NEWS Andrew McCullough’s complicated contract a headache for Broncos

An 18 year old, 4 games into his NRL Career.... Not kicked it out on the full like Milford and Kodi were good for at least once every few games. I'd say that's not a horrible start at least.
Yeah, if you were to rank the halfbacks, Dearden is probably the bottom of the comp right now. But that's still a very high bar, and he looks like he belongs in first grade. Let's revisit his ranking in a year's time.
 
In the warriors game, he had one kick from 30 or 40m out, under pressure, and I was thinking to myself, lol niko, thanks for the 7 tackle set..........next minute, it sits up in goal and leaves me wondering why every ex bronco rubs it in our face as if they could do it the whole time.
If only he had those accidental kicks once in a while at the Broncos.
 
Why Ben Hunt turns into not a choker.
Still a choker, soon as Widdop has been out they have been abysmal. I said in 2014 that Hunt will never win a premiership as a halfback, and i'm standing by that. He's been a big part of the reason for 2 grand final defeats. One in under 20s and the big one in 2015.

I'm sure he's a good bloke, but god he cracks under pressure.
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Yeah, if you were to rank the halfbacks, Dearden is probably the bottom of the comp right now. But that's still a very high bar, and he looks like he belongs in first grade. Let's revisit his ranking in a year's time.
He definitely would be towards the bottom. He really hasn't brought much yet, but he has been solid in defence and hasn't been making any bad mistakes or giving away 7 tackle sets or anything by overplaying his hand. I think he is giving us a more rounded option than Nikorima. Sure Nikorima might get us a try every couple weeks with his speed, but he is usually responsible for putting us under a lot of pressure in defence.

Dearden's defence really has impressed me. Hopefully by the back end of the year he has developed a bit more, and has a huge off season, gains a couple kilos and gets more involved.
 
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Still a choker, soon as Widdop has been out they have been abysmal. I said in 2014 that Hunt will never win a premiership as a halfback, and i'm standing by that. He's been a big part of the reason for 2 grand final defeats. One in under 20s and the big one in 2015.

I'm sure he's a good bloke, but god he cracks under pressure.
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He definitely would be towards the bottom. He really hasn't brought much yet, but he has been solid in defence and hasn't been making any bad mistakes or giving away 7 tackle sets or anything by overplaying his hand. I think he is giving us a more rounded option than Nikorima. Sure Nikorima might get us a try every couple weeks with his speed, but he is usually responsible for putting us under a lot of pressure in defence.

Dearden's defence really has impressed me. Hopefully by the back end of the year he has developed a bit more, and has a huge off season, gains a couple kilos and gets more involved.
Well last week you could see they're starting to change the way we play, reverting Milf back into a traditional 6 and D to be a 7. They're transitioning it it looks like, baby steps... Dearden was kicking on 5th and Milford was running the ball on 4.

The week off might be great for Dearden's game. Give them both some time to calibrate more into those roles
 
Well last week you could see they're starting to change the way we play, reverting Milf back into a traditional 6 and D to be a 7. They're transitioning it it looks like, baby steps... Dearden was kicking on 5th and Milford was running the ball on 4.

The week off might be great for Dearden's game. Give them both some time to calibrate more into those roles
Yeah theres definitely small improvement each week. I definitely think he supports Milford a lot better than Nikorima did. I know I sound like a broken record but **** I wish we had a good fullback who offered a support play option off the back of Milford/TPJ runs. The sooner Boyd moves to Centre/wing/China the better...
 
I've been thinking of the Andrew McCullough situation and it's coincided with a bit of reading of Broncos history so I thought I'd kind of combine the two and deliver my take on it.

For good or bad, I think what will happen is McCullough will go back into the team, Turpin will go back to the Queensland Cup and Segeyaro will be on the bench.

I think hooker is the most important position on the field. Damien Cook and Cameron Smith leave bigger holes in their teams than Reynolds or Croft or whoever.

It also seems to be a position the Broncos have never taken seriously for decades now.

We haven't had a top tier dummy half since Luke Priddis in the early 2000s.

We've unearthed and had some players that would've been great such as Barry Berrigan, Michael Ryan, Mick Ennis, Shane Walker, Nathan Friend but injuries, losing them to other clubs and other things like that meant it didn't really work out.

Shaun Berrigan was great for us in the number 9 jersey but let's be honest he was barely there and besides, he was great in whatever position he played. Whether it was for the Broncos, Queensland or Australia and whether it was halfback, five-eigth, hooker, centre or on the bench the bloke delivered for us in spades.

A true footballer. Remarkably versatile. A "cheeky bugger" as his Raiders teammate David Shillington put it.

So... back to Macca. What is to say that hasn't already been said. I think he's solid but not spectacular. Is he in the top 3 hookers in the game? Has he ever been? Is he on par with Priddis? Dean Young? Matt Ballin from days gone by?

Probably not.

I confess though I don't watch anywhere near as much Rugby League as I used to so I might be being way too harsh on him.

It was one of Wayne Bennett's biggest regrets letting Luke Priddis go. Priddis says Wayne came to him and said the Broncos wouldn't be re-signing him for the 2002 season. He says he wasn't really given a reason why.

We were lucky to get him in the first place. He was set to stay at the Raiders, but they decided to go with Simon Woolford as their first choice hooker so Priddis went to the Adelaide Rams - who ceased to exist a fortnight later.

Interestingly, he activated a clause in his contract that stipulated he had to play for a Super League-aligned club.

Let's grab an infinity stone and go a little further back in time. Just a month or two.

John Plath. Champion player. He was all geared up to rip in for the 1999 season knowing that Priddis was now with the club. He suffered a depressed cheekbone fracture in a trial game.

Plath still had a year to run on his contract - interestingly, he needed to play 16 games of the season in order to activate it.

Fascinating stuff, isn't it?

Later in the year Bennett came to him and said he might be able to get him a contract in England.

You getting the hint, John? You picking up what I'm putting down mate?

Plath didn't go to England. He decided to return to Wynnum-Manly.

It's a hard business. It's hard to keep players. It's hard losing them. Who would be a coach? Personally, I'd find it terrible having to tell players they need to look for a new club.

I can't imagine it gets easier with time.

So yeah. It's a crucial position. We cannot stuff this up. McCullough and Segeyaro might be a good combination. I'm optimistic. I like seeing him in the coach's box while he recovers.

He has a two-year option in his favour. Good luck to him. I'm sure he'll land on his feet either with the Broncos or another club.
 
I've been thinking of the Andrew McCullough situation and it's coincided with a bit of reading of Broncos history so I thought I'd kind of combine the two and deliver my take on it.

For good or bad, I think what will happen is McCullough will go back into the team, Turpin will go back to the Queensland Cup and Segeyaro will be on the bench.

I think hooker is the most important position on the field. Damien Cook and Cameron Smith leave bigger holes in their teams than Reynolds or Croft or whoever.

It also seems to be a position the Broncos have never taken seriously for decades now.

We haven't had a top tier dummy half since Luke Priddis in the early 2000s.

We've unearthed and had some players that would've been great such as Barry Berrigan, Michael Ryan, Mick Ennis, Shane Walker, Nathan Friend but injuries, losing them to other clubs and other things like that meant it didn't really work out.

Shaun Berrigan was great for us in the number 9 jersey but let's be honest he was barely there and besides, he was great in whatever position he played. Whether it was for the Broncos, Queensland or Australia and whether it was halfback, five-eigth, hooker, centre or on the bench the bloke delivered for us in spades.

A true footballer. Remarkably versatile. A "cheeky bugger" as his Raiders teammate David Shillington put it.

So... back to Macca. What is to say that hasn't already been said. I think he's solid but not spectacular. Is he in the top 3 hookers in the game? Has he ever been? Is he on par with Priddis? Dean Young? Matt Ballin from days gone by?

Probably not.

I confess though I don't watch anywhere near as much Rugby League as I used to so I might be being way too harsh on him.

It was one of Wayne Bennett's biggest regrets letting Luke Priddis go. Priddis says Wayne came to him and said the Broncos wouldn't be re-signing him for the 2002 season. He says he wasn't really given a reason why.

We were lucky to get him in the first place. He was set to stay at the Raiders, but they decided to go with Simon Woolford as their first choice hooker so Priddis went to the Adelaide Rams - who ceased to exist a fortnight later.

Interestingly, he activated a clause in his contract that stipulated he had to play for a Super League-aligned club.

Let's grab an infinity stone and go a little further back in time. Just a month or two.

John Plath. Champion player. He was all geared up to rip in for the 1999 season knowing that Priddis was now with the club. He suffered a depressed cheekbone fracture in a trial game.

Plath still had a year to run on his contract - interestingly, he needed to play 16 games of the season in order to activate it.

Fascinating stuff, isn't it?

Later in the year Bennett came to him and said he might be able to get him a contract in England.

You getting the hint, John? You picking up what I'm putting down mate?

Plath didn't go to England. He decided to return to Wynnum-Manly.

It's a hard business. It's hard to keep players. It's hard losing them. Who would be a coach? Personally, I'd find it terrible having to tell players they need to look for a new club.

I can't imagine it gets easier with time.

So yeah. It's a crucial position. We cannot stuff this up. McCullough and Segeyaro might be a good combination. I'm optimistic. I like seeing him in the coach's box while he recovers.

He has a two-year option in his favour. Good luck to him. I'm sure he'll land on his feet either with the Broncos or another club.
Seibold hasn't ever been the coach of the Broncos though.

Wayne was for 90% or more.

The history as you say it is, is irrelevant now.

What is Seibold's history re the number 9 role?

Damien Cook
 
Seibold hasn't ever been the coach of the Broncos though.

Wayne was for 90% or more.

The history as you say it is, is irrelevant now.

What is Seibold's history re the number 9 role?

Damien Cook

Yeah fair point, Marty.

I still think you can glean a few lessons from history.

It is rugby league after all. The names and faces change but the story doesn't. McCullough isn't the first player to be injured and their replacements are stepping up to the mark.

There's only so many outcomes that can result in this situation and no doubt they've happened before.

Players have been getting injured and/or tapped on the shoulder by coaches since 1908.

As for the Damien Cook thing - yeah Seibold deserves massive credit for that.

Is it true Cook used to be a fullback? Extraordinary. To reinvent himself into one of the game's premier hookers is an amazing feat and to get through 80 minutes week in, week out with football of that quality, you just kinda stand back in awe.

He's one of the best players in the game.

There's no doubt Seibold made the right call with playing Cook over Farah.

Was it a big call? I dunno. Farah's time at the Rabbitohs was fairly unremarkable. Nothing memorable really stands out. He never wanted to leave the Tigers.

That's because he's a Tiger. Benji Marshall will never be considered a Bronco despite being a handy player for us for a year or two.

He's a Tiger too.

Souths fans weren't that upset to lose him and he's too good to be playing reserve grade.

Seibold apparently said to Farrah if he can find a club he'll be released from his contract. Probably the best way to handle the situation.
 
Yeah fair point, Marty.

I still think you can glean a few lessons from history.

It is rugby league after all. The names and faces change but the story doesn't. McCullough isn't the first player to be injured and their replacements are stepping up to the mark.

There's only so many outcomes that can result in this situation and no doubt they've happened before.

Players have been getting injured and/or tapped on the shoulder by coaches since 1908.

As for the Damien Cook thing - yeah Seibold deserves massive credit for that.

Is it true Cook used to be a fullback? Extraordinary. To reinvent himself into one of the game's premier hookers is an amazing feat and to get through 80 minutes week in, week out with football of that quality, you just kinda stand back in awe.

He's one of the best players in the game.

There's no doubt Seibold made the right call with playing Cook over Farah.

Was it a big call? I dunno. Farah's time at the Rabbitohs was fairly unremarkable. Nothing memorable really stands out. He never wanted to leave the Tigers.

That's because he's a Tiger. Benji Marshall will never be considered a Bronco despite being a handy player for us for a year or two.

He's a Tiger too.

Souths fans weren't that upset to lose him and he's too good to be playing reserve grade.

Seibold apparently said to Farrah if he can find a club he'll be released from his contract. Probably the best way to handle the situation.
I 100% believe he'll handle Macca the same way
 
I think one issue not yet brought up about Macca's option, is that he has to make the decision by June 30 (I think I read that somewhere for all player options).

Given he's currently injured he may have no real choice but to activate it given he'll only get a couple weeks back from injury before having to make that decision. Unless Seibs has already told him to look elsewhere, but I can't see that having happened.

I think Macca with Seggy will be given a go when he returns. Not endorsing it just saying it is the likely scenario
 
I think one issue not yet brought up about Macca's option, is that he has to make the decision by June 30 (I think I read that somewhere for all player options).

Given he's currently injured he may have no real choice but to activate it given he'll only get a couple weeks back from injury before having to make that decision. Unless Seibs has already told him to look elsewhere, but I can't see that having happened.

I think Macca with Seggy will be given a go when he returns. Not endorsing it just saying it is the likely scenario
I think Macca with Turpin. Segeyaro has been ok but not as good as Turpin and Turpin is the future while Segeyaro is short term backup.
 
I think Macca with Turpin. Segeyaro has been ok but not as good as Turpin and Turpin is the future while Segeyaro is short term backup.
I think Seggy brings more impact than Turpin which is why I went with him.

I'm gonna get blown up for this, but from what I've seen I don't really rate Turpin's running game. He hasn't had many opportunities to run, but a couple times he's looked like he's on a treadmill.

I like his service and his aggression leading the defensive line, but I think the threat of Seggy busting you through the middle makes him more dangerous off the bench compared to Turps
 
I think Seggy brings more impact than Turpin which is why I went with him.

I'm gonna get blown up for this, but from what I've seen I don't really rate Turpin's running game. He hasn't had many opportunities to run, but a couple times he's looked like he's on a treadmill.

I like his service and his aggression leading the defensive line, but I think the threat of Seggy busting you through the middle makes him more dangerous off the bench compared to Turps

I don’t want Macca back but I’m pretty sure he’ll get another go but hopefully it’s his last chance. If we aren’t getting results again then he needs to be banished for good to so we can develop the future.
 

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