Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2021

[Huge]

I've been doing some high quality stalking of Brandon Smith in the last couple of days (since I was told he's heading to SEQ in 2021).

My stalking has revealed some interesting finds:

2 days ago on Instagram he followed a woman from Brisbane called Gabrielle Dalle Cort. After doing some digging, I've discovered that she works for Construction Skills Queensland, a company which helps aspiring tradies complete the training / skills they need.

Exhibit A:

View attachment 11018

Why does this mean anything? Well...

Exhibit B:

View attachment 11019

Yesterday, he followed another woman on Instagram by the name of Valentina Louisa - You won't believe it, but she's a PR Manager from Brisbane.

Exhibit C:

View attachment 11020

In conclusion, Brandon Smith will be in South-East Queensland for 2021 - But will he be playing at the Broncos or the Titans?

Impressive detective work. Not sure I'd reach the same conclusion as it's possible it may be on behalf of another. Keep up the good work.

 

[Kimlo]

I've been doing some high quality stalking of Brandon Smith in the last couple of days (since I was told he's heading to SEQ in 2021).

My stalking has revealed some interesting finds:

2 days ago on Instagram he followed a woman from Brisbane called Gabrielle Dalle Cort. After doing some digging, I've discovered that she works for Construction Skills Queensland, a company which helps aspiring tradies complete the training / skills they need.

Exhibit A:

View attachment 11018

Why does this mean anything? Well...

Exhibit B:

View attachment 11019

Yesterday, he followed another woman on Instagram by the name of Valentina Louisa - You won't believe it, but she's a PR Manager from Brisbane.

Exhibit C:

View attachment 11020

In conclusion, Brandon Smith will be in South-East Queensland for 2021 - But will he be playing at the Broncos or the Titans?

Outstanding. I approve this research.

 

[WASSHHH]

WTF is a cert 3 in career orientated participation? Geez, clutching at straws with that "qualification".

It sits just above a Certificate II in Participation Medals for All Finishers, which naturally sits above Certificate I in Participation Ribbons for All Entrants.

 

[Morepudding]

Yep, that proves it, weaseling out of it. You dont have a leg to stand on really. Bennett decided to sign up Lodge as he believed he was a reformed character, and Lodge's actions since then have been fine. Not got into trouble and turned his life around. Bennett decided Pearce wasnt the right fit for what he wanted, and guess what, he's been proved right. Pearce is a cockwomble. Hasnt matured or hasnt learned his lesson. Never has, never will. Thats why he has had to stand down from his captain position at Newcastle.

And before you get your little knickers in a twist, nobody is defending what Matt Lodge has done. Most people are just commending the bloke for turning his life around from a massive grub to what he is now. I havent seen anyone say what Lodge did was a minor offence, but what he has done to rehabilitate himself has been massive. Your pal Mitch cant even keep his nose clean with minor things. He's a dickhead.

He thought he could fix Robert’s too. How did that work out.

 

[Cult]

He thought he could fix Robert’s too. How did that work out.

I hope you don’t actually think cherry picking one person that he couldn’t help out of the hundreds he has helped is a good argument.

 

[Big Pete]

He thought he could fix Robert’s too. How did that work out.

 

[WASSHHH]

I believe he may have been referencing Bennett signing Roberts at the Rabbitohs and saying something along the lines of fixing him, at the same time insinuating that the Broncos had somehow felled / mistreated him.

So in that sense, he’s right, because hindsight shows Roberts’ form / mental state went further backwards at the Rabbits (he also didn’t represent NSW whilst at the Rabbits).

 

[Big Pete]

I believe he may have been referencing Bennett signing Roberts at the Rabbitohs and saying something along the lines of fixing him, at the same time insinuating that the Broncos had somehow felled / mistreated him.

So in that sense, he’s right, because hindsight shows Roberts form went further backwards at the Rabbits.

Which would ignore what Bennett had already helped Roberts achieve in the past. Even so, Bennett only had him for the one pre-season down south and Roberts spent the vast majority of the season injured.

 

[WASSHHH]

Which would ignore what Bennett had already helped Roberts achieve in the past. Even so, Bennett only had him for the one pre-season down south and Roberts spent the vast majority of the season injured.

No I don’t believe it would, because Bennett didn’t go out of his way to make a deliberate statement about fixing Roberts when he signed him to the Broncos.

Indeed, Roberts arrived at the Broncos in the most devastating attacking form of his career (which he didn’t quite replicate at Brisbane) but improved his defence. He also hadn’t had any off-field problems at the Titans (where he also played City Origin), so was in a good headspace.

This is all academic anyway, as him signing with the Broncos was never about “fixing him”, which is what the OP was referencing.

Now if it was about plugging the small gaps in his game so that he achieved representative honours, then the image of him in a NSW jumper would apply.

 

[Big Pete]

No I don’t believe it would, because Bennett didn’t go out of his way to make a deliberate statement about fixing Roberts when he signed him to the Broncos.

Indeed, Roberts arrived at the Broncos in the most devastating attacking form of his career (which he didn’t quite replicate at Brisbane) but improved his defence. He also hadn’t had any off-field problems at the Titans, so was in a good headspace.

This is all academic anyway, as him signing with the Broncos was never about “fixing him”, which is what the OP was referencing.

Now if it was about plugging the small gaps in his game so that he achieved representative honours, then the image of him in a NSW jumper would apply.

In the larger context we're talking about Bennett working with troubled players. They had worked together and Roberts went onto achieve State of Origin honours under him so it's a poor example. To try and cherry pick a specific time frame fails to paint the proper picture. Especially when you consider that Bennett only had one pre-season with Roberts down there and Covid had a dentrimental affect on Roberts as well. Bennett shouldn't be held accountable because a worldwide pandemic made life difficult for a player with Roberts' issues.

As far as the point about the Gold Coast, I feel fans allow their initial view to cloud their perception. True he didn't kick on the following year, but his form didn't drop off a cliff either and his 2017 was even better than his 2015 which the numbers back up.

2015 - Tries 16, Line-Breaks 13
2016 - Tries 9, Line-Breaks 15
2017 - Tries 18, Line-Breaks 15

As I said, when you look at Pearce you have to look at the investment you're making. It is highly unlikely that Pearce and Roberts would be on the same salary, in fact I'd wager that Roberts was on around half of Pearce's contract.

 

[Allo]

Daily Telegraph is reporting that Dearden is fielding offers from rival clubs and testing his value before he decides whether he wants to commit to the Broncos.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/brisbane-broncos-face-a-fight-to-retain-offcontract-halfback-tom-dearden-after-he-entered-the-nrls-open-market/news-story/d244d2675d7c0a4963e017b031794259

Did I post this in the correct thread?

With posts like this, is someone (me) able to post a TL;DR if the poster ( in this case Finbar) doesn't seeing as it's paywalled?

ps not having a shot mate

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

TL;DR Travis Meyn needed a story before deadline and picked a player to put into the “oh no, they’re going” pro forma.

It's so boring and predictable these days. Honestly, I get the broncos get them clicks and they are lazy but ffs they are surely even sick of it themselves. For every 100 rumours about Broncos players, 2 or 3 come true. I doubt these reporter's have an yg links to the Broncos club tbh.
Not saying the above couldn't be true, but ffs this bs rumours happen EVERY DAY, and only to us. These same in demand players just won the wooden spoon! What about the rumours about the 15 better clubs with better players then us!!!

And what exactly is the benefit of being owned by news limited? There isn't one. We can't use their money on or off the field even if they let us, they dont use their power to get us the best in the business or wield power with the nrl, and they hammer us in the media more then any other club bcos they obviously see more benefit/money in the short term gains of paper sales/clicks bs rumours have over actually using the media to help us ffs.
Im not quite at the hosting stage but I will certainly be at the party when a certain media mogul dies, let's just hope his companies involvement with the Broncos dies with him...

 

[WASSHHH]

In the larger context we're talking about Bennett working with troubled players. They had worked together and Roberts went onto achieve State of Origin honours under him so it's a poor example. To try and cherry pick a specific time frame fails to paint the proper picture. Especially when you consider that Bennett only had one pre-season with Roberts down there and Covid had a dentrimental affect on Roberts as well. Bennett shouldn't be held accountable because a worldwide pandemic made life difficult for a player with Roberts' issues.

As far as the point about the Gold Coast, I feel fans allow their initial view to cloud their perception. True he didn't kick on the following year, but his form didn't drop off a cliff either and his 2017 was even better than his 2015 which the numbers back up.

2015 - Tries 16, Line-Breaks 13
2016 - Tries 9, Line-Breaks 15
2017 - Tries 18, Line-Breaks 15

As I said, when you look at Pearce you have to look at the investment you're making. It is highly unlikely that Pearce and Roberts would be on the same salary, in fact I'd wager that Roberts was on around half of Pearce's contract.

Just need to confirm I have this right.

It’s not a fair indication to cherry pick a time frame, yet Roberts’ stint at the Broncos under Bennett (2 seasons) is OK to use as evidence, but his (second) time at the Rabbitohs (in excess of 1.5 seasons (6 games for the Broncos and 12 for the Rabbitohs in 2019)) is not? And his time at the Titans (2 seasons), after he’d been sacked by his previous 2 clubs (for being a dickhead) and made City Origin, is not?

Have I got that right?

That aside, I like to hang shit on the Titans as much as the next bloke, but I think you are severely downplaying the role they had in his turnaround. As you rightly point out, his 2015 and ‘17 form were very similar. However, what you haven’t included is that his 2015 form (from 2 less games than he played in 2017) was in a team that got beaten far more than it won, yet 2017 was in a winning team. I think it’s fair to say that it’s far easier to be a dominant attacking player in a team that’s winning, but also, when you’re not the only attacking threat.

I also think it’s very important not to forget that no one at the Rabbitohs wanted Roberts again, except Bennett. Bennett insisted on taking the gamble, and no matter what excuses you want to roll-out, failed.

I do want to clarify that I am not arguing Bennett isn’t good at managing each player based on their individual personality and nurturing those that need it through difficult times, as he has proven he is. I just don’t think Bennett is as responsible for Roberts’ turnaround as you’re making out, as Roberts wasn’t the loose cannon he was at Souths (first time) and Panthers when he came to us. If anything, I think the bulk of the work done in helping him straighten his life out was done at the Titans, certainly the very strong foundations at the very least. Bennett massaged it at the Broncos but couldn’t replicate that at the Rabbitohs.

 

[Fitzy]

It's so boring and predictable these days. Honestly, I get the broncos get them clicks and they are lazy but ffs they are surely even sick of it themselves. For every 100 rumours about Broncos players, 2 or 3 come true. I doubt these reporter's have an yg links to the Broncos club tbh.
Not saying the above couldn't be true, but ffs this bs rumours happen EVERY DAY, and only to us. These same in demand players just won the wooden spoon! What about the rumours about the 15 better clubs with better players then us!!!

And what exactly is the benefit of being owned by news limited? There isn't one. We can't use their money on or off the field even if they let us, they dont use their power to get us the best in the business or wield power with the nrl, and they hammer us in the media more then any other club bcos they obviously see more benefit/money in the short term gains of paper sales/clicks bs rumours have over actually using the media to help us ffs.
Im not quite at the hosting stage but I will certainly be at the party when a certain media mogul dies, let's just hope his companies involvement with the Broncos dies with him...

I don’t think that’s gonna happen his son is a huge fan

 

[Big Pete]

Just need to confirm I have this right.

It’s not a fair indication to cherry pick a time frame, yet Roberts’ stint at the Broncos under Bennett (2 seasons) is OK to use as evidence, but his (second) time at the Rabbitohs (in excess of 1.5 seasons (6 games for the Broncos and 12 for the Rabbitohs in 2019)) is not? And his time at the Titans (2 seasons), after he’d been sacked by his previous 2 clubs (for being a dickhead) and made City Origin, is not?

Have I got that right?

That aside, I like to hang shit on the Titans as much as the next bloke, but I think you are severely downplaying the role they had in his turnaround. As you rightly point out, his 2015 and ‘17 form were very similar. However, what you haven’t included is that his 2015 form (from 2 less games than he played in 2017) was in a team that got beaten far more than it won, yet 2017 was in a winning team. I think it’s fair to say that it’s far easier to be a dominant attacking player in a team that’s winning, but also, when you’re not the only attacking threat.

I also think it’s very important not to forget that no one at the Rabbitohs wanted Roberts again, except Bennett. Bennett insisted on taking the gamble, and no matter what excuses you want to roll-out, failed.

I do want to clarify that I am not arguing Bennett isn’t good at managing each player based on their individual personality and nurturing those that need it through difficult times, as he has proven he is. I just don’t think Bennett is as responsible for Roberts’ turnaround as you’re making out, as Roberts wasn’t the loose cannon he was at Souths (first time) and Panthers when he came to us. If anything, I think the bulk of the work done in helping him straighten his life out was done at the Titans, certainly the very strong foundations at the very least. Bennett massaged it at the Broncos but couldn’t replicate that at the Rabbitohs.

These were my main points:

It's silly to hold Roberts against Bennett, especially when you consider their time together at the Broncos.

It's a myth to say that Roberts failed to replicate his attacking form at the Broncos.

I never said anything about his turn-around, I just made the point that Bennett helped Roberts achieve something no other club managed to do and that was to make him an Origin player.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

I don't believe it personally but if we somehow lose Dearden, all is lost for **** knows how long.

 

[theshed]

For those who would like to discuss it further, the broncos movement thread has a post with an article that Dearden is testing his value on the market before he considers re-signing.

 

[Morepudding]

For those who would like to discuss it further, the broncos movement thread has a post with an article that Dearden is testing his value on the market before he considers re-signing.

I think Big Pete is too busy saying how good daddy Wayne is.

It triggers me how some people can’t see any fault in Bennett.

My comment was about Bennett basically saying the broncos / Seibold ruined Robert’s but that Wayne knows best and can fix him but no one else can.

Wayne is fairly self centred, he pretends he’s not but he is. He took Robert’s not because he thought he could fix him, but because he thought Robert’s could help him win a comp at the Rabbitohs whilst also throwing a shot at Brisbane. When he discovered that Robert’s wouldn’t help him win a premiership, he let him go, just like Wayne has done with hundreds of players in the past.

Time will tell when Wayne retires, but I’m confident that when he leaves the Rabbitohs, they will be in a worse position roster wise than when he joined them, just like was the case with the Broncos (both times), Dragons, and the most noteable, knights (don’t blame Tinkler, everyone knows Wayne brought in a bunch of oldies trying to win a comp)