Re: The big Dugan discussion
I don't understand this whole "Brisbane lacks strike power in the backs" thing. I feel we have plenty of strike power. Hoffman is great at Center, Hodges is playing amazing (unfortunately he gets injured), we have about six guys (Bond, Norman, Hoffman, Granville, Kahu and Capewell) all wanting to play fullback, we have at least one good second rower in Glenn (if he got more ball at the right time) and I think Reed at second row might be better he just has to learn the role (then again he might just get dropped). We have Copley and Yow-Yeh who are injured but are still young (although I doubt at Yow-Yeh comeback sadly).
I think the guys like Gillett have awesome potential but they lack confidence. The rest need first grade development and good coaching or they will fade away.
Anyway the whole strike power thing seems like its just being thrown out there because the back row hasn't crossed the line that much recently but I don't recall much in the way of "Forwards strike power". Hannant's try on Friday was the first proper front row try I have seen from the Broncs in ages. I think the strike power is lacking in the halves due to Wallace and Norman finding it too difficult to get space and passing too early before the line. Prince offers that because opposition players respect him a little bit to remain stand-offish and allow him a little bit of time. This is a two way street of course (you have to earn that respect) but half of the reason guys like Cronk, Thurston, Smith, DCE, Benji etc. look so damn good is because they are elusive, attack the line and players are reluctant to make a move on them because of that.
This is where we lack strike power. Friday night for me was fantastic because Prince and Wallace and to a minor extent Norman were attacking the line and taking the ball to the line before passing. But it needs to continue. Prince will prove valuable if he continues to do this.