Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2023

[Culhwch]

I don't think Herbie is unhappy at Brisbane at all. All I do know is two things we don't have in our favour is he want to play fullback or right center. Currently I think his chances are slim for both positions.

If he outplays Staggs early in 2023 like he did in 2022 I don't see why he shouldn't get to move over to the right side. I'd argue he's already earned that.

 

[Jedhead]

I don't think Herbie is unhappy at Brisbane at all. All I do know is two things we don't have in our favour is he want to play fullback or right center. Currently I think his chances are slim for both positions.

Didn't he play left for England as well? Wish he'd just focus on the spot he currently is doing exceptionally well in. At least until such times as the team might need him otherwise.

 

[BroncsFan]

Is there anyone on this board who thinks Herbie will be here in 2024? Everyone pretty much assumes he will be gone, and most think it will be to the Dolphins. They don't want him to go, but they've already penciled him in as gone.

I feel it will be similar to when Hoffman left.

Lured away with the promise of getting fullback, but the fullback experiment fails and whichever team gets him ends up snagging a world class centre/wing (which could've been the winning team's plan all along).

Herbie is miles better than Hoffman, so he wont end up falling out the backdoor in the same way as Hoffman.... but when Hoffman left here I think you'll find that a number of BHQ'ers were disappointed primarily because he was a very good winger and couldn't accept that.

Similar stories with Beale, Kahu, Knik, etc. where grass looks greener and we end up losing a good player that worked well in our system and setup, but wanted more.... can't blame them for chasing a dream/dollars, but it gets frustrating because we end up looking more like a development club for other teams to vulture and unable to keep the talent.

 

[Foordy]

I don't think Herbie is unhappy at Brisbane at all. All I do know is two things we don't have in our favour is he want to play fullback or right center. Currently I think his chances are slim for both positions.

If he wants right center, then I'd shift Staggs to the left, without hesitation.

I'd also get him ready to be our fill in fullback, similar to Manu for the Roosters

 

[Kimlo]

You know I love Herbie but at the same time **** off if it's a case of give me my position or I quit. Plenty of better players stuck it out until they had a better chance without leaving the team.

I get it's part of the game but I'm sick of players making their signing contingent on getting their preferred position

 

[McHunt]

That could be true but likely isn't. If you're unhappy you don't re-sign at all.
I think herbie wanting to play fullback is completely over estimated. I get the feeling it's more about being in a successful team. I also get the feeling that the 1 year extension was in regards to funds available and waiting to see if we can start making the finals again.

I guess so, but I'd got the impression from comments before and immediately after the signing the club was trying to secure him for longer.

Yes, it's possible him saying he wanted to play fullback was a distraction. It didn't seem so by his comments at the time though. He genuinely seemed intent on it.

Yeh, I'd like to think Herbie (and his manager) was backing himself to improve further next year to give him added leverage that would merit a bigger upgrade to his next contract with the Broncos. I mean did he know there would be extra dosh available by then?

Nothing wrong with that at all, but wasn't that the reasoning behind stalling the extension so long?

I don't think Herbie is unhappy at Brisbane at all. All I do know is two things we don't have in our favour is he want to play fullback or right center. Currently I think his chances are slim for both positions.

IIRC you were the (a) source of the rumour that he preferred right centre and had been offered it by Bennett. I'm not sure I've heard this from anyone else.

 

[Jason Simmons]

That's probably where I'm at as well: on the fence.

If he were happy, he'd have signed for more than a year.

Or you know, instead of over-reaching on nothing more than sheer speculation, maybe just consider he signed for 1 year like a lot of players to see what happens with the salary cap / certified agreement?

Interested in playing fullback Herbie?

“Sure. Why not?”

”HERBIE EXPRESSES INTEREST IN BRONCOS VACANT FULLBACK SPOT…”

Interested in playing 5/8 Kotoni?

Sure, etc…

 

[McHunt]

Didn't he play left for England as well? Wish he'd just focus on the spot he currently is doing exceptionally well in. At least until such times as the team might need him otherwise.

Yes, and he handled it with aplomb. The position is his (both for the Broncos and England) until he's injured. He might take a lesson from the bloke to his left on counting his blessings and not wanting to give up when he's already on top.

He does have two threats currently - Selwyn and Deine Mariner. Selwyn's a bit in a similar position. He owns that wing until someone decides to move him. Like Herbie, he's now a rep winger, and should probably concentrate on securing that role. Deine Mariner has asked for release, which probably means he sees Herbie as a roadblock.

Something will have to give there, though. At some point we might be asking whether Walsh would make a better 6. I have a hunch he might, but no evidence to back it up.

You know I love Herbie but at the same time **** off if it's a case of give me my position or I quit. Plenty of better players stuck it out until they had a better chance without leaving the team.

I get it's part of the game but I'm sick of players making their signing contingent on getting their preferred position

If that's what he's saying - and we're all only trying to read between the lines here one way or the other - once he's out of contract he can do whatever he likes. It's better for us to have players happy in their job.

 

[McHunt]

Or you know, instead of over-reaching on nothing more than sheer speculation, maybe just consider he signed for 1 year like a lot of players to see what happens with the salary cap / certified agreement?

Interested in playing fullback Herbie?

“Sure. Why not?”

”HERBIE EXPRESSES INTEREST IN BRONCOS VACANT FULLBACK SPOT…”

Interested in playing 5/8 Kotoni?

Sure, etc…

My comments have been based around how he himself framed it during press conferences (look them up) but yes, like everyone here I am speculating based on my own observations, not inside information.

He didn't mention anything about salary cap/certified agreements, but if you want to speculate that, good for you. I have no evidence to prove you wrong. And I know you're a stickler for evidence.

 

[Jason Simmons]

My comments have been based around how he himself framed it during press conferences (look them up) but yes, like everyone here I am speculating based on my own observations, not inside information.

He didn't mention anything about salary cap/certified agreements, but if you want to speculate that, good for you. I have no evidence to prove you wrong.

I have no evidence on any of it.

But Herbie re-signed when many suggested he wouldn’t. He clearly signed a 1 year deal to give himself options, including of course further ones at the Broncs should he choose.

He “could“ also have signed elsewhere by now for 2024. He hasn’t yet.

Everything else is speculation at the end of the day until he signs again and is selected wherever.

 

[Fitzy]

I don't think Herbie is unhappy at Brisbane at all. All I do know is two things we don't have in our favour is he want to play fullback or right center. Currently I think his chances are slim for both positions.

In saying that I think he would prefer to be here than any of the other clubs interested. Only club he could snag fullback at is Dolphins but my personal opinion is that the Dolphins lack so much class that they will need Hammer to have heaps of ball rather than out on an edge. I think if the price is right and we are well entrenched in the 8 he will stay for maybe 2 more years than re-assess.

 

[theshed]

Dogs apparently interested in Herbie but the article is behind a paywall. They probably have an open fullback spot

 

[Foordy]

Dogs apparently interested in Herbie but the article is behind a paywall. They probably have an open fullback spot

in Crawleys article he said that if Herbie wanted to play fullback he'd have to go to either the Phins or the Dogs as they were the only teams without a settled fullback.

enter Dean Ritchie to expand on that where he says a player-led push is getting the Bulldogs to consider Herbie ... he goes on to quote Gus' recollection of what Luke Thompson told him.

Gould says:

“Never spoken to him (but) Luke Thompson said he was very impressed with him from the RLWC. That’s all I know.

“Luke was particularly keen on Herbie.

“I think he manages himself and I’m told he’s sorted elsewhere. I haven’t delved into it and haven’t spoken to Luke since England lost last week.

“But yes, Luke was very impressed with several of the UK squad, including Herbie.

“Several have indicated they’d like to play in the NRL. There’s plenty of talent there.”

Pressed on whether he would monitor Farnworth’s progress, Gould said: “I watch every player.”

 

[ZTop]

Gus Gould loves Herbie as well, always praises him in commentary

 

[nopatience101]

I think with Mariner asking for a release, clubs may smell blood in the water and an opportunity to grab Herbie for next year if Brisbane are forced to choose between them.

 

[Johnny92]

Dogs apparently interested in Herbie but the article is behind a paywall. They probably have an open fullback spot

Gould in commentary always says how good Farnworth is

 

[Super Freak]

Gus Gould loves Herbie as well, always praises him in commentary

He's the type of player Gould loves, a pure footballer so I would be worried about Gould making a play for him.

 

[Alec]

There's no reason not to try Herbie at fullback, I'd like to see at least one trial game.