Xzei
State of Origin Rep
- Mar 13, 2017
- 7,553
- 11,673
Jesus he speed ran his career lol only 23
Broncos Roster, Signings and Rumours Discussion 2025
- Thread starter BrentTatesChin
- Start date
- Status
Every contract is looked at, just like Lockyer's last deal when it kept going down, they want to know why and how.
It will be easily explained.
It's more small contracts than less- No one cares if you sign for 900k at Penrith but could have got 1.2 at Newcastle- that isn't an issue.
It's the small contracts like Hunt etc. Reynolds could obviously get more than what he is going to re-sign for Brisbane but not wanting to move, wanting to keep his side together and all his deals in Brisbane explain it.
The increase comes into play too, Sua Faalago was on a development deal- so $60k and had played one NRL game so even if Storm give him $300,000 and it goes up year by year That's a massive increase to still play Cup.
- Jul 28, 2016
- 35,526
- 51,982
Exactly.
Getting older, missed a lot of games last year, not a current rep player, etc.
Badel is just whipping up the circle jerk into a frenzy.
I remember a time when the Courier Mail used to be positive for qld league and have an us against them mentality.
Now the league side of it is likely run out of NSW
- Aug 25, 2018
- 19,775
- 34,210
Believe it or not, but there are four QLD first grade teams. Yet, the Broncos get 99% of the attention. Every player is a household name. Every player is under intense scrutiny. To become a Bronco, means entering this spotlight. If they shit their pants in public, it's newsworthy. Every player fronts the press every few weeks, and the inane platitudes he recites are treated as prophecy.
We can't expect the paper to remain a hagiography of all things Bronco, in exclusion of everyone else. But it's about as close as you could reasonably expect to get to it.
Careful what you wish for. Try reading the Guardian. See how little they care.
I think it's much more balanced now than in the past- the 'glory days' of Ricketts, Dick, Welsh being at every Broncos' training session and just writing whatever the Broncos wanted are gone. They didn't want to upset the Broncos because they needed them. Hard to be a league writer in Brisbane and be offside with the Broncos.
Bennett wouldn't talk to Ricketts for three years because of the way he covered the Hodges to Roosters saga.
Geoff Carr had to intervene and make Bennett talk to Steve because Ricketts was covering the Kangaroo Tour in 2004.
Truth is it's probably somewhere in the middle- Brisbane media shouldn't just be yes men to clubs and they shouldn't be being banned for three years for writing something. They could certainly up their game though.
- Aug 25, 2018
- 19,775
- 34,210
I think we might have our worries about bench depth - vis-a-vis a utility forward who can cover the backs - arse about in light of Reece Walsh's form. I'm looking forward to next season, 2026, not 2025.
Looking at it brutally, unless Walsh massively turns things around - high ball, kick returns, etc - he's bound for the halves, and maybe as soon as 2026. Which would solve one problem - I think he'd be a terrific natural 6 - while creating a number of others.
Starting with the positives. If Walsh moves into the halves partnering Ezra, with Hunt at 9, we don't need to carry a utility forward who can cover a back. We just need a bench hooker, with Walsh covering fullback and Hunt covering half. We also have a bench hooker in Walters who can cover half. He's contracted another year, so we might as well retain him.
But the bad news is we don't currently have a first rate fullback coming through, and we're already overstocked in the halves. We will need to prune our halves/hookers, and go back to the drawing board for a fullback. Again.
I don't think Latrell will be it. And Perham is probably depth. Maybe if we decide Cobbo is the answer, we can afford to keep him.
The way I see it, this is almost inevitable, and it will mean letting go the following players at the end of this season to free up some cash:
1. Reynolds: Contrary to expectations, he's in Broncos career best form right now. But how long can that last? We can't afford to pay him to captain us another year, not what he's worth in that role, nor should we expect to get another year out of him. We have to let him go. Hopefully, Madge will transition him into a coaching role. It's a tough call, but it's the right one.
2. Paix: Regardless of how well he plays, we don't need another hooker in 2026. We have Hunt, Mozer and Pucovski on the books. And another year of Billy. I wish him well, and looking forward to him building an impressive reel this season.
3. Hoeter: Surplus to needs.
4. Baker: Bye
5. Gos and Hunt: If our scouts can't dig up better, get new scouts.
6. Karapini vs Leota: Pick one.
7. Hetherington: Yet to earn his extension.
8. Staggs & Cobbo: Good luck with this one. I think we'll keep Kotoni (Katoni), and maybe only retain Selwyn if we can transition him to fullback. See above.
9. Taupau: time to retire.
10. Smoothy: already gone.
11. Madden & Rogers: both contracted in 2026, but one must move on. I'd rather keep Jock, but I'd be happy to see him find his feet at another club. Koby Black should be the next cab off this rank. And then Billy. That's us covered.
Looking at it brutally, unless Walsh massively turns things around - high ball, kick returns, etc - he's bound for the halves, and maybe as soon as 2026. Which would solve one problem - I think he'd be a terrific natural 6 - while creating a number of others.
Starting with the positives. If Walsh moves into the halves partnering Ezra, with Hunt at 9, we don't need to carry a utility forward who can cover a back. We just need a bench hooker, with Walsh covering fullback and Hunt covering half. We also have a bench hooker in Walters who can cover half. He's contracted another year, so we might as well retain him.
But the bad news is we don't currently have a first rate fullback coming through, and we're already overstocked in the halves. We will need to prune our halves/hookers, and go back to the drawing board for a fullback. Again.
I don't think Latrell will be it. And Perham is probably depth. Maybe if we decide Cobbo is the answer, we can afford to keep him.
The way I see it, this is almost inevitable, and it will mean letting go the following players at the end of this season to free up some cash:
1. Reynolds: Contrary to expectations, he's in Broncos career best form right now. But how long can that last? We can't afford to pay him to captain us another year, not what he's worth in that role, nor should we expect to get another year out of him. We have to let him go. Hopefully, Madge will transition him into a coaching role. It's a tough call, but it's the right one.
2. Paix: Regardless of how well he plays, we don't need another hooker in 2026. We have Hunt, Mozer and Pucovski on the books. And another year of Billy. I wish him well, and looking forward to him building an impressive reel this season.
3. Hoeter: Surplus to needs.
4. Baker: Bye
5. Gos and Hunt: If our scouts can't dig up better, get new scouts.
6. Karapini vs Leota: Pick one.
7. Hetherington: Yet to earn his extension.
8. Staggs & Cobbo: Good luck with this one. I think we'll keep Kotoni (Katoni), and maybe only retain Selwyn if we can transition him to fullback. See above.
9. Taupau: time to retire.
10. Smoothy: already gone.
11. Madden & Rogers: both contracted in 2026, but one must move on. I'd rather keep Jock, but I'd be happy to see him find his feet at another club. Koby Black should be the next cab off this rank. And then Billy. That's us covered.
Fernando
State of Origin Rep
- Jun 6, 2015
- 5,235
- 6,043
There's an article on Fox Sports about how only 2 Bulldogs remain from the end of 2022 when Ciraldo arrived. Not including Reynolds who is almost at the end, from our team list this weekend outside of Haas, Carrigan and Willison I don't see a single must keep. I wonder what type of turn over we are gonna see. We desperately need some players that have some football smarts and are coachable.
- Sep 6, 2013
- 65,815
- 84,059
I think you are right too but I think I would swap the 6 and 7 jersey. Mam stays at 6 and Walsh goes to 7. I think having a running fullback would complement well and that give us Cobbo at 1.
I don't think we are that far away but I do think it will take some tweaking and we are screaming out for a metre eating winger but we have a few options coming through in Inness, Coates, Trew and Verhoeven.
I'm just not sure we can win anything with our current back five given so many of them are underperforming.
I'd be looking at transitioning to something like this moving forward:
1. Cobbo
2. Trew / Verhoeven / Coates / Inness
3. Mariner
4. Shibasaki
5. Inness / Verhoeven / Coates / Trew
6. Mam
7. Walsh (Black understudy)
8. Willison
9. Mozer
10. Haas
11. Piakura
12. Staggs
13. Carrigan
14. Bukowski
15. Te Kura
16. Whoever
17. Riki
- Jul 28, 2016
- 35,526
- 51,982
At this stage the only players signed beyond 2026 are below, with Reece, Ezra and Patty signed to at least 2028.
There's also talks of Staggs and Mozer re-signing, so they would also be added to players beyond 2026, if that happens.
That's 8-10 players out of 30... Haas would be another they want to re-sign, but that leaves a lot of room to shape the roster as needed.
Reece Walsh 2029
Ezra Mam 2029
Pat Carrigan 2028
Deine Mariner 2027
Brendan Piakura 2027
Jordan Riki 2027
Xavier Willison 2027
Ben Te Kura 2027
I think McHunt is right in that there are some big decisions that need to be made and I would say that Paix is one we don't need to re-sign, not because he isn't worth it, but simply because we have an abundance of hookers on the books for next year already... so it just becomes an overload of the position, and it's not like he'll be a minimum wage signing.
I would still want Reynolds and Cobbo, but we need money for a third NRL starting calibre backrower to play in the 17 each week... and that's assuming Madge can get Piakura up to an NRL starting calibre player.
I would still have hope that Kobe can be upskilled to play backrow as well, but if he can't do that then his value to the team drops. We don't necessarily need another big minute middle when we have Patty and Payne. I like what he brings in defence and I like his footwork in attack, but he's only needed for like 40mins a game due to Patty and Payne, so he's not really having much impact in games.
I think we still need Reynolds simply because this team doesn't look like it's ready to take over without him... at some point the coaching need to sort out a strategy that works for Ezra, Walsh, Patty, etc. so they no longer have to rely on Reynolds, but until that point we need him.
- Aug 25, 2018
- 19,775
- 34,210
I'm not sure if the number on the back makes much difference, but yes, I would envisage Walsh more in the play making role. Mam hasn't shown any sign of play leadership despite saying he wants it. Whereas it's Walsh's natural game.
That seems more 2027 than 2026. We'll still have Hunt and Arthars next year. I can't see us extending Hunt. Arthars, I don't know. He's been great this season. Shibasaki is off contract in 2027.
Staggs at 12: I'm skeptical that could happen, but I'm not against it. Would he sign up for it?
- Sep 6, 2013
- 65,815
- 84,059
Good question and I'm not sure Staggs would. In any case, moving to Cobbo to fb and Walsh to hb does allow us to consider keeping Staggs at centre. If we do though, the need for two big metre eating wingers becomes more critical.
And yes, the team I've put there would be more 2027 than 2026 but that is what I would be trying to build toward.
- Aug 25, 2018
- 19,775
- 34,210
Blake has extended. Kotoni (Katoni) appears to be still in that holding pattern that Reece was in last year.
We really should've moved on from Reynolds this season, but thank **** we didn't. I do think we need to transition on from him next season through Hunt, who should be able to assume all his duties at 7, and if he can't you'd have to wonder why we have him.
The last thing we want is a broken down legend who stumbles out like Alfie and Wally. Or worse, Darius.
Madge will have to make a tough decision on Walsh, and he'll have to bite down hard on it. He's our most valuable player, but sadly he's not cutting it at fullback this season. If he runs Hunt at 9, he can mentor whoever Madge designates at 7, which should be Black or Walsh.
If Walsh takes 7, Black will have a long wait to get that jersey, if ever.
Bucking Beads
International Captain
- Mar 5, 2008
- 26,755
- 12,072
Our Player development doesn't seem to be working TBH.
theshed
Just a Game
- Aug 28, 2010
- 17,034
- 41,251
this is a good bit of pub trivia. Bet you can’t name them all!
- Jul 28, 2016
- 35,526
- 51,982
Haven't seen anything official regarding Mozer... not saying it hasn't happened or isn't 99% of the way there... but still haven't seen an official statement from broncos.
There is way too much reliance on Reynolds at the moment, but I feel like he can change his style to what the attack needs.
At Souths he played very much as a stock halfback.. it wasn't known how seriously elite he was until he turned up at the broncos and started doing everything.
His role at souths was kicking and digging into the line to dump it out the back to Cody and Latrell to do their thing... so if we are looking to transition the attack to focus on Ezra and Walsh... along with Patty and Mozer... then I think Reynolds is better suited to do that role than Bhunt.
I feel if we switched over to Bhunt next year, his kicking game isn't up to scratch, but he played a different style of halfback at dragons where he was always on the ball.
That's not a style of attack that will suit us and I'm not sure it suits Ezra and Walsh either... unless 20yr old Coby Black comes in playing that same style, which I doubt.
The sooner we can transition to Walsh and co taking over the attack the better off we will be in the long run and the less reliance we will have on Reynolds, making it easier for Coby to come into the team as well.
- Jul 28, 2016
- 35,526
- 51,982
Feel like it hasn't for a long time at this point... my hope is that Madge can at least teach the biggest and fastest athletes that we do find something about footy.
It seems like he's managed to turn Shiba into a first grader.
I think the jury is still out on Piakura as far as this year... as he's been a sub off the bench and the one shot he did get starting he managed to get himself binned, suspended for 2 weeks and knocked himself out cold.
Hopefully we can get a chance to see him for a few weeks straight without him taking someone's head off or finding yet another injury.
- Sep 6, 2013
- 65,815
- 84,059
- Status
