Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2023

[BroncsFan]

The rumoured 800k for flegler is ridiculous. That is top tier/elite prop level, which flegler simply is not. He has a bit of footwork at the line, but no offload, not great at ball play before the line, his play the ball is a little quicker than average but not special and does not make exceptional metres.

I dont find him exceptionally aggressive or an enforcer either (he does a lot of jersey grabbing, not putting the opposition on their arse with his shoulders).

People's suggestion of reaching out to fifita is not terrible. Robati is gone, i would not be offering piakura the 400k he is currently on. I would remind fifita that he played his best football at the Broncos. I think riki would give the middle a crack, he has the frame to put on another 5 kg of muscle to make a good middle forward weight and he is not trying to catch balls at the line all the time so he may be able to hold on to the ball

Riki is the perfect no. 17 for us if he can play middle... which I think he could.

Covers 2nd row well and then provides minutes in the middle as part of his normal rotation.

I think one thing we don't utilise enough with Riki is his athleticism... Cows have perfected the cross field kick to their second rower, using Nanai now, but previously Gavin Cooper. We should definitely be looking to utilise this with Riki

 

[Big Pete]

One thing you have to consider is that the cap has gone up by over 20%.

So 800K would take up around $600-$650 on the old cap. Which is still overs but if the club values him as an Origin player then it's right on the money.

 

[Swordfish]

I genuinely thought the below:
Herbie - right center,
Staggs - back row,
Riki - middle rotation along with Kobe
Cobbo - left center
Mariner/Arthur’s/Pareria - right wing

Jensen, Hass & Patty - starting middle 3
Piakura/Palasia/Tapau -

This could’ve drastically changed how we attacked & at the same time confused opponents greatly. Had we went into preseason with this approach & put in the hard work, we would’ve been ready.

With this approach, players might’ve approached to their game refreshed with urge to prove themselves in their new positions. Not that this must be done BUT some change & switching often clubs do.

 

[BroncsFan]

One thing you have to consider is that the cap has gone up by over 20%.

So 800K would take up around $600-$650 on the old cap. Which is still overs but if the club values him as an Origin player then it's right on the money.

How does the 6% from covid times impact that cap rise though?

I'm assuming all the players are getting that back??

Still a huge jump in cap prices though... so rethinking player values is required.

 

[Morkel]

Didn't the minimum amount go up? If you have, say, 6 or 8 players on minimum (or close to, as the increase in minimum would push those up too), there's $500k of the cap rise gone. Players with a ratchet clause will also go up the % increase automatically. So even though the cap went up 20%, we don't have an extra 20% to spend.

 

[Wolfie]

As in $1m or the $800-$900k that Payne is currently on??

I'm not sure Patty is a million dollar player as yet... but I'd say he's closer than Payne to being one.

I dont think i'd be paying any forward a million dollars If i'm honest. I reckon he could be chasing the million mark if we go that high for Payne though. His manager certainley could use Payne as the yardstick for Pats next contract. While he isnt quite the athlete and doesnt make the meters Payne does, i think he is a more effective player.

 

[Kimlo]

I dont think i'd be paying any forward a million dollars If i'm honest. I reckon he could be chasing the million mark if we go that high for Payne though. His manager certainley could use Payne as the yardstick for Pats next contract. While he isnt quite the athlete and doesnt make the meters Payne does, i think he is a more effective player.

I think both are million dollar forward under the new cap. If Flegler is getting 800k offers Carrigan will be getting a mil.

Realistically though Payne is worth like 800k and Carrigan 900k. Unless Payne takes his game up a level.

 

[Big Pete]

Didn't the minimum amount go up? If you have, say, 6 or 8 players on minimum (or close to, as the increase in minimum would push those up too), there's $500k of the cap rise gone. Players with a ratchet clause will also go up the % increase automatically. So even though the cap went up 20%, we don't have an extra 20% to spend.

It depends on what they set the new minimum to for the Top 26.

So last year the minimum for your Top 26 was $120,000.

Clubs were allowed to have four players below that threshold and they had to earn a salary of $80,000.

Under the new arrangement, we know that those 27-30 players will receive a $40,000 pay-rise.

However we don't know if that applies to the Top 26 just yet.

Interestingly, the development squad salary has more than doubled from $240,000 to $650,000. The interesting thing is most clubs don't use all their available spots so there's an opportunity for clubs to pay players a higher salary without taking up a Top 30 spot.

I don't think that's how it works in practice but that would open up the possibility of a club enticing players with ridiculous offers only to sit them in development and go with a cheap 'train and trial' option if an opportunity arises.

Again, I don't think that's the way it'll work but clubs could easily go 'we can't play our $300K gun rookie, he'll die out there! please let us use this cheap plod we picked out of NSW Cup instead'

And if history is anything to go by, they'll allow it.

According to the NRL website, the Top 30 salary cap increased at 22% however contracts with ratchet clauses can only go up by 18% creating a disparity.

 

[Wolfie]

I think both are million dollar forward under the new cap. If Flegler is getting 800k offers Carrigan will be getting a mil.

Realistically though Payne is worth like 800k and Carrigan 900k. Unless Payne takes his game up a level.

I been think it for a while, but paying 3 forwards that kind of money has the possibility to unbalance the cap. Payne is the interesting one for me. He's excellent at what he does, but he needs to add more physicality to his game to put him above any of our other forwards in terms of salary.

 

[Kimlo]

I been think it for a while, but paying 3 forwards that kind of money has the possibility to unbalance the cap. Payne is the interesting one for me. He's excellent at what he does, but he needs to add more physicality to his game to put him above any of our other forwards in terms of salary.

I would honestly let Flegler go purely for cap balance. Long term I really like the idea of Haas, Carrigan, and Jensen, that's a solid middle and cheap rookies can fill out the rest. That's enough money for the middle, with hopefully big money spine players that are worth it. Walsh, Mozer and Mam could be 3 big money spine players that are actually worth spending big dollars on. We've mostly had plebs or overpaid duds in the spine so it's a welcome change.

I'm still all for Fifita at 750k, I reckon he's better value than a 750k Flegler in our squad.

Manly have a weak middle rotation so Flegler is probably worth big money to them.

 

[theshed]

I would honestly let Flegler go purely for cap balance. Long term I really like the idea of Haas, Carrigan, and Jensen, that's a solid middle and cheap rookies can fill out the rest. That's enough money for the middle, with hopefully big money spine players that are worth it. Walsh, Mozer and Mam could be 3 big money spine players that are actually worth spending big dollars on. We've mostly had plebs or overpaid duds in the spine so it's a welcome change.

I'm still all for Fifita at 750k, I reckon he's better value than a 750k Flegler in our squad.

Manly have a weak middle rotation so Flegler is probably worth big money to them.

I also think the same about our centres which is why I’m not filthy that Herbie is leaving. Personally I think we went all in on the wrong centre in Staggs but that is what it is. For balance you should have one expensive strike centre, usually on the right side as it’s generally a sides weaker attacking side, and then a solid defender who can set up the winger on the opposite side.

Than you pump most the money in the spine, have some reasonably paid wingers, and 2 or 3 big contracts in the forwards to build a pack around.

Hang on to the spine + a couple of priority pieces for stability and then fill the rest of the team with ever rotating opportunistic bargain buys or highly talented juniors that you let leave when they get too expensive.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

I would honestly let Flegler go purely for cap balance. Long term I really like the idea of Haas, Carrigan, and Jensen, that's a solid middle and cheap rookies can fill out the rest. That's enough money for the middle, with hopefully big money spine players that are worth it. Walsh, Mozer and Mam could be 3 big money spine players that are actually worth spending big dollars on. We've mostly had plebs or overpaid duds in the spine so it's a welcome change.

I'm still all for Fifita at 750k, I reckon he's better value than a 750k Flegler in our squad.

Manly have a weak middle rotation so Flegler is probably worth big money to them.

I agree, but I don't see haas staying with us long term no matter what happens.
Willison and te kura look likely prospects though so there's no need to get in a bidding war. Another jensen-like purchase and one of either of those I said develop as expected and you would easily replace flegler team performance-wise.

 

[Sproj]

I would honestly let Flegler go purely for cap balance. Long term I really like the idea of Haas, Carrigan, and Jensen, that's a solid middle and cheap rookies can fill out the rest. That's enough money for the middle, with hopefully big money spine players that are worth it. Walsh, Mozer and Mam could be 3 big money spine players that are actually worth spending big dollars on. We've mostly had plebs or overpaid duds in the spine so it's a welcome change.

I'm still all for Fifita at 750k, I reckon he's better value than a 750k Flegler in our squad.

Manly have a weak middle rotation so Flegler is probably worth big money to them.

As Flegs' biggest fan, I'd love to keep him but am also realistic that it can't be at all costs, even though I think he will end up an absolute gun and mainstay for Qld and likely Australia. Also, if you did lose him for say Fifita, then you basically have a weapon along all lines of your team. The issue for me though, is we sacrifice Flegs, what do we do when Haas inevitably goes to the Roosters?

So to me, the building blocks probably should / by default need to be:

1. Walsh
3. Staggs/Cobbo
6. Mam
8. Haas/Flegs
9. Mozer
11. Fifita
13. Carrigan

 

[Morkel]

It depends on what they set the new minimum to for the Top 26.

So last year the minimum for your Top 26 was $120,000.

Clubs were allowed to have four players below that threshold and they had to earn a salary of $80,000.

Under the new arrangement, we know that those 27-30 players will receive a $40,000 pay-rise.

However we don't know if that applies to the Top 26 just yet.

Interestingly, the development squad salary has more than doubled from $240,000 to $650,000. The interesting thing is most clubs don't use all their available spots so there's an opportunity for clubs to pay players a higher salary without taking up a Top 30 spot.

I don't think that's how it works in practice but that would open up the possibility of a club enticing players with ridiculous offers only to sit them in development and go with a cheap 'train and trial' option if an opportunity arises.

Again, I don't think that's the way it'll work but clubs could easily go 'we can't play our $300K gun rookie, he'll die out there! please let us use this cheap plod we picked out of NSW Cup instead'

And if history is anything to go by, they'll allow it.

According to the NRL website, the Top 30 salary cap increased at 22% however contracts with ratchet clauses can only go up by 18% creating a disparity.

That might be because, like I said, overall the cap has gone up 22%, but the lower floor has gone up a much higher percentage, so the increase to the available $ to the top 26 may be only that 18%.

 

[Morkel]

And who actually believes the $800k figure for Flegler? Sounds like a manager trying to pressure the Broncos in to upping their offer.

Manly probably has Taupau on that sort of money in his prime and the manager is using that figure as a plausable value for the position. But Flegler is nowhere near prime Taupau, even if the NRL stop handing him bullshit suspensions. So I'm dubious.

 

[Big Pete]

That might be because, like I said, overall the cap has gone up 22%, but the lower floor has gone up a much higher percentage, so the increase to the available $ to the top 26 may be only that 18%.

I think you're right but it also alleviates the concern that those players are receiving the exact same piece of the pie. Their percentage will be down, which allows those minimum-wage players to get 50% more.

Now whether that 50% applies to the Top 26 minimum wage remains to be seen. I'd imagine that would also have to go up, or they may have abolished the Top 26 altogether.

Am I alone in thinking the 170% increase on the development list is odd? Especially since it seems like they're using the same system as before (minimum of 3, maximum of six).

 

[Morkel]

I think you're right but it also alleviates the concern that those players are receiving the exact same piece of the pie. Their percentage will be down, which allows those minimum-wage players to get 50% more.

Now whether that 50% applies to the Top 26 minimum wage remains to be seen. I'd imagine that would also have to go up, or they may have abolished the Top 26 altogether.

Am I alone in thinking the 170% increase on the development list is odd? Especially since it seems like they're using the same system as before (minimum of 3, maximum of six).

Sounds like the exact sort of system the Storm or Roosters would benefit from, in poaching and stockpiling young spine players. Or to keep the Golden Boy Panthers from being pillaged.

 

[Big Del]

Riki is the perfect no. 17 for us if he can play middle... which I think he could.

He played middle for Maori All Stars .
Was very energetic . But ,,, raced out of the line in defence one too many times and Nicholas Hynes stepped him and put on a try .
Probably could play there but needs to work with his team mates in defence . Not try to be a hero .