The Brisbane Broncos have lifted hopes high after tasting victory in their Round 1 clash on Friday night against South Sydney.
Suncorp Stadium was rocking, and this seven-point win has given fans the joy of having a win on the board early.
Round 1 is arguably one of the most important matches of the season. You always want to begin your campaign with a tick.
Despite the absence of Adam Reynolds, Brisbane were able to hold on and surge home, suitably off the back of a Kurt Capewell field goal.
The team stats were very similar, but it was their completion rate that was a key factor in winning the game.
They were clean with 83 per cent. The opposition had 15 uncompleted sets, which added up to 66 per cent.
The Broncos just seemed to be hungrier for the two competition points, as their effort really showed.
Support evidence was that the Rabbitohs had more missed tackles and a better tackle efficiency rating. They expressed their will to fight in little areas, such as their kicking metres, recording 250 more than their opposition.
Whether the Broncos can reach their goal of making the top eight was one of the biggest debates throughout the off-season, and now it rages on in the early part of the season proper.
Taking the step from the bottom three in back-to-back years to the top eight is really hard for any club, but if a club is going to do it, then I bloody hope my Broncos can.
In the off-season I had Brisbane finishing in tenth spot, and if that’s how they end their campaign, then I don’t think it will be good enough for themselves and fans.
The top eight is certainly where they want to finish if the club want to call 2022 a successful year.
I really need to see the next few weeks from the Maroon side. Up next they play the Bulldogs, Cowboys and Warriors.
They could certainly come out of that period with a 4-0 record.
If they do, then the chances of them playing finals footy would defiantly rise, as it’d show they can beat those bottom teams consistently, which they’ve failed to do over the last couple of seasons.
From where I sit right now I don’t see the Broncos playing in September, but if they can prove that they can defeat those bottom-eight teams and knock off some of the bigger teams, then my thinking would undoubtedly change.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Is your thinking shifting again calls Christo after yesterday's 38-12 loss to the Cowboys? I did try to warn Broncos fans that Adam Reynolds wasn't a one-man fix the the multitude of Broncos problems. I also said it is still far too soon to draw conclusions either way. Fortunately, for the Broncos that is still the case.
matth
Roar Guru
I think Brisbane’s squad in 2020 didn’t suit the sped up game and it’s taken a while to tweak the roster plus get some endurance into the younger players. The penalties coming out of own half helped us rather than the 6 agains for sure
Rob
Guest
Matth, do you think the rule tweaking has been helpful? I don’t think the Broncos enjoyed the interpretations. Sorry but some teams were just better at get advanced down the field when others would only receive an extra possession or 2 under pressure. They’re was a definite advantage in the teams receiving the penalties? Panthers Souths and Manly received the most. Bulldogs, Broncos and Cowboys the least in previous years. I never really got the hang of some getting advanced down the field and those that didn’t.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
At least you're consistent. I obviously disagree with you and I look forward to questioning the link between your eyes and brain over the next few months.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
It should decide which team escapes from the bottom 4 at the end of the regular season. One not to be missed :thumbup: I remember a prominent member of the ROAR (a Dragons fan) going overboard in 2017 after impressive round 1 wins by the Dragons and the Tigers. The Tigers smashed Souths 42-18 in the game where Greg Inglis played 72 mins on one leg. The Dragons beat the Panthers 42-10. They actually asked the question; "Could this be a Grand Final preview? Tigers vs Dragons." Next week in round 2 the Tigers lost 36-2 to the Panthers and the Dragons lost 34-16 to the Eels. Neither the Dragons or the Tigers made the top 8 that year. In 2014 when Souths won the premiership after smashing the Roosters in round 1 they lost their next 3 games to be 1-3. No point reading too much into early season form when it is a marathon not a sprint.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Clearly you are only looking at the video evidence with one eye, Fraser. That affects depth of field perception. Not your fault mate. :silly:
Nico
Roar Rookie
I'm not getting carried away with one result but I haven't felt this optimistic about the Broncs in a fair while. Friday's effort wasn't perfect but it came down to the Broncos wanting to do the one percenters. The difference in attitude was summed up for me best when in about the 70th minute and the ball loose on the ground near the Broncos line Jake Turpin absolutely threw himself on the pill like his life depended on it while the Bunnies stood around and watched. My biggest concern is how we manage things when Haas and Careigan are off the pitch, the only part of the game we looked a bit lost was when those two had a spell. We need to work that out because Haas can't play 70 minutes every week, hopefully Flegler can step up once he's back on deck
Fraser
Roar Rookie
Oh sorry mate, you’re right. Vossy screamed he was offside 17 times in commentary, which is more powerful than actual video evidence (see previous link). Case closed. :laughing:
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
They should have called off the comp after 2 rounds and given Brisbane the title.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Ouch! Low blow matth. :silly:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Kelly does NOT make it back. The ball is played while he is still getting back onside and he takes off to interrupt the play. The FOX Sports commentary team even called it live. The bunker should have picked it up since Ashley Klein can be relied upon never to do Souths any favours. You must have a maroon and gold monocle covering your one eye. :laughing:
Rellum
Roar Guru
Everyone is not starving.........yet
Rellum
Roar Guru
You think we won a lot of games at Lang park in the last two years?
mushi
Roar Guru
To be fair we've still got that pandemic just with war and floods... The documentary title Broncos: horsemen of the apocalypse
mushi
Roar Guru
It was clearly offside, like the panthers clearly cheated etc
Adam
Roar Guru
So you're saying if they win the first two games we should expect a global pandemic?
matth
Roar Guru
The signs of life in the past two years haven't been built on defense - they'd only conceded less than 16 twice and I think they were against the Bulldogs. This has the feel of something different. Still a limited team, but that sort of defense should get them into mid table, whether in or out of the 8 (I'm expecting out)
matth
Roar Guru
The defensive effort is really significant. It was the one area where Brisbane has been hopeless and that Reynolds could have no positive effect on. So if the defense is improved, that gives them a much better chance of getting a return on their Reynolds investment.
matth
Roar Guru
Hey, that Bulldogs clash is top of the table between two undefeated teams!
matth
Roar Guru
He can watch from the stands with “never gonna change” Mitchell, who will spend his fair of the season watching on as well :laughing: