C
Coxy
International Captain
- Mar 4, 2008
- 31,212
- 1,886
This is people, not just players, who had a significant and positive impact on building the Broncos into the successful club it is.
Just list your top 10, preferably in order.
1. Paul Morgan. The late great Porky. He fought long and hard for a Brisbane team and led the consortium that got the licence. He camped at Wayne Bennett's house until he convinced him to sign with the Broncos, breaking contract with Canberra. He threatened to throw Gene Miles or Wally Lewis (can't remember which) through a window if they didn't sign [icon_lol1. Fantastic man and deserving to have the player of the year award named after him.
2. John Ribot. Easily the best and most courageous CEO we had. He was pretty much Morgan's hired gun - he was the one who shook the establishment throughout the early years and made the Broncos the most profitable and successfully run club in the game.
3. Wally Lewis. He was a shadow of the man he was when he joined the club, but the fact he joined the club had an indelible impact. His signing enticed Miles, Dowling, Conescu, numerous other players to the club, giving them an almost State of Origin quality team in those early years.
4. Wayne Bennett. Absolute hero of the club. Coach for 6 premierships. 18 successive finals appearances. Influential on attracting players - and to make the tough call to ditch players. The loss of captaincy, and subsequent sacking of Wally Lewis was a show by Bennett that no player was bigger than the club. It was make or break. But he knew he was doing the right thing. 2 years later the first premiership came, and all the angst and anger he copped from people for "sacking the King" was forgotten (well, by most).
5. Allan Langer. Without doubt the most influential individual player the Broncos ever had.
6. Cyril Connell. Without doubt the best talent scout and junior development officer a club could ever dream of. He was perfect because he was a teacher and school principal in his younger days, as well as a Test league player - the unique ability to recognise playing talent, and attitude and personality off the field. The list of players he identified as youngsters who went on to play first grade, Origin and Test football for the Broncos is unparalleled.
7. Kelvin Giles. Came to the club as performance coordinator in 1990 or 1991 and was shocked at the lack of professionalism of training and fitness. Pioneered the "footballers are athletes" mentality and led the Broncos to a level of fitness that saw them become the trademark on the field as much as off it.
8. Shane Edwards. Understudy to Ribot, his work as marketing manager during the Broncos early years established a brand that leveraged beautifully off the football itself. When he took over as CEO from Ribot, he didn't skip a beat and the success continued.
9. Barry Maranta. One of the original directors, Barry had great vision and implemented some unique schemes including the sister partnerships with London Broncos and Denver Broncos (both of which have since ended). Certainly brought a unique approach to the Broncos board.
10. Glenn Lazarus. Probably a big call, but the Broncos had a reputation for being flashy with no guts during their first 4 years. Ball in hand they were better than anyone, but get into an armwrestle and you could outmuscle them. Glenn Lazarus came along in 1992 and it's no surprise success was instant. He brought starch, mongrel, tenacity to the forward pack, led by example and players followed. He started a procession of quality props that saw Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva and now Nick Kenny evolve.
Have your say guys!
Just list your top 10, preferably in order.
1. Paul Morgan. The late great Porky. He fought long and hard for a Brisbane team and led the consortium that got the licence. He camped at Wayne Bennett's house until he convinced him to sign with the Broncos, breaking contract with Canberra. He threatened to throw Gene Miles or Wally Lewis (can't remember which) through a window if they didn't sign [icon_lol1. Fantastic man and deserving to have the player of the year award named after him.
2. John Ribot. Easily the best and most courageous CEO we had. He was pretty much Morgan's hired gun - he was the one who shook the establishment throughout the early years and made the Broncos the most profitable and successfully run club in the game.
3. Wally Lewis. He was a shadow of the man he was when he joined the club, but the fact he joined the club had an indelible impact. His signing enticed Miles, Dowling, Conescu, numerous other players to the club, giving them an almost State of Origin quality team in those early years.
4. Wayne Bennett. Absolute hero of the club. Coach for 6 premierships. 18 successive finals appearances. Influential on attracting players - and to make the tough call to ditch players. The loss of captaincy, and subsequent sacking of Wally Lewis was a show by Bennett that no player was bigger than the club. It was make or break. But he knew he was doing the right thing. 2 years later the first premiership came, and all the angst and anger he copped from people for "sacking the King" was forgotten (well, by most).
5. Allan Langer. Without doubt the most influential individual player the Broncos ever had.
6. Cyril Connell. Without doubt the best talent scout and junior development officer a club could ever dream of. He was perfect because he was a teacher and school principal in his younger days, as well as a Test league player - the unique ability to recognise playing talent, and attitude and personality off the field. The list of players he identified as youngsters who went on to play first grade, Origin and Test football for the Broncos is unparalleled.
7. Kelvin Giles. Came to the club as performance coordinator in 1990 or 1991 and was shocked at the lack of professionalism of training and fitness. Pioneered the "footballers are athletes" mentality and led the Broncos to a level of fitness that saw them become the trademark on the field as much as off it.
8. Shane Edwards. Understudy to Ribot, his work as marketing manager during the Broncos early years established a brand that leveraged beautifully off the football itself. When he took over as CEO from Ribot, he didn't skip a beat and the success continued.
9. Barry Maranta. One of the original directors, Barry had great vision and implemented some unique schemes including the sister partnerships with London Broncos and Denver Broncos (both of which have since ended). Certainly brought a unique approach to the Broncos board.
10. Glenn Lazarus. Probably a big call, but the Broncos had a reputation for being flashy with no guts during their first 4 years. Ball in hand they were better than anyone, but get into an armwrestle and you could outmuscle them. Glenn Lazarus came along in 1992 and it's no surprise success was instant. He brought starch, mongrel, tenacity to the forward pack, led by example and players followed. He started a procession of quality props that saw Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva and now Nick Kenny evolve.
Have your say guys!
