If new coach Anthony Seibold thought he’d have things easy at the Brisbane Broncos, he’ll want to think again.
His tough coaching initiation at Red Hill continued when the Broncos suffered a heartbreaking 25-24 loss to St George Illawarra at home last week, and things could get even tougher when the northerners travel face the Sydney Roosters this Thursday night.
Last year’s Dally M coach of the year blasted his forwards following their inept display against the Dragons, this coming after highly sought-after prop Tevita Pangai Junior produced a phenomenal performance to destroy the Cowboys at home in Round 2.
The Broncos were slow out of the blocks last week, falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter of the match, but while they managed to steal the lead by half-time, they were left to rue their bad luck in the second half.
First, Jamayne Isaako dropped the ball with the line open, and then, with less than three minutes remaining, his field goal attempt sailed wide to the right just as it seemed to be on target.
In the end, it was ex-Bronco, and now Dragons five-eighth Corey Norman, who stepped up to win the match for his side with a successful field goal attempt and break the hearts of the fans who’d grown to love him as a player earlier this decade.
Corey Norman. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
This leaves Anthony Seibold’s side with a 1-2 record after three matches ahead of their looming assignment against the Roosters at the SCG.
After dropping their season opener against the Rabbitohs at the iconic venue, Trent Robinson’s men have bounced back in the past fortnight, beating the Sea Eagles and Eels, both away from home and both without injured veteran halfback Cooper Cronk.
Last Friday night, in their first match back at ANZ Stadium since last year’s grand final triumph, they had to come from behind to beat a plucky Eels side, which had won their opening two matches in impressive fashion, by 32-18.
Making the win all the more impressive was that not only did they did it without Cronk, who was absent due to a hamstring injury, hooker Jake Friend also went down with an ankle injury which will sideline him for several weeks.
In Cronk’s absence, Lachlan Lam, the son of former Roosters halfback Adrian, has made an impression in the number seven guernsey, giving fans a glimpse of his potential and what to expect when the 35-year-old eventually retires from the game.
Lighting the fuse for this match-up is the fact the Chooks are chasing Broncos star Tevita Pangai Junior, who is also being strongly courted by the Newcastle Knights.
But the major highlight of the clash at the SCG will be that of centres Latrell Mitchell and James Roberts, who lined up together for New South Wales in last year’s victorious State of Origin campaign.
There is no doubt Roberts will have not forgotten his treatment by Mitchell during the 2017 qualifying final, whereby he was fended off as the latter scored a try that would win the match for his side.
Since then, the Broncos have won their last two matches against the Roosters, in rounds 11 and 24 last season; it was the latter defeat which would spark the Roosters’ run to the premiership, not losing another match for the remainder of the year.
And while the Roosters have played at the SCG three times since the turn of the century for three losses (their last win being against Parramatta in Round 6, 1999), for the Broncos this will be foreign territory, as this will be their first ever match at the iconic venue.
The match will be held during what is without doubt a very busy period for the ground’s curators and staff, this coming six days after the AFL match between the Sydney Swans and Adelaide Crows, and only two days before the A-League match between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory.
A win for the Broncos would be crucial as it would get their season back on level terms, while a win for the Roosters will see them go 3-1 up.
Ken
Guest
Marion was way down the pecking order playing for the jets in the intrust , the Storm take players on the fringe and make them champions that's a fact .
Avg joes
Roar Rookie
Broncos came bloody close to winning that game. Had the field goal attempt gone through, people would have been talking about ‘good teams find a way to win’. Well they found it, didn’t execute. They had 3 opportunity to win the game in the last 5 mins and failed. In saying that, they scored some lucky tries. So in no way should we feel hard done by. For me, forget issues with the halves. Broncos don’t drop so much ball at the beginning of the second half, we win the game. People say Melbourne are clinical. What does that mean? They don’t fail to complete 5 sets when the pressure is on. Melbournes worst game is a lot closer to their best...that’s the difference. In attack, they don’t rely as much on individual brilliance or broken play speed. They are more successful in structured attack and don’t stray much from the plan. That won’t happen for Brisbane over night - with a new coach - but I reckon we’re on the right track.
Avatar
Roar Guru
Yeah I heard about James Roberts' withdrawal this afternoon; tough timing considering I wrote this article yesterday (normally I write my NRL previews on Mondays).
Varun
Guest
Early days for Bronx but I do think their number 9 needs to add some running and attacking game to take some pressure off from their halves. None of the team can win grand fi als now a days if they don't have a genuine attacking 9 whether it's storms, rabbits, chooka or any other team. Every top team in comp have a 9 that adds a lot more in attack rather than just doing endless tackles. I am a big fan of Andrew but I do think he genuinely lack in attack other than some occassional early kicks or 40/20 attempts.
Storming Home
Roar Rookie
Broncos will pull their finger out and win by 4.
slobba
Roar Rookie
Broncos have got the toughest draw to start the year of any team. Not just my opinion but that of FOX Sport as well. Having said that,they were ordinary last week. Whether it was a poor performance as a result of inexperience, or the standard of the side will be determined in the coming weeks. For whatever reason Brisbane struggle against the Dragons no matter what positions on the table they hold. Conversely, they generally seem to have the Roosters measure. I don't expect them to topple the Premiers on Thursday, but it wouldn't surprise. On Siebold, I am a big fan and have been since his first appearance on NRL360 last year. I think he will have the Broncos travelling well by finals time ( providing they get there) and will have real shot in 2020
Nico
Guest
The great pity about this clash is that the Roberts/Mitchell match up won't happen, with Roberts ruled out today. His try v Roosters at Suncorp last year was one for the ages. At least Bird had another solid outing v Dragons and is looking more confident every week, striking up a dangerous combination with Oates. The Broncos beat the Roosters in their last outing by displaying almost immaculate ball control, completing at 90%, and will need to replicate that if they're going to be any chance on Thursday, which would be a massive turn around after last week's effort
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Spellcheck. Write off. Not "right off".
Brad French
Guest
The problem is McCulloch. He offers nothing in attack which only adds more burden to the struggling halves combination. The last time McCulloch was injured Nikorima was moved to hooker with Benji coming into the side and it proved a brilliant move. The same should be done now with Sean O'Sullivan given the halfback spot where he can be the playmaker Brisbane need in the halves. Won't happen, but Brisbane's attack will always be stifled while McCulloch makes his 50 tackles a game and is too buggered to offer anything in attack.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Seibold doen't know what to do with the halves he's got. He had 2 very good halves at souths
Paul
Roar Guru
I wonder if this game should be seen as a tough task for Brisbane, IF they're going to be genuine finals contenders? At some point in the season, the Broncos have to show they can mix it with the "big boys" and now's as good a time as nay to start. I don't think it matters greatly if they lose, as long as they are competitive with the Roosters in both defence and attack. If they get spanked in either department, they might as well right off their chances for a premiership for another year.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Broncos created very few chances against Storm & Dragons. In both games scored some lucky tries. Beat Cowboys after Taumololo was "accidentally put out of action" early. Cowboys haven't set the world on fire. Love affair with Siebold will only last if team is successful.
Dirk Diggler
Roar Rookie
Taree, Souths have had a Top 8 side for 5 years now. Seibold came in and made them into a Top 4 side. you can call that luck however I believe it is a combination of factors one of which their attack had become stale & predictable under Madge. They looked fatigued in the finals last year but almost beat the Storm. This year he also has a top 8 side but little experience in the forwards where the game is won or lost. It will be interesting to see how far he gets them in the finals as I have some concerns over their halves and ability to game manage in the later stages of a close game. I see them finishing about 6 but definately not a threat this year. I wonder if the Broncs will regret letting Marion Seve go to the Storm....didn't he look fantastic in purple on the weekend!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Gone are the days where half the clubs had champion halves. Players like Terry Lamb and Cliffy Lyons were behind Fittler, Kenny and Daley as well as King Wally in the rep teams. Blake Green was being mentioned as an origin 5/8 last season.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I'm not one to knock Boyd as he has been a hell of a performer at all levels but he's a level or two below the top fullbacks in my opinion now. Put Tedesco in any of the top teams and they're much closer to winning the comp than if you have Boyd or Flash Gordon for example.
Larry1950
Guest
C'mon Bartparteeoo, the media will ask nonsensical questions every week of one or more coaches, players, ex-players, club hierarchy or anyone else they can find to get a headline. Gee's, even on the roar we get asked what we think and we're just the spectators. I'm fairly certain that the Broncos executive & board didn't put a caveat in Sebold's 5 year contract that he could be sacked if the team was 1-3 after four rounds of his first season. They've clearly had the toughest opening 4 fixtures of any club & could easily have been 2-3 but for some slipshod play last week, even though they haven't set the world on fire. Kids, especially forwards, need games to learn & these results are part of the process.
Nat
Roar Guru
I would say it's a blessing more than bad luck to draw last year's grand finalists (and two high quality teams) in the first 4 weeks. Is there a better measure for where the young team is at? It really doesn't have an effect on the ladder or where they finish at this stage of the comp. Easts, comprehensively done by Souths but got their wins over Eels and Manly. It's fair to say Seilbold took more from his games than Robinson would have. This game will be another strong test for the Broncos and if they can perform close to their best, they will be there abouts after 80mins. Previously the Broncos took it to the best teams but let themselves down against teams (by rights) they should have got the chocolates. If Seibold wants to make his mark, he needs to get them up for this game, and they will be, but maintain the rage against all comers irrespective of the table position.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Sometimes the obvious needs to be stated
Nat
Roar Guru
Bahahahahahaha... Sry Ethan but that's a shocker!
Nat
Roar Guru
That "rails run" Seibold took at Souths had them win nearly as many games in '18 than '16 & '17 combined (16, 9, 9 respectively). That Souths team hadn't made the finals in two years. Seibold completely transformed the way Souths played and they didn't just make the finals, they were true contenders. Do you think the same group of players who couldn't perform in the previous two years just decided to play again after Madge was booted and the coach had nothing to do with it?