2018 NRL Side

Lockysillegitimatechild said:
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
Click to expand...

There isn't enough impact coming off the bench.
 
Lockysillegitimatechild said:
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
Click to expand...
Ofa at 10, Glenn 11, Oates 16, Thaiday out, with TPJ as 14 instead.
 
Foordy said:
I agree with that ... but you know as well as I do Thaiday will see out the year in the top grade.
Click to expand...

Sadly this is true. Bennett won't risk another Tallis drama. I respect Thaiday and want him to perform well in his final year but if he starts phoning it in again like he usually does, he won't be getting the chop.
 
I bleed Maroon said:
Sadly this is true. Bennett won't risk another Tallis drama. I respect Thaiday and want him to perform well in his final year but if he starts phoning it in again like he usually does, he won't be getting the chop.
Click to expand...
Wayne didn't give a shit about that. It's clear from what we've seen from Gordon post career that he is a bit of a twat. There was obviously a reason why he got benched. No one will ever truly know the answer.

Thaiday however is a respectful clubman and a team player. He'll see out the year in first grade because he'll deserve to.

Mark my words, all you on the Thaiday hate train will be taking it back
 
https://www.broncos.com.au/news/2018/02/13/kahu-set-for-season-pay-off/

JORDAN Kahu says the decision to miss last year's Rugby League World Cup in favour of some correction surgery is about to pay off.

The versatile back has spoken about his struggles with a groin problem for almost the entire 2017 season.

Rather than continue those struggles with New Zealand through the World Cup, Kahu opted for surgery.

It has him feeling ripe and ready to go for 2018, starting with this Saturday's trial in Toowoomba.

"From about March right through the whole season I was struggling to run," he admitted.

"My training was modified for pretty much the whole year.

"As soon as I got the surgery done I was much better.

"Even just waking up in the morning, I didn't have the pain in my tummy that I had earlier.

"It is so much better now running without it."

Kahu has set himself for a big year in which he performs for the Broncos and gets his Kiwis jersey back.

"I missed out on the World Cup which was pretty devastating," he said.

"I wasn't 100 per cent so it was the best decision to stay behind - I wouldn't have been able to give my country my best.

"I am hoping for selection this year.

"If everything goes well with the body I can play well here and make that Test team again."

The Broncos' team to play the Titans in Toowoomba will be named this afternoon.
 
The side I think they will put in is
1.Issako
2.Pearson
3.Kahu
4.Shibaski
5.Allan
6.Turpin
7.Nikorima
8.Offa
9.Murphy
10.Haas
11.Oates
12.Staggs
13.Mago
14.Fifita
15.Funkai
16.Taueli
17.Carrigan
18.Sua
19.Fai
20.Burns
 
Kyall said:
The side I think they will put in is
1.Issako
2.Pearson
3.Kahu
4.Shibaski
5.Allan
6.Turpin
7.Nikorima
8.Offa
9.Murphy
10.Haas
11.Oates
12.Staggs
13.Mago
14.Fifita
15.Funkai
16.Taueli
17.Carrigan
18.Sua
19.Fai
20.Burns
Click to expand...

isn't Staggs a center and Turpin a hooker?
 
Foordy said:
isn't Staggs a center and Turpin a hooker?
Click to expand...

Turpin is definitely a hooker and Staggs mainly plays in the backs but when he came into the game in the trial he started in the second row.
 
Marty Deutschmann said:
Wayne didn't give a shit about that. It's clear from what we've seen from Gordon post career that he is a bit of a twat. There was obviously a reason why he got benched. No one will ever truly know the answer.

Thaiday however is a respectful clubman and a team player. He'll see out the year in first grade because he'll deserve to.

Mark my words, all you on the Thaiday hate train will be taking it back
Click to expand...
I love Sammy, I am on no hate train at all, but from what I’ve heard from people at the club he’ll struggle to finish the season in the top grade. His status as a club legend is keeping him around.
 
I think Turpin to hooker, Murphy at 5/8, sua in for staggs, who might get a run at centre in place for Shibasaki, but more likely off the bench. Funaki might be in the second row mix too. Staggs might make it for allen too, to see how he combines with a creative centre like Kahu.
 
Yea Staggs has a utility about him second row and backs, but I want to see him on the field early and can still move into the backs later on.
 
I wonder if Staggs might bolt on to the bench or centre to start the season with Bird out, there often is a bolter out of pre-season.
 
Kyall said:
The side I think they will put in is
1.Issako
2.Pearson
3.Kahu
4.Shibaski
5.Allan
6.Turpin
7.Nikorima
8.Offa
9.Murphy
10.Haas
11.Oates
12.Staggs
13.Mago
14.Fifita
15.Funkai
16.Taueli
17.Carrigan
18.Sua
19.Fai
20.Burns
Click to expand...
Is this for the trial or the team you want to lineup in round 1?
 
Foordy said:
I agree with that ... but you know as well as I do Thaiday will see out the year in the top grade.
Click to expand...
Mmm, I don't think the loyalty from WB concerning Thaiday runs as deep as you evidently believe. My belief is WB will drop Thaiday in a heartbeat if he thinks he has a better option in his squad. I think the only way Thaiday's continued selection is if Thaiday himself takes it out of WBs hands.

WB may cover his actions by saying Thaiday has an injury or he may not even care and simply send him back to ISC but I'm prepared to bet that unlessThaiday has a stellar season, he will be dropped this year. WB has far too many options to choose from and will not carry Thaiday's reputation at the teams expense.
 
Huge said:
Mmm, I don't think the loyalty from WB concerning Thaiday runs as deep as you evidently believe. My belief is WB will drop Thaiday in a heartbeat if he thinks he has a better option in his squad. I think the only way Thaiday's continued selection is if Thaiday himself takes it out of WBs hands.

WB may cover his actions by saying Thaiday has an injury or he may not even care and simply send him back to ISC but I'm prepared to bet that unlessThaiday has a stellar season, he will be dropped this year. WB has far too many options to choose from and will not carry Thaiday's reputation at the teams expense.
Click to expand...

I suspect that Tagatese might have been signed to cover the experience gap in the event that Sam is punted.
 
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