It's a rap...2017 Review

ivanhungryjak said:

www.triplem.com.au

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Big Pete said:

They had more players off contract than any other side

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I bleed Maroon said:

Those NSW numbers aren't really surprising but are still a disgrace, and the Titans beating the Pennies and Warriors! FFFFuuuu!?

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vertigo said:

I wonder if this puts us in a decent position cap wise since the new figure has been somewhat finalised for 2018.

There were reports that a large number of clubs could be over the cap next year.

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More than 100 players could be squeezed out of NRL as market comes to a halt
September 23 2017 - 11:55PM
More than 100 players with first-grade experience are yet to find a club for next year, raising fears the majority could be squeezed out of the NRL.
Some of the biggest names in the game – including Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Darius Boyd – remain off contract for 2018. While they will have little trouble finding a home should they want one for 2018, the story will be different for the fringe first grader.

Clubless: Cooper Cronk won't have trouble finding interested clubs when he moves to Sydney, but he's one of the lucky ones. Photo: AAP
The player market has come to a virtual halt due to a coaching merry-go-round in which Neil Henry, Michael Maguire and Des Hasler have been sacked, creating uncertainty around their former clubs' retention and recruitment strategy. Complicating the issue are the protracted collective bargaining agreement negotiations that have left the game without an official salary cap for next year. While the figure will almost certainly be $9.4 million when developing and veteran player allowances are factored in, most of the clubs have already spent their money, while others have overspent and will need to shed stars to comply.
Rather than jump at the unsigned talent available, clubs with cash to spend are holding out for the likes of Cronk, unsettled Panther Matt Moylan, Cronulla playmaker James Maloney or other contracted stars that may come onto the open market. Clubs such as the Raiders and Bulldogs may need to offload talent, leading to bargain buys ahead of the NRL kick-off next March.

Uncertain future: Chris Heighington. Photo: Michele Mossop
The situation has left established players such as Ryan Hoffman, Michael Lichaa, Tyrone Roberts, Jamal Idris, Chris Heighington, Frank Pritchard, Tony Williams, William Zillman, Jorge Taufua, Chase Stanley, Peter Mata'utia, Drew Hutchison, Joel Edwards, Kyle Lovett, David Gower, Pauli Pauli, Jack Stockwell and Jaelen Feeney in limbo.
"It's been tough. I feel very sorry for the players who get caught in the squeeze," said veteran player manager Steve Gillis.
"We are now going to enter a stage where, more than likely, clubs will need to offload. Asking a player to move at this time of year now is near impossible. It gets harder the longer it goes."
Heighington is keen to add to his tally of 318 NRL appearances. He will be 36 in January, but his body is showing no signs of wear and tear. The two-time premiership winner has missed just four games in the past two season despite playing in the forwards.

Off contract: Brisbane skipper Darius Boyd. Photo: Jono Searle
"There's a couple of NRL clubs interested, a few from overseas," Heighington said.
"I'm just trying to get the right one and get the right decision. One more year at this stage, I don't want to be too greedy. The body's feeling good. I have barely missed a game through injury for four or five years. I haven't had a reconstruction or anything like that. Hopefully I get through my NRL career with just a few broken bones."
Gower is another player who would walk into the best 17 at most clubs. The journeyman forward made just seven appearances this year for Parramatta, where competition for spots in the engine room is fierce. He's hoping to be offered a one-year extension.
"We've been talking for a little while now and I'd like to think we could get something done," Gower said.
The future is less clear for Idris. The 27-year-old made a comeback with Wests Tigers this season after taking a gap year to discover the world and himself. His return was cruelled by another season-ending knee injury after just five games, with the joint-venture outfit opting not to offer him a new contract.
The cult figure declared his intention to continue playing immediately after undergoing surgery in June, but complications with the recovery meant he was less certain when contacted by Fairfax Media during the week.
Idris, the recipient of the Tigers' community achievement award for his efforts off the field, said he was enjoying fishing and spending time with children in regional areas.
"That's one thing that makes you happy, spending time with kids," he said.
"When I had surgery a few months ago I was really frustrated, obviously. Before I went in I was getting really upset because they were sending me in for scan after scan.
"When I walked in to get the X-ray, I walked through the cancer ward. That's when you take a step back and realise you're doing all right."
Most of the players on the off-contract list have little bargaining power. Zillman's last contract with the Gold Coast was of the five-year variety. While the Titans are open to keeping him for his experience, it's understood their latest offer is a tiny fraction of his previous asking price.
At the Dragons, Hutchison was set to get the first crack at the No.7 jersey vacated by Benji Marshall last season. However the former Junior Kangaroo is at a crossroads after sitting out the year with a season-ending ACL injury, while Ben Hunt is assured of the halfback spot after shifting from Brisbane on one of the richest deals in NRL history.
It's also an uncertain time for those yet to make their first-grade debuts. George Jennings, the brother of Parramatta star Michael Jennings, is off contract. His older brother believes he is capable of vying for the wing spot vacated by Semi Radradra, although it remains to be seen if he will remain at the Eels long enough to do so.
"There are a lot of other players who want that position and it's big shoes to fill with Semi leaving," Michael Jennings said.
"There's definitely an opportunity for George, it's just if he wants to take it. It would have been good to see him get an opportunity this year, but he's been unlucky not getting selected. He's been really good in Cup and is knocking on the door to play first grade.
"It would be good to see him get the opportunity for all the hard work he does, he just needs some luck."

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papabear said:

Is it really a milford type players role to give you shape?

he is a gun instinct player... maybe in his last few years he develops into a organiser like benji has kind of, but really you are wasting him if you dont use him two passes of the ruck and give him a license to support play off forwards, not that the broncos unleash alot of second phase play.

You had better organisers in your side in macca and hunt (not the worlds best but better then milf) and even boyd.

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Viti said:

You’re 100% right, when I heard the rumour about us possibly signing Kieran Foran I was over the moon because I thought that’s exactly what we need to compliment Milf.

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Mitchell_Broncos said:

where did you hear that rumour?

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Donald Garner said:

We need a lot more structure in attack. It's all well and good to just through the ball around and hope it comes off but looked what happened last night. The two times we ran a set play we should have scored twice!

Apart from that we looked horrible in attack because nobody knew what was coming.

I'm hoping a entire off season with Milford and Nikorima will fix this. The other thing we really to to improve on is out kicking game!!

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BroncsFan said:

The huge issue with this is milf will be spending a fair chunk of the off season rehabbing from shoulder surgery.

This off season shapes as one of the most important in recent memory with a new halfback (his first preparing as a starting halfback), a likely new role for milf to be lead playmaker and a fair chunk of work required in offence and defence.

All this and the guy we're hoping to pin a large portion of the season on will be sitting on the sideline for 4-6 months... not to mention our hooker, where we have even less depth than this year, will be sitting right next to him.

That'll be 50% of our spine rehabbing and a 3rd undertaking his first preseason as a fulltime starting halfback.

I'm fairly worried about 2018 already and it may take us awhile to get into gear, which is more worrying when considering the start of the year is usually our best.

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Mitchell_Broncos said:

With the surgery he is getting is it a 6 week no contact on it afterwards or?

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Brisbane Broncos are heading in the wrong direction following another year without a title
an hour ago

Broncos bomb certain tries
ANOTHER year over for the Brisbane Broncos.
Another year of getting every possible advantage over their premiership rivals in the playing schedule from seven-day turnarounds.
Another year of paying players more than any other club because of their third-party sponsorship benefits from one team in one capital city.
Another year when questions should be asked about Wayne Bennett’s coaching.

Is Bennett losing touch with the modern game?
Like choosing an obviously unfit Darius Boyd to play Melbourne Storm on Friday night.
Like playing Corey Oates on the wing just a week after a shocking concussion then wondering why he kept dropping the football.
Like creating confusion by using three different halfbacks — Ben Hunt, Kodi Nikorima and Benji Marshall — in the past six weeks.
Looking back the Broncos will be satisfied with the top-four finish.
Then you start to think about next year and whether they can improve.
Can Jack Bird make up for the loss of Ben Hunt?
Can the $1 million man Anthony Milford find some consistent form?

It’s now been 11 years since Brisbane last won a premiership.
Adam Blair is off to the Warriors.
Herman Ese’Ese and Tautau Moga to the Newcastle Knights.
Old Benji to the Wests Tigers.
Jai Arrow to the Titans.
Is Bennett, soon to turn 68, losing touch with the modern game?
Only one thing’s certain: there are many questions to be answered at the Broncos in 2018.

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ivanhungryjak said:

Rothfield attempts journalism and fails miserably.

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Super Freak said:

He raises a point about Bennett and it's a question you do have to ask.

Is he losing touch with the modern game? His game plan works when the team is on, but when they're not, it doesn't and it doesn't seem like we have a plan B.

We go all out on plan A and have to rely on individual brilliance or the opposition stuffing up if it doesn't work.

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Super Freak said:

He raises a point about Bennett and it's a question you do have to ask.

Is he losing touch with the modern game? His game plan works when the team is on, but when they're not, it doesn't and it doesn't seem like we have a plan B.

We go all out on plan A and have to rely on individual brilliance or the opposition stuffing up if it doesn't work.

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