Boyd snaps Achilles - Replacement?

[Sproj]

Think Milf staying at 6 would be best but he needs to be given permission to roam the field more than a regular 5/8 therefore playing to his strength at fullback while cancelling out his weaknesses at the back, (kick returns, positioning, and his defence in the line is better).

Might be time to take a chance and blood a Niko at the back otherwise I see Bennett using Hodges who Bennett stated when he signed that Hodges would be an option (before Boyd signed and before Hoff and Barba were released).

Boyd was never not going to be the only option.

 

[TonyTheJugoslav]

Why would anybody be happy about this situation? Is this the Broncos supporter/fan forum l get a bit confused sometime with the crap l read. It is not a good situation we r in but l have confidence we will come with a solution. There are players at the club who can and possibly excel in this position and they may get a chance now. They may do well they may not, Kahu may go down in the first trial again we don't know.

So put down down the hateorade and support the club.

 

[Harry Sack]

If milford is going to be the long term 5/8 why bother shifting him, needs all the game time in the position he can get. Id prob shift hodgo back, or Greg Eden if he has a good preseason.

Which is what will happen. I don't see Bennett doing anything other than finding a replacement FB. I don't even think he'll shift Hodges, although he may give him some extra freedom.

The joy some people are displaying on here over this is pathetic.

 

[Harry Sack]

Why would anybody be happy about this situation? Is this the Broncos supporter/fan forum l get a bit confused sometime with the crap l read. It is not a good situation we r in but l have confidence we will come with a solution. There are players at the club who can and possibly excel in this position and they may get a chance now. They may do well they may not, Kahu may go down in the first trial again we don't know.

So put down down the hateorade and support the club.

Too many agendas for people to push mate, but I'm with you. Bitch about signings and sackings all you want, but beating your chest over this is pretty low.

 

[ozzball]

I'm just gonna throw this out there ... Greg Eden's a specialist FB (I've never seen him play but he was touted around as the poms answer to Billy Slater) ... he's apparently been training his ass off and maybe we should be giving him a run in the pre-season hit-ups and see how he goes ... ?

I also have to add that I saw Darius Boyd on the news and I'm already impressed by the way he's handling this setback ... lot of maturity

 

[Alec]

Think Milf staying at 6 would be best but he needs to be given permission to roam the field more than a regular 5/8 therefore playing to his strength at fullback while cancelling out his weaknesses at the back, (kick returns, positioning, and his defence in the line is better).

Might be time to take a chance and blood a Niko at the back otherwise I see Bennett using Hodges who Bennett stated when he signed that Hodges would be an option (before Boyd signed and before Hoff and Barba were released).

That's incredibly unlikely to happen. The way halves work these days, he'll more than likely be stuck on one side the field, playing first receiver.

 

[bazza]

I'm just gonna throw this out there ... Greg Eden's a specialist FB (I've never seen him play but he was touted around as the poms answer to Billy Slater) ... he's apparently been training his ass off and maybe we should be giving him a run in the pre-season hit-ups and see how he goes ... ?

I also have to add that I saw Darius Boyd on the news and I'm already impressed by the way he's handling this setback ... lot of maturity

Yeah, Boyd showed some real maturity and handled the situation with a lot of class. I can only imagine what the old Boyd would have said or how he would of reacted when questioned about the injury. Its great to see the change in attitude, especially during such a tough time for him personally and he was still open to answering the media's questions. I'm still hoping its not a ruptured achilles as first suspected and he can recover quickly.

As for Greg Eden, he's not really the English Billy Slater, Sam Tomkins is. I'll be honest, I haven't seen a heap of him, but from what I have seen, he can be brilliant one minute, and then ordinary the next. He's very inconsistent, but has ability and potential. Certainly no Billy Slater yet, not even the best fullback in the ESL for that matter, but very far from the worst. The biggest thing for him is consistency which is probably why he signed here to better himself as a footballer. Who would of thought he'd even get a look in with the amount of fullbacks we had at our disposal, but he does have an opportunity to prove himself now. Rugby league is a funny game. Strange things can happen...

 

[Foordy]

Can someone please explain something to me,

Why are we all now talking about playing a player where he wants ... when Hoffman was whinging about not being fullback, people were getting the pitchforks out.

but now we are talking about not playing Milford at fullback because he MAY prefer to play 5/8. there hasn't been anywhere near as much talk about what is best for the team in this scenario (as there was with Hoffman)

So, does it depend on the talent a player has, before we determine if we allow him to pick an choose his position.

IMO what is BEST for the team in 2015 is:

1. Milford
6. one of our talented rookie halves (and stick with them at the very least until Boyd returns

if the rookie half kills it .. great Boyd returns in the position he regularly kills it ... WING

if the rookie half struggles and proves he needs some more time in the lower grades, we move Milford to 6 and Boyd returns at fullback (where i hope he is able to rediscover his 2010 form).

The important thing in we need to do if we go down the route of picking a rookie half (which i highly doubt will happen) is to back him. not drop him the first instance he stuffs up.

 

[Mr Fourex]

That's a bit far fetched... He's certainly good and talented, but not near being one of the best in the competition at the moment. He has some flaws in his game which he needs to work on...

Some people only consider his running game when making brash statements like the one you quoted.

Defensively, which ultimately you need your fullback to excel in, Milford has some major deficiencies.

I think he's far better defensively, in the front line.

 

[Broncoman]

Yeah, Boyd showed some real maturity and handled the situation with a lot of class. I can only imagine what the old Boyd would have said or how he would of reacted when questioned about the injury. Its great to see the change in attitude, especially during such a tough time for him personally and he was still open to answering the media's questions. I'm still hoping its not a ruptured achilles as first suspected and he can recover quickly.

As for Greg Eden, he's not really the English Billy Slater, Sam Tomkins is. I'll be honest, I haven't seen a heap of him, but from what I have seen, he can be brilliant one minute, and then ordinary the next. He's very inconsistent, but has ability and potential. Certainly no Billy Slater yet, not even the best fullback in the ESL for that matter, but very far from the worst. The biggest thing for him is consistency which is probably why he signed here to better himself as a footballer. Who would of thought he'd even get a look in with the amount of fullbacks we had at our disposal, but he does have an opportunity to prove himself now. Rugby league is a funny game. Strange things can happen...

Based on that he must be given a shot in the trials

 

[Harry Sack]

Can someone please explain something to me,

Why are we all now talking about playing a player where he wants ... when Hoffman was whinging about not being fullback, people were getting the pitchforks out.

but now we are talking about not playing Milford at fullback because he MAY prefer to play 5/8. there hasn't been anywhere near as much talk about what is best for the team in this scenario (as there was with Hoffman)

So, does it depend on the talent a player has, before we determine if we allow him to pick an choose his position.

FTR, I'm of the opinion he's said that about the 5/8 position purely because Wayne has come out and said that's where he'll be playing. However.....because Hoffman was a fantastic winger with the potential to be a great centre.....but he wanted to play FB. Milford is a great FB, with the potential to be a great 5/8.

IMO what is BEST for the team in 2015 is:

1. Milford
6. one of our talented rookie halves (and stick with them at the very least until Boyd returns

if the rookie half kills it .. great Boyd returns in the position he regularly kills it ... WING

if the rookie half struggles and proves he needs some more time in the lower grades, we move Milford to 6 and Boyd returns at fullback (where i hope he is able to rediscover his 2010 form).

The important thing in we need to do if we go down the route of picking a rookie half (which i highly doubt will happen) is to back him. not drop him the first instance he stuffs up.

We all know that won't happen. The half would have to be the next Lockyer and lead the Dally M's. If Boyd was gone for the season, I'd be all for the Milford to FB move. If Boyd's recovery goes as planned though, he'll be back by round 13 or so. Expecting Milford to make the transition to the halves mid season would be a bad move IMO.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Expecting Milford to make the transition to the halves mid season would be a bad move IMO.

Exactly Harry ......the same crowd wanting Milford to fill in for Boyd and demand that he's only a fullback, are basing his failures as a 5/8 on only a handful of games. A full season to settle into the role and I'm sure whilst there'll be times when the experts will decree I told you so....but there will also be times when we see the full package of unlimited potential Anthony Milford has.

 

[Danoz Direct]

If Maranta is given the position because he is safe I will be really frustrated as all he can effectively do is a catch the ball without dropping it.

I think the only viable options are Jordan Kahu who I think can gun it and become one of the best fullbacks given the chance (I know big statement) or the one of the Nikorima's who have play making ability and could become a young Ben Barba style of player.

 

[rnabokov]

For mine, I have always advocated for Milford to play at the back. I still believe he can be the next Darren Lockyer (can be ...).

However sadly, and echoing many posts here, Bennett recruited him for 5/8 and I can't see how he will change his short and long range plans. Milford will stay at 5/8.

Also for mine, it is pivotal to our success this year to develop the strongest possible halves combination, and for that to happen, whoever they are, we need our halves working together from day 1.

As others have said, moving Milford to 5/8 half way through the season would IMO seriously jeopardize his combination with Hunt, and those outside him at 5/8 .. and therefore our season.

The replacement FB issue as a consequence of this tragic injury to Boyd is not just about 1 player at FB and his strengths/weaknesses.... what he can do as an individual. It is about the cohesive development of the whole team and for that reason, however reluctantly, I reckon Milford should not be moved to FB.

Personally, I'd like to see Kahu or Copley there.

As for Hodges, I just can't come at that. I totally agree with AP and a few others about Hodges being awful at FB based on his form this season, and, shuffling around 2 players to cover for Hodges's weaknesses is adding a layer of complexity to the team structures which is something we just don't need.

 

[Cult]

Re: Boyd snaps Archillies - Replacement?

Todd Lowrie.

I don't get it

 

[Cult]

Re: Boyd snaps Archillies - Replacement?

Can someone please explain something to me,

Why are we all now talking about playing a player where he wants ... when Hoffman was whinging about not being fullback, people were getting the pitchforks out.

but now we are talking about not playing Milford at fullback because he MAY prefer to play 5/8. there hasn't been anywhere near as much talk about what is best for the team in this scenario (as there was with Hoffman)

So, does it depend on the talent a player has, before we determine if we allow him to pick an choose his position.

IMO what is BEST for the team in 2015 is:

1. Milford
6. one of our talented rookie halves (and stick with them at the very least until Boyd returns

if the rookie half kills it .. great Boyd returns in the position he regularly kills it ... WING

if the rookie half struggles and proves he needs some more time in the lower grades, we move Milford to 6 and Boyd returns at fullback (where i hope he is able to rediscover his 2010 form).

The important thing in we need to do if we go down the route of picking a rookie half (which i highly doubt will happen) is to back him. not drop him the first instance he stuffs up.

Obviously some players get to pick and choose where they want to play. Especially when they're good in both positions and being touted as the best young player in the game. Lockyer could pick where he wanted to play, Phillip lee couldn't.

 

[Ari Gold]

Do you really think Milford would have the ability to dictate to WB where he wants to play? Not that Milford ever would, as he doesn't strike me as that kinda guy, but I don't for a second believe that WB would allow Milford to tell him where he plays.

 

[Foordy]

Re: Boyd snaps Archillies - Replacement?

Obviously some players get to pick and choose where they want to play. Especially when they're good in both positions and being touted as the best young player in the game. Lockyer could pick where he wanted to play, Phillip lee couldn't.

Darren Lockyer is one of the greatest players this game has seen.

He is also the ultimate team player, he never asked to be moved to 5/8, he did that at Bennetts request and because at the time it was what the team needed him to do, and it certainly was a huge risk for Lockyer to do that. he was the best fullback in the world, he elected to risk his QLD and Australian jumpers because the Broncos needed him to switch positions.

Luckily Lockyer was able to make a successful transition from best fullback in the world, to best 5/8 in the world.