Broncos grapple with forwards puzzle

[Super Freak]

BRISBANE’s battle of the forwards has begun once again.

In a tale as old as time for the Broncos, the question lingers as to how last year’s runners-up will assemble their forward pack for 2016.

With too many forwards and not enough starting positions, it remains to be seen who from the grand final team will be benched to accommodate returning front rower Josh McGuire.

But lock Corey Parker says it will be even harder to decide how the rotation works this year, with the number of interchanges per game dropped from 10 to eight.

He says that the club will have to be more strategic with how they manage their roster.

“Although a lot of people just fobbed it off as just being a turn down to eight, there is going to be some strategic planning with it,” he told couriermail.com.au of the new interchange rule.

“We’ll have a look in the trials and the like to tinker with that and see what’s best going to suit. It will be interesting to see what teams do and how everyone works it.

“With the type of players we’ve got and the type of minutes the guys can do, we can get around it. One of our strengths is we do have a lot of guys in that forward pack that can play long minutes.”

As well as Parker and McGuire, Brisbane will also have to find places for Adam Blair, Alex Glenn, Matt Gillett and Jarrod Wallace, who were all instrumental in getting the side to the grand final last year.

Young prop Joe Ofahengaue also became a bench regular in the second half of 2015.

Gillett was the first forward relegated to the bench for Round 1 last year, before Thaiday donned the No.14 jersey from the second week of the season.

McGuire then snapped his achilles tendon in July, opening the door for Thaiday to return to the front row.

Parker said while Thaiday could move between front and second row throughout matches, he also tipped McGuire to play some of the longest minutes.

McGuire however said he will first have to fight it out with Thaiday and Blair for the two front-row spots.

But he does believe whoever comes off the bench will play similar minutes anyway.

“Whoever comes off the bench, whether it is Sam, Blair or me ... that person last year played similar minutes,” McGuire said.

“Everyone wants to be starting but the person coming off the bench still has a big role to play and will play similar minutes.”

McGuire also said that the new interchange rule would mean the Broncos will not play with four forwards on the bench.

“I am pretty sure they will still use Kodi (Nikorima) off the bench because you will need two hookers with the new interchanges,” McGuire said.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...s/news-story/224f129e13d9c66051b2c2a4966e7083

 

[I bleed Maroon]

8. McGuire
9. McC
10. Blair
11. Glenn
12. Thaiday
13. Parker

14. Nikorima
15. Joe O
16. Gillett
17. Wallace

Pretty much picks itself. I am very interested to see what Bennett will get out of McCullough this year. He still has a pretty understated role in the 9. His combo with Hunt and Milf against the Roosters is the standard he is working towards now. I wanna see that shit or similar to it involving him at least 6 times this coming season. You tackle like a machine, great, I love it, now show me what you can do when you don't have to tackle. Get up and support your halves in attack.

Props are light but work big minutes and give their blood for the side, which fits the interchange changes perfectly. Teams with giant packs like the Dogs, Souffs and Sharks are going to be the ones to watch.

 

[Porthoz]

Highly doubtful that either Glenn or Thaiday will start ahead of Gillett.

 

[Allo]

Exactly. Following his enormous improvement in defence last season, Gillett is now (rightly) back ahead of Glenn in the rankings. Glenn is a good support player but has had very little impact since being cut out of the attack post-Norman (most obvious 'turning point' imo).

Granted, the type of attack we played the last couple of years hasn't lent itself to a lot of typical 2nd row attack plays, mainly due to the halves or centres doing it all themselves. Aside from that, Glenn just doesn't have the x-factor that Gillett has. He can turn nothing into something, like in the Grand Final. No way does Glenn make that play.

 

[Super Freak]

I wouldn't be against moving Gillett to the left.

I think he would be more lethal on that left side linking up with Milford. He has a good pass in him, and Hunt has always been better passing to his left than to his right. I think he would do a better job at protecting Milford, which would help Reed, so maybe we get the best of both worlds if we just swap Glenn and Gillett around.

Gillett played his best footy on the left, IMO.

 

[mitch222]

Its a nice problem to have. It will certainly keep players hungry for their positions

 

[Unbreakable]

McGuire, Blair, Glenn, Gillett & Parker starting with Thaiday off the bench is the only realistic option for this season. Thaiday can play prop as well as shift to the edges, he's the most versatile of the lot, and he will provide the most punch off the bench.

 

[Foordy]

I'd personally start both Glenn and Gillett, with Thaiday on the bench. He was a beast off the bench early in 2015 ... And with a relatively inexperienced bench his experience would be invaluable.

I still remember his round 3 game against the Roosters, where he made JWH his little bitch. One of his best ever performances...

 

[broncoboy]

i cant understand how glen isnt rated by all of you broncos supporters he is to me the most underrated player in the game and onne of the elite second rowers in the game yeah he mighten be a gun in defence but he makes up with it with the lines he runs and his attacking game. he has to start.

 

[broncoboy]

also forr me the starting side pretty much picks itself with thaiday going to the bench but the bench is going to be a hard one for bennet


the obvious bench would be


JNik
wallace
Joe O
Thaiday


but im not sure what will happen if in the trial matches bennet throws someone like herman Essesse, salesi funaki and calebi timu a life and they playa killer game i havent seen much of them but do any of them have a game better than Joe O or wallace?

 

[Foordy]

also forr me the starting side pretty much picks itself with thaiday going to the bench but the bench is going to be a hard one for bennet


the obvious bench would be


JNik
wallace
Joe O
Thaiday


but im not sure what will happen if in the trial matches bennet throws someone like herman Essesse, salesi funaki and calebi timu a life and they playa killer game i havent seen much of them but do any of them have a game better than Joe O or wallace?

When did we get Jayden Nimorima back from the Rorters... That's awesome

:takdir:

 

[Waynesaurus]

I actually think Gillett has always played his best coming off the bench, particularly in attack.

 

[Rhino1001]

I'd personally start both Glenn and Gillett, with Thaiday on the bench. He was a beast off the bench early in 2015 ... And with a relatively inexperienced bench his experience would be invaluable.

I still remember his round 3 game against the Roosters, where he made JWH his little bitch. One of his best ever performances...

Great game it was my birthday that day the atmosphere was crazy especially hunts try, by the way it was rd 6 but that doesn't matter