2011 vs 2015

[Big Pete]

Since the Lockyer Farewell Tour was the last time the Broncos really challenged for the title, I thought it would be interesting to compare.

Brisbane Broncos 2011
Finished: 3rd
Won: 18
Lost: 6
For: 511 (7th)
Against: 372 (4th)

Typical Full-Strength Line-Up
1. Josh Hoffman 2. Gerard Beale 3. Jack Reed 4. Justin Hodges 5. Jharal Yow Yeh 6. Darren Lockyer 7. Peter Wallace 8. Ben Hannant 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Josh McGuire 11. Alex Glenn 12. Sam Thaiday 13. Corey Parker

Interchange: 14. Ben Hunt 15. Scott Anderson 16. Matt Gillett 17. Ben Te'o

Brisbane Broncos 2015
Finished: 2nd
Won: 17
Lost: 7
For: 574 (3rd)
Against: 379 (3rd)

Typical Full-Strength Line-Up
1. Darius Boyd 2. Jordan Kahu 3. Jack Reed 4. Justin Hodges 5. Corey Oates 6. Anthony Milford 7. Ben Hunt 8. Josh McGuire 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Adam Blair 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. Corey Parker

Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Sam Thaiday 16. Mitchell Dodds 17. Kodi Nikorima

 

[gordjw]

Interesting idea BP. The minorest of nit picks, but we're actually 3rd on Points For this year. Cowboys and Roosters caught us in the last round with their huge victories.

Big difference to me is that we're doing it this time without any recognised superstars in the spine. Boyd is closest, but is not in the Lockyer/JT category.

Maybe we'll look back in years to come and see this as Hunt and Milford's breakout season. I certainly hope so!

 

[Big Pete]

What I remember most about 2011 is that the Broncos were very much a jeckyll and hyde side. They could be really good in one half, then be really flat the next. It made them a really frustrating team to watch, because they clearly had the talent but never quite hit the highest gear over a sustained period.

They were never really a flashy side. The bulk of their points either came through smart play to their edges or precision kicks to their outside backs, namely Jharal Yow Yeh and Jack Reed. Outside of that, there weren't many plays to talk about. The only one that comes to mind was the outside inside ball Wallace would try with Hoffman which would invariably faill because opposition defences could see it coming a mile away.

In comparison, the 2015 version definitely seems flashier. I think the key is that their two most dangerous players are their halves. Lockyer was a damn good player and arguably had a season in 2011 than Milford or Hunt are enjoying. However as an individual, I don't think Lockyer posed as much of a threat. At least, not in terms of his running game. So the Broncos play towards that, by trying to incorporate more ball-play in the forwards, more late offloads through Blair, Parker & even Wallace so the halves can weave their magic against staggered defensive lines. It isn't always consistent, but when it's on-song it's beautiful to watch.

Where I think the 2015 side is lacking is the bench. At full-strength, Thaiday is an extremely handy inclusion but since he's predominately had to start since Round 16, the bench hasn't been as strong as the 2011 comparison. That means, the Broncos are more prone to flat spots through out the game, where as the 2011 side generally got better as the game wore on. I believe that's the Broncos biggest weakness as we head into the finals and if they're to be a chance, they'll really need some big efforts from their bench players and fast.

With that said, I definitely feel more confident heading into the finals with this squad. Admittedly, it's largely due to the finals format. Had the 2011 finals adopted a similar format, I believe the Broncos would have been a better chance. I'm not going to get too sucked up in the 'what could have been' but still think it's a joke the Broncos could put 40 on the Warriors, yet finish a week earlier. However, I'm more confident in this Broncos team as a unit. Honestly, I had very little faith in the 2011 line-up and was quite frustrated with them heading into the first week of the finals. I thought the final game was something of a disaster, where the Broncos nearly got beaten by an understrength line-up and lost two key players (Hoffman & Thaiday) in the process. Fortunately, they turned up with the right attitude against a poor Warriors outfit.

 

[Porthoz]

I would have given us a bigger chance in 2011 with Lockyer in the team, who may not have had a running game, but was the best clutch player I have ever seen, and knew how to control a game like very few can, and could battle with any team on our best day.
The problem is that they could be pretty flat as well, and the question is whether Hook would've been able to maintain the team primed the whole way through.

I'm still very wary of our "wait for them to come to us" defense in 2015, which generally means opposition teams get to camp in our half, which may be too much to cope with against any team in the top 4. Also worried about our 5th tackle options and ability to maintain pressure and control a game.

We do have the most capable team of scoring from anywhere at any time, thanks to the excellent running game of both our halves, our ball playing fowards backed up by generally good support play, and willingness to do more than 4 hit-ups and a kick...

 

[Broncoman]

Going of memory the 2011 team was a more grittier team that preferred to grind out wins rather than display the attacking skills that the current batch have done this year. Average winning points margin that year was 11 while the winning margin from this year is 15 and we've managed to score more points in games then that year.

Having a playmaker like Hunt who has provided far more attacking potency and deadliness than what Wallace ever offered is also a major difference. Wallace did good service for us I thought and is a solid club player but Hunt is a rep player of the future and has already showed in his brief stint for Australia that he can take his club form to the next level. Lockyer was still going good at the time and had a pretty good last year iirc when in comparison with 2015 Milford has started with a bang and has played some great games for us and has a massive future ahead of him. Unlike Hunt though I still believe Milford is a little of representative footy just yet as I still find him inconsistent at times.

If the 2011 and 2015 teams went head to head against each other I would probably back the current team as the whole team compliments each other a lot better than the 2011 one which was lead at the front by Lockyer whilst this one is far better drilled and coached then the 2011 team as well.

 

[Socnorb]

The other thing that stands out to me is that we had that winger. Sorry

 

[LittleDavey]

The other thing that stands out to me is that we had that winger. Sorry

**** I miss him. Nothing against the wingers we have, they're awesome...but he was a fucking superstar.

 

[vertigo]

Lockyer is always preferred because of his consistency under pressure but even if only one of our halves fires each game of this finals series we're more of a threat.

 

[mitch222]

**** it
Lets merge those two teams
Imagine the damage this side would do

1. Darius Boyd
2. Josh Hoffman
3. Jack Reed
4. Justin Hodges
5. Jharal Yow Yeh
6. Darren Lockyer
7. Ben Hunt
8. Josh McGuire
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Adam Blair
11. Alex Glenn
12. Sam Thaiday
13. Corey Parker

14. Matt Gillett
15. Ben Teo
16. Ben Hannant
17. Anthony Milford

**** me that side would murder some sides

 

[Foordy]

**** it
Lets merge those two teams
Imagine the damage this side would do

1. Darius Boyd
2. Josh Hoffman
3. Jack Reed
4. Justin Hodges
5. Jharal Yow Yeh
6. Darren Lockyer
7. Ben Hunt
8. Josh McGuire
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Adam Blair
11. Alex Glenn
12. Sam Thaiday
13. Corey Parker

14. Matt Gillett
15. Ben Teo
16. Ben Hannant
17. Anthony Milford

**** me that side would murder some sides

**** no ... Piss Jack Reed off. We would ne a far better side going with.

1. Anthony Milford
3. Darius Boyd
17. Corey Oates

Unemployment: Jack Reed

 

[Super Freak]

Based on what I've seen on Boyd at centre, and that's all I can go on, he isn't much of an upgrade..

He did okay filling in there, but he doesn't exactly fill with me confidence. He was always better at fullback and wing.

In fact, I think an in form Reed is a better option at centre.