WIN-WIN SITUATION
I reckon the two happiest coaches in Queensland right now would be Anthony Seibold and Kevin Walters. Seibold because the Broncos are finally starting to show some form and Walters because … well, because the Broncos are finally starting to show some form. It won’t be like the good old days when the Broncos used to provide half the Maroons side but the excellent win over reigning premiers the Roosters last Friday at least gives Walters something to think about. Matt Gillett should have played himself into an Origin start and Anthony Milford might just have done enough to get the 14th man spot. Milford hasn’t been at his best for much of the season but showed against the Roosters just how dynamic he can be when his forwards set a platform. There is also growing support for David Fifita to make the squad for the first time. On the other side of the fence the big question is whether Payne Haas has forced his way into the Blues. With Tevita Pangai Jr ruling himself out of contention and Jack Bird and Andrew McCullough injured that adds up to a maximum four current Broncos required for Origin duty. Given that Walters is looking for players in form and Seibold would prefer his side to be disrupted as little as possible now that it is starting to fire at last I reckon that is what is called a ‘win-win situation’. What do YOU reckon.
BRONCOS V ROOSTERS
I reckon Friday night’s game against the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium could end up being the match that defines the Broncos season. New coach Anthony Seibold has made some tough calls over the past few weeks and while his team got the two points against Manly in Magic Round, a good showing against the high-flying premiers is imperative to keep the momentum going. It has been a rough initiation for Seibold but he has shown in his dealings with James Roberts, Jamayne Isaako and Kodi Nikorima that he is his own man. What he now needs from his players is consistency. If the Broncos are to make the finals they simply must start stringing some wins together. One victory over a decimated opposition here and there won’t be enough. It has to been three or four in a row and against the heavyweights of the competition. They don’t come much heavier than the Roosters. I reckon this is crunch time. What do YOU reckon?
MAGIC ROUND
I reckon the Magic Round is the best thing to come out of England since Captain Cook. The concept originated with the UK Super League and I’ve had the chance to see it first hand. Having an entire round of matches played on the one ground over a weekend works superbly over there and I think it will work even better in Brisbane over the next few days. For starters no rugby league club in the UK can boast a ground like Suncorp Stadium and so the Magic Round (or Magic Weekend as they call it) is staged on soccer grounds such as Liverpool FC’s Anfield or Manchester City FC’s Etihad Stadium. It has also been held at rugby union stadiums in Cardiff and Edinburgh. They are all great grounds, but there is always the feeling that the rugby league fans are almost interlopers, enjoying the facilities out of the goodness of the football or rugby authorities' hearts. We don’t have that problem here. Suncorp Stadium has long been recognized as the best rugby league ground in the world and Queensland has proved itself as the heartland of the game in this country in terms of crowd support and player quality. This is a rugby league town opening its door to rugby league people. Watching a game at Suncorp Stadium has become a “bucket list” ambition for tens of thousands of rugby league fans around Australian and overseas. Now they will have the opportunity to watch one, two, three or even eight matches on the one weekend. I reckon it’s really going to be magic. What do YOU reckon?