2019 Broncos Line-up

[Wolfie]

In regards to McGuire..

He should have remained at prop and allowed Arrow to eventually come into that role.

If we're thinking long term success.. Then I would seriously consider developing Carrigan for that #13.

Jai is a great player. Totally agree with you thats how we should have developed Arrow. Dont like Moose at lock one bit. Patty is good enough to play anywhere in the front row.

 

[Wolfie]

If Carrigan is Arrow level good (or better as some on here have suggested) then he can play 80 at lock with Lodge, TPJ, Offa, McGuire, and Haas rotating. That's a deadly rotation.

I think he will be a better player than Jai, plus he is a real leader as well. I still think he will be an origin player after a couple of years in first grade, if not sooner.

 

[Morkel]

I'll trust the opinion blokes like Bennett, Locky and Hodges over somebody who uses the logic that Kotoni Staggs can play most positions because Tyrone Peachy is his cousin (even though I'm pretty sure he isn't his cousin, they just come from the same town ). I do think Kotoni would make a fine bench utility though.

You don't have to match it with JT2 physically to be a good lock anyway. There is more than one way to play the role, and obviously if we ever did put Bird there ( which I believe Bennett has mentioned before) then we aren't going to use him like an extra prop.

I’m not doubting your knowledge on the players in question, or that the plans came from Bennett and his advisors directly. But I still can’t see it. Unless it was indeed a revolutionary plan that they were attempting to pioneer.

Currently, the only player of similar stature I can think of is Cam Murray, and he’s still impressing most with his work ethic, not his skills.

In recent history, those moving from the backs to the forwards have played on an edge. From the serviceable (Chris Lawrence), to the excellent (Luke Lewis), and even though Lewis did play a bit of lock, his peak has been in the #11.

The only player that had been a long-term lock (pardon the pun) for the #13 was Ash Harrison, who again was similar stature. But the latter half, and most successful part of his career, revolved around 40+ tackles and zero missed.

Even if Bird was being considered for Lock, it would mean McGuire would be pushed back to prop, and if that were the case then gaming on to Arrow was surely the go, being way cheaper than Bird. Unless, like I said, Bird was part of a truly game-changing positional plan.

It’s probably all a moot point. With our biggest weakness being defence, and being stacked for forwards, even if it was the original plan I can’t see Bird in the forwards in the near future.

 

[Wolfie]

I’m not doubting your knowledge on the players in question, or that the plans came from Bennett and his advisors directly. But I still can’t see it. Unless it was indeed a revolutionary plan that they were attempting to pioneer.

Currently, the only player of similar stature I can think of is Cam Murray, and he’s still impressing most with his work ethic, not his skills.

In recent history, those moving from the backs to the forwards have played on an edge. From the serviceable (Chris Lawrence), to the excellent (Luke Lewis), and even though Lewis did play a bit of lock, his peak has been in the #11.

The only player that had been a long-term lock (pardon the pun) for the #13 was Ash Harrison, who again was similar stature. But the latter half, and most successful part of his career, revolved around 40+ tackles and zero missed.

Even if Bird was being considered for Lock, it would mean McGuire would be pushed back to prop, and if that were the case then gaming on to Arrow was surely the go, being way cheaper than Bird. Unless, like I said, Bird was part of a truly game-changing positional plan.

It’s probably all a moot point. With our biggest weakness being defence, and being stacked for forwards, even if it was the original plan I can’t see Bird in the forwards in the near future.

From what i heard, they did want to play a more expansive style of play with a ball playing lock and Bird was the key to that style. We werent going to use a player in the lock role like most teams do. I wouldnt call it revolutionary as such, more take a step back in time and trying to use the lock like a second 5/8 like they used to be years ago. I agree with you right now i dont see him there. I'm not so sure now if his body is going to be capable of playing that position now, which is why i think we are going to have to go a different way unless he can really show he can handle it.

I do think he gets judged a bit unfairly on here at times based on what we saw from him in a Broncos shirt. He couldnt really help that he just wasnt fit and a lot of the time he was shoe horned into a side not performing that well just to get him game time. At the sharks he looked quality at fullback, 5/8 and in the centers. He played tough, and had that competitive edge and bit of mongrel in him, and maybe a bit of arrogance as well that we lack a bit.

Its all going to depend on if Bennett is going to be here and still wants to try that way of playing with Bird if he can handle it, or if we get Seibold he actually wants Bird anyway. Like i said before though, its going to be a big year for him. HE has to show he still has it.

 

[Alec]

We already have Milf and Nikorima, neither of whom are halfbacks, who play best on edges. There's no real room for Bird to join in too, it'll be a clusterfuck IMO.

Roosters had a ball player at lock, but also a natural halfback and organiser in Cronk. It allowed Radley to mostly play right edge and not get in the way too much.

 

[Socnorb]

Jesus. Someone get him onto Paul Gallen’s supplement program.

Supplements never made Gallen taller.

 

[Big Pete]

The one problem with Bird is that he doesn't have a great draw and pass in his game. Naturally he's always looked to run at the defence and if he can poke his nose through, then he'll pass the footy. I don't think he can play that Terry Matterson, Phillip Lee, Ash Harrison, Dean Young role that Bennett likes.

I see him more in that loose forward role that's been in vogue lately. Players like Cameron Murray, Jazz Tevaga, Siliva Havili, Nathan Peats etc. fill it where they really push up around the ruck and they're either challenging teams through the ruck or they're looking to play off of second phase.

Of all the players in the 17, I'm most curious about Bird. As fans we only got to see flashes of what he's capable of, particularly in that Round 6 clash against the Warriors, and he's certainly capable of more. It's just a question of whether it'll happen at the Broncos or elsewhere.

 

[winslow_wong]

The bird conundrum continues...

 

[Gaz]

The bird conundrum continues...

Fully fit again, Jack Bird aiming to be centre of excellence

Wed 14 Nov 2018, 05:01 PM
Jack Bird has given the Broncos a major pre-season boost after declaring himself fully recovered from an injured sternum and ready to make the centre position his own.
The 2016 premiership winner had a disrupted pre-season last year after returning from shoulder surgery and that continued into the regular NRL season where a troublesome sternum gave him no end of grief and limited his Telstra Premiership appearances to just eight games.
An operation was required and Bird had a plate and 10 screws inserted to stabilise the injury, which has now fully healed.
"I think it is 100% right. I went and saw the surgeon last week and got the all-clear to go ahead with contact and every other thing," Bird said of his sternum after a Broncos conditioning session on Wednesday.
"I am feeling good and looking forward to the year ahead where, fingers crossed, there will be no setbacks and I am fully fit.
"Last year, with the shoulder injury and not having a full pre-season under my belt, it was hard to gel in with the boys but this year there is a good opportunity to tie the ropes down and get cracking."
And it is in the centre position, where he played for Cronulla in the Sharks' historic 2016 grand final win, that Bird intends to have a red-hot crack after a chat with coach Wayne Bennett.
Bird can play in the halves and at lock but it is the centre position where he is most suited in the Brisbane squad and where he enjoys playing the most.
The Broncos were keen to give the 23-year-old clarity about exactly where they wanted him to play in 2019.
"I spoke to Wayne at the end of the season and I’m pretty sure I will be playing centres … in the short term," Bird said.
"I don’t know about long term. Body shapes change, but in the meantime I am going to play centre and I am happy to play centre."
Assistant coach Jason Demetriou is leading Brisbane’s training sessions until Bennett returns from Europe and said he was excited about helping Bird unlock his best football at centre.
"It is good that Wayne has had a chat to him and he knows where he is going to be playing so he can commit to that, and it is my job as the attack coach to find ways to get Jack in the game from that centre position as well," Demetriou said.
"The good thing is that there is a lot of scope with what we can do with him.
"Jack is a runner but he has got good skill as well. He has the ability to jump over from the left edge to the right edge, come in as an extra fullback and link into the line so there are so many variations you can use him on.
"He is a finisher as well and loves scoring tries and we need that bit of strike out on the edge. It is important that we give him the confidence and encouragement to go out and play that way."
Bird looked in good nick physically at Brisbane training and said he had adopted a healthier diet in the off-season.
Five key matchups of the Broncos’ 2019 draw
Broncos fans will be heartened to know that he also has a spring in his step and a smile on his face after putting the woes of the last 12 months behind him.
"I am just in a better head space than what I was and that goes a long way," he said.
"Last year was a tough season for me mentally and physically but I feel like I have bounced back pretty well."

One can only hope.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/11/14/fully-fit-again-jack-bird-aiming-to-be-centre-of-excellence/

 

[Jason Simmons]

Yep agree with JD. We’ve been sorely lacking strike down our left edge...

 

[Wolfie]

I don't think we have any choice but to play him at center until we see how he holds up.

 

[Morkel]

Good thing is, at the Sharks he was getting frustrated by not getting enough ball. I suspect now he'll appreciate just being out on the field and getting the best out of himself, it's a much better mindset for not just him but the team.

 

[animal eater]

So we got plenty of info coming in about Bird being right but haven't heard much of anything regarding the status of Kahu? I heard a possible signing to Gold Coast?

 

[Accept]

So we got plenty of info coming in about Bird being right but haven't heard much of anything regarding the status of Kahu? I heard a possible signing to Gold Coast?

Everyone has heard that rumour but it has never come from any credible source. He isn't going anywhere.

 

[Jedhead]

Yep agree with JD. We’ve been sorely lacking strike down our left edge...

I'm sure Oates would take umbrage at that remark :b2:

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

I'm sure Oates would take umbrage at that remark :b2:

For a second there I didn't know that was a word and thought you were talking about Harry Potter

 

[theshed]

Who’s left of the class of 2008?

Macca, Glenn, and Kahu?

Wouldn’t mind losing any of those to be honest.except maybe Glenn.

 

[upthebroncs]

Who’s left of the class of 2008?

Macca, Glenn, and Kahu?

Wouldn’t mind losing any of those to be honest.except maybe Glenn.

I am making the assumption that we have let go of McGuire due to the fact that Carrigan was getting big offers from other clubs. We'd rather keep Carrigan.

There's also the fact that we have Ofa, TPJ, Lodge, Haas