2018 NRL Side

The day the Broncos take advice from that **** Tallis is the day I stop following them.
 
Switching Darius Boyd from fullback to five-eighth would prolong Broncos’ skipper’s career, says Gorden Tallis
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BRONCOS great Gorden Tallis has called for the club to move Darius Boyd to five-eighth in a bid to prolong his career, as teammate Jordan Kahu revealed he still hopes to be a fullback.

Speculation has been rife for months that the Brisbane skipper could be due for a switch to the halves this year, following the loss of Ben Hunt to the Dragons.

While Boyd last month said it was not a move he had discussed with coach Wayne Bennett, Tallis said it was something the club had to seriously consider due to the fullback’s ongoing hamstring issues.

SADNESS: Broncos rookie’s season cruelled by injury

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Boyd’s hamstrings have been the subject of worry. (Peter Wallis)
The Maroons and Kangaroos star suffered a hamstring injury towards the back end of last season, ruling him out of the majority of Brisbane’s finals campaign and the World Cup.

He then fell victim to another hamstring injury last month at training, but is on track for a Round 1 return.

Tallis believes the repeat injuries are a result of the amount of running Boyd does at fullback and the time may have come to focus on prolonging the 30-year-old’s career.

“I don’t think there’s a rugby league player that runs more than a fullback,” Tallis said.

“At some stage your hamstrings, your knees and your Achilles, plus your will to pay the price week in week out will go.

“Your legs only have so many kilometres in them. I watched it with Darren Lockyer ... It prolonged his career, absolutely.

“Maybe this is a chance for Darius Boyd to make the switch. He’s exactly the same as Darren Lockyer, there’s no doubt about that.

“To me it just makes sense. To play five-eighth and call the shots, it would be a natural transition.”

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Jordan Kahu is hoping for his shot at fullback. (Peter Wallis)
Tallis’ call for the Boyd switch came after Broncos winger Kahu said his preferred position was still fullback.

While he never expects to push Boyd out of the spot, the Kiwi international said he would put his hand up if needed.

“I’ve made it no secret that I like playing fullback,” Kahu said. “If Darbs is no good, I’ll definitely put my hand up and take that spot.

“I played fullback growing up in (rugby) union and it probably was the easiest position to transfer to. I played it my whole life and have always seen myself as a fullback. I love that position.

“Darbs is one of the best fullbacks in the game so it is a bit easier knowing that you’ve got someone ahead of you that is of that calibre.”

Tallis also endorsed Kahu as a fullback and said Boyd could partner Anthony Milford in the halves in a combination similar to that of Kevin Walters and Allan Langer.

Kahu is expected to get a run at fullback in this weekend’s trial against the Titans, after Boyd missed yesterday’s training session for rehab.
 
So basically it's like this.

Kahu says in a random question he would be up for playing fullback if the opportunity came about.
Gordy comes in and says Boyd should play 5/8th alongside Milford in the halves as to extend his career and form a combination like Walters and Langer had (which at best is a stretch). Kahu would be an ideal replacement.

Now stretch that out to an article and there you go.

Problem is, I don't see Boyd really calling the shots, he maybe captain but I wouldn't say he is a substantial playmaker, in the end it doesn't address the issue.
 
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TLDR, the Titans want a fullback and are hoping they can get Kahu to break his contract.

Didn’t Tallis do this to try to butter up Gillett, although that time it was when his contract was up for renewal?
 
He has a flaw in his argument.

Av running meters

Fullback- 7760m
Wing 7457m
Centre 7301m
Five-eight 8402m
Halfback- 8500m
Hooker- 6988m
Lock- 5481m
Second row 6936m
Prop 4597m

Halves also have the most high intensity runs.
 
He has a flaw in his argument.

Av running meters

Fullback- 7760m
Wing 7457m
Centre 7301m
Five-eight 8402m
Halfback- 8500m
Hooker- 6988m
Lock- 5481m
Second row 6936m
Prop 4597m

Halves also have the most high intensity runs.

He has another rather big flaw in his argument, comparing Boyd to Lockyer. Darius Boyd isnt Darren Lockyer and isnt even a similar player with a similar skillset to Darren Lockyer.
 
I’m not saying the whole team has to be players who just made their debut, but players that deserve a shot. Look at some of the greatest players of all time most debut early and never looked back.
Yeah but they make their debut the same way these kids are. Mate you've got to get real. Who were the experienced blokes when players like Parker and Thaiday made their debuts? You wouldn't be talking, make Parker the starting lock at age 19 20 or whatever and axe a bloke who has paid his dues and a proven hard man. If you take short cuts, you don't stay very long in the sun. Pay your dues, know your place and learn off the older guys. Otherwise be another wasted "potential" who doesn't live up to it, trying to ride on natural ability. Doesn't work like that
 
I like the look ofo our side this year. A few Sydney papers and journos are not giving us much chance (6-8 on ladder). Its an ideal position for us, much like the 2015 year. Our only weakness is in the halves direction/organisation/kicking and question mark over Darius hamstring health. Pack is solid with a good mix of new and old minds, we have a few fresh backs which appear to be promising.
 
I'd like to hear everyone's opinion on what they think the side will be at the end of 2018. Let me explain why this isn't as simple as it sounds. The team at the start of the year will resemble what we saw at the end of last year BUT, with players ageing (Thaiday, tagatese), injuries perhaps limiting their abilities in certain positions (Boyd?), fringe players naturally progressing with experience and age (TPJ, Haas, Perhaps dargan?), players changing positions (Oates), or maybe a change in tactics by Bennett to better suit finals if we need a freshen up (ayearly occurrence and one of the best features of Bennetts coaching is his ability to change a teams dynamics by position changes coming into he finals)?

I ask this because the team lists for round 1 are pretty much the same every time, but even excluding injuries, you'd have to be the most naive broncos fan to think the team won't change dramatically by the end of the year due to form/losses/reasons stated above... I am also excited by the depth we have in the forwards and can see changes made with confidence in the replacements

My side would be:
1. Boyd (if Boyd goes down with a hammy again & not able to recover this season well enough, and we need a freshen up, I could see a part time shift to centre for the back end of the year with bird to fullback (if he loses that weight!) : hodges 2006 style)
2. Isaako (if he gets it he will keep it, he's too safe and makes decent metres- even if he doesn't set the game alight Bennett won't drop him if he keeps being safe and does his job)
3. Bird (he will start slow but he will prove worth every penny come the back end of the year)
4. Roberts
5. Kahu
6. Milford (bird replace if milf injured)
7. Nikorima (dargan replace if knik injured)
8. Lodge (although I think he will have a mid season bench spell due to his time out of the top league)
9. Mccullough
10. TPJ (big call I know but I just get a feeling it's his year and he needs to replace someone to come into the 13)
11. Oates (he'll master it by the end of the year, he is too talented)
12. Gillett
13. McGuire

14. Thaiday (he won't get dropped in his last year, plus I think he will fire at the business end of his last ever year, just before he was about to get dropped!)
15. Sims
16. Glenn
17. Tagatese (experience at the back end of the season that would cap off the most experienced bench in the nrl by a long way) or haas (if we don't look like winning the premiership, we may as well try something to make an impact), fai or mago could be smokies for an impact role if haas plateaus. I like him as a player but I just think we will need more impact off the bench then ofa provides

Not a lot of changes, and not much mind blowing stuff but it gets me wondering more then the round 1 type prediction. Premierships aren't won in March, and you certainly don't want to show all your cards in March. There will be a Bennett-twist towards the last 1/4 of the season
 
I like the look ofo our side this year. A few Sydney papers and journos are not giving us much chance (6-8 on ladder). Its an ideal position for us, much like the 2015 year. Our only weakness is in the halves direction/organisation/kicking and question mark over Darius hamstring health. Pack is solid with a good mix of new and old minds, we have a few fresh backs which appear to be promising.
In my opinion a much better guide to our chances are the betting agencies. I believe they actually do their homework and yes, I do know the weight of money affects their given odds. That said they frame markets long before much cash trickles in during the preseason. I'm looking to see where and on whom I'll wager. Not a lot but a grand spread over things like top 8 top 4 etc. The bookies seem to think we'll have a fine season and Melbourne to not be as dominant as last season.
 
In my opinion a much better guide to our chances are the betting agencies. I believe they actually do their homework and yes, I do know the weight of money affects their given odds. That said they frame markets long before much cash trickles in during the preseason. I'm looking to see where and on whom I'll wager. Not a lot but a grand spread over things like top 8 top 4 etc. The bookies seem to think we'll have a fine season and Melbourne to not be as dominant as last season.

Bookies are normally spot on.
 
I think Kahu is way too good to be lumped in with the performances of Sims and Opacic. Both are good mind you but Kahu is class through and through.
Yep I had a few flogs to the plays Kahu pulled out from fullback.
 

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