coach Bellamy would have been pleased with his team’s completion rate of 87% last Friday night – a clear improvement given that they are currently the most error-riddled side in the competition.
Prediction: The Storm looked to have turned a corner and should be too classy for the Broncos. Melbourne by 12.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 7:50pm (AEST).
thomas coates
Guest
briefly. 20-30 s would be fine. It's not like decisions are open to negotiation. Allowing a minute or two opens the door to gamesmanship to let the defense rest. But it's the refs fault if they let a player refuse to let play resume.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Yes, I am aware of that :). I am thinking in future games as a starter.
DJ01
Guest
Time for some changes at Brisbane. Tagataese in for Thaiday. Satart Sua in back row, drop Sims to bench. Shift McGuire to prop and start Bird at lock. Boyd is on his last legs, I think he needs to retire at end of season. Kahu can slot in for either Opacic or Issako when he returns. My(healthy) team for remainder of season. 1. Boyd 2. Oats 3. Roberts 4. Opacic/Kahu 5. Issako/Kahu 6. Nikorima 7. Milford 8. Lodge 9. McCullogh 10. McGuire 11. Glenn 12. Sua 13. Bird 14. Sims 15. Pangai Jr 16. Ofahengaue 17. Tagataese
DJ01
Guest
Time to drop some players at
steveng
Roar Rookie
What a poor excuse for an NRL supporter you must be, if this and if that. If the world was full of if's then we wouldn't be around. 'GET OVER IT' as the Broncos never ever looked like winning this game even if they would have gotten 160 minutes of play and Billy's try wouldn't have been given.
steveng
Roar Rookie
To me Slater always looked like he was attempting a drop kick the ball, that is what his actions looked like, he instantly dropped the ball while he kicked it . His actions didn't look like a knock on and that is why the refs gave the try. Slater never looked like he knocked that ball on. Its bad luck for the Broncos and any other team in the future that a try like that will be given when the ball was dropped 'if it looks like a try, it is a try'!
The Spectator
Guest
Slater was all no try i dropped the ball when he got up, his actions for me said it all, it was a knock on.
Footy Fan
Guest
But would conflict with non-drop kicks with can be intentional or not, and have control or not, just need to hit knee, shin or toe. My reading is fine to intentionally drop-kick for chip over the top or unintentionally dropkick for a grubber.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
A drop kick isn't a knock-on because you are intentionally going for a drop kick by kicking it as it rebounds off the ground. It's very different to dropping the ball, and then kicking it. Most referees in rugby union or rugby league, would have said "knock-on, no control". Instead, we are left scratching our heads and discussing grey areas in the rule book, instead of applauding a pretty good game of footy.
Footy Fan
Guest
I'd agree if it bounced twice. But on the slo-mo, can see just one rather small bounce then straight onto the toe.
Footy Fan
Guest
Fraser, that's a good spot. Question I'd ask though: is dropping the ball towards foot for a kick "knocking on accidentally"? If you said yes, then wouldn't any drop kick be a knock on? Does define knock on "means to knock the ball forward towards the opponents’dead ball line with hand or arm while playing at the ball". So I'd probably say no.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
The referees boss Bernard Sutton has come out and stated that this is a try, defining a drop kick as "intentionally released from the hands, and then kicked immediately as it rebounds from the ground". You can see from the front on angle that the ball hits the ground twice before he kicks it, which would hardly meet the definition of immediate in my opinion. The ball lands on one end, bounces to the other end, and then he kicks it as it is rising. https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/04/20/referees-boss-explains-slater-drop-kick-try/ http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/melbourne-storm/watch-storm-fullback-billy-slater-awarded-controversial-dropkick-try/news-story/20c15ab2ff8148fb581650ab403714ee
Bill Larkin
Guest
Thank you. That’s how I saw it.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
That’s the grey area I guess. Is it a drop kick if he didn’t mean to drop kick it.
Footy Fan
Guest
Fair enough. I've seen the same. At least Slater was clearly intending to kick. But obviously before hitting the ground.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
We can't possibly go one week without having something to be raged about Fraser!
Fraser
Roar Rookie
Yeah, but the rules also state for a knock-on: " If, after knocking-on accidentally, the player knocking-on regains or kicks the ball before it touches the ground, a goal post, cross bar or an opponent, then play shall be allowed to proceed. Otherwise play shall stop and a scrum shall be formed except after the fifth play-the-ball." Slater dropped the ball forward (in an attempt to kick the ball, which is where this gets grey), but doesn't kick the ball before it touches the ground. So, it should be a knock-on. He most certainly didn't have control of the ball. It even looks like the ball bounced twice before his "drop kick". In any case, the try was awarded, the Broncos capitulated, and we have our outrage topic for this week to be discussed ad nauseam.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
In this case it was clear as day he was meaning to kick it but I swear I’ve seen the same thing happen before and it get pulled up. It is by letter of the law though the right decision so I can’t throw too much of a hissy fit. If anything credit to slater for running through and grounding it despite believing it to be dead. Bit of class as well for not celebrating too much after it was awarded.
Yoshi
Guest
Can you tell me where you get these "4x down" plants from? My water bill is really high and I'm after decent plants :)
Peter Phelps
Guest
Same tactics that every other team lays on. Stop trying to make out the storm are some kind of special case especially against a Broncos team that gets every advantage.