Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2021

[Kimlo]

Not getting the widdop love , the guy nose dived and wasn't much chop in the SL plus he's 31. Much rather take a punt on Kelly as backup for milf.

Widdop was/is an elite player IMO. He carried the Dragons so hard and is a bit of a clutch player. Everything no one in our team is. If we can get him for 12 months only, to see how he fits into the team structure, I'd absolutely be keen. 2 years though, it's a no, too risky.

 

[Renegade]

I don't think Widdop is as big of a concern at FB with his shoulders, if he was defending in the line all the time then yeah it's a concern.

 

[Kooly87]

Not getting the widdop love , the guy nose dived and wasn't much chop in the SL plus he's 31. Much rather take a punt on Kelly as backup for milf.

That is grossly underselling Widdop. He's a class player and even at the back end of his career would likely still be one of our best players compared to this current bunch. That's before you consider what he brings outside of just himself personally, because behind the scenes he has a lot to offer our young roster as well.

He's a no brainer for me especially at that sort of money.

 

[abashii]

Problem is how do you know if Widdop is still any good? He may be amazing or just busted and on the downslope, then you've got another half million tied up in a player you don't want or need. I'd be ok with a one year deal, maybe a club option for 22, but more than that sounds like too much of a risk.

 

[007]

Problem is how do you know if Widdop is still any good? He may be amazing or just busted and on the downslope, then you've got another half million tied up in a player you don't want or need. I'd be ok with a one year deal, maybe a club option for 22, but more than that sounds like too much of a risk.

You gradually bring him in while closely watching his fitness.

 

[abashii]

You gradually bring him in while closely watching his fitness.

You can't bring him in without a contract can you?

 

[007]

You can't bring him in without a contract can you?

Contract him of course. However i mean gradually bring him into the team and in game minutes. Its the only way to build up confidence and fitness. Unless he has a stellar 2-3 games it will take a bit to get back into the pace and groove. ESL is slightly slower and has less impact than QLDC or NSWC.

 

[pagey]

I don't think Widdop is as big of a concern at FB with his shoulders, if he was defending in the line all the time then yeah it's a concern.

Fullback is worse we need some pace at the back, he also sucked at the back for the dragons.

 

[abashii]

Contract him of course. However i mean gradually bring him into the team and in game minutes. Its the only way to build up confidence and fitness. Unless he has a stellar 2-3 games it will take a bit to get back into the pace and groove. ESL is slightly slower and has less impact than QLDC or NSWC.

Yeah that's fine for the one year contract, what I was trying to say is without seeing much of him I think longer than that is more of a risk than I'd like to take.

 

[pagey]

That is grossly underselling Widdop. He's a class player and even at the back end of his career would likely still be one of our best players compared to this current bunch. That's before you consider what he brings outside of just himself personally, because behind the scenes he has a lot to offer our young roster as well.

He's a no brainer for me especially at that sort of money.

Agree he was class and on a year contract maybe, but at 2 years @ $500k isn't worth it imo.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

Agree he was class and on a year contract maybe, but at 2 years @ $500k isn't worth it imo.

100% agree with this.
Next year is almost like a holding year where we can experiment with some temporary or cheap patch up solutions and save our money for the following year where we will be able to blow anyone we want out of the water with a bid for a spine player or 2 (except roosters of course, or storm where they stay for unders/2nd books, or titans who have mysteriously found a lot of money around the time another SEQ team is pencilled in, or souffs with medical retirements).
Buy some experience, keep it on 1 year, take some injury risks if it's one year too, but anythkng more then 1 year means they need to be risk free and blue chip or very cheap with potential.

 

[theshed]

100% agree with this.
Next year is almost like a holding year where we can experiment with some temporary or cheap patch up solutions and save our money for the following year where we will be able to blow anyone we want out of the water with a bid for a spine player or 2 (except roosters of course, or storm where they stay for unders/2nd books, or titans who have mysteriously found a lot of money around the time another SEQ team is pencilled in, or souffs with medical retirements).
Buy some experience, keep it on 1 year, take some injury risks if it's one year too, but anythkng more then 1 year means they need to be risk free and blue chip or very cheap with potential.

People keep mentioning saving our money for the year after. I’m confused, is this people saying don’t bring in any big names until the 2023 season?

We’re allowed to sign players for the 22 season now.

 

[007]

People keep mentioning saving our money for the year after. I’m confused, is this people saying don’t bring in any big names until the 2023 season?

We’re allowed to sign players for the 22 season now.

The problem is, there is nothing on the market worth breaking the bank for, outside of what we already have! Its a tight market for quality spine players.

Asid from Aj brimson, Nico Hines and a couple of others - we would be better off sticking with what we have and trying to polish up MIlf and Deardon

 

[theshed]

The problem is, there is nothing on the market worth breaking the bank for, outside of what we already have! Its a tight market for quality spine players.

Asid from Aj brimson, Nico Hines and a couple of others - we would be better off sticking with what we have and trying to polish up MIlf and Deardon

I don’t disagree, I really am just trying to clarify that this is what people mean. People are happy to wait until 2023 to make big signings but won’t take Widdop on a 2 year 500k deal, even though that would perfectly align with the 2023 season but won’t leave us with the worst spine in the comp for the next 2 years.

 

[pagey]

I don’t disagree, I really am just trying to clarify that this is what people mean. People are happy to wait until 2023 to make big signings but won’t take Widdop on a 2 year 500k deal, even though that would perfectly align with the 2023 season but won’t leave us with the worst spine in the comp for the next 2 years.

I don't think people want to wait until 23 , it's more about targeting the right people and having money for them. Instead of throwing money at widdop just because he's cheaper than some and wants to play in the nrl again. Widdop may be an upgrade but he may not, then we're stuck with another $500k half (cough croft ) doing nothing but soaking up cap.

 

[theshed]

I don't think people want to wait until 23 , it's more about targeting the right people and having money for them. Instead of throwing money at widdop just because he's cheaper than some and wants to play in the nrl again. Widdop may be an upgrade but he may not, then we're stuck with another $500k half (cough croft ) doing nothing but soaking up cap.

But if the market is as dry as everyone says it is, who are you targeting before then? He’s a gap filler and potentially a very very good one.

 

[Kooly87]

Yeah that's fine for the one year contract, what I was trying to say is without seeing much of him I think longer than that is more of a risk than I'd like to take.

We just came dead last and the player market is absolutely bare. I think we can afford to take a risk like that.

It's not $500k on someone like Offa who is replaceable with any number of guys in the squad, it's $500k on a player who ticks a number of boxes that basically no other player in our squad does. There is some risk, but there is also upside potential to consider. In our current predicament we have to be realistic about what we can hope for because it's not like we're going to have a Keary or Tedesco beating our door down to come here.

I think a one year deal with an option in our favour would be absolutely ideal, but if it absolutely HAD to be a 2 year deal to get it over the line, I think I'd still be ok with that sort of risk too, just not as ideal.

 

[pagey]

But if the market is as dry as everyone says it is, who are you targeting before then? He’s a gap filler and potentially a very very good one.

Not in 22 it isn't and you never know when a player becomes available. I did say a year for widdop but no more, I just don't see widdop being any good for us.