2025 Pre-season discussion. Training the house down.

[BroncsFan]

100% agree. Said it the other day, he came up as captain of the Kiwi under 19s playing Lock.

I think his ideal position is being a mobile bench middle who can cover 2nd row. I think Gos and Piakura (on the right), with Riki off the bench is our best balance.

If Piakura is getting gassed a fresh Riki can come on and do his kick chase thing.

8. Haas
9. Paix / Hunt
10. Carrigan
11. Gosiewksi
12. Piakura
13. Hetherington

14. Walters/Mozer/Paix
15. Jensen
16. Willison
17. Riki


That has to be one of the best benches in the league

Yeah I've been thinking for awhile now that he could be the 17 jersey for us moving forward... back when we were trying to find someone to fill that void.

I think he's athletic enough to be the fill in centre for injuries as well... as long as he can make the reads in defence. Piakura would be the preferred here given he is far more athletic, but I wouldn't trust him to be able to defend in centre given his issues at second row already.

 

[Dazza 92]

I think last season, with virtually no back row depth, Riki had to start every game if fit.

There really was no consequence to him simply going through the motions in games - who was replacing him? With luck, the new coach and some added depth means he has to turn up each game.

Madge doesnt come across to me as someone who tolerates passengers...

 

[davidp]

also, if they do not perform, then someone else will be given a chance - Jet, Hunt are 2 others available plus other T&T (I know they have to wait till later in the season - but clearing out the dross will be in full string by then)

 

[McHunt]

I think last season, with virtually no back row depth, Riki had to start every game if fit.

There really was no consequence to him simply going through the motions in games - who was replacing him? With luck, the new coach and some added depth means he has to turn up each game.

Madge doesnt come across to me as someone who tolerates passengers...

As yet, we have the same backrow depth this season.

 

[Dazza 92]

As yet, we have the same backrow depth this season.

I was under the impression Gos and Hunt could be considered "depth" there..?

Am I wrong in that assumption?

 

[McHunt]

I was under the impression Gos and Hunt could be considered "depth" there..?

Am I wrong in that assumption?

No, but nothing's changed there since last year.

 

[Sproj]

No, but nothing's changed there since last year.

There is Bryce I suppose now as well and Ezra if he continues with the weight gain.

 

[McHunt]

There is Bryce I suppose now as well and Ezra if he continues with the weight gain.

Have we signed Bryce, or anyone else from T&T?

 

[BroncsFan]

Have we signed Bryce, or anyone else from T&T?

I would say Bryce is on a dev deal... he's been flagged as a promising junior for awhile now, so the norm for broncos is dev deal and then into a top 30 spot the following year.

Wasn't there something about a player on a dev deal for 2yr or more giving salary cap relief to the club for their first top 30 deal??

We never seem to utilise it... or maybe we do, but players like Mozer, Coby, etc. only seem to be on the dev list for one year before popping up in the top 30 squad

 

[Super Freak]

Hunt with a little dig at Flanno in there.

 

[Big Del]

This is the Riki that we want to see come back... for whatever reason he no longer seems able to make these kinds of runs.

It's like he runs the line as if he's going through the motions nowadays and just isn't ever expecting to get the ball. He was clearly expecting to get it on that play or was at least running the line thinking that he might get the ball

Cpl of things I noticed in that vid .
Tommy Dearden has a lovely soft pass . Jordan ran at the gap not at the defender . I think the defence were more respectful of Tommy`s running game than they would be with Reyno .
I have seen Reyno fire some passes at Riki that I doubt even Steve Smith could catch .
Kodi Nikorima used to put the right 2nd rower through gaps regularly too .

He also does have an offload I saw it once last year ! It led to a long break . Shame he doesn`t look to pass more .

Maybe this year we see more from Jordan ? I damn well hope so .

 

[theshed]

Hunt with a little dig at Flanno in there.

View attachment 31433

What’s the Flanno dig?

 

[Loch Ness Monster]

This is the Riki that we want to see come back... for whatever reason he no longer seems able to make these kinds of runs.

It's like he runs the line as if he's going through the motions nowadays and just isn't ever expecting to get the ball. He was clearly expecting to get it on that play or was at least running the line thinking that he might get the ball

I remember watching Riki this season and feeling better about losing Fifi cause we had this “gun”.
Some years later and it’s actually really disappointing how little his game has developed.

 

[Sanjit Joseph]

Just throwing it out there would we offer Milford a contract as cover for Perham.
Milford currently with SL Magpies, I wouldn't mind it if he's playing well. Will be great utility cover.
Latrell S still young and developing
Just my thoughts

 

[Johnny92]

Cpl of things I noticed in that vid .
Tommy Dearden has a lovely soft pass . Jordan ran at the gap not at the defender . I think the defence were more respectful of Tommy`s running game than they would be with Reyno .
I have seen Reyno fire some passes at Riki that I doubt even Steve Smith could catch .
Kodi Nikorima used to put the right 2nd rower through gaps regularly too .

He also does have an offload I saw it once last year ! It led to a long break . Shame he doesn`t look to pass more .

Maybe this year we see more from Jordan ? I damn well hope so .

Will have to see how Riki performs under a new coach.
Kevs structures might not of involved any attack for him. Seen more to Herbie's game under a different coach, wasn't just a battering ram.
Madge seemed to unlock more from Angus Critchon last year in origin. Thought he went to another level under Madge. Fingers crossed he can do the same to Riki and pretty much all our forwards.
Teo I think will help a lot as well

 

[Sproj]

Hunt’s Homecoming – “It Would Be What Dreams Are Made Of…That’s What We’re Sent Out To Do”

Returning prodigal son Ben Hunt opens up as he prepares to pull on the Broncos jersey again on Saturday afternoon.

www.broncos.com.au

HOW GOOD TO SEE HIM BACK!!! Ok, now to be professional (all said in Lockyeresque voice, when did that happen?):
- Lots of accountability - push ups for dropped ball
- Had a good think about putting the jersey on again, wanted to play last week
- Really keen to get out there this week
- Not sure how many minutes I'll be playing
- It feels like I'm back where I belong and so excited to be back, not sure it would happen but grateful it has
- Our experience and calmness (with Reynolds) can benefit us most because we have a lot of youth around us so we can be a calming influence
- I'll be playing mainly left but will be going both sides as needed
- So excited to be playing with Walsh, its a rare opportunity to be with players of this calibre
- Dreams are made of winning a premiership with this club, that's the goal
- Haven't done any reps at 9 but at some stage will end up in there, not sure when that will be
- I'm just looking to play controlled footy
- Looking forward to not being the shortest guy on the field (talking about Reynolds)
- It was obvious that Reynolds should be captain
- A lot of thought to going to a number of clubs but the focus was always on coming home
- Paix played excellent on the weekend and while Mozer had a set back, he was looking great before that
- Glad I'm not Maguire and having to pick the side, so many talented guys putting their hands up
- Part of my job is to mentor Coby (Black) and Blake (Mozer)
- I'm teaching Coby technical things but he already kicks better than I do (this is great to hear!)
- The focus is to play like winning matters and so while it will be scrappy, we still want to focus on high completion
- Not threatened by Ezra, excited to have so much talent available
- Walsh is amazing, just need to keep him calm
- Disappointed for Cam Murray, I didn't know, disappointing to hear
- It would be nice to win the preseason challenge but no one honestly cares about that

 

[BroncsFan]

Just throwing it out there would we offer Milford a contract as cover for Perham.
Milford currently with SL Magpies, I wouldn't mind it if he's playing well. Will be great utility cover.
Latrell S still young and developing
Just my thoughts

I don't think we need to... he's not going anywhere and no one else is going to sign him, so I don't really see any reason to rush out and sign him.

If we fall into dire straights with the halves then they can just give him a T&T.

I think another guy who was around for last year's trials was Creedence Toia... I think he's starting fullback for Bears only 24 and has 38 Qcup games.

Unsure if he was in the Broncos system or if he was T&T from Burleigh, but he could be on the radar if we're really struggling at fullback.

At this stage we've got Walsh, Cobbo, Arthars and then Seigwalt. With Hayze being injured we could look to keep Seigwalt around the squad so he's getting fulltime training with the main squad every week.

 

[theshed]

Hunt’s Homecoming – “It Would Be What Dreams Are Made Of…That’s What We’re Sent Out To Do”

Returning prodigal son Ben Hunt opens up as he prepares to pull on the Broncos jersey again on Saturday afternoon.

www.broncos.com.au

HOW GOOD TO SEE HIM BACK!!! Ok, now to be professional (all said in Lockyeresque voice, when did that happen?):
- Lots of accountability - push ups for dropped ball
- Had a good think about putting the jersey on again, wanted to play last week
- Really keen to get out there this week
- Not sure how many minutes I'll be playing
- It feels like I'm back where I belong and so excited to be back, not sure it would happen but grateful it has
- Our experience and calmness (with Reynolds) can benefit us most because we have a lot of youth around us so we can be a calming influence
- I'll be playing mainly left but will be going both sides as needed
- So excited to be playing with Walsh, its a rare opportunity to be with players of this calibre
- Dreams are made of winning a premiership with this club, that's the goal
- Haven't done any reps at 9 but at some stage will end up in there, not sure when that will be
- I'm just looking to play controlled footy
- Looking forward to not being the shortest guy on the field (talking about Reynolds)
- It was obvious that Reynolds should be captain
- A lot of thought to going to a number of clubs but the focus was always on coming home
- Paix played excellent on the weekend and while Mozer had a set back, he was looking great before that
- Glad I'm not Maguire and having to pick the side, so many talented guys putting their hands up
- Part of my job is to mentor Coby (Black) and Blake (Mozer)
- I'm teaching Coby technical things but he already kicks better than I do (this is great to hear!)
- The focus is to play like winning matters and so while it will be scrappy, we still want to focus on high completion
- Not threatened by Ezra, excited to have so much talent available
- Walsh is amazing, just need to keep him calm
- Disappointed for Cam Murray, I didn't know, disappointing to hear
- It would be nice to win the preseason challenge but no one honestly cares about that

I’m starting to think that bar injury, Mam might find it hard to get back into the team this year,