Halves situation

[Footy Fanatic]

To me the combination of Milford and Croft is not looking viable as our long term one.

That's based off how much Milford is going to want to stay (as much as I would want to keep him if he took less and actually had a halfback he combined well with) and how I just don't think Croft is that great a halfback and lacks the kicking game, game management and awareness we thought we were getting with him.

If it was my choice with the players we currently have, I'd go with Dearden at halfback and Paix at five-eight.

I think most people would agree that Dearden deserves a shot considering the potential he has, but many wouldn't get the Paix suggestion.

I honestly don't get the obsession with try to turn Paix into a hooker. To me he is a natural half and always has been and should be groomed as such. I would rather go out and try and get Grant if Smith plays on than make Paix play somewhere he is not comfortable.

6. Paix
7. Dearden

9. Grant

 

[007]

We have next to no chance of getting Grant. I think we should give Croft some time with Deardon and Turps.

 

[Kovik]

To me the combination of Milford and Croft is not looking viable as our long term one.

That's based off how much Milford is going to want to stay (as much as I would want to keep him if he took less and actually had a halfback he combined well with) and how I just don't think Croft is that great a halfback and lacks the kicking game, game management and awareness we thought we were getting with him.

If it was my choice with the players we currently have, I'd go with Dearden at halfback and Paix at five-eight.

I think most people would agree that Dearden deserves a shot considering the potential he has, but many wouldn't get the Paix suggestion.

I honestly don't get the obsession with try to turn Paix into a hooker. To me he is a natural half and always has been and should be groomed as such. I would rather go out and try and get Grant if Smith plays on than make Paix play somewhere he is not comfortable.

6. Paix
7. Dearden

9. Grant

The recruitment of Croft was as a result of panic and ill thought-out. So far he looks to be justifying Bellamy giving up on him. Paix has only had 3 games at hooker but at this point, isn't looking the goods. Milford could still be a really good 5/8 if he is partnered with a really good, game-managing halfback and/or hooker. And if he is on at very least 25% less money. I'd be more inclined to offer him a 35-40% reduction or wish him well and send him on his way. That's if he regains form. If his current form continues and it was up to me, I wouldn't table an offer. I wouldn't have supported the decision at the time but in hindsight, maybe it would have been better to hold onto Nikorima to play 5/8.

Recruiting Grant is a nice dream where would the money come from?

It's partly Seibold's fault and partly WBs that this team is strong or very strong in the forwards and backs but piss poor in No.1, 9, 7 and 6. Macca offered little or nothing in attack but maybe he was the best option available for another season or two.

 

[McHunt]

The recruitment of Croft was as a result of panic and ill thought-out. So far he looks to be justifying Bellamy giving up on him. Paix has only had 3 games at hooker but at this point, isn't looking the goods. Milford could still be a really good 5/8 if he is partnered with a really good, game-managing halfback and/or hooker.

Managing the game is right at the top of the job description list of 5/8th. If you can't do that you have no right being in that position. To imagine otherwise is to delude oneself. We're seeing the result of that now.

Brisbane has faced three attacks in the last three games where their halves gave us a thorough schooling in game management. Every time their halves handled the ball we looked in trouble. That's how halves should make you feel.

When our halves get the ball, we expect not much to happen. Milford is just as likely to give it a roost on the fifth and hope for the best. 9/10 times he does that it results in a handover under very little pressure.

Milford is still a highly skilled athlete but he doesn't seem to think ahead.

 

[theshed]

I’m a fan of Milf but for how similar he and Kniko are as players, I don’t think Milf offers enough more to justify the $700k price gap. Maybe an extra 2-300 tops. Talking value for dollar I can see an argument that Kniko could’ve the more prudent retention option.

the fact is, our team make up and cap spending is a mess. Millions of dollars on a few players that give little to no ROI. Some have said that we’ve had too much focus on forwards and it’s caused an imbalance. Consider our highest paid players are all halves/backs. Boyd, Milford, Oates, and Bird are close to 3 million dollars. If you could click your fingers and rip up those contracts all of a sudden you could design a spine and backline with a far better dispersion off talent and ability. We couldve signed a decent fullback.

1. Holmes / Isaako
2. Farnworth / Isaako
3. Tom Opecic / Farnworth
4. Staggs
5. Coates

6. Dearden / Kniko
7. Croft / Dearden / Moses

it’s not amazing but it’s more balanced and better value per dollar, while leaving plenty to sure up our forwards and bring in some experience. with actual leadership qualities

Kahu, Gillett, Boyd, Bird, and Macca’s contracts were all head scratching even without using hindsight. Blame the board or Bennett or who else ever but our contracts have completely shackled us to having to rely on juniors on minimal contacts. Seibold’s struggling on field as a coach but even if his only legacy to be a hatchet man for the bad contracts, re-sign the must keep young guys on reasonable contracts while leaving enough cap space for the next coach to bring in a marque spine player, and a few experienced reliable guys. Then I’ll at his time here as positive regardless of results. We are in the position parra and knights were and where Gold Coast live indefinitely.

 

[rnabokov]

For mine it's way too early to judge Croft and the halves pairing given the dogs breakfast we have in terms of attacking and defensive structures and shapes.

As for Milford, we knew exactly what we were getting when we signed him and there is enough on these threads about that. Since then the club has tried to make him what's he's not.

We have seen what he can do when allowed to play his natural game AND have a team play that supports that, and him.

I reckon if you put Keary say into our team he wouldn't be doing much better if at all than Milf - running at a line that is standing flat and without supports entirely UNLIKE the shapes and structures he has at the Roosters.

We need time to see what our halves pairing can do in a properly set up team.

 

[mrslong]

Croft is rubbish, always has been. I think the Dearden/Milf combination, which was working very well before Deards got injured, is the way to the future. I'm so sad we never went back to that combination. Deardens kicking game isn't great, but it's on par with Croft's and he has better sleight of hand and better defence, and he is younger. All up side imo.

 

[Galah]

Croft is rubbish, always has been. I think the Dearden/Milf combination, which was working very well before Deards got injured, is the way to the future. I'm so sad we never went back to that combination. Deardens kicking game isn't great, but it's on par with Croft's and he has better sleight of hand and better defence, and he is younger. All up side imo.

So much this, getting Croft when dearden already showed he could handle the big leagues was just dumb! Especially the milf and dearden combo worked a fucking treat when he played before getting injured....still scratching my head. Imagine losing dearden because we signed Croft

 

[Footy Fanatic]

For mine it's way too early to judge Croft and the halves pairing given the dogs breakfast we have in terms of attacking and defensive structures and shapes.

As for Milford, we knew exactly what we were getting when we signed him and there is enough on these threads about that. Since then the club has tried to make him what's he's not.

We have seen what he can do when allowed to play his natural game AND have a team play that supports that, and him.

I reckon if you put Keary say into our team he wouldn't be doing much better if at all than Milf - running at a line that is standing flat and without supports entirely UNLIKE the shapes and structures he has at the Roosters.

We need time to see what our halves pairing can do in a properly set up team.

It really isn't too early to judge Croft because we saw what he could do at Melbourne under Bellamy and it ended up with him being dropped for the finals and being replaced by a fullback.

Croft just isn't good.

 

[the_next]

I'd like to see Croft and Dearden given an opportunity to run the show. Move Milford to 14 and IF it works, start shopping Milford around for next season.
All 3 halves are off contract at end of 2021, so the club isn't in too bad of a situation. At this stage I would certainly be re-singing Dearden as a priority.
If the club are not interested in re-signing Milford moving forward, I don't see a reason/need to keep him around in 2021, hence the shopping around.
Potentially offer a swap for Grant in Melbourne, if Smith sticks around for 2021.

 

[Footy Fanatic]

A combination of Milford and Dearden is potentially the best we have provided Milford is on less in his next contract.

 

[rnabokov]

It's too early to judge Croft and I don't care what anyone says. Just because Bellamy ditched him means nothing other than for whatever reason, Bellamy didn't like him. He showed me in the 2 games he played at the start of the comp he had potential and I reckon he needs time - in a properly set up side in attack and defence, to show what he can do.

As for Dearden, yes, I was impressed with him the way he started to combine with Milf last year before his injuries, and I was surprised when we signed Croft given how good Dearden was looking. Maybe Dearden was another example of the Broncos tradition of converting halves into hookers.

Given who we have, and what's in front of us - getting the best side on the paddock, and getting shapes and structures working (or not), judgements about individuals ought to be left until late this season, and that also includes judgements about our coaching staff.

 

[Skyblues87]

People seem to be overlooking SOS.
Will be due back soon.

 

[Footy Fanatic]

It's too early to judge Croft and I don't care what anyone says. Just because Bellamy ditched him means nothing other than for whatever reason, Bellamy didn't like him. He showed me in the 2 games he played at the start of the comp he had potential and I reckon he needs time - in a properly set up side in attack and defence, to show what he can do.

As for Dearden, yes, I was impressed with him the way he started to combine with Milf last year before his injuries, and I was surprised when we signed Croft given how good Dearden was looking. Maybe Dearden was another example of the Broncos tradition of converting halves into hookers.

Given who we have, and what's in front of us - getting the best side on the paddock, and getting shapes and structures working (or not), judgements about individuals ought to be left until late this season, and that also includes judgements about our coaching staff.

Croft show that in the first two rounds that he needs an absolutely dominant forward pack to be successful and we even won without him against the Rabbitohs.

He just isn't that good and we have all the evidence we need for that.

Dearden is the future.

 

[Tomato Sorcerer]

Milf and Croft will both look a lot better playing behind a more consistent and disciplined forward pack.
They looked pretty good in the first 2 rounds..

 

[rnabokov]

Croft show that in the first two rounds that he needs an absolutely dominant forward pack to be successful and we even won without him against the Rabbitohs.

He just isn't that good and we have all the evidence we need for that.

Dearden is the future.

Name me a halfback or 5/8 who doesn't need a dominant forward pack to shine?

You can't base a conclusive judgement on Croft without all the facts, facts about this side, which won't be available until all our forwards on field AND the coaching staff have got our team into shape - literally and metaphorically.

And I get loud and clear that you don't like Croft. I do .. so far

 

[BroncsFan]

People seem to be overlooking SOS.
Will be due back soon.

To me he doesn't look like he has the ability to break the line... had a few half breaks last year, but doesn't seem to have the speed or power to be a threat to the line.

His kicking game wasn't all that flash either.

He was competitive type of player though and was always putting his hand up... unfortunately if you're competitive but the talent / skill isn't at the same level you kind of become a bottleneck in the attack.

Has the mentality of a top half, but skills can't quite match up. If he has a gun half alongside him he could be pretty serviceable as the guy that gets the team around the park, but not the guy who'll ice the game for you

 

[Footy Fanatic]

Name me a halfback or 5/8 who doesn't need a dominant forward pack to shine?

You can't base a conclusive judgement on Croft without all the facts, facts about this side, which won't be available until all our forwards on field AND the coaching staff have got our team into shape - literally and metaphorically.

And I get loud and clear that you don't like Croft. I do .. so far

I feel like people are trying to give Croft the benefit of the doubt because he is new at the Broncos, but he just isn't the answer and the sooner that we work that out and move on to the future (Dearden) the better for all involved.