Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
- 40,564
- 29,365
THEY have dubbed it “Broncos Footy” and Brisbane believe they have created a unique style capable of snapping the club’s 10-year NRL premiership drought.
After 20 rounds the Broncos have scored the most points (419) in the NRL and are sitting third on the ladder, positioning themselves perfectly for a tilt at the club’s seventh title and first since 2006.
It is not unfamiliar territory for seven-time premiership winning coach Wayne Bennett, who guided Brisbane to the 2015 grand final only to lose to North Queensland.
But there is a difference in the Broncos of 2017, who have abandoned trying to close out tight games by kicking the ball out of play, the controversial tactic they used during the gutting 2015 decider.
Instead there is a fresh style of footy being played at Red Hill which assistant coach Jason Demetriou has had a major role in developing.
Demetriou was an assistant to Cowboys coach Paul Green in 2015 and coached Illawarra to last year’s State Championship.
“Early in the year we identified games where we didn’t score as many points and played quite conservative,” Demetriou said.
“In the last couple of years where we’ve led early in the game or second half we’ve played really conservatively.
“We’ve gone away from trying to put the ball over the sideline and things like that. We’ve encouraged the boys to keep playing the game our way.
“We’ve probably focused a little less on the opposition in the last couple of months and really focused on what we want to do.”
At the crux of Brisbane’s revamped style is their ball-playing forwards and key playmakers.
The Broncos have a unique blend of middle forwards in Adam Blair, Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday and Tevita Pangai Jnr, who have the ability to play expansively rather than just cart the ball.
Halves Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford have been urged to touch the ball more and the Broncos have used their fitness and mobility to shift play across the field.
“We were beaten in a grand final (2015) then two games before the grand final last year,” Demetriou said.
“It wasn’t about making massive changes. It was about utilising our strengths a bit more.
“The forwards can play with the footy and we’ve made blokes more accountable to be on the ball so we can have more opportunities to play footy rather than relying on one big play.
“It was a slow start to the year but since round six we’ve been the best attacking team in the competition which gives us a lot of confidence going into the back end of the year.”
While Hunt, Milford and fullback Darius Boyd are supreme playmakers, the emergence of hooker Andrew McCullough as an attacking threat this season has been a huge bonus for the Broncos.
McCullough averages 109 touches of the ball and four runs, making him a genuine fourth playmaking option for the Broncos.
“When I came to the club there was a lot of talk about Hunt and Milford,” Demetriou said.
“We’ve tried to take a little bit of responsibility away from those guys and make it a collective group. We’ve got Andrew McCullough, Milford, Hunt and Boyd on the same page.
“I felt Macca was 15-20 per cent below where he could be in terms of attacking. He had all the skills, it was about him backing himself to do it.
“The more he does it the more confident he gets and the players around him. He’s got a complete game and brings a lot to our footy team.”
Bench utility Benji Marshall has thrived in a new style at the Broncos following three tough seasons at the Dragons.
When the Broncos are firing, like they were in the second half of last week’s big win against Canterbury, they are one of the toughest sides in the NRL to contain.
“That second half is what we call ‘Broncos Footy’,” Marshall said.
“It’s how we want to play and not how other teams play.
“A lot of teams probably saw the Broncos as a team that does three hit-ups and a block play with Darius doing three-on-twos out the back.
“We’ve evolved attack-wise as a club. With Jason Demetriou coming on board as attack coach, he’s added a lot of other dimensions. How we can attack from different points on the field.
“The good thing for us is we’ve got strike all over the field. All across the park we’ve got a lot of potential.
“When it comes together we are capable of putting big scores together.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...e/news-story/9f0316c01760d5cc9c5f3ff405754e2e
After 20 rounds the Broncos have scored the most points (419) in the NRL and are sitting third on the ladder, positioning themselves perfectly for a tilt at the club’s seventh title and first since 2006.
It is not unfamiliar territory for seven-time premiership winning coach Wayne Bennett, who guided Brisbane to the 2015 grand final only to lose to North Queensland.
But there is a difference in the Broncos of 2017, who have abandoned trying to close out tight games by kicking the ball out of play, the controversial tactic they used during the gutting 2015 decider.
Instead there is a fresh style of footy being played at Red Hill which assistant coach Jason Demetriou has had a major role in developing.
Demetriou was an assistant to Cowboys coach Paul Green in 2015 and coached Illawarra to last year’s State Championship.
“Early in the year we identified games where we didn’t score as many points and played quite conservative,” Demetriou said.
“In the last couple of years where we’ve led early in the game or second half we’ve played really conservatively.
“We’ve gone away from trying to put the ball over the sideline and things like that. We’ve encouraged the boys to keep playing the game our way.
“We’ve probably focused a little less on the opposition in the last couple of months and really focused on what we want to do.”
At the crux of Brisbane’s revamped style is their ball-playing forwards and key playmakers.
The Broncos have a unique blend of middle forwards in Adam Blair, Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday and Tevita Pangai Jnr, who have the ability to play expansively rather than just cart the ball.
Halves Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford have been urged to touch the ball more and the Broncos have used their fitness and mobility to shift play across the field.
“We were beaten in a grand final (2015) then two games before the grand final last year,” Demetriou said.
“It wasn’t about making massive changes. It was about utilising our strengths a bit more.
“The forwards can play with the footy and we’ve made blokes more accountable to be on the ball so we can have more opportunities to play footy rather than relying on one big play.
“It was a slow start to the year but since round six we’ve been the best attacking team in the competition which gives us a lot of confidence going into the back end of the year.”
While Hunt, Milford and fullback Darius Boyd are supreme playmakers, the emergence of hooker Andrew McCullough as an attacking threat this season has been a huge bonus for the Broncos.
McCullough averages 109 touches of the ball and four runs, making him a genuine fourth playmaking option for the Broncos.
“When I came to the club there was a lot of talk about Hunt and Milford,” Demetriou said.
“We’ve tried to take a little bit of responsibility away from those guys and make it a collective group. We’ve got Andrew McCullough, Milford, Hunt and Boyd on the same page.
“I felt Macca was 15-20 per cent below where he could be in terms of attacking. He had all the skills, it was about him backing himself to do it.
“The more he does it the more confident he gets and the players around him. He’s got a complete game and brings a lot to our footy team.”
Bench utility Benji Marshall has thrived in a new style at the Broncos following three tough seasons at the Dragons.
When the Broncos are firing, like they were in the second half of last week’s big win against Canterbury, they are one of the toughest sides in the NRL to contain.
“That second half is what we call ‘Broncos Footy’,” Marshall said.
“It’s how we want to play and not how other teams play.
“A lot of teams probably saw the Broncos as a team that does three hit-ups and a block play with Darius doing three-on-twos out the back.
“We’ve evolved attack-wise as a club. With Jason Demetriou coming on board as attack coach, he’s added a lot of other dimensions. How we can attack from different points on the field.
“The good thing for us is we’ve got strike all over the field. All across the park we’ve got a lot of potential.
“When it comes together we are capable of putting big scores together.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...e/news-story/9f0316c01760d5cc9c5f3ff405754e2e
