NEWS Walters: roster is pretty much sorted

[Broncs_Fan]

The roster firing reliably is a top 6-8 team. We can make it home next year on 22 points looking at the draw. I would argue we have a more stable and better squad than Dragons, Tits, Cowboys, Tigers, Warriors, Sharks and Knights (depends on ponga injuries). Theres a few points that can be racked up there back end of the season. There will be a few upsets between those guys playing each other, which will bring the average comp points level down.

The usual crazy optimism on here.

I can see us getting better in 2-3 years but there’s going to be more pain first. Surely anyone that watches a lot of league (most on here) can see that.

 

[Finbar]

Surely anyone that watches a lot of league (most on here) can see that.

Anything can happen from one season to the next. I'm a big boy who can deal with the disappointment of my footy team not performing as well as I'd hoped for, so I see no reason not to be optimistic.

 

[Unbreakable]

New to the site, but Broncos fan through and through all my life. Really interested to see how we bounce back this year and whilst it may be challenging I feel Kevvie could be the man for the job to bring a good attitude to the current playing group. Reading some of the comments on here, it is true we are over paying young guys, who are talented, but it wouldn't happen at Roosters or Storm. There is always two to three players waiting in the wings that can fill their positions. And never will the club bow down to a players demands. They just go okay, off you go see you later.

I do like the above TL for rd 1 with a slight change:
1 - 7 as is.
8. Carrigan/Lodge (Carrigan was one of our best last year, but ended up carting it up like a prop, didn't offer us much more in attack, Lodge needs to be fit, I understand he was injured, but for the new rules/speed of the game)
9. Macca/Turpin (I would say Turpin, with Macca on the pine to give him a spell and offer leadership)
10. Haas
11. Glen (I would start him here, but move Pangai to an edge through the game)
12. Ricki (Start developing him, he did really well last season back end, and formed a good combo with Dearden)
13. Asiata/Pangai (I feel Asiata signed to play 13, will offer us something more in attack).

14. Macca
15. Fleg
16. Pangai
17. Lodge

Personally I would start Pangai at 13 for the initial stint (20 say min), then bring Asiata on there and Glen off, pushing Pangai out wide. Or Start Asiata/Carrigan and do a similar thing but bringing Pangai onto an edge. Fleg and Lodge, rotate through the middle with Carrigan/Pangai - Haas. Our forwards can play extended min and still have good impact, whereas I feel Glen is past his best but brings experienced and can cover edge/middle/center if injury. Macca on the pine would bring experience, can cover middle if injury and gives turpin a spell so he isn't just defending all day.

After losing Fifita we need to develop Ricki/Bullemore, I like what I saw from Ricki back end, I don't think Oates is an edge we need, let him take his dream up as an edge forward at another club.

Lodge has been great 2018-19, but needs to be fit and healthy this season to compete for us, and the new speed of the game.

Welcome TS :)

Conversed with you plenty over at SC Talk. Tis' me, Epitome.

You starting with Milford this season? :P I promised myself after last season that I wouldn't put myself through it again, but sheeeeeeesh he's good value.

 

[Unbreakable]

I’m in the same boat. I may have him as a third/fourth option. Is he dpp this year?

Nah 5/8 only unfortunately, but yeah, my halves are:

Daly Cherry-Evans / Sam Walker
Cameron Munster / Anthony Milford

We won't flood this thread with too much SC chat, I'll bump the SC thread at some point.

 

[McHunt]

Daily Telegraph KFC SuperCoach NRL "experts" round one predicted lineup:

1 Tesi Niu
2 Xavier Coates
3 Jesse Arthars
4 Herbie Farnworth
5 Jamayne Isaako

6 Anthony Milford
7 Thomas Dearden

8 Payne Haas
9 Jake Turpin
10 Thomas Flegler
11 Alex Glenn
12 Jordan Riki
13 Patrick Carrigan

14 Cory Paix
15 Corey Oates
16 Matt Lodge
17 John Asiata

 

[Broncapz]

Daily Telegraph KFC SuperCoach NRL "experts" round one predicted lineup:

1 Tesi Niu
2 Xavier Coates
3 Jesse Arthars
4 Herbie Farnworth
5 Jamayne Isaako

6 Anthony Milford
7 Thomas Dearden

8 Payne Haas
9 Jake Turpin
10 Thomas Flegler
11 Alex Glenn
12 Jordan Riki
13 Patrick Carrigan

14 Cory Paix
15 Corey Oates
16 Matt Lodge
17 John Asiata

No TPJ. No Clue. Or is he suspended/injured?

 

[john1420]

No TPJ. No Clue. Or is he suspended/injured?

and no Copley, no way this is our line up, surely

 

[The Fisherman]

New to the site, but Broncos fan through and through all my life. Really interested to see how we bounce back this year and whilst it may be challenging I feel Kevvie could be the man for the job to bring a good attitude to the current playing group. Reading some of the comments on here, it is true we are over paying young guys, who are talented, but it wouldn't happen at Roosters or Storm. There is always two to three players waiting in the wings that can fill their positions. And never will the club bow down to a players demands. They just go okay, off you go see you later.

I do like the above TL for rd 1 with a slight change:
1 - 7 as is.
8. Carrigan/Lodge (Carrigan was one of our best last year, but ended up carting it up like a prop, didn't offer us much more in attack, Lodge needs to be fit, I understand he was injured, but for the new rules/speed of the game)
9. Macca/Turpin (I would say Turpin, with Macca on the pine to give him a spell and offer leadership)
10. Haas
11. Glen (I would start him here, but move Pangai to an edge through the game)
12. Ricki (Start developing him, he did really well last season back end, and formed a good combo with Dearden)
13. Asiata/Pangai (I feel Asiata signed to play 13, will offer us something more in attack).

14. Macca
15. Fleg
16. Pangai
17. Lodge

Personally I would start Pangai at 13 for the initial stint (20 say min), then bring Asiata on there and Glen off, pushing Pangai out wide. Or Start Asiata/Carrigan and do a similar thing but bringing Pangai onto an edge. Fleg and Lodge, rotate through the middle with Carrigan/Pangai - Haas. Our forwards can play extended min and still have good impact, whereas I feel Glen is past his best but brings experienced and can cover edge/middle/center if injury. Macca on the pine would bring experience, can cover middle if injury and gives turpin a spell so he isn't just defending all day.

After losing Fifita we need to develop Ricki/Bullemore, I like what I saw from Ricki back end, I don't think Oates is an edge we need, let him take his dream up as an edge forward at another club.

Lodge has been great 2018-19, but needs to be fit and healthy this season to compete for us, and the new speed of the game.

Welcome to the site mate, nice post

 

[Morepudding]

This squad absolutely sucks right now. Wooden spoon written all over it.

Honestly agree, besides losing Boyd, our team has only gotten worse. The first two games of the year we only one on the back of individual brilliance from Fifita against the cowboys, and Staggs against the Rabbitohs, and Fifita is gone and Staggs is out half the year.

Not to mention the Bulldogs look significantly stronger in 2021, as do the Titans and I’m sure the dragons will also improve.

Not confident at all. God I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see it.

 

[Dazza 92]

having Mead and Copley inside our rookie wingers is an interesting idea....hopefully improve the defensive reads out wide....thats a trend ill watch with interest this year.

Our wooden spoon rivals the Bulldogs have significantly strengthened...thats a concern..

We have a rookie coach in charge.....dont overlook that fact...

For me the aim should be making this roster understand there is no "I" in team....id like to see a "team" be built this year. Ive still not forgotten last season...we are years away from doing anything significant....

Looking around the league to determine if there are other clubs who are turning 100kg, 6 foot 4 high former wingers into 2nd rowers.....only us...are we ahead of the curve on something here or way behind..?

 

[Finbar]

I know people are saying our squad is weaker than last year, but we'll still be able to field a stronger team week to week unless we have another horror run of injuries (and suspensions for TPJ). With an improvement in coach and staff at the club, a better attitude from the players and some solid signings , I'm optimistic.

If you have a look at our team list for last year, a lot were not even close to playing 20 games for the season. 6 of our starters missed at least half the season.

Milford - 13 games played
Flegler - 13
Isaako - 10
TPJ - 9
Glenn - 8
Lodge - 6
Turpin - 6
Bird - 0

 

[Broncapz]

I know people are saying our squad is weaker than last year, but we'll still be able to field a stronger team week to week unless we have another horror run of injuries (and suspensions for TPJ). With an improvement in coach and staff at the club, a better attitude from the players and some solid signings , I'm optimistic.

If you have a look at our team list for last year, a lot were not even close to playing 20 games for the season. 6 of our starters missed at least half the season.

Milford - 13 games played
Flegler - 13
Isaako - 10
TPJ - 9
Glenn - 8
Lodge - 6
Turpin - 6
Bird - 0

That's insane. Ourinjury toll, particulaly to key players in 2020 is really really understated.

People picking us for the spoon or close to the spoon next year will be surprised.

 

[BroncsFan]

That's insane. Ourinjury toll, particulaly to key players in 2020 is really really understated.

People picking us for the spoon or close to the spoon next year will be surprised.

Full list of appearances for the year below ('App' is starts, 'Int' is interchange appearances). Excludes Bird as he didn't play any games, but even 32 players in a season is bad, combining that with no reserve grade competition was always going to result in a horrendous season

 

[Twbapony]

having Mead and Copley inside our rookie wingers is an interesting idea....hopefully improve the defensive reads out wide....thats a trend ill watch with interest this year.

Our wooden spoon rivals the Bulldogs have significantly strengthened...thats a concern..

We have a rookie coach in charge.....dont overlook that fact...

For me the aim should be making this roster understand there is no "I" in team....id like to see a "team" be built this year. Ive still not forgotten last season...we are years away from doing anything significant....

Looking around the league to determine if there are other clubs who are turning 100kg, 6 foot 4 high former wingers into 2nd rowers.....only us...are we ahead of the curve on something here or way behind..?

Look I'll take back to back spoons if it allows us to put good systems and better people into positions that matter, take care of the pennies and the pounds will follow. After 2021 when we have cash and no excuse, I expect a return to the top 8, top 4 will be better, but a one year rebuild is ok. We have good people following Kev in, and we can go forward from there.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

Full list of appearances for the year below ('App' is starts, 'Int' is interchange appearances). Excludes Bird as he didn't play any games, but even 32 players in a season is bad, combining that with no reserve grade competition was always going to result in a horrendous season

View attachment 11025

I thought "woah that is worse then I thought"... then I realised the INT numbers were the interchange appearances.
Still, it's something that has not been talked about by our fans or opposition fans. I've never seen an season like it with injury. Penrith have come close a few years ago and they got massive media coverage for it and were constantly forgiven for poor performances. This also happened in a year when we had to call on reserve grade players when there was no reserve grade!!!! That's unbelievable bad luck, will never happen again!

It's not an excuse for the shit effort they put in last year but I think we are going to shock a lot of people this year if the injury list improves to even mildly normal levels, and we let these young guys have experience and build confidence in reserve grade.

 

[Brent81]

having Mead and Copley inside our rookie wingers is an interesting idea....hopefully improve the defensive reads out wide....thats a trend ill watch with interest this year.

Our wooden spoon rivals the Bulldogs have significantly strengthened...thats a concern..

We have a rookie coach in charge.....dont overlook that fact...

For me the aim should be making this roster understand there is no "I" in team....id like to see a "team" be built this year. Ive still not forgotten last season...we are years away from doing anything significant....

Looking around the league to determine if there are other clubs who are turning 100kg, 6 foot 4 high former wingers into 2nd rowers.....only us...are we ahead of the curve on something here or way behind..?

To be fair big backs have often made the transition to the pack....Carroll, Wiki, Lawrence, Luke Lewis etc....perhaps often might be overstating it....perhaps “not uncommon” might be a better way to express it...

My concern is Oates defence....but he might do better with blokes coming directly at him more often than not...

Little concerned he might delay the progress of Riki etc

He can certainly run a line. He scored a good try against Canberra on an unders line fron

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

To be fair big backs have often made the transition to the pack....Carroll, Wiki, Lawrence, Luke Lewis etc....perhaps often might be overstating it....perhaps “not uncommon” might be a better way to express it...

My concern is Oates defence....but he might do better with blokes coming directly at him more often than not...

Little concerned he might delay the progress of Riki etc

He can certainly run a line. He scored a good try against Canberra on an unders line fron

100% agree with your concerns about oates' defence, and agree about his fantastic line running.
Smart teams will isolate him with an inside and/or outside runner beside them, especially if he defends inside or outside a half or poor defender. His decision making and lateral speed concern me and will be exploited unless he responds well early.

 

[Kimlo]

I know a lot of people try to block last year from memory, but we looked miles better the second Seibold left and Gentle took over. We went from total chaos to looking remotely competitive and that was a guy who is not a head coach and never wanted the job.

With a proper coaching team, less injuries and Seibold not sucking the life out of the squad, we'll be top 8 again.