Is the Top 8 out of reach?

[Burg]

Before this season started I suggested that in order for us to make the 8, 2 things needed to happen.
1. No injuries to key players, at least no injury longer than 1-2 weeks.
2. Lockyer needed to retire from rep footy

Within the first 3 games we have had a total of 7 players injured, 1 a long term, although Gillett came back he was noticeably inconvenienced.

I never said we couldn’t make the 8, I just said it would be hard for us to do so and it has unfortunately proven to be true thus far. In saying that all is not lost and we all know it is a long season and anything can happen.

We have very little in the way of depth to cover the loss of any of our top line players and to expect these young and very inexperienced players to setup to their level is not only irrational, it’s grossly unfair to them and the team. They need time to develop and need the benefit of both experience and older heads around them to help them through the difficult times. Sure they have youth and exuberance, but they also have plenty of mistakes in them as well. The old heads need to stand up and lead the way and lay the foundation. I’m sick of hearing fans say drop this player or that player and brink in say Copley or Hoffman, as if that will make the difference. They are all young, they will all make mistakes and some of those mistakes will sometimes cost us a game.

Still it is not all doom and gloom, yes we are the bottom of the ladder and yes we will more than likely still be there for maybe the next 5 or even 6 rounds, that’s just a reality. HOWEVER, round 8 sees the return of Falou (should be back as soon as next weekend), Parker, Kemp and Yow Yeh and add to that Tronc. A lot of experience returns to the side. I don’t expect an instant turn around, but I do expect an improvement in our ability to compete. No other team, not even the Storm could lose 7 experienced first grade players and expect to compete, I don’t care who the coach is and I suppose if we had to lose them, I would rather it be now than 5 weeks from the finals walking a typewrote.

I’ll say again, this time I really hope it comes true, IF we had no more major injuries, we do have enough quality in our side to make a play for the 8.

My mind tells me (not in any order), based purely on roster, recent performance and lack of injuries to key players, only 6 teams are more than likely to fill the top 8 is below, this leaves 2 spots open for the rest of the teams to scrape in. The teams that you would expect to be competing for the last 2 spots would be Parramatta, Roosters, Knights, Souths, Panthers and Broncos.

Storm
Dragons
Cowboys
Tigers
Bulldogs
Titians

Now injuries and loss of form will come into play like it does every season and some teams are more vulnerable than others (Titans and Tigers) but from a Broncos prospective, we need to get our players back, get some momentum and we can make it.

 

[Charmamba]

1 Win could have us at 6th at the moment. Results pending.
2 wins in the next 3 will be top 8.

Given we wont do that against the Dragons..

Izzy back round 6.... Scrap out a win against the Sharks in Brisbane.

Parker back round 7... Bulldogs at ANZ... hot/cold team confidence from the Sharks match and experience for our
young pack will help with this one

Tronc here in round 8... Knights at Suncorp.. An ugly win is possible given our pack should be gel'd.

Yow yeh in round 9... Storm in Vic.....Back line reads 1. Norman 2. Winter 3.Copely 4.Izzy 5, Yow yeh.

Kemp in round 10.. Titans at suncorp.. massive game with Prince due back i think that week as well.

forgetting this week yeah i think we can do it yes.

 

[Nashy]

I think we can do it. I think we will do it.

We're not going to win the comp though.

 

[Coxy]

It's round 4. Of course we can make it. It'll be tough but it's doable. Just need to jag a few wins as our players come back.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I think we can make the 8 with our best team on the paddock but whether our best team is picked or available for selection is another matter entirely.

 

[OXY-351]

I'm glad I put some money on the broncos to miss the 8 while the odds were still reasonable

 

[OXY-351]

Last year were were out of the 8 and in poor form mid-season. Then we made the 8 with a good run home. We can make the top 4.

The difference was we had a good start to the year.

Although if the Broncos made the 8 in '99 after the start they had that year, then there is always hope I suppose

 

[Mister Wright]

Absolutely. At full strength we've got a very strong side. Unfortunately we've almost had a whole starting side injured, and some key players are in that bunch. With a bit of luck and players returning we can definitely turn things around. I can't see us being affected by Origin too much, with only really Falou, Lockyer & Thaiday being picked. Of course if we lose Wallace & Parker as well, it could be a different story.

 

[Millsy]

Can we make the 8 ? WTF were the Broncos should'nt be more like when we make the 8 !!!! cast your minds back to a team of shot ducks last year "Parramatta" were did they end up ???? in the GF ! on the back of 1 player playing well Hayne look at our injured list and we have full list of exceptional talent capable of doing what hayne did. Were Also in a far better place than they were with alot of our younger guy's being blooded now not later towards the pointy end of the season.

 

[Bull Shark]

Of course its possible, anything is possible but its not going to happen imo. Before the season kicked off I pegged Brisbane for about 10 wins, now I have them pegged for less. Sure injuries ect are a problem now but even if and when they get some key personel back they still don't have the right mix imo.

And the thing that's most disappointing to me atm are the cracks that are wdening in the club's once enviable culture. Alf's drinking episode, players stood down for diciplinary reasons ... They're not massive issues, but they do suggest that the ship isn't being run as tightly as it used to.

 

[Charmamba]

Of course its possible, anything is possible but its not going to happen imo. Before the season kicked off I pegged Brisbane for about 10 wins, now I have them pegged for less. Sure injuries ect are a problem now but even if and when they get some key personel back they still don't have the right mix imo.

And the thing that's most disappointing to me atm are the cracks that are wdening in the club's once enviable culture. Alf's drinking episode, players stood down for diciplinary reasons ... They're not massive issues, but they do suggest that the ship isn't being run as tightly as it used to.

Julian O'Neil says hi, the drinking episode is nothing new its just more out there with todays media.

 

[lynx000]

Of course its possible, anything is possible but its not going to happen imo. Before the season kicked off I pegged Brisbane for about 10 wins, now I have them pegged for less. Sure injuries ect are a problem now but even if and when they get some key personel back they still don't have the right mix imo.

And the thing that's most disappointing to me atm are the cracks that are wdening in the club's once enviable culture. Alf's drinking episode, players stood down for diciplinary reasons ... They're not massive issues, but they do suggest that the ship isn't being run as tightly as it used to.

Julian O'Neil says hi, the drinking episode is nothing new its just more out there with todays media.

lolgood comeback. Yes, I think we can make it, but I think we can forget any hope of top 4. We have to try and avoid 7 and 8th position if possible because that will most likely result in an away final against Melbourne or St George and we will be out after one game.

 

[Anonymous person]

the top 8 is never out of reach when you dont even need to win half of your matches to make it, and you have teams like souths, wests, penrith, cronulla, north queensland, new zealand etc in the competition.

if we pickup tronc, we all of a sudden have a very formidable front row pairing in him and Kenny, and throw in an unusually effective and motivated Thaiday into the mix and our forward pack is in good stead. get Sims back to his late 09 form and we're a force to be reckoned with. Yow Yeh should be back relatively soon, and he was going great guns last year and i cant wait to see him back. Folau will be back soon, Lockyer can only get better, and Norman will only improve.

as long as we can win 1 out of every 2 or 3 games in the first half of the season, we'll be fine.

 

[Bull Shark]

Of course its possible, anything is possible but its not going to happen imo. Before the season kicked off I pegged Brisbane for about 10 wins, now I have them pegged for less. Sure injuries ect are a problem now but even if and when they get some key personel back they still don't have the right mix imo.

And the thing that's most disappointing to me atm are the cracks that are wdening in the club's once enviable culture. Alf's drinking episode, players stood down for diciplinary reasons ... They're not massive issues, but they do suggest that the ship isn't being run as tightly as it used to.

Julian O'Neil says hi, the drinking episode is nothing new its just more out there with todays media.

lolgood comeback. Yes, I think we can make it, but I think we can forget any hope of top 4. We have to try and avoid 7 and 8th position if possible because that will most likely result in an away final against Melbourne or St George and we will be out after one game.

what do you mean "good comeback" ? Does any post that doesn't revolve around ****-eyed optimism regarding the Broncos require a retaliatory "comeback" ?

If it's ok by you, I'd like to suggest that "avoiding 7th or 8th position" is a dilema the Broncos would DREAM of having at this point in time. Finding a way to avoid the wooden spoon, now there's a far more pressing issue for this group of Broncos in 2010.

 

[Professor47]

I agree Burg - there are only a couple of spots available... and the teams you mentioned will be fighting for them...

Im hoping the Titans drop... with the injury to prince, hopefully they go 0/6 or there abouts and struggle... they are the ones I see dropping and making room.

Im crossing my fingers the Dogs will drop as well but I can't see that happening.

Storm/Dogs/Dragons/Tigers/Eels will be there and I'm hoping the Titans drop leaving 3 spaces open.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I don't think the dogs, eels or tigers are certainties for the 8 IMO. The dogs and eels are an injury or 2 away from a bad season and the Tigers are so up and down you really never know if they will make it.

 

[broncos777]

We will play in Brisbane
We will play in Sydney
We will play in Melbourne
We will win
we will lose
but we will never, ever, ever giveup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[icon_razz1 icon_thumbs_u

 

[Burg]

I don't think the dogs, eels or tigers are certainties for the 8 IMO. The dogs and eels are an injury or 2 away from a bad season and the Tigers are so up and down you really never know if they will make it.

Not wishing bad things to happen to other teams but your right, as we have seen, an injury or 2 to a top line player and the season would be over for most teams. Lets just hope we have sen the last of injuries [icon_pray.