Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2022

[Jedhead]

Depends who gets re-signed. Spine players are generally pretty fragile. They almost always miss a few games each season so you do need good backup. You also need experience there in backup, especially when you're relying an old dog like Reynolds who is likely to miss half the games. You don't really need a young tyke in reserves unless you've earmarked him as your future - like Mam and Mozer. It's also where you need to spend the most money if you have designs on a premiership. We're not currently doing that so there's not a lot of pressure to bring in another tyke to babysit through the grades. We will need to replace Reynolds at some point, so he will need a seriously hotshit apprentice or an experienced replacement of Munster class.

Expected spine this time next year:

1. Cobbo
6. Mam
7. Reynolds
9. Walters (off contract)
14. Mozer

RESERVES
Contracted
Gamble: half
Paix: hooker, half
Niu: fullback

Off Contract
Walters: hooker, half
Martin: fullback, half
Mead: fullback
Kelly: half
Roberts: half

I think Te Maire will remain our FB and will only be moved if Herbie proves to be more than effective during the off-season. I also suspect that Cobbs will WANT to play a season or two in the centres to have some fun before he settles down into the full back roll.

 

[Jedhead]

Moreover, Brisbane wasn't willing to match the Rabbitohs deal. Now I'm not sure what the terms were but let's say it's a development deal for '23 followed by an NRL deal by '24 you've got to be sure you have the right balance for it. Mam has made a strong start, but the Broncos are accounting for bumps in the road and will not fill their roster with young kids in key positions.

I'm sure if South Sydney didn't come to the table they'd offer him that development deal and take it from there. However, when you start talking NRL deals on pretty decent money, enough to make it worth a youngster's while to move interstate, you've got to be more pragmatic.

Brisbane have plenty of quality halves coming through the pipeline in Oloapu, Black and McLaren. I haven't heard Lynn being associated with the Broncos but if that's the case that's all the best schoolboys halves coming through SEQLD.

It's just about the best young halves coming through the South East, with of course the big exception being Thomas Weaver from the Titans. I would not be shocked at all if the Gold Coast begin to fast-track his development.

Thanks @Big Pete you're always a font of knowledge when it comes to future players.

 

[1910]

Moreover, Brisbane wasn't willing to match the Rabbitohs deal. Now I'm not sure what the terms were but let's say it's a development deal for '23 followed by an NRL deal by '24 you've got to be sure you have the right balance for it. Mam has made a strong start, but the Broncos are accounting for bumps in the road and will not fill their roster with young kids in key positions.

I'm sure if South Sydney didn't come to the table they'd offer him that development deal and take it from there. However, when you start talking NRL deals on pretty decent money, enough to make it worth a youngster's while to move interstate, you've got to be more pragmatic.

Brisbane have plenty of quality halves coming through the pipeline in Oloapu, Black and McLaren. I haven't heard Lynn being associated with the Broncos but if that's the case that's all the best schoolboys halves coming through SEQLD.

It's just about the best young halves coming through the South East, with of course the big exception being Thomas Weaver from the Titans. I would not be shocked at all if the Gold Coast begin to fast-track his development.

I watched Weaver on Saturday in Colts, Bryant, Weaver and Haas are a nice little combination at Tweed.

Weaver still just kicks teams to death. De Groot and Barnes were just dining out.

 

[McHunt]

I think Te Maire will remain our FB and will only be moved if Herbie proves to be more than effective during the off-season. I also suspect that Cobbs will WANT to play a season or two in the centres to have some fun before he settles down into the full back roll.

"Herbie to fullback:"

 

[Morkel]

Thanks @Big Pete you're always a font of knowledge when it comes to future players.

He has all the characters.

 

[Sproj]

I would imagine for the 7 position moving forward, Gamble is an important retention. He is young enough to be more than a stop gap, is clearly good enough and will plenty of games with Reynolds getting older and being pretty banged up.

 

[BroncsFan]

I'm still baffled as to why Broncos would not have at least retained him in our stable for at least another season to see how he progressed in upper grades. It's not like they are limited for space is it?

It seems a little bit like the Walsh saga (i.e. desperate club lures player with a top 30 spot), where we probably had Gray lined up for a development deal, but Souths have come in and guaranteed him a top 30 deal.

It will be interesting to see if Souths get their money's worth out of the deal though.. Is he playing first grade next year? probably not...

Is he playing year 2? Maybe, but will he be the first choice at that point when competing with Cody, Ilias and the other junior they rave on about.

Then we're into year 3 and he's a free agent the following year.

 

[1910]

It seems a little bit like the Walsh saga (i.e. desperate club lures player with a top 30 spot), where we probably had Gray lined up for a development deal, but Souths have come in and guaranteed him a top 30 deal.

It will be interesting to see if Souths get their money's worth out of the deal though.. Is he playing first grade next year? probably not...

Is he playing year 2? Maybe, but will he be the first choice at that point when competing with Cody, Ilias and the other junior they rave on about.

Then we're into year 3 and he's a free agent the following year.

It's nothing like Walsh, there is no big money and tantrum, Gray has done everything the right way.

Broncos have been excellent too.

 

[Alex Wingnut]

It seems a little bit like the Walsh saga (i.e. desperate club lures player with a top 30 spot), where we probably had Gray lined up for a development deal, but Souths have come in and guaranteed him a top 30 deal.

It will be interesting to see if Souths get their money's worth out of the deal though.. Is he playing first grade next year? probably not...

Is he playing year 2? Maybe, but will he be the first choice at that point when competing with Cody, Ilias and the other junior they rave on about.

Then we're into year 3 and he's a free agent the following year.

He'll have to contend with Taaffe and Illias for a Halves spot who are both very young and will be far more experienced by then at NRL level so it baffles me tbh.

 

[Huge]

He'll have to contend with Taaffe and Illias for a Halves spot who are both very young and will be far more experienced by then at NRL level so it baffles me tbh.

Probably still faster to first grade for him. Those two might be more experienced but that won't mean shit when clearly inferior but reliable performance is contrasted with a better talent with his better skill set who produces 'on demand' quality. Maybe more mistakes but shit happens. You can reduce them.

 

[upthebroncs]

He'll have to contend with Taaffe and Illias for a Halves spot who are both very young and will be far more experienced by then at NRL level so it baffles me tbh.

I haven’t seen Gray, but I have seen Ilias and Taaffe.. I reckon he doesn’t have much to contend with. Those two are okay, but if Gray is as talented as everyone is saying then it shouldn’t be hard to leap frog the pecking order. Plus Cody Walker is only signed until the end of 2023. I think there’s more opportunity for him at Souths than there is at Broncos.

Reynolds signed a 4 year deal and we have Mam hopefully for the next decade.

 

[lynx000]

I haven’t seen Gray, but I have seen Ilias and Taaffe.. I reckon he doesn’t have much to contend with. Those two are okay, but if Gray is as talented as everyone is saying then it shouldn’t be hard to leap frog the pecking order. Plus Cody Walker is only signed until the end of 2023. I think there’s more opportunity for him at Souths than there is at Broncos.

Reynolds signed a 4 year deal and we have Mam hopefully for the next decade.

I think you will find that Reynolds signed a 3 year deal. He is finished in 2024.

 

[TimWhatley]

Genuine question, is Gray any better than Nikorima was at the same age? That's who he reminds me of in terms of size, speed, running style.

 

[McHunt]

Apparently we could've had Jahrome Hughes, according to his agent Tas Bartlett:

“I actually offered Jahrome to the Broncos. It was in November 2020 and the Broncos were in a bit of uncertainty. Kevin Walters had just started as coach and they were sorting out a new CEO, so a lot of roster and recruitment decisions had been put on hold. Jahrome had just won a premiership at the Storm and I’m not sure if the Broncos felt he was out of their budget, but Dave Donaghy knew Jahrome from Melbourne. If he was in the driver’s seat as Broncos CEO, I think he would have signed Jahrome in a heartbeat.”​

​

“At the time, the Broncos hadn’t signed Adam Reynolds and Hughesy was coming off-contract. We met with the Titans and we spoke to the Warriors and the Broncos. Jahrome was open to coming back to Queensland because he was looking to settle on the Gold Coast and I thought the Titans or Broncos could have been a good fit."​

​

“The Titans never made it to the stage of making an offer and the Broncos said they couldn’t afford $800,000 for Jahrome at the time. But on reflection, it would have been good value, especially as Jahrome is four years younger than Reynolds. Jahrome was absolutely serious about joining the Broncos or Titans. Since that time, Jahrome has become entrenched in Melbourne’s senior playing group and he has just signed a long-term deal to finish his career with the club.”​

Hughes:

“I have got a lot of help to move into this position. Craig simplified the job for me. He didn’t want me to change my game too much, he just wanted me to change positions and add a few things to my game with my kicking. Cooper Cronk helped me a lot in that area and Cameron Smith was still playing when I first made the transition, so he made my job easier. It seemed like a big move but personally I didn’t feel it was too hard because Craig did a lot for me to succeed at halfback. My strength is my running game and I still make that the major part of what I do. I am still learning more as a playmaker and adding more attributes to become a better halfback.”​

 

[BroncsFan]

Apparently we could've had Jahrome Hughes, according to his agent Tas Bartlett:

“I actually offered Jahrome to the Broncos. It was in November 2020 and the Broncos were in a bit of uncertainty. Kevin Walters had just started as coach and they were sorting out a new CEO, so a lot of roster and recruitment decisions had been put on hold. Jahrome had just won a premiership at the Storm and I’m not sure if the Broncos felt he was out of their budget, but Dave Donaghy knew Jahrome from Melbourne. If he was in the driver’s seat as Broncos CEO, I think he would have signed Jahrome in a heartbeat.”​

​

“At the time, the Broncos hadn’t signed Adam Reynolds and Hughesy was coming off-contract. We met with the Titans and we spoke to the Warriors and the Broncos. Jahrome was open to coming back to Queensland because he was looking to settle on the Gold Coast and I thought the Titans or Broncos could have been a good fit."​

​

“The Titans never made it to the stage of making an offer and the Broncos said they couldn’t afford $800,000 for Jahrome at the time. But on reflection, it would have been good value, especially as Jahrome is four years younger than Reynolds. Jahrome was absolutely serious about joining the Broncos or Titans. Since that time, Jahrome has become entrenched in Melbourne’s senior playing group and he has just signed a long-term deal to finish his career with the club.”​

Hughes:

“I have got a lot of help to move into this position. Craig simplified the job for me. He didn’t want me to change my game too much, he just wanted me to change positions and add a few things to my game with my kicking. Cooper Cronk helped me a lot in that area and Cameron Smith was still playing when I first made the transition, so he made my job easier. It seemed like a big move but personally I didn’t feel it was too hard because Craig did a lot for me to succeed at halfback. My strength is my running game and I still make that the major part of what I do. I am still learning more as a playmaker and adding more attributes to become a better halfback.”​

Have they run out of former Broncos juniors to drag into articles... or couldn't they be bothered to dust off the Munster story for the 10th time...

 

[Kimlo]

Jahrome would be an overrated dud outside of Melbourne.

 

[theshed]

Jahrome would be an overrated dud outside of Melbourne.

I’m not sure about that but he definitely wouldn’t bring what Reynolds has.

 

[McHunt]

Have they run out of former Broncos juniors to drag into articles... or couldn't they be bothered to dust off the Munster story for the 10th time...

Eh, it's timely since we're facing him tonight, and the bloke we bought instead is out injured (again). Also, I don't recall this being in our rumours thread, so somehow it managed to fly under the radar. It's a fair slow news day story.

Fwiw, I think we made the right choice in the end, but both of them, well gee...