2017 Line-up

[Danoz Direct]

Ese'ese is looking in amazing shape. Best I've ever seen him.
Have said it before - huge potential.

Sounds great. Hopefully this can be his break out season.

How is Tevita Pangai Jr going?

 

[pagey]

Ese'ese is looking in amazing shape. Best I've ever seen him.
Have said it before - huge potential.

Would he be ready to start if McGuire is moved to lock?

 

[talanoa]

Ese'ese is looking in amazing shape. Best I've ever seen him.
Have said it before - huge potential.

herman is going gangbusters!!

i also am hearing george fai has jumped out of the grund this pre aeason as well. im not sure he will get a lot of game time year but he may surprise if injuries hit and gets his chance. he handled cup really easily last year and was still eligble for 20's

 

[Kyall]

George Fai he is definitely one to watch should get a run at origin time.

 

[Kyall]

 

[Kyall]

Pangai jr looking bloody good shape to me.

 

[Kyall]

Big Joe looks like he hasn't put on any weight or bulking up at all. If he is pushing for a spot in the side that's where he should start.

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

Big Joe looks like he hasn't put on any weight or bulking up at all. If he is pushing for a spot in the side that's where he should start.

Might just not be maturing quite as fast as the others? I'm sure he's doing what he's meamt to be doing given the amount of trainers the club has managing everyone individually

 

[Unbreakable]

Benji is switching between Centre & Fullback at training today apparently. Seems to be embracing that "Utility" tag line.

 

[Unbreakable]

Starting forward pack for opposed training session today -

Ofahengaue
McCullough
Blair
Thaiday
Gillett
McGuire

 

[Kyall]

Sounds about right to me

 

[Foordy]

Starting forward pack for opposed training session today -

Ofahengaue
McCullough
Blair
Thaiday
Gillett
McGuire

I hope that's not the starting pack for round 1.

Ofahengue is nowhere near ready to be a starting prop at this level IMO.

while i do think McGuire will be an excellent long term lock for us, i maintain that we don't have a goid enough prop rotation to move him at this stage.

 

[noisetheory]

Ofahengue is nowhere near ready to be a starting prop at this level IMO.

is this just based on 2016 time on field for the bronx?

i'm not saying you are wrong. just curious. its training in early january so we're obviously looking at options at this stage.

just having a look at the last three rounds for qld cup last season and he was starting prop for souths logan. in one of those games he played 80 mins (31 tackles, 149 metres). the other two were around 47 mins. note i am not saying qld cup is the equivalent of nrl. interestingly in that same game ese ese played 60 mins and ran 224m

would love for ofa to kick on this season

 

[Foordy]

is this just based on 2016 time on field for the bronx?

i'm not saying you are wrong. just curious. its training in early january so we're obviously looking at options at this stage.

just having a look at the last three rounds for qld cup last season and he was starting prop for souths logan. in one of those games he played 80 mins (31 tackles, 149 metres). the other two were around 47 mins. note i am not saying qld cup is the equivalent of nrl. interestingly in that same game ese ese played 60 mins and ran 224m

would love for ofa to kick on this season

no just 2016, but his entire NRL career to date.

I do think he has the potential to be a quality prop for us, but i don't think he is ready to get us on the front foot early against fresh defenses.

I think he should be a fixture of our interchange bench though.

 

[Danoz Direct]

I still think the best option would be to leave McGuire at prop and then start Glenn at lock with Tevita Pangai Jr coming off the bench to replace him.

But if McGuire was to play lock and we needed another starting prop than I think Herman Ese'ese would be the better option based off the fact how well he has played in the ISC compared to Ofahengaue and based off how well he has been doing in pre-season.

Personally don't see Ofahengaue as being a starter for a while at least and I don't think he would be on my bench at the start of the 2017 season, just seems too one dimensional in his play and is too passive.

 

[Big Pete]

Can't have an inexperienced bench, you're just asking for trouble when you've got to make the rotation.

None of the props are 'ready' but hopefully this is a sign that Ofahengaue has put his disappointing 2016 behind him. Of all the emerging props, he's the best work-horse the Broncos have.

 

[noisetheory]

i think we need metres up the middle. mcguire to 'lock' and someone like ofa/herman to make strong carries early in the set makes the most sense to me.

 

[Danoz Direct]

Can't have an inexperienced bench, you're just asking for trouble when you've got to make the rotation.

None of the props are 'ready' but hopefully this is a sign that Ofahengaue has put his disappointing 2016 behind him. Of all the emerging props, he's the best work-horse the Broncos have.

From what we have seen and have been led to believe Ese'ese is the most ready. Ofahengaue might be able to claw himself into a bench spot, but don't think he will get a chance to start in 2017.