NEWS In Turpin we trust

[McHunt]

Rowan Sparks, a newcomer to BHQ, gushes over our suave saviour in the Cairns Post:

He was impressed with Turp's "competitiveness and a determination to do the one-percenters" highlighted by his two successful kick charge-downs and thwarted attempt to save the match in the last two minutes. As was Coach Seibold:

“Turps is always a player that makes a choice to put kick pressure on. He’s overcome a fair bit actually in his very short career. He’s only 23 and he’s had to overcome some serious injuries during his time at Melbourne Storm. He’s a real competitor and he’s done a good job to get himself back to this level and I think he showed last year that he belongs in the NRL.”

“He was really good out of dummy half there. He played the first half and came back on for the last 20 minutes. He probably had some opportunities to jump a little bit in the first half but due to the conditions he just dished it off a little bit. He’s had a good pre-season and I think what we’ve seen in the pre-season transferred into the game.”

Haas, meanwhile, threw out a sop for his much maligned antecedent:

“With Macca, he brings experience – he’s been there done that and he’s been doing it for years. But with Turps, what you see is what you get. He comes out, he’s very energetic and I love playing with him.”

Despite every card falling face up, Seibold continues to play possum:

“We’ll have a look at the vision and see who we start there next week. We can make a considered decision.”

McHunt

 

[Rico]

Hate to bring the mood down but Am I in the minority / on my own in thinking that turps, for all his effort and energy might not be the silver bullet we’re hoping for? I say that with no satisfaction and maybe it’s like having signed Damien cook after the lack of pace and service from Macca but there were some needless forward passes and too many penalties last season for mine albeit out of position for a good portion. Sure this can be fixed but is anyone worried about his ruck defence?
The more I write the more I think I’m on my own ha ha!

 

[tommy]

Sure this can be fixed but is anyone worried about his ruck defence?

He cuts props in half like a madman. I loved his defence game in the middle.

 

[McHunt]

Hate to bring the mood down but Am I in the minority / on my own in thinking that turps, for all his effort and energy might not be the silver bullet we’re hoping for? I say that with no satisfaction and maybe it’s like having signed Damien cook after the lack of pace and service from Macca but there were some needless forward passes and too many penalties last season for mine albeit out of position for a good portion. Sure this can be fixed but is anyone worried about his ruck defence?
The more I write the more I think I’m on my own ha ha!

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

Hate to bring the mood down but Am I in the minority / on my own in thinking that turps, for all his effort and energy might not be the silver bullet we’re hoping for? I say that with no satisfaction and maybe it’s like having signed Damien cook after the lack of pace and service from Macca but there were some needless forward passes and too many penalties last season for mine albeit out of position for a good portion. Sure this can be fixed but is anyone worried about his ruck defence?
The more I write the more I think I’m on my own ha ha!

He is a long way from the top echelon of hooker, a very long way, and he will probably never get there. But his effort, energy, and desire to win is what is winning people over. He has very crisp passing compared to macca and cuts down bigger men in defence. He isn't our saviour but he doesn't need to be and we are all excited because we finally have a hooker who won't hinder or slow down our ruck advantage.

 

[Rico]

He cuts props in half like a madman. I loved his defence game in the middle.

I agree Tom but I’m talking sustained ruck defence. Happy to give him a real go and find out.

 

[Big Pete]

Hate to bring the mood down but Am I in the minority / on my own in thinking that turps, for all his effort and energy might not be the silver bullet we’re hoping for? I say that with no satisfaction and maybe it’s like having signed Damien cook after the lack of pace and service from Macca but there were some needless forward passes and too many penalties last season for mine albeit out of position for a good portion. Sure this can be fixed but is anyone worried about his ruck defence?
The more I write the more I think I’m on my own ha ha!

You're not alone, anyone who saw Jake at the Dolphins knows he has his share of shortcomings. To his credit, last year he put his best foot forward for the Broncos and what made his efforts last year so impressive is how he handled the move to halfback. He arguably played better at 7 than he did at 9 and that's because he didn't die wondering.

Of course that hurt him on a few occassions, that hit he put on the Panthers game could have easily been a send off and that would have cost Brisbane a spot in the finals. He rides that fine line and it's just about finding that baseline.

What I will say is that so far, his trial form has been very impressive. He was one of the Broncos best in the NRL 9s and again against the Cowboys. He's earned the right to the position, now he just needs to prove he deserves to hang onto it.

 

[theshed]

He isn't our saviour but he doesn't need to be and we are all excited because we finally have a hooker who won't hinder or slow down our ruck advantage.

this sums it up. It’s the same with Croft too. Everyone is gushing over them because the total lack of talent we previously had in those positions. No one thinks Croft is anything amazing, nor is Turpin the next Smith or Cook. Instead we have our own Brendon Smith and ANY halfback. And it is worth rejoicing over.

not to mention the way Turps plays and looks and even his name make him top cult classic material.

 

[Mister Wright]

When McCullough first started everyone praised him as the next Cameron Smith. I’ve been around these forums long enough to have been here at the start of his career and he was rejoiced. Won’t be long until Turpin is looked at in the same light if he doesn’t meet BHQ expectations. I really like both players and what they bring. Macca is way too critisised when we lose and disregarded if we win. The same of Turpin, who is over-praised for our wins and disregarded if we lose.

 

[Kimlo]

He is a long way from the top echelon of hooker, a very long way, and he will probably never get there. But his effort, energy, and desire to win is what is winning people over. He has very crisp passing compared to macca and cuts down bigger men in defence. He isn't our saviour but he doesn't need to be and we are all excited because we finally have a hooker who won't hinder or slow down our ruck advantage.

Totally agree. I actually don't think he's anything special as a player but he's got that **** you attitude where he wants to just win at any cost and I just love that in a player. In a lot of ways he reminds me of a budget Brandon Smith in that he runs hard, tackles hard and leaves everything out on the field, he just seems a bit less talented.

Macca offers nothing at all, I think he's quite easily one of the worst Broncos to play over 250 games. It's a pretty big reason why we've been so shit over the last decade when we've persisted with plodders like him as if they're superstars who should have no competition for their spot.

 

[McHunt]

he's got that **** you attitude where he wants to just win at any cost and I just love that in a player

And that's what makes him special. Great hookers tend to annoy the **** out of the opposition.

 

[Brent81]

When McCullough first started everyone praised him as the next Cameron Smith. I’ve been around these forums long enough to have been here at the start of his career and he was rejoiced. Won’t be long until Turpin is looked at in the same light if he doesn’t meet BHQ expectations. I really like both players and what they bring. Macca is way too critisised when we lose and disregarded if we win. The same of Turpin, who is over-praised for our wins and disregarded if we lose.

Bullshit.

Only the people who knew nothing about the game were saying he was the next Smith. Turpin is a better option than Macca. As such he gets the gig and Macca can wallow in reserve grade (which is consistent with his talent).
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Totally agree. I actually don't think he's anything special as a player but he's got that **** you attitude where he wants to just win at any cost and I just love that in a player. In a lot of ways he reminds me of a budget Brandon Smith in that he runs hard, tackles hard and leaves everything out on the field, he just seems a bit less talented.

Macca offers nothing at all, I think he's quite easily one of the worst Broncos to play over 250 games. It's a pretty big reason why we've been so shit over the last decade when we've persisted with plodders like him as if they're superstars who should have no competition for their spot.

Agreed Kimlo. Hell Macca’s best (relative to most of the steaming pile of manure he otherwise produces) games were always when he might lose his spot (ie when we’ve had he chance to sign Smith etc).

That speaks of someone who has a shit attitude and who only performs when it’s in his own interests and not on a week to week basis.

He’s had 250 games. If he hasn’t locked down that spot by now he can **** OFF in my view.

Ps a genuine question to any Macca fans; why didn’t anybody sign him when he was shopped around last year?

 

[Kooly87]

Bullshit.

Only the people who knew nothing about the game were saying he was the next Smith. Turpin is a better option than Macca. As such he gets the gig and Macca can wallow in reserve grade (which is consistent with his talent).
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Agreed Kimlo. Hell Macca’s best (relative to most of the steaming pile of manure he otherwise produces) games were always when he might lose his spot (ie when we’ve had he chance to sign Smith etc).

That speaks of someone who has a shit attitude and who only performs when it’s in his own interests and not on a week to week basis.

He’s had 250 games. If he hasn’t locked down that spot by now he can **** OFF in my view.

Ps a genuine question to any Macca fans; why didn’t anybody sign him when he was shopped around last year?

Can't say I agree with most of that. For all the negative things you CAN say about Macca, saying he has a 'shit attitude' or that he is 'self interested' are just not one of those things.

He's just about universally acknowledged as an extremely hard worker and a terrific club man. I'd wager no player has made more tackles for Brisbane in this last decade.

It is of course entirely fair to say he just isn't that talented, it's almost certainly true. But I don't accept for a moment that he wasn't always trying to be the very best player he was capable of being for his entire career. The problem for Macca wasn't his work ethic or his attitude, it was simply that his absolute ceiling from a talent perspective just wasn't particularly high.

 

[McHunt]

Can't say I agree with most of that. For all the negative things you CAN say about Macca, saying he has a 'shit attitude' or that he is 'self interested' are just not one of those things.

He's just about universally acknowledged as an extremely hard worker and a terrific club man. I'd wager no player has made more tackles for Brisbane in this last decade.

It is of course entirely fair to say he just isn't that talented, it's almost certainly true. But I don't accept for a moment that he wasn't always trying to be the very best player he was capable of being for his entire career. The problem for Macca wasn't his work ethic or his attitude, it was simply that his absolute ceiling from a talent perspective just wasn't particularly high.

He also seems like one of the most decent blokes to ever pull on a Broncos jersey. I hope the club can ease him into a different role.

 

[Dexter]

What Turps lacks in ability is more than made up for with his aggression and competitiveness .
Unfortunatley the way he plays above his size he probably won't have a long career.
Enjoy the ride I say. Hes a beauty, and players like him are necessary for our cap. We're getting overs.

 

[rnabokov]

He also seems like one of the most decent blokes to ever pull on a Broncos jersey. I hope the club can ease him into a different role.

This

It's all well and good to extol Macca's personal virtues. Decent bloke, hard working, tries super hard, fit, dedicated etc etc. However, it's equally important to value his contribution to this team and for mine the team comes first. He needs to retire gracefully. We have had enough of Macca.

I know comparisons with say Smith and Cook are unfair. Macca isn't anywhere near them. Thing is, maybe that also explains what we all know, the impact of Macca on our performance.

Look at just a few stats and look at how those teams did last year compared to us.

Try Assists in 2019: Macca - 2. Smith - 15. Cook - 18. Hodgson - 12
Line break assists: Macca - 3. Smith - 14. Cook - 19. Hodgson - 13

I simply cannot see how the Broncos can justify keeping Macca in the team. He drags us back and maybe he nullifies a lot of the incredible attacking potential of players like Haas, Fifita and TPJ.

 

[Accept]

He puts his small frame on the line and cuts down much bigger opposition with relative ease. He is a handy guy to have around the place although I don't really see him as a starting dummy half. He is on this team because of a lack of options but he would struggle to do the same with most other clubs. He is a bit quicker and a touch more creative than Macca but not quite what we need still.

 

[Dexter]

I think he would get a gig at most other clubs. There isn't that many 9s around who are much above plodder level.