Barba vs Boyd

[Anonymous person]

Front Row Depth: McGuire, Kennedy*, Garbutt, Gavet, J.Wallace, Dodds, Ofahengaue
Back Row Depth: Thaiday, Parker, Gillett, Glenn, Oates, Lowrie, Stagg
Centre & Wing Depth: Hodges, Copley, Vidot, Kahu, Reed, Maranta, Hoffman*

Personally I think we should be recruiting in these positions long. Fullback is easily and well covered.

McGuire is the only proven prop there. Wallace and Dodds have done nothing to show they've got what it takes. Ofahengaue has big wraps, but hasnt played NRL. Our props are a huge problem.

Our Second Row are just as bad though, as we have big name players on big money who haven't really performed in 3+ years apart from Parker. Lowrie and Stagg need to be taken out the back and put down, Gillett can't tackle or catch, neither can Thaiday, and Thaiday also makes about 3m per hitup, of which he only does about 5 per match.

Centre we have no real depth. Copley is coming along nicely, but Reed needs to go and Hodges is older than Bennett himself. Wings we have Vidot whos very good, but Hoffman will leave before playing Wing again, and Maranta is a nuffy. That leaves the perpetually injured and slow as a wet week Kahu.

We have some personnel problems, but not at fullback.

 

[Porthoz]

Is Kahu a fullback? he hasn't played there in first grade and the guy is constantly injured anyway.

Maranta & Eden? seriously?

Being able to write 'fullback' as one of their positions on their player profile doesn't mean they are.

Yeah, accuse others they should be lawyers, only to pick on semantics yourself... fair dinkum.

Barba is my choice. His best is miles ahead of anything Boyd can ever muster, and I hope Bennett gives it a try instead of spending a ton of money on his overrated love child.

Kahu's position is fullback. That is where he played most of his career, even if he hasn't done it yet in first grade. He's one of the best I've seen in the position too... yes, his injury run is of concern, but I'd still have him over Boyd, who is solid without a doubt, but no better than Hoffman.

The others are all back-up more than anything, at least until Jayden matures, but between Eden, Maranta and the Nikorimas, we have the position well covered, certainly covered enough to say we don't need Boyd.

Like Huge said, most Boyd supporters are just saying yes, because Wayne said so...

 

[broncos4life]

Yeah, accuse others they should be lawyers, only to pick on semantics yourself... fair dinkum.

Barba is my choice. His best is miles ahead of anything Boyd can ever muster, and I hope Bennett gives it a try instead of spending a ton of money on his overrated love child.

Kahu's position is fullback. That is where he played most of his career, even if he hasn't done it yet in first grade. He's one of the best I've seen in the position too... yes, his injury run is of concern, but I'd still have him over Boyd, who is solid without a doubt, but no better than Hoffman.

The others are all back-up more than anything, at least until Jayden matures, but between Eden, Maranta and the Nikorimas, we have the position well covered, certainly covered enough to say we don't need Boyd.

Like Huge said, most Boyd supporters are just saying yes, because Wayne said so...

How have I argued semantics, no seriously how have I? I simply questioned how you can call Kahu a fullback when he has NEVER played it in first grade. FFS even when he has played ISC he has been playing centre.

Apart from that I questioned how you can call Eden and Maranta options for fullback. One has technically played fullback when the actual fullback got injured during the game and did an adequate job. The other had most of as swearing on here when he was signed and most likely will never play NRL for us, and if he does it will most likely be wing

So tell me how am I arguing semantics?

 

[Cult]

I almost guarantee that if Barba got the chance next year to play fullback, with a new five-eight, game plan and lighter. He would absolutely kill it and get somewhere near his 2012 form.

A new five-eight, game plan and weight loss won't teach him how to catch a high bomb. That's the reason why he absolutely can not play fullback ever again. Ever.

 

[subsbligh]

The more I keep reading throughout this thread the more convinced I am that posters are not arguing about who was better or genuinely comparing the two but rather who hates WB or supports him.Therefore his stated desire to sign Boyd is why so many seem to be down on Boyd and not any real dislike of him or his ability. I am not excluding myself as I have contributed but I like both Barba and Boyd. I would be looking forward to having both play for the Broncos in 2015 although I don't expect Boyd to be here. Strangely, neither may be playing for the Broncos in 2015.

If Boyd was on the open market, and Griffin was the coach (or for that matter any coach other than Bennett), would the Broncos even think twice about sounding Boyd out?

NO.

Because we've got 2 very good options back there already.

So yes, putting ability to one side, Bennett's nepotism (jobs for the boys), from day 1 of his appointment doesn't give me a lot of confidence in how things are going to run into the future.

 

[subsbligh]

+ Waddell

 

[broncos4life]

If Boyd was on the open market, and Griffin was the coach (or for that matter any coach other than Bennett), would the Broncos even think twice about sounding Boyd out?

NO.

Because we've got 2 very good options back there already.

So yes, putting ability to one side, Bennett's nepotism (jobs for the boys), from day 1 of his appointment doesn't give me a lot of confidence in how things are going to run into the future.

When Hoffman magically turns into a "very good option" at fullback I will agree with you

 

[Cult]

If Boyd was on the open market, and Griffin was the coach (or for that matter any coach other than Bennett), would the Broncos even think twice about sounding Boyd out?

NO.

Because we've got 2 very good options back there already.

So yes, putting ability to one side, Bennett's nepotism (jobs for the boys), from day 1 of his appointment doesn't give me a lot of confidence in how things are going to run into the future.

Good options? I swear you guys haven't seen the Broncos play for a while. We could keep Barba at fullback and the opposition would constantly be in our 20 so Milfords brilliance wouldn't have a chance to shine anyway..

 

[Anonymous person]

I simply questioned how you can call Kahu a fullback when he has NEVER played it in first grade. FFS even when he has played ISC he has been playing centre.

Didn't Inglis play his entire pre-NRL career at fullback? Would you have said it wouldn't be right to call him a fullback when he came in to NRL at centre?

Hodges considered himself a fullback, even left the Broncos to play fullback somewhere else, yet hadn't played fullback in the NRL for a few seasons.

 

[broncos4life]

Didn't Inglis play his entire pre-NRL career at fullback? Would you have said it wouldn't be right to call him a fullback when he came in to NRL at centre?

Hodges considered himself a fullback, even left the Broncos to play fullback somewhere else, yet hadn't played fullback in the NRL for a few seasons.

I think even you can agree that it is a bit of stretch to compare Kahu to those two and then to also claim that he covers us for fullback when he hasn't played there outside of U20s

 

[Porthoz]

When Hoffman magically turns into a "very good option" at fullback I will agree with you

Hoffman and Boyd are very similar players. Hoffman is better defensively, Boyd is a better passer, that's really the gist of it.

 

[Mitch06]

The only problem with Hayne around that period was that he became complacent in certain areas. A player of his stature should be immune to it, but considering the culture at Parra, it's easy to understand why he was able to sweat the small stuff.

While Barba's 2011 was flawed - I'd nominate it as a season of promise. He was creating plays that season that even the top level players could only dream of doing.

Put it this way, it isn't exactly like Barba is just another Leon Bott or Denan Kemp. There is something more to him. It's just a matter of whether or not he can reach that peak again. Regaining his speed should be his biggest priority.

Great post! I completely agree, I think his speed and evasion made somewhat of a difference to his success.

 

[Anonymous person]

I think even you can agree that it is a bit of stretch to compare Kahu to those two and then to also claim that he covers us for fullback when he hasn't played there outside of U20s

I honestly don't know, have no idea where Kahu played in the lower grades. He's only played like 10 matches for us in the NRL though hasn't he?

I dunno, I was just more so against the point of not being able to say someone is a certain position just cause they haven't played NRL there. I personally don't think he would ever get a shot at fullback at the Broncos, so I wouldn't count him as a depth player there.

 

[Huge]

If Boyd was on the open market, and Griffin was the coach (or for that matter any coach other than Bennett), would the Broncos even think twice about sounding Boyd out?

NO.

Because we've got 2 very good options back there already.

So yes, putting ability to one side, Bennett's nepotism (jobs for the boys), from day 1 of his appointment doesn't give me a lot of confidence in how things are going to run into the future.

Lol..explaining words to me ! Pretty loose though as Boyd is not a relative of WBs, maybe favouritism? Most of us would give WB the benefit of the doubt as he probably knows what he wants. He also obviously has faith in Boyd to do the job he needs, perhaps he thinks he knows best based on his 50 odd years in rugby league.

Mmmm....you ask a hypothetical ( based on or serving as a hypothesis)question ...if Boyd was on the open market, would any hypothetical Broncos coach want him ? I guess you would have to check his resume first....let's see ,current Origin rep, former Australian rep, many first grade games,premiership winner, and former Dally m fullback and was narrowly beaten by 2 points for Dally M player of the year that same year, Anzac Medal Winner.....and your unequivocal( in no doubt )incontrovertible(not able to be denied or disputed) answer is NO.

If that's the case then the better candidates for a first grade role must be numerous and incredibly well credentialed. I might add that knowing what these mythical coaches would definitely want or not want is an amazing ability, a career in criminal investigation awaits !

 

[Danoz Direct]

A new five-eight, game plan and weight loss won't teach him how to catch a high bomb. That's the reason why he absolutely can not play fullback ever again. Ever.

Barba is a confidence player so if he started playing more freely in attack, all parts of his game would improve.

 

[broncos4life]

Hoffman and Boyd are very similar players. Hoffman is better defensively, Boyd is a better passer, that's really the gist of it.

Yeah I disagree strongly on that, but you still won't tell me how I was arguing semantics early, so at the risk of you saying that again I will agree to disagree

 

[broncos4life]

I honestly don't know, have no idea where Kahu played in the lower grades. He's only played like 10 matches for us in the NRL though hasn't he?

I dunno, I was just more so against the point of not being able to say someone is a certain position just cause they haven't played NRL there. I personally don't think he would ever get a shot at fullback at the Broncos, so I wouldn't count him as a depth player there.

Which was my point in the post I had quoted and was responding to...

 

[Danoz Direct]

I think even you can agree that it is a bit of stretch to compare Kahu to those two and then to also claim that he covers us for fullback when he hasn't played there outside of U20s

Look mate we will never know until we try, he obviously has skill, speed and agility and has had a great junior career so he is obviously a talent.