2014 Halves Pairing

[bazza]

I don't mind the thought of Kahu at five-eighth due to the fact that he is undoubtedly a special talent. Although he has yet to showcase them due to his many setbacks, he has the skill set to make a good five-eighth. Either way, fullback is his best position, but not sure if he'll get an opportunity there with Barba and Hoffman already there, with Milford joining in 2015.

What bothers me though, is what if Kahu has a breakout season partnering Hunt in the halves and makes the five-eighth position his own...? What then happens to Milford...? You wouldn't want to break a strong combination that works would you...? Where would you fit Milford into the team, he can only really play fullback or in the halves...?

I know the five-eight position probably hasn't been finalised, but I also want Hoffman to be trialled at #6 given the fact that it is a position he is very familiar with since his juniors. A position claimed by those that know him as his strongest position. He therefore already has that natural combination with Barba, which is something that can't be taught.

I do also recognise that Hoffman will need to improve on certain aspects of his game to make the transition back to five-eighth, but it is an aspect that will only improve over time, through adequate practice at training as well as through actual game time. It even took D. Lockyer, one of the greatest five-eighths of all time, a while to re-adjust, everyone just had to patient...

Now I understand others quite strongly believe that Hoffman's 'Best' position is as a winger, but how can we be certain unless we trial him in other positions. He did win Broncos Best and Fairest a couple times as a fullback, so to say he is a bad fullback is quite harsh. At least give him a shot at five-eighth, a position that he believes is his most natural and comfortable position. We might be surprised. There's no harm in trying...

That also goes for Zach Strasser, who from all accounts is quite talented, remind's me slightly of DCE, a player that just needs that one opportunity to shine...

 

[Danoz Direct]

I believe the five-eight position next year is and should ONLY be between Kahu and Strasser.

 

[CaptainHook]

Our preparation for the post Lockyer era truly has been atrocious. We had nobody ready to replace him.

Our preparation for the post Langer-Walters era was poor as well. If it wasn't, we wouldn't have needed to shift the world's best fullback (certainly one of the best of all time) into the halves.

 

[1910]

Well even if that article has some truth to it, Kahu downplays his a certainty for the spot, at this stage its speculation at best.

It's not speculation. I posted three weeks ago the plan at this stage was Kahu.

 

[GCBRONCO]

It's not speculation. I posted three weeks ago the plan at this stage was Kahu.

I was referring to the article which provides no real evidence that Kahu is first choice other then speculation, not even quotes from Griffin, we see this all the time, sometimes it plays out sometimes it doesn't. You may well be right and I'm not questioning that mate.

 

[Big Pete]

As it's been said, Hook won't have made his mind up until the trials are concluded. The idea maybe Jordie Kahu right now, but that doesn't mean we'll see him run out wearing the six come Round 1.

From a media perspective, Kahu is an easier name for Hook to give, otherwise the media would start this big deal about a rookie, talk him up only to crush him when he fails to live up to their expectations.

 

[Danoz Direct]

I personally hope its Strasser.

 

[bb_gun]

Strasser seems keen, loving the attitude.

ZACH Strasser is the rarest of rugby league prodigies, he actually put a real world career ahead of his NRL dreams. And for six years it cost him.
Strasser’s bold decision to quit league academy Wavell State High at age 15 to be an apprentice electrician short-circuited his future in league.
His scholarship with the Melbourne Storm wasn’t renewed and then he watched ex-team mates at Wavell including Sam Kasiano and Dale Copley make their NRL debuts.
Now 21, Strasser is beginning to catch up. After securing a two-year deal with the Broncos he is now in the frame for a round one debut at five-eighth.
The son of Brisbane Rugby League cult hero Ziggy is still pinching himself.
“The training is bloody tough but geez ... this is the best life going,” Strasser said.
“I’m playing footy for a living ... I love it.
“As kids Dale (Copley) and I lived in the same street and we would wear our Broncos jerseys around everywhere and play footy against the kids who wore the other jerseys.
“When Hook (Broncos coach Anthony Griffin) rang me mid-way through the year I thought it was just one of the boys geeing me up because that’s what they are like.
“Then it got serious and Hook said come in and have a chat. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”
Broncos premiership winner Shane Perry likens Strasser, a lanky playmaker who runs hard at the line, to Daly Cherry-Evans.
If he fulfils half of that promise the Broncos have a long-term first grader in their ranks.
Strasser is the lone five-eighth in the Broncos top 25. The other candidates for the job require moulding.
Even if he is not wearing the No.6 jersey in round one, he is happy to bide his time. He’s used to being patient.
His decision to drop out of school at the end of year ten was bold. He forfeited the opportunity to continue school-based NRL scholarship programs which are the traditional development path for talented teens.
It was not until he starred for Redcliffe’s premiership-winning colts’ side in 2012 that NRL scouts began highlighting his name in match programs.
Solid form for the Dolphins in the Intrust Super Cup earlier this year prompted Griffin to ask around for his phone number.
“I dropped out of school in grade ten to do my apprenticeship and all my mates went through school and into the Broncos 20’s and I missed out on all that,” Strasser said.
“I finished my apprenticeship by the time I was 19, so I’m glad I have that behind me.
“I was never going to go to university. I always knew I was going to be a tradie.
“I was in the Melbourne Storm’s development system. I guess they weren’t that keen on me though.
In Colts there was a bit of talk about going to the 20s but I was happy just at Redcliffe.”
While he seems almost too humble, astute judges predict the sparky has all the tools to ignite the Broncos backline.
Strasser said his goal is to grab every half chance presented to him next year.
“I haven’t thought about that (five-eighth) too much,” he said.
“Mate I just want to keep doing my thing and when an opportunity comes I have to take it.
“This is surreal though. The potential at this club is enormous.”

No Cookies | The Courier-Mail

 

[Fighting Irish]

I have not been on here for over 1 week but I did see some silly rumor that Carney was talking to Broncos or visa versa - any news on that in the last few days at all or was it just bull dust

 

[Broncoman]

I have not been on here for over 1 week but I did see some silly rumor that Carney was talking to Broncos or visa versa - any news on that in the last few days at all or was it just bull dust

Bulldust

 

[Fighting Irish]

I new Kahu was thought of very highly but have not really been able to judge him fairly on what I saw last year except to say I thought his defence was a tad lacking and at 5/8th if that is so will be found out and really don't know enough about Strasser anyway but from reports he is pretty good as well -it is a bit of a problem - we really need a good kicking game from someone and I am not too sure who will step up

 

[bazza]

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards Zach Strasser as our first choice five-eighth... After watching footage of the Intrust Super Cup, Strasser strikes me as the missing link to our halves dilemma... I think he will compliment B.Hunt, and will link nicely with the rest of the spine, as well as his outside men...

From the footage I've seen of him, I have noticed that he likes to play right at the line and keeps the defence guessing either with a short face ball putting his hole runner straight through a gap, or a pass out the back to his sweeping fullback or even a show and go himself...

He has a solid passing game as well as a short kicking game (not sure about long), and with his running game tends to straighten the attack up. The fact he is a natural five-eighth, and plays on the right side fits the criteria perfectly, meaning he'll be fairly familiar in attack and defence.

I can see Strasser having a fairly simple game plan, with B.Hunt taking most of the responsibilities. I can picture him playing short putting Thaiday through a few gaps on the right fringe, or he can link up with Barba sweeping out the back, or he can dummy straight through and then can link up with his support play...

 

[Alec]

The fact he is a natural five-eighth, and plays on the right side fits the criteria perfectly, meaning he'll be fairly familiar in attack and defence.

I can see Strasser having a fairly simple game plan, with B.Hunt taking most of the responsibilities. I can picture him playing short putting Thaiday through a few gaps on the right fringe, or he can link up with Barba sweeping out the back, or he can dummy straight through and then can link up with his support play...

The thing is that Hunt looks like a natural 5/8th too.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Give Strasser his shot. We'll never know how good he is on the park in first grade unless we try.

 

[Painin the Haas]

I really belive hunt is a better halfback than 5/8th. And strasser played half the year at halfback himself when Cullen came into the team from u20 it was at 5/8th which makes me question their plans, why swap positions of the two, Cullen was purely a halfback/hooker in u20's.

kahu seems to be like inglis, plays centre, can do 5/8th well but is suited for fullback but I just dont see him doing what we need in that role. It should be strasser, although if anyone saw Cullen in u20's he plays a similar style to strasser I wouldn't rule him out either

what annoys me is what happens when Milford comes. Part of me hopes we will need him and one of these guys do ok but are there just to fill in for a season

but another part says if they explode onto the scene set the comp on fire then that sucks because we can't keep them, someone will buy them and there goes another bit of talent because why would they stay to be a back up, Milford will get his role, we've paid too much for him not to

 

[Mr Fourex]

Milford at 450K/season .......is surely not "too much"

The kid is going to be a super star.

 

[Painin the Haas]

Oh no doubt , couldn't be more thrilled and bargain pice, however asking strasser to stay being Back up on 1/4 of that salary, we would mostly like loose him

 

[Mr Fourex]

I think we should worry about Strasser, if & when he gets more than just half a season of QCup under his belt.

Long way to go for him ......so far he's shown "some" potential. A lot of players have fizzed out for us over the last couple of years after showing "some potential".