The young Broncos are the strongest of all the clubs in terms of muscle power, but just could not sustain the gruelling 26 rounds of the NRL competition last season and succumbed to mass injuries and fatigue.
It is easy to become lethargic over 80 minutes without good field position and on field direction. The Broncos played most of their games in 2012 with two prime tactical kickers, halfback Peter Wallace and pivot Corey Norman, both were ordinary. Suugestions that Wallace was going to be the Blues halfback are off the mark, and I will be surprised if Norman holds down a run on position this season and I expect him to leave the club.
Wallace took on the responsibility of trying to run the team but he is not a natural leader and while he did a fair job, he is not the man to lead them to a Premiership. His “deputy” Corey Norman has an abundance of talent and is capable of kicking long distances, but he rushes his short tactical kicks and constantly tried to be the “hero” and beat his man when a quick cut out pass would have resulted in a try. He simply does not possess a strategic mind that a class second receiver should.
I am prepared to give fullback Josh Hoffman a bit of slack as he was one of about 10 to 12 players recovering from post-season surgery as they finished last season “banged” up. He definitely has the talent and if he can work on developing more try assists instead of being greedy, then he should hold down the key fullback position, but this is an area that the Broncos have many options including the impressive Lachlan Maranta, Joe Bond, Jordan Kahu and the versatile Corey Norman.
The Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough must be a wonderful guy to play with as he always puts in, but he does not have the skills of Ben Hunt, who is faster and has a much better kicking game, but maybe with Scott Prince now in the team that may not be such a big deal.
Prince is one of those players that you either love or hate, but he has a skill set that has been missing at Suncorp Stadium since Darren Lockyer retired. He is the missing link from last year.
This is where Prince will make the difference.
In 2012 the Broncos were third in the NRL for metres gained (1406 per game) but came in at ninth for tries scored (3.5 per game). Wallace and Norman could not get their team over the line enough when in a good position, which is “Scotties” cuppa tea.
The disadvantage of being the Broncos is that they always have a huge representation in Origin, which makes it very difficult to freshen up mentally and physically and be fit for the semis.
The Broncos won just three matches from their final 11 matches in 2012, tumbling from second to eighth place and struggling to make the semis.
The seven players expected to play Origin this season include Justin Hodges, Ben Hannant, Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker, Matt Gillett and maybe Jharal Yow Yeh if he makes it back onto the field and shows his best form.
There is a distinct possibility that the Broncos may only have Hannant and Thaiday in the three Origins. Hodges had a poor SOO last year and has genuine pressure from Will Chambers who has gone to a new higher level at the Storm while McGuire and Parker are part of a huge group of players vying for a spot but they would be in my top 17. Gillett has promised the world but he failed to show his club form at Origin level last year and he will struggle to hold out budding champion Ben Barba for a bench spot, while Yow Yeh should only be used if there is an injury, but unlikely to be considered for game one regardless.
STAKING ADVICE:
History tells us that the Broncos drift in the betting post SOO, so if you like them wait and examine how healthy they. With Prince now steering the ship, they can definitely go all the way.
VIDEO PREVIEW:
<strong>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqbgvAL_lCc
It is easy to become lethargic over 80 minutes without good field position and on field direction. The Broncos played most of their games in 2012 with two prime tactical kickers, halfback Peter Wallace and pivot Corey Norman, both were ordinary. Suugestions that Wallace was going to be the Blues halfback are off the mark, and I will be surprised if Norman holds down a run on position this season and I expect him to leave the club.
Wallace took on the responsibility of trying to run the team but he is not a natural leader and while he did a fair job, he is not the man to lead them to a Premiership. His “deputy” Corey Norman has an abundance of talent and is capable of kicking long distances, but he rushes his short tactical kicks and constantly tried to be the “hero” and beat his man when a quick cut out pass would have resulted in a try. He simply does not possess a strategic mind that a class second receiver should.
I am prepared to give fullback Josh Hoffman a bit of slack as he was one of about 10 to 12 players recovering from post-season surgery as they finished last season “banged” up. He definitely has the talent and if he can work on developing more try assists instead of being greedy, then he should hold down the key fullback position, but this is an area that the Broncos have many options including the impressive Lachlan Maranta, Joe Bond, Jordan Kahu and the versatile Corey Norman.
The Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough must be a wonderful guy to play with as he always puts in, but he does not have the skills of Ben Hunt, who is faster and has a much better kicking game, but maybe with Scott Prince now in the team that may not be such a big deal.
Prince is one of those players that you either love or hate, but he has a skill set that has been missing at Suncorp Stadium since Darren Lockyer retired. He is the missing link from last year.
This is where Prince will make the difference.
In 2012 the Broncos were third in the NRL for metres gained (1406 per game) but came in at ninth for tries scored (3.5 per game). Wallace and Norman could not get their team over the line enough when in a good position, which is “Scotties” cuppa tea.
The disadvantage of being the Broncos is that they always have a huge representation in Origin, which makes it very difficult to freshen up mentally and physically and be fit for the semis.
The Broncos won just three matches from their final 11 matches in 2012, tumbling from second to eighth place and struggling to make the semis.
The seven players expected to play Origin this season include Justin Hodges, Ben Hannant, Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker, Matt Gillett and maybe Jharal Yow Yeh if he makes it back onto the field and shows his best form.
There is a distinct possibility that the Broncos may only have Hannant and Thaiday in the three Origins. Hodges had a poor SOO last year and has genuine pressure from Will Chambers who has gone to a new higher level at the Storm while McGuire and Parker are part of a huge group of players vying for a spot but they would be in my top 17. Gillett has promised the world but he failed to show his club form at Origin level last year and he will struggle to hold out budding champion Ben Barba for a bench spot, while Yow Yeh should only be used if there is an injury, but unlikely to be considered for game one regardless.
STAKING ADVICE:
History tells us that the Broncos drift in the betting post SOO, so if you like them wait and examine how healthy they. With Prince now steering the ship, they can definitely go all the way.
VIDEO PREVIEW:
<strong>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqbgvAL_lCc
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