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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 2708611, member: 1899"] After going back and forth on it, I decided to sit down and watch a replay of the game. Watching it again, I've got to say, I really disagree with this mentality that the Broncos tried to defend a lead with 30 minutes to go. What other option did they really have other than kick it deep? Most of their sets started deep inside their own half after usually defending back to back sets. Usually on sets, you have one play that's meant to be the impetus for the rest of the set, but everytime the Broncos forced that, the Cowboys did a great job of slowing down the ruck without getting penalised. Normally in a club game, a lot of those second efforts would be penalised and the Broncos would be able to play football. However, this is the grand final, the referees were always going to give teams a bit of lee-way when the game got tough and unfortunately it suited the bigger Cowboys side on the occasion. Whenever they did get an opportunity to play footy, they over-played their hand a bit too much. Two opportunities come to mind, first off, you had Ben Hunt trying to throw a face ball to Matt Gillett who was well covered by Johnathan Thurston. Personally, I have a question mark on whether Gillett ever had possession of the ball when JT went into make the tackle but the result was a knock on against Brisbane. The other opportunity was later in the game, when Feldt bobbled the ball and Reed was able to force a goal-line drop out. On that occasion, the Broncos decide to go for a long pass on the third play of the set, which was a bit too low for the bullocking Corey Oates. Had the Broncos played patient there and Boyd gone to Reed and looked for a quick play the ball, they may have got an opportunity later in the set. Unfortunately that was it for them that set. A combination of silly penalties, strong carries and great last tackle options gave the Cowboys all the opportunities they needed to eventually crack the defence. In fairness to the Broncos, the defence on their line was superb. Some amazing tackles from Reed, Gillett, Blair, Parker & Thaiday as well as some huge plays from Milford really kept the Cowboys at bay for the majority of that second half. I thought they were very unlucky on a few occasions to be at their line as well. For starters, the 'knock on' from Thaiday was clearly knocked out by James Tamou in a three man tackle. How that was not picked up by the referees given the way the ball came out baffles me. How they missed the Lachlan Coote fore-arm to Boyd was also puzzling. It seemed clear to me the referees didn't want to get their hands dirty, so outside of a few relatively soft penalties to both teams in the opening half, they put their whistles away even though one side had earned a penalty on a number of occasions. Again, it isn't going to change anytime soon and nobody outside of the Broncos will bat an eyelid but obviously the Broncos have every right to feel frustrated with that performance from Reynolds and Cummins. The only call they got any lee-way with was the knock back against Boyd. That could have easily been called a knock on, although replays showed the ball went backwards out of the hand. For mine, any doubt over that evened up when it appeared Linnett lost it forward into the Broncos before regathering it in the last set of regular time. It's all just a bag of sea shells. At the end of the day, the Broncos have a great side on their hands that has plenty of upside in them. A few too many schoolboy errors cost them, but you've got to realise, this has been by and large a Cowboys side that has been playing the same brand of footy for years. I'd say as far back as 2009 in terms of relying on their power through the middle, a bit of guile from the dummy half, a playmaking fullback and of course JT running the show. It took them six years and a fantastic performance for them to get over this team. Somehow, I don't think it's going to take the Broncos that long. For starters, their best performers on the night were largely from their younger brigade. Jordan Kahu, Corey Oates, Anthony Milford, Jarrod Wallace, Joe Ofahengaue all really impressed on the big stage. They weren't alone mind you, it takes more than a handful of players to put in a performance like that, but it isn't like the premiership window is closing either. Also, I know a lot of people have noted the absence of McGuire, but it appeared to me the Broncos were carrying three players who were quite clearly injured. Alex Glenn, Justin Hodges and Kodi Nikorima all seemed short of a gallop and couldn't get as involved as they normally would. It's a tall order, but if they go into the next finals campaign relatively unscathed I'm sure they'll take the next step. To lose in that fashion obviously hurts. It was such a cruel way for one of the most entertaining and endearing sides to finish but there were a ton of positives to take out of the game and I believe that needs to be recognised and going into our second year under Bennett there is the genuine possibility it can only get better. [/QUOTE]

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