Barba vs Boyd
- Thread starter Morkel
- Start date
Battler
State of Origin Rep
- Dec 4, 2013
- 7,191
- 7,076
You can add me as another person who rates Boyd. Barba has shown less in his time as a footballer to suggest that he'll ever get back to his Dally M form. Boyd is a far more complete player who has experience in big games. Milford played well in 5/8 for the Raider in spite of the trash team around him (although I hate to admit this, I watched most Raiders games this season primarily to laugh at the comments/rage on the GH).
The one thing that made Barba was his speed, if we want to use him as a psuedo 5/8, we should introduce an actual 5/8 or half like Taylor, or sign a competent one (which we have in Milford).
EDIT: Matt Orford was a Dally M winner and look what happened to him. Not everything has a happy ending, and Bennett is the kind of person who will be able to tell if that's the case with a footballer's career.
The one thing that made Barba was his speed, if we want to use him as a psuedo 5/8, we should introduce an actual 5/8 or half like Taylor, or sign a competent one (which we have in Milford).
EDIT: Matt Orford was a Dally M winner and look what happened to him. Not everything has a happy ending, and Bennett is the kind of person who will be able to tell if that's the case with a footballer's career.
Last edited:
JoeldTrafford
NYC Player
- Oct 30, 2013
- 211
- 143
I live in newcastle area and while I almost never watch them play I do know a lot of Knights fans and almost everyone of them are saying that they hope we get him as he was god awful at fullback this year.
Mister Wright
NRL Captain
- Jun 8, 2009
- 4,944
- 3,304
I know it won't happen, but I'd love to see this backline next year:
1. Milford
2. Hoffman
3. Copely
4. Hodges
5. Boyd
6. Barba
7. Hunt
1. Milford
2. Hoffman
3. Copely
4. Hodges
5. Boyd
6. Barba
7. Hunt
Broncoman
State of Origin Rep
- Oct 9, 2011
- 7,691
- 1,118
If Boyd did come back next year I would be able to take it if he was on the wing as he has always been solid there for Queensland and Australia and would give a good service. I wouldn't take it openly if he was fullback as he has been poor there for a few years and to have an under performing player playing in the spine is to much of a risk.
Anonymous person
Banned User
- Dec 16, 2008
- 4,635
- 932
not really sure why you brought up Orford?
He won a Dally M and steered his team to a premiership in the same year, got them to the finals the following year in 5th position and were knocked out by the eventual premiers in Melbourne. How is that at all relevant to Boyd/Barba?
Mister Wright
NRL Captain
- Jun 8, 2009
- 4,944
- 3,304
If we do get Boyd and he plays fullback I won't be all that worried. He's actually a pretty good option at fullback. This year should be discounted. He had his best mate in hospital with fears he may never walk again, he wasn't being paid and he was suffering depression. I don't know how many people would perform at their job with these distractions.
Moving back closer to home and playing under Wayne Bennett might just be the best thing for him.
Moving back closer to home and playing under Wayne Bennett might just be the best thing for him.
It's been going on forever.
Kevvie, Jackson and Backo went where Bennett went, Thomas, Gillespie and Farrar followed Ryan to Wests. If you think Boyd is the first player to follow a coach you're kidding.
- Mar 4, 2008
- 35,020
- 41,863
Most of the 22 pages is AP verses Huge ... I happen to agree with AP on this matter though
M.B.88
NRL Captain
- Oct 23, 2013
- 3,511
- 3,080
Has no one even considering Milford being an impact player off the bench?
ALA Thurston for the Bulldogs or Cherry-Evans in Origin.
Think about it all. . Wayne Bennett is the type of coach to create synergy in a playing group and knows how to get the best out of players because he makes then "believe" in themselves.
Barba this year was lost. . He did not believe in his abilities and I believe was still being held back by injury. That syndesmosis was never given a chance to fully heal. He didn't get any sort of preseason at all so his best assett (running game) was never going to be up to scratch. He then had to adjust to new combinations, new structures and game plans and therfore was entirely focused on trying to fit in rather than build confidence in his own natural abilities. Again, no pre-season.
Bennett will be the best thing for a player in Barba's position. He likes to mentor. He will see something special in ben once he arrives and will be inspired to get the best out of him. I believe this. Therefore I feel he will continue to develop him as a 5/8th.
Boyd, it appears he is coming. Nothing we can do about this. If we want bennett to fix us then this is part in parcel.
Which brings us to Milford. .
Yes, I personally believe his beat position is fullback. I would prefer him to be sniffing for opportunities and calling them to his halves rather than creating for others. So why not a second on fields full back ? Vidot could move into the front line so milford wouldn't have to defend as a back rower, but be allowed to pop up wherever he sees a chance anywhere on the field, and have Boyd as our structured back line sweeping fullback which he is good at.
Is this not too farfetched? Don't the broncos need to strip back on their Griffin structure and really back them selves as a footy team who creates unstructured play? Look at the players in our backline! How could unstructured play, like the warriors or more fittingly Panthers, not be our style. Parker's offloads, Garbutt has got a mean offload, hodges creating opportunities for anyone at any time, barba who (when in form) can draw and pass and step and evade to put centres and/or back rowers in for breaks. Gillett is an addlib player like hodges... Hunt! The master of breaking a defensive line. Imagine him with someone like milford in support. Or milford calling for kicks in behind. . Because our best kicking game is by far short kicks. Chips and grubbers... High bombs and long range kicks just aren't in our arsenal. But why do you need those? To get it out of your own half. . But if we have vidot chewing metres and a killer backline spreading it on the second and third tackle, constantly challenging the chasers and early defensive line than surely we could dominate territory better.
I think that would be a great balance of structure and creativity which we've lacked for quite a while. Definitely something I think roosters and Panthers do well. Especially this year. My 17/18:
1. Boyd
2. Vidot
3. Reed
4. Hodges
5. Copley
6. Barba
7. Hunt
8. Maguire
9. Mccollough
10. Packer
11. Glenn
12. Gillett
13. Parker
14. Milford
15. Thaiday
16. Garbutt
17. Oates
18. Kennedy
Go ahead. . Call me mental, but that's a good bench rotation there. Thaiday could play some edge, Parker could play some prop.. There is plenty of positional balance there.
ALA Thurston for the Bulldogs or Cherry-Evans in Origin.
Think about it all. . Wayne Bennett is the type of coach to create synergy in a playing group and knows how to get the best out of players because he makes then "believe" in themselves.
Barba this year was lost. . He did not believe in his abilities and I believe was still being held back by injury. That syndesmosis was never given a chance to fully heal. He didn't get any sort of preseason at all so his best assett (running game) was never going to be up to scratch. He then had to adjust to new combinations, new structures and game plans and therfore was entirely focused on trying to fit in rather than build confidence in his own natural abilities. Again, no pre-season.
Bennett will be the best thing for a player in Barba's position. He likes to mentor. He will see something special in ben once he arrives and will be inspired to get the best out of him. I believe this. Therefore I feel he will continue to develop him as a 5/8th.
Boyd, it appears he is coming. Nothing we can do about this. If we want bennett to fix us then this is part in parcel.
Which brings us to Milford. .
Yes, I personally believe his beat position is fullback. I would prefer him to be sniffing for opportunities and calling them to his halves rather than creating for others. So why not a second on fields full back ? Vidot could move into the front line so milford wouldn't have to defend as a back rower, but be allowed to pop up wherever he sees a chance anywhere on the field, and have Boyd as our structured back line sweeping fullback which he is good at.
Is this not too farfetched? Don't the broncos need to strip back on their Griffin structure and really back them selves as a footy team who creates unstructured play? Look at the players in our backline! How could unstructured play, like the warriors or more fittingly Panthers, not be our style. Parker's offloads, Garbutt has got a mean offload, hodges creating opportunities for anyone at any time, barba who (when in form) can draw and pass and step and evade to put centres and/or back rowers in for breaks. Gillett is an addlib player like hodges... Hunt! The master of breaking a defensive line. Imagine him with someone like milford in support. Or milford calling for kicks in behind. . Because our best kicking game is by far short kicks. Chips and grubbers... High bombs and long range kicks just aren't in our arsenal. But why do you need those? To get it out of your own half. . But if we have vidot chewing metres and a killer backline spreading it on the second and third tackle, constantly challenging the chasers and early defensive line than surely we could dominate territory better.
I think that would be a great balance of structure and creativity which we've lacked for quite a while. Definitely something I think roosters and Panthers do well. Especially this year. My 17/18:
1. Boyd
2. Vidot
3. Reed
4. Hodges
5. Copley
6. Barba
7. Hunt
8. Maguire
9. Mccollough
10. Packer
11. Glenn
12. Gillett
13. Parker
14. Milford
15. Thaiday
16. Garbutt
17. Oates
18. Kennedy
Go ahead. . Call me mental, but that's a good bench rotation there. Thaiday could play some edge, Parker could play some prop.. There is plenty of positional balance there.
Anonymous person
Banned User
- Dec 16, 2008
- 4,635
- 932
did any of them follow bennett/their coach to 3 different clubs?
M.B.88
NRL Captain
- Oct 23, 2013
- 3,511
- 3,080
Also. . Let's consider the origin period..
Why would we put a gun fullback like milford in the halves when he could tear it up while Boyd is away. This way, he is fresh and ready to go after only playing 20min stints all year. Ready to have a massive impact and lift our poor Origin form history.
We'd also have Copley coming in Hodges.. Let him rest throughout the entire of origin, we have the depth now to cover him.
This way, our halves stay undisturbed all year round. If milford is stuck playing 5/8th, (being he's easily the best second choice at fb) we wouldn't need to change anything. Don't mess with the halves. Let the partnership build. Ever since locky left, it's been our most inconsistent area while it's arguably its the most important in a team. Look at the successful teams.. roosters, souths, bulldogs, manly. . All have killer halves pairings. The dynamic is important. Hunt and barba were really starting to click before hodges came and silenced Barba's chances of making an impact by over playing his hand.
It's such a strong forward vision in my opinion. One I hope bennett is considering or will consider.
Why would we put a gun fullback like milford in the halves when he could tear it up while Boyd is away. This way, he is fresh and ready to go after only playing 20min stints all year. Ready to have a massive impact and lift our poor Origin form history.
We'd also have Copley coming in Hodges.. Let him rest throughout the entire of origin, we have the depth now to cover him.
This way, our halves stay undisturbed all year round. If milford is stuck playing 5/8th, (being he's easily the best second choice at fb) we wouldn't need to change anything. Don't mess with the halves. Let the partnership build. Ever since locky left, it's been our most inconsistent area while it's arguably its the most important in a team. Look at the successful teams.. roosters, souths, bulldogs, manly. . All have killer halves pairings. The dynamic is important. Hunt and barba were really starting to click before hodges came and silenced Barba's chances of making an impact by over playing his hand.
It's such a strong forward vision in my opinion. One I hope bennett is considering or will consider.
Jackson- Souths, Raiders and Broncos.
Kevvie- Raiders, Broncos, Broncos, Knights, Broncos.
Last edited:
- Apr 9, 2012
- 12,809
- 14,586
**** I hope not.....what a waste!
- Oct 17, 2013
- 12,841
- 14,848
Haha burrrrrrrrn
M.B.88
NRL Captain
- Oct 23, 2013
- 3,511
- 3,080
Someone somewhere will be wasted. .. barba would be if he doesn't get a spot!
Milford wouldn't be wasted. . He'd be a weapon come origin like I said. I'll argue this til the cows come home. . This is the future I think. . When Boyd moves on. . Milford is our fullback.
Ask yourself. . Who is the next QLD 5/8th and fullback? Which one will Milford be?
Last edited:
Mister Wright
NRL Captain
- Jun 8, 2009
- 4,944
- 3,304
