What we’ve learned
Broncos aim to pressure Morgan
It’s going to take time for the Broncos to get used to Anthony Seibold’s style of play.
There was plenty of effort from the Broncos last week, but at times they were very frustrating. They had plenty of options to score points in that game, but didn’t take them.
There was plenty written about the Broncos in the offseason and there was plenty of hype around them heading into Round 1, but they got a massive reality check against the Storm last week and it’s now up to them to respond this weekend.
Last season was the end of the JT era with Johnathan Thurston hanging up his boots, but last Saturday night we saw the birth of a new JT era with Jason Taumalolo smashing running records for fun.
Josh McGuire provided the Cowboys with plenty of stability in the middle third of the field and Michael Morgan was also outstanding.
There were a lot of eyes on Morgan last week and he had the added pressure of being the club’s new captain, but he took it all in his stride.
The key men
Darius Boyd wouldn’t have been happy with his personal performance last week or with his team’s performance.
Darius is the Broncos skipper and is the most experience player in the Broncos side, the younger players will be looking to him for leadership and guidance when things get tough this year and how he responds will go a long way to determining what type of season the Broncos have.
There’s no doubt that Bronco-turned-Cowboy Josh McGuire will run with a little extra purpose this weekend against his former side.
The Broncos are a very talented pack, but they’re a very inexperienced pack and that won’t be lost on a player like McGuire.
He’ll look to take the battle up to the Broncos pack and take them apart through the middle. If he can win the forward battle for his team, the Cowboys will go a long way to winning the game.
Where it will be won
For either team it’s in the middle.
The Cowboys have one of the best packs in the competition. Jordan McLean, Matt Scott, Gavin Cooper, Jason Taumalolo and Josh McGuire are all representative forwards and don’t – and won’t – take a backwards step. The Broncos were smashed through the middle by the Storm in Round 1 and if they don’t win the battle through the middle tomorrow night they’ll find themselves in a world of hurt. The Broncos forwards need to hunt as a pack and provide the steel and platform for the likes of Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorema to play off. Like the Broncos, for the STOPPING Michael Morgan will be a key to victory against North Queensland tonight, according to Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold.
But Cowboys mentor Paul Green wondered how the Broncos would be able to pull that off ahead of their NRL derby at Suncorp Stadium.
Halfback Morgan revelled in his debut as North Queensland captain, inspiring a 24-12 Cowboys creative players such as Michael Morgan and Jake Granville to weave their magic they need their forwards to lay the platform.
Taumalolo was a one-man wrecking machine last week, but he’ll need his mates to go with him this week if they’re to repeat their win against the Dragons in Round 1.
If the Cowboys forward pack can get on the front foot, Morgan and Granville have the ability to cut the Broncos to shreds.
Prediction
This one is really is a toss of the coin.
The Cowboys were outstanding in Round 1 and showed that they’ll be a top four threat again this year. Taumalolo was unstoppable and Morgan showed that he’s overcome the injuries that
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season-opening victory over St George Illawarra with a sublime kicking game.
His stellar display as North Queensland began life without retired playmaker Johnathan Thurston did not go unnoticed.
“Just looking at their kicking game, Morgo takes the majority of their kicks now that JT is no longer playing so we need to put him under pressure because he has an outstanding kicking game,” Seibold said.
“We saw that last weekend where some of their long kicks out of yardage were really effective for them.
“So we need to take some time away from Morgo.”
When told of Seibold’s game plan, Green warned it would be easier said than done.
“I am not sure in particular how they are going to do that,” he said. “But we need to play smart. If there is pressure around him we need guys around him to take pressure off him ….”