Josh Hoffman

[Alec]

Re: [Official] Broncos sign Darren Nicholls

The problem with Hoffman is that he's a support player trying to play as a creative one. Same as with Barba, though Barba is admittedly a little better in the ball playing department. It's actually retarded that we have two gun support players in the 13, and no one playing in support.

 

[broncos4life]

Re: [Official] Broncos sign Darren Nicholls

We can't just pick any player we want our of the ISC. I'm not sure how we are going with our second their cap, but that could be a factor too. The Raiders were just denied giving a winger a debut because they have another fit winger (namely Reece Robinson).

Apart from the fact we have to use guys on our books already since the mid season deadline to sign players for the current season has passed.

Well that is a major fuckup in itself isn't it.

Kahu was injured in the first trial of the preseason. Griffin et al had 6 odd months to sort out a solution that didn't involve using the only winger that can't pass a fucking ball in the halves.

But teflon griffin cant be blamed, it's just the way it is apparently.

And before anyone says "provide a solution, who would you pick". I, unlike Griffin don't get paid to find a solution, that's the head coaches job

 

[1910]

Re: [Official] Broncos sign Darren Nicholls

He's been injured, he came back by the bench and he's now playing 7.

 

[Foordy]

Re: [Official] Broncos sign Darren Nicholls

Well that is a major fuckup in itself isn't it.

Kahu was injured in the first trial of the preseason. Griffin et al had 6 odd months to sort out a solution that didn't involve using the only winger that can't pass a fucking ball in the halves.

But teflon griffin cant be blamed, it's just the way it is apparently.

And before anyone says "provide a solution, who would you pick". I, unlike Griffin don't get paid to find a solution, that's the head coaches job

Where the **** did I say Griffin was blameless ... He is 100% to blame for not having an option other than Kahu (who I still wasn't thrilled about). Then when Kahu got injured (and given his history that should have been anticipated) we were stuffed.

What I am saying is that right at this fucking moment, we have no other options.

A guy like Strasser had All season to displace one of the worst 5/8 in the league and hasn't been able to do it. With a bit of luck Nichols can but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Foordy]

Re: [Official] Broncos sign Darren Nicholls

He's been injured, he came back by the bench and he's now playing 7.

What ... you mean Griffin didn't select an injured player ... The nerve of that man

 

[Rally Towel]

Re: ben barba/josh hoffman

He's been injured, he came back by the bench and he's now playing 7.

Thanks for that. Hopefully we can catch him on a Sunday Q Cup game.

Regarding Hoffman, I would love to see a more effective option in the halves. However, a team isn't like a machine with directly interchangeable parts. Swapping one player for another has repercussions for combinations, defensive structures, tactics, etc.

Like we saw with Granville replacing Macca, they may bring something new to the table but there may be side effects that outweigh the negatives. I do suspect there's also the solidarity /morale of the team as a factor. Despite his shortcomings, Hoffman is a long standing member of the team and likely has the support of his team mates. I'd rather the coach was prepared to make decisions for the greater good despite this, but it's likely a factor.

All that said, I'd be ok with us giving someone like Nicholls a shot if he's even just serviceable. We really are suffering for want of some direction in the 6.

 

[Big Pete]

Re: [Official] Broncos sign Darren Nicholls

So the broncos view that should our best half go done nicholls would be a suitable replacement, however he's not up to the task of replacing Hoffman?

Does that sound nuts to anyone else?

The concern was that if Hunt went down, none of his replacements like Nikorima or Strasser would be ready so on the advice of one of their scouts (could be Nolan, but then the deal may have been initiated before hand) decided to give this Nichols guy a shot since he'd been doing some good things for Wyong, a NSW Cup side which is basically made up of NYC rejects and Mark O'Meley.

I'm sure if he proved a good fit up here he would have been preferred but it hasn't been smooth sailing as far as I've been aware. Injuries and being apart of Norths slide down the ISC ladder hasn't helped him.

Like I've said before, I'd prefer it if Hook took a shot on a Nichols or a Paia'Aua because Hoffman is a limitation but both those players are a shot in the dark.

 

[Kimlo]

Re: [Official] Broncos sign Darren Nicholls

How's he playing in the ISC, and just for one don't buy the common answer to that question "it doesn't matter how he's been playing"

I'm sure I've said this before, but I reckon Hoffman would be useless as a 5/8 in Qcup too.

 

[Big Pete]

Re: ben barba/josh hoffman

All hypothetical but when he was in woeful form and played one ISC game, he absolutely wrecked the competition in a foreign position.

Reckon it'd be more of the same. He'd be a stand out and we'd want him in first grade ASAP.

 

[broncos4life]

Re: ben barba/josh hoffman

All hypothetical but when he was in woeful form and played one ISC game, he absolutely wrecked the competition in a foreign position.

Reckon it'd be more of the same. He'd be a stand out and we'd want him in first grade ASAP.

Centre is a lot less out of 'his position' than five eight

 

[Alec]

Re: ben barba/josh hoffman

Hoffman shouldn't be playing 5/8th in QLD Cup either. He needs to be playing wing in FG.

 

[Big Pete]

Re: ben barba/josh hoffman

Centre is a lot less out of 'his position' than five eight

Doesn't really matter, point is the guy was a class above and is a first grade talent.

Considering Luke Capewell wrecked in that position, it isn't a far cry to suggest that Hoffman would stand out more than either Strasser or Darren Nichols.

 

[Porthoz]

Re: ben barba/josh hoffman

Doesn't really matter, point is the guy was a class above and is a first grade talent.

Considering Luke Capewell wrecked in that position, it isn't a far cry to suggest that Hoffman would stand out more than either Strasser or Darren Nichols.

He is first grade standard for sure, and he might kill it in ISC due to his excellent running game, but I seriously doubt he would be a better playmaker than either of those guys.

 

[Big Pete]

Re: ben barba/josh hoffman

Doubtful.

Either way it's a hypothetical and means nothing.

 

[Kimlo]

Re: ben barba/josh hoffman

All hypothetical but when he was in woeful form and played one ISC game, he absolutely wrecked the competition in a foreign position.

Reckon it'd be more of the same. He'd be a stand out and we'd want him in first grade ASAP.

Which was at centre, and I'm all for him being at centre, I just think he's a woeful 5/8, and he might pull off a few good runs in reserves, but I highly doubt he'd be anything but average at 5/8. His running game, as good as it is, is useless in first grade in the 5/8 position, but he's a brilliant winger, and I even rate him as a defensive fullback, I just think he's absolute rubbish in a role that requires creativity and passing.

 

[Big Pete]

Re: ben barba/josh hoffman

That's fine but you can't use the point about the ISC because it's hypothetical and the only occasion that comes remotely close he ripped up.

Usually at that level, if you're at a first grade standard, you're going to be one of the top players in the competition. Hoffman has played at the highest level, he'd smoke it at the ISC level and I think we'd be mislead.

But again, neither really here nor there. I'm just saying, argue the facts and watch his competition.

TBH, if people did that and watched Strasser, Nichols and the NYC halves. Looked at their games and provided fair analysis to argue their points, I'm sure there would be something to discuss. But this 'Hoffman sucks, select somebody else' really goes without saying and it's ruining a lot of threads.

 

[Kimlo]

Re: ben barba/josh hoffman

In saying that, it's just hypotheticals that any of our reserve halves wouldn't play better, we may never know. I'm not even hell bent on one of the young guys getting a go, I just think even out of first grade regulars he's not our best option.

I don't want to push this too much, but I'm an optimist, you can call me silly but I think we have a reasonable chance at the premiership if we had a half who was at least average, so it's incredibly frustrating watching Hoffman (who I rate highly as winger/centre!) killing off chance after chance with his woeful passing game and inability to see the game outside of his tunnel vision.

 

[benbarba]

Re: ben barba/josh hoffman

Tonight's Origin game showed why Hodges should be our 6 for the rest of the year. He layed on two tries with great passes, and when he broke the line had no pace. Shift him in the halves where his vision and ball-playing skills can be utilised.