Hunt has put the cue in the rack

[Morepudding]

I completely disagreed with the decision at the time, as most people will know here.

That said, I understood why, and even thinking it was a mistake, I believe Wayne did it for Ash's benefit, as he wasn't going to dethrone either half when the decision was made. If anything, it showed Bennett knew he had a NRL calibre player languishing in Qcup, whom deserved better...

I hope this will also be the reason Ash will come back to us, as the increasingly loud rumours seem to indicate.

Yeah But Hunt's form last season was as bad as it has been this season, add Nikorima being injured a bit last season and having Ash would have been great. I have no doubt he would have taken Hunts spot. Ash seems like the sorta player that will only come along once a decade for most clubs, and we haven't had much luck in the halves department since the retirement of Lockyer, who actually had to change positions to fill that hole. Probably the most promising player the broncos have had come through in recent times was Yow Yeh. Haven't had any huge breakthrough / standouts lately that we haven't recruited.

 

[pagey]

Courier mail quote:

As a teenager at Aspley, Nikorima was regarded as the best young playmaker of his generation and rated ao highly he kept milford out of junior rep teams..

Hope he can live up to that tag .

 

[winslow_wong]

Maybe... one thing I've noticed in 2016/17 Hunt compared to 2015 is when he celebrates a try.

In 2015 you could see the excitement and enthusiasm in his face and celebrations with the team. Whereas I remember several trys last year he kind of just got up, couple hugs, etc. but just didn't look as pumped as 2015 where he's throwing and kicking the ball after every try.

Yep you're not wrong. I felt his tries this year he wouldn't celebrate as such but was more a scream to release or getting something off his back. He just isn't right psychologically

 

[Foordy]

Courier mail quote:

As a teenager at Aspley, Nikorima was regarded as the best young playmaker of his generation and rated ao highly he kept milford out of junior rep teams..

I hope he can live up to it ...

But that get's said quite a lot about young players and many of them just can't make that step up. especially in the halves

 

[badyon]

Can anyone imagine if Langer had left the club at the end of our first finals in 1990 - to chase big money in Sydney?

Or even after the 1991 season? Can anyone imagine where we would be right now?

 

[Brett]

Can anyone imagine if Langer had left the club at the end of our first finals in 1990 - to chase big money in Sydney?

Or even after the 1991 season? Can anyone imagine where we would be right now?

What are you saying? That Hunt is Langer? Or that Taylor is Langer? Confused...

 

[pagey]

I hope he can live up to it ...

But that get's said quite a lot about young players and many of them just can't make that step up. especially in the halves

Same go's for taylor as well then . But kodi looks to be our only option atm

 

[mrslong]

Guys, the difference between Ben staying for less and Ben leaving for more is a.) he has had a kid, therefore the "provider" gene has kicked in. and b.) he lost us the grand final, and no-one knows that more than him. That stupid penalty he gave away cost us the game g'dam it - so when someone says to you here's $6 Million dollars, you look at your kid and you look at your own skills and you take the money cos you know it's your best pay day.

 

[Morkel]

Yeah But Hunt's form last season was as bad as it has been this season, add Nikorima being injured a bit last season and having Ash would have been great. I have no doubt he would have taken Hunts spot. Ash seems like the sorta player that will only come along once a decade for most clubs, and we haven't had much luck in the halves department since the retirement of Lockyer, who actually had to change positions to fill that hole. Probably the most promising player the broncos have had come through in recent times was Yow Yeh. Haven't had any huge breakthrough / standouts lately that we haven't recruited.

I think you're getting way ahead of yourself in regards to the bolded.

Have to remember too that, at the time, Hunt & Milford were pencilled in to be the long term Queensland halves. There is no way Taylor was going to overtake either of them. No one predicted that Hunt would be offered crazy money. Treating this like the club fucked up, like Bennett made the wrong call, is grossly revisionist. Hindsight.

 

[Alec]

I think Taylor has become a bit overrated. He's talented, but hasn't shown THAT much yet. He certainly seems considerably below Milford in terms of talent too.

 

[winslow_wong]

What are you saying? That Hunt is Langer? Or that Taylor is Langer? Confused...

Milford is langer

 

[BroncsFan]

I think you're getting way ahead of yourself in regards to the bolded.

Have to remember too that, at the time, Hunt & Milford were pencilled in to be the long term Queensland halves. There is no way Taylor was going to overtake either of them. No one predicted that Hunt would be offered crazy money. Treating this like the club fucked up, like Bennett made the wrong call, is grossly revisionist. Hindsight.

Exactly Taylor was granted permission to leave before the 2016 season had started... so we were riding high off the back of a gf appearance with the best you halves pairing going around.

Even after the titans had Taylor they went on to sign Tyrone Roberts so ash wasn't even assured a starting spot. It wasn't until elgey went down with his acl otherwise he could've still been waiting for a permanent starting gig

 

[broncos4life]

Once in a decade/generation player is one of the most ridiculously overused terms going.

 

[Morkel]

Once in a decade/generation player is one of the most ridiculously overused terms going.

Especially considering we have, like, 20 of them running around right now, depending on who you ask.

 

[Danoz Direct]

Once in a decade/generation player is one of the most ridiculously overused terms going.

Is it for Milford?

 

[Alec]

Is it for Milford?

Milford is a lot closer to it than Taylor at least.

 

[Danoz Direct]

Milford is a lot closer to it than Taylor at least.

I tend to agree. Once he improves his kicking, he will pretty much be the complete player.

 

[john1420]

In the interview about dropping Hunt, Bennett said we haven't had the depth in the past to do such things and that is it a good thing. I remember a young bloke we had, Ash Taylor maybe? That he let leave with a year on his contract to go? Something like that ring a bell? I really wish he would come out and say he fucked up with that decision... I bet in 10 years when Ash Taylor is regarded as one of the best playmakers of the decade, Bennett will say some crap about it being all because he let him leave and really he should get the credit. Wayne is all about Wayne, and it's pretty annoying as a fan.

The obviously best decision to make for any coach, is to keep the talent if you can, because you just don't know what's around the corner

Keeping a guy like Ash "just in case" is clearly best for the club and therefore best for the coach, but not in the best interest of Ash Taylor and rugby league in general

Wayne letting Ash go is the exact opposite of Wayne being all about himself - he showed with overwhelming clarity that he was putting this kid's needs ahead of his own