2009 in perspective

[Coxy]

As has been said in the Storm threads, let's put the season in perspective. After the Canberra game in round 21 we were 10th, had just been annihilated 56-0, and looked long odds to even make the finals.

We won our next 7 games and were the 3rd last team standing. That's some achievement.

We outlasted the Bulldogs, Dragons, Titans, Manly, Newcastle, Wests Tigers, Penrith, Cowboys, Souths, Raiders, Warriors, Sharks and Roosters.

Next year is a new challenge. K Hunt moves on, D Taylor moves on. Lockyer is inching closer to retirement.

For me 2010 has 2 major goals:

1. Improve our handling of the evil representative season. That was our downfall this year. Whether it was the rep commitments or just a general unsettling at that time of year, who knows, but the Broncos have to be focussed on being mentally tough and gritty at that time of year, not just rolling over as they did this time.

2. Prepare for post-Lockyer. That probably won't be until 2012, but we have to make sure we have the ingredients right from round 1 that year. That means, without question, Ben Hunt has to get heaps of game time next year and spend whatever time he's not in first grade playing Queensland Cup. The Broncos have to start 2010 with the view that in 2012 it'll be 6. Wallace, 7. Hunt. That may change between now and then, but they have to have the end game in mind and work from there.

Playing Hunt on the bench will count against us some weeks and we should play horses for courses to a degree...play 4 forwards occasionally. But wherever possible, Hunt has to be on the bench.

 

[Bucking Beads]

3. Beat the Storm every time we play them.

 

[pennywisealfie]

Next year is a rebuilding year for sure.

We just dont have the team to win it next yr imo.

With that said, with the development of players like Hunt, McCullough, Yow Yeh, Winterstein, Folau, Setu, McGuire...we will be ready to compete again maybe the season after.

 

[Bucking Beads]

2011 Lockyer in his last season wins a premiership. I would love that to happen. I think the 2010 squad should make the finals if they play with the right attitude and don't have mass injuries. Henjak needs to develop a game plan where we can cope with losing our star players during Origin and if an injury strikes.

 

[Russo]

For me this year was a rebuilding year and next year will be more of the same. We need to finish in the eight to continue to give the young guys finals expereince.

As for Hunt he is still very hot and cold, I actually quite like the look of young Norman the Under 20's five eighth, he looks to me to have some mongrel in him and may be ready to go sooner than Hunt, time will tell.

For mine as I said in the game spoiler thread, I think we overachieved this year and was proud of my team. We need to build on what we did this year and not rest on out laurels.

Also we need to lock Darren's signature up shortly as it has certainly dragged on for a while now, and whilst I know I should not be concerned I have little panes of worry re it being a done deal.....not sure why but I do.

 

[Captain Staros]

I hate to say this but I'm not even sure the Big D will be around in 2011.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I hate to say this but I'm not even sure the Big D will be around in 2011.

No you don't every second post you make you tell the world lockyer won't make it to 2011.

 

[Mister Wright]

Agree with Coxy that Hunt should be on the bench where possible next season. Not sure how our team will be affected by Origin next year. Maybe Lockyer won't play, but if he does, it's not that bad as Hunt can get a start. Obviously Falou, Hodges and Thaiday will be away that time of year, so only 4 at most. That's something I think we can cover next season.

 

[Captain Staros]

I hate to say this but I'm not even sure the Big D will be around in 2011.

No you don't every second post you make you tell the world lockyer won't make it to 2011.

OK, don't think I'm a Lockyer basher. That guy's my hero. I'm just being realistic and it's not a sure thing that he will be here in 2011. I hope so, though.

 

[Bucking Beads]

[quote="Captain Staros":24sg4il4]I hate to say this but I'm not even sure the Big D will be around in 2011.

No you don't every second post you make you tell the world lockyer won't make it to 2011.

OK, don't think I'm a Lockyer basher. That guy's my hero. I'm just being realistic and it's not a sure thing that he will be here in 2011. I hope so, though.[/quote:24sg4il4]

Yeah sweet I doubt he will make it 2011 also but hopefully he does the Broncos have a very inexperienced side.

 

[Coxy]

There's been people saying Lockyer will be out in 1 year since he switched to five-eighth in 2004. He can't handle the extra load, they say.

He's come through so far, and I don't see why he can't go around another 2 years. He won't make the breaks he once did (he's not now anyway), but he can still lay on a great pass, reads the play better than any player on the planet, and has a great kicking game when it's on fire.

 

[mrslong]

Before a ball was kicked off this year we weren't expected to do any better than scrape into the finals if we were lucky. Certainly no-one expected us to win the Grand Final with the amount of players that we lost in 08 including our coach (aka the best coach in the league).

When we won 3 in a row to start the season, things were looking good and we thought we were in with a chance to make a shake of the year....but already we'd done more than expected of us.

The mid season slump was very nearly fatal, but proved to us all how much pride is in the jersey by the old boys, the fans and the current players/administration. To resurrect our season from that and make the charge to the finals knocking off the minor premiers twice has made this season better than most nay-sayers expected.

Well done boys, well done Ivan. If you can continue from here you can definitely win next year and/or the year after.

Makes me love the Broncos even more!

 

[Chumbason]

Year in review.

WB leaving was in the end a good thing as it allows the club to remove some of his culture while we still have the players to rebuild. That good old WB magic wasn't getting it done anymore and better he go out or at least from this club while we are still somewhere near the top.

The Falou purchase and the loss of both Hunt and Taylor were very bad for the club. We have now lost the passion that Hunt brings, have lost the only forward that actually bends the line back and have an over paid winger that is slower than most forwards and only real talent is catching the ball.

That being said Wallace improved and with a bit of luck he will be left out of the Blues side next year and give the side a chance to win some games through the rep season.

GOOD POINTS are that we have a new coach and a lot of very talented players.

BAD POINTS are that we have no game plan, no set moves, no forwards worth their salt and a million $$ back line that has no room to move.

Yes it's a rebuilding year, but so is every year.

In some areas we did a lot better this year than some expected and in some areas we did a lot worse... we need consistant play every week that is at the level that these players are capable. Not 100% brilliant with no mistakes each and every week, but teams that get flogged as often as we have and fall into slumps as often as we do, will never compete for very long with sides that play consistant football.

The likes on Mel, man, G'C and Dogs will beat us more often than not, because they play a better quality of football more often than not. They play as a team, with a game plan and goals in mind.

To see Darren Lockyer, one of the greatest if not THE greatest footballer of the era, made to look like a fool because his pack couldn't break the line and his other team mates just stood there and waited to be told and even shown what to do, is very sad indeed. He got crushed because he had no room, he got worn out because he got no help and he looked out of his depth because every one just stood there waiting.

I feel for the guy so much, he knew he was screwed against the storm the minute the last game was over... they asked him about the storm and he said with a pained face, "we'll go down there and give it a crack". He knew his backs wouldn't have the room to move because he knew his pack weren't up to it. And a week later he was shown to be dead right.

This culture of let someone else do it, or lets just buy one superstar every few years instead of building a team that plays well together will be the death of us, we should never have touched falou, we lost hunt and we gave away Taylor... the only other superstar is getting old and when he's gone. it'll be wooden spoons for everyone.

This year was the exactly the same as most of the last 20!

 

[OXY-351]

it'll be wooden spoons for everyone.

+1

I reckon the broncos will come 10th next year, and the wooden spoon the year after. There is only so long the team can rely on Lockyer. Lockyer had an ordinary game on the weekend (not entirely his own fault though), and guess what, the whole broncos team did. No-one looks like they have a clue when Lockyers not firing

 

[Nashy]

Deadset, there are things you can be sure of at the end of every Broncos season.

1. Lockyer to fullback
2. Broncos won't make the finals because we lost [names]
3. Broncos need a new game plan
4. Broncos winning era is over

Give it up people.

 

[Coxy]

I like this reinvention of history that the Broncos' game plan always revolved around giving it to one player (presumably Lewis, then Langer, then Lockyer).

Sure, those 3 were always the focal point of attack, but the Broncos always threw the ball around and made use of their backline up until about 1997 when there was also an introduction of a power game...but still plenty of ball movement.

The ball movement died down after Alf's retirement in 1999 and we never really brought it back, except in certain individual games and streaks (run to 2006 premiership for example, and several games in the 2000 premiership).

I actually think our ball movement in the last 2 seasons has been good and our reliance on the power game has subsided. Our weakness still seems to be to slip into one out rucks for 5 and then kick when we're struggling. I think that's the main area the Broncos need to work on. Rather than just go back to basics, which yes can stem the tide but won't get you out of a hole, come up with alternate plans and tactics.

But to suggest the Broncos have used the same game plan for 20 years is utter nonsense.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Yep Broncos are Wooden Spooners in 2020 put your house on it

 

[mrslong]

I agree that our main "move" of the last 3-4 years has gone now though so we're going to need a new "move".
The Wallace -> Lockyer -> Hunt -> Grubber/Cutout/Dummy & go....

Sad, I loved that move.