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NRL Player
- Mar 4, 2008
- 2,460
- 328
1. Josh Hoffman – 8/10. Superb year from a rookie in what is becoming the most important position in a rugby league team. Only a few of us called for him to start at fullback before the season began and continued to call for him after Norman had a couple of amazing games at fullback. This kid is a sensation and will hopefully be a Bronco for life.
2. Antonio Winterstein – 5/10. Could not really get going this season. Not many tries and looked shaky under the high ball. He should look like an absolute genius in the Cowboys backline.
3. Israel Folau – 7/10. A danger every time he got the ball. Scored plenty of tries and was always on the tip sheet of opposition coaches. Wonder why I am left with the impression that he didn’t get involved as much as he could have?
4. Alex Glenn – 7/10. Solid season from this classy kid playing out of position. In a team full of utility players he stands out as Mr Versatile. Hopefully we will see him playing in tight next season where he belongs
5. Jharal Yow Yeh – 6/10. Showed signs of potential and I’m left with the impression that he was our best winger but the stats say that Winterstein was an all round better player, apart from tries scored. This season will do him good and he should come back more sure of himself next season.
6. Darren Lockyer – 9/10. What needs to be said about this living football god? When he plays he doesn’t have to play a 9/10 game to have a 9/10 effect on the team. We all know what happens when he’s not around. Managed the impossible and somehow improved his game – he tackled better than I’ve seen.
7. Peter Wallace – 10/10. An absolutely blinding year from the best halfback in the game. Did not put a foot wrong all year and must have just missed out on the Dally M.
8. Shane Tronc – 7/10. Sometimes had the feeling that the big unit was playing a lone hand against opposition big men. Looks slow at times but then I remember he’s a prop and does not need to do the 100 in 12 seconds. He’s brought a good offload to the Brisbane pack that has been missing for a long time. With Hannant as a fellow bookend Tronc should lift.
9. Andrew McCullough – 7/10. Talk about a pressure job to be given to a youngster. McCullough is far from perfect – his passing game needs work – but to me he’s still the long-term answer at hooker for the Broncos. Defends well, can kick well, has a lethal show-and-go and was pretty much the only player to really lift in Lockyer’s absence.
10. Nick Kenny – 5/10. Don’t know what it is, maybe lingering injuries? Kenny did not have the impact that the Broncos needed. It’s like he needs to either bulk up or play a Michael Hodgson type of game.
11. Sam Thaiday – 9/10. Everyone knows this has been Sam’s break-out season. Looked fitter than ever, regularly played 80 minutes, was our go-to man in the forwards and was the default enforcer in our pack. Well done Sam.
12. Ben Te’o – 8/10. Perhaps the most improved player in the comp. Worked hard on his fitness in the offseason and when he was allowed to play in his natural backrow position he was devastating running wide into gaps or over the top of backs and also smashing everything that moved in defense. Great season from the surprise packet and let’s hope he can stay in the backrow for all of next season.
13. Corey Parker – 8/10. Never stopped trying to lift and lead his team. Still the hardest man in the Broncos pack to effectively tackle. I would like to see him do less grunt work early in sets but who am I to tell him how to play? Thanks for all your efforts in 2010 Coery.
14. Matt Gillett – 7/10. Boom rookie and find of the year. Another of Brisbane’s vast array of utility forwards who can run like a back over short distances and match it with the best opposition packs. If there’s not a starting spot in the pack he should be our first bench player picked every week.
15. Scott Anderson – 6/10. Tried hard but seemed to get overwhelmed a bit when opposition packs were on top. Adds value when Brisbane are on a roll but doesn’t seem to be a player who can manufacture that roll. Plenty of room for improvement.
16. Josh McGuire – 5/10. The Big Show did not get a lot of minutes but I feel he’s still being eased into the big time. Plays with plenty of passion but physically he’s not quite there – yet.
17. Ben Hunt – 7/10. Gets a 7 for his late season burst. Finally looks comfortable and competent in the top grade. His kicking game needs work and the experiment with him at hooker is hopefully over. Not that he was bad there but I think he’s not suited to it. I would like to see Hunt given the halfback spot with Wallace moved to the bench to cover hooker.
18. Corey Norman – 5/10. Gets a pass mark for his amazing early season performances at fullback but was exposed - especially in defense – in the halves. Corey has a long way to go to become a regular first grader but the potential is there.
19. Mitchell Dodds – 6/10. Apart from Gillett, Mitchell is the pick of the young forwards. Has a big shoulder on him and with another offseason should blossom into a good impact forward. Would benefit from Ben Te’o’s offseason fitness regime.
Ivan Henjack – 6/10. Made some baffling positional selections and stuck with them despite the evidence. Made some weird replacements during games too. But overall it has to be admitted that he’s done pretty well with such an inexperienced side so plagued by injuries. Rumours that the players aren’t happy with him are neither here nor there for me, what’s important is stability and continuity and I look forward to seeing what Ivan can do next year with this crop of young bloods he has developed.
2. Antonio Winterstein – 5/10. Could not really get going this season. Not many tries and looked shaky under the high ball. He should look like an absolute genius in the Cowboys backline.
3. Israel Folau – 7/10. A danger every time he got the ball. Scored plenty of tries and was always on the tip sheet of opposition coaches. Wonder why I am left with the impression that he didn’t get involved as much as he could have?
4. Alex Glenn – 7/10. Solid season from this classy kid playing out of position. In a team full of utility players he stands out as Mr Versatile. Hopefully we will see him playing in tight next season where he belongs
5. Jharal Yow Yeh – 6/10. Showed signs of potential and I’m left with the impression that he was our best winger but the stats say that Winterstein was an all round better player, apart from tries scored. This season will do him good and he should come back more sure of himself next season.
6. Darren Lockyer – 9/10. What needs to be said about this living football god? When he plays he doesn’t have to play a 9/10 game to have a 9/10 effect on the team. We all know what happens when he’s not around. Managed the impossible and somehow improved his game – he tackled better than I’ve seen.
7. Peter Wallace – 10/10. An absolutely blinding year from the best halfback in the game. Did not put a foot wrong all year and must have just missed out on the Dally M.
8. Shane Tronc – 7/10. Sometimes had the feeling that the big unit was playing a lone hand against opposition big men. Looks slow at times but then I remember he’s a prop and does not need to do the 100 in 12 seconds. He’s brought a good offload to the Brisbane pack that has been missing for a long time. With Hannant as a fellow bookend Tronc should lift.
9. Andrew McCullough – 7/10. Talk about a pressure job to be given to a youngster. McCullough is far from perfect – his passing game needs work – but to me he’s still the long-term answer at hooker for the Broncos. Defends well, can kick well, has a lethal show-and-go and was pretty much the only player to really lift in Lockyer’s absence.
10. Nick Kenny – 5/10. Don’t know what it is, maybe lingering injuries? Kenny did not have the impact that the Broncos needed. It’s like he needs to either bulk up or play a Michael Hodgson type of game.
11. Sam Thaiday – 9/10. Everyone knows this has been Sam’s break-out season. Looked fitter than ever, regularly played 80 minutes, was our go-to man in the forwards and was the default enforcer in our pack. Well done Sam.
12. Ben Te’o – 8/10. Perhaps the most improved player in the comp. Worked hard on his fitness in the offseason and when he was allowed to play in his natural backrow position he was devastating running wide into gaps or over the top of backs and also smashing everything that moved in defense. Great season from the surprise packet and let’s hope he can stay in the backrow for all of next season.
13. Corey Parker – 8/10. Never stopped trying to lift and lead his team. Still the hardest man in the Broncos pack to effectively tackle. I would like to see him do less grunt work early in sets but who am I to tell him how to play? Thanks for all your efforts in 2010 Coery.
14. Matt Gillett – 7/10. Boom rookie and find of the year. Another of Brisbane’s vast array of utility forwards who can run like a back over short distances and match it with the best opposition packs. If there’s not a starting spot in the pack he should be our first bench player picked every week.
15. Scott Anderson – 6/10. Tried hard but seemed to get overwhelmed a bit when opposition packs were on top. Adds value when Brisbane are on a roll but doesn’t seem to be a player who can manufacture that roll. Plenty of room for improvement.
16. Josh McGuire – 5/10. The Big Show did not get a lot of minutes but I feel he’s still being eased into the big time. Plays with plenty of passion but physically he’s not quite there – yet.
17. Ben Hunt – 7/10. Gets a 7 for his late season burst. Finally looks comfortable and competent in the top grade. His kicking game needs work and the experiment with him at hooker is hopefully over. Not that he was bad there but I think he’s not suited to it. I would like to see Hunt given the halfback spot with Wallace moved to the bench to cover hooker.
18. Corey Norman – 5/10. Gets a pass mark for his amazing early season performances at fullback but was exposed - especially in defense – in the halves. Corey has a long way to go to become a regular first grader but the potential is there.
19. Mitchell Dodds – 6/10. Apart from Gillett, Mitchell is the pick of the young forwards. Has a big shoulder on him and with another offseason should blossom into a good impact forward. Would benefit from Ben Te’o’s offseason fitness regime.
Ivan Henjack – 6/10. Made some baffling positional selections and stuck with them despite the evidence. Made some weird replacements during games too. But overall it has to be admitted that he’s done pretty well with such an inexperienced side so plagued by injuries. Rumours that the players aren’t happy with him are neither here nor there for me, what’s important is stability and continuity and I look forward to seeing what Ivan can do next year with this crop of young bloods he has developed.
