Our chances of making the eight

[gordjw]

Mathematically, we can make it to 34, including one bye.
Realistically, well that's another story.

 

[Porthoz]

We can lose 2 games and make it to the finals on 30 pts.
Our second half of the season is not nearly as tough as the first one. We will not play any top 4 team after the Storm, and the closest thing to a tough task will be the Bulldogs at Suncorp in the last game of the season. If that game is decisive, I can see a huge crowd pushing the team into a win and some momentum!

 

[Bucking Beads]

If we can beat the Knights in Newcastle and the Cowboys in Townsville we will have done very well. Can't see it happening but who knows.

 

[CaptainHook]

I just hope that the game against the Eels doesn't come down to who gets the wooden spoon. . .:001_unsure:

 

[Charmamba]

If we can beat the Knights in Newcastle and the Cowboys in Townsville we will have done very well. Can't see it happening but who knows.

Cowboys in Townsville is a game we should win and generally do, the crowd up there is split right down the middle and some nights the Broncos fans are louder than the Cowboys fans.

 

[Kimlo]

I can't be arsed with the math.

Is this where we're at? We lose ....we're gone?

Like you, I can't be arsed with the math, I'm basing this on how I feel about the team, if we lose both games, which makes it 3 losses in a row then I don't feel we can turn it around and makes the finals.

 

[rnabokov]

Hannant
Macca
McGuire
Gillett
Thaiday
Parker

Tasi
Hala
Glenn
Hunt

is a bloody good set of forwards

I'm not writing this team off at all

 

[Bucking Beads]

Cowboys in Townsville is a game we should win and generally do, the crowd up there is split right down the middle and some nights the Broncos fans are louder than the Cowboys fans.

Depends very much on which versions of Broncos and Cowboys show up. I don't think we should win. If we do it will be an exceptional win.

 

[vertigo]

Broncos are busted - News - SportsFan

Broncos are dead and buried

The Brisbane Broncos last week went into a midseason mini-camp – typically an indication that a turnaround is imminent – but despite a vastly improved showing against the Warriors, they are looking at missing the finals for just the second time since 1991 and only the fifth time in their history. It will take a minor miracle for the Broncos to make the finals from here. With a negative differential, the Broncos must win at least six and likely seven of their last nine. The Broncos have five games at home – but have not won on the road since downing the Tigers at Campbelltown in round seven. They also meet five teams currently inside the eight, with Newcastle twice, home stands against the Sharks and Bulldogs and a trip to Melbourne. The task is getting harder and the Broncos simply don't have the troops to pull it off.

While Brisbane were unquestionably better against the Warriors with only a wayward Scott Prince pass that was intercepted and returned the distance by Konrad Hurrell the difference, they again failed to collect the points. The Broncos are just 1-3 in games decided by less than six in 2013. Corey Parker was magnificent – as always – while Corey Norman and Josh Hoffman were electric and Jack Reed was a solid contributor. But again there were issues across the paddock. The Broncos could not take advantage when close to the Warriors' line due to slow play from halves Prince and Peter Wallace. Sam Thaiday worked hard at prop forward but is better suited –as displayed last Wednesday –as a wide-running backrower. Matt Gillett may be playing Origin but he misses far too many tackles. Brisbane's hopes – both short- and long-term – were not helped by the loss of prop Ben Hannant, who reportedly tore his calf muscle in the warm-up to the Warriors clash.

There would be few who would argue that this is the worst Broncos team we have seen. For a club so big, such a result is simply not good enough.

 

[hayseed]

Cowboys in Townsville is a game we should win and generally do, the crowd up there is split right down the middle and some nights the Broncos fans are louder than the Cowboys fans.

Split down the middle?? Really? When is the last time u attended a game up there? I have been to 4 of these derbys at T'ville in the past 9 yrs and it is more like 90/10, in fact we attended the famous playoff match of 2004 and I swear we were the only Bronco fans there which is why Ch 9 kept focusing their cameras on us. In the Cowboy's early days, there was definitely a strong Bronco supporter base up north but it hasn't been like that for 10 years, so using that as motivation for later this season is a waste of time.

 

[Charmamba]

Split down the middle?? Really? When is the last time u attended a game up there? I have been to 4 of these derbys at T'ville in the past 9 yrs and it is more like 90/10, in fact we attended the famous playoff match of 2004 and I swear we were the only Bronco fans there which is why Ch 9 kept focusing their cameras on us. In the Cowboy's early days, there was definitely a strong Bronco supporter base up north but it hasn't been like that for 10 years, so using that as motivation for later this season is a waste of time.

I was there in 06/07/08/09/11 So I've been to my fair share of games up there with 06 being one of the most memorable on a personal level due the great group I sat with.

 

[Alec]

Broncos are busted - News - SportsFan

It's pretty sad. Lockyer retiring is like taking Einstein's brains out - it's just a useless old man with a stupid haircut. Put him back in, and I reckon we'd be in the top 4 again.

 

[hayseed]

Hannant
Macca
McGuire
Gillett
Thaiday
Parker

Tasi
Hala
Glenn
Hunt

is a bloody good set of forwards

I'm not writing this team off at all

Hmmm, let's see

Hannant-Can have some big games but struggles against the better packs, wish he was tougher
Macca-Way too slow and has absolutely zero vision, a very good tackler, need someone different, hopefully his Bronco days are numbered
McGuire-tries hard but just doesn't do enough, will never be more than just an average prop
Gillett-Misses a lot of tackles but a definite long term Bronco, will get better with experience, need more like him
Thaiday-Has been superb lately but has had an inconsistent couple years, not a captain nor a front rower
Parker-Just gets better with age, a very good player on a terrible team, has got 3 good seasons left in him, should be skipper
Tasi- Has played 2 first grade games this season, way too early to rate him, probably Hook's new 8 minute man
Hala-Is suffering from Hook's lack of anything logical, will get much better under a new coach
Glenn-Has had a poor season but we all know what he is capable of, will also benefit from a new mentor
Hunt-Never been a first grader, isn't a first grader, will never be a first grader, he and Wallace are the poster boys of everything negative about this club

I love your optimism nabakov, it even gives me a glimmer of hope everytime I read your posts but reality does eventually sink in and the reality is that this organization has massive problems.

 

[Kimlo]

Did Hannant seriously tear his calf muscle again? FFS!! That would be almost the rest of the season wouldn't it? ...

And how was Norman "electric"? The media loves to talk him up.

 

[Alec]

Norman puts the "Electric" in the "Electric Chair"

 

[rnabokov]

Hmmm, let's see

Hannant-Can have some big games but struggles against the better packs, wish he was tougher
Macca-Way too slow and has absolutely zero vision, a very good tackler, need someone different, hopefully his Bronco days are numbered
McGuire-tries hard but just doesn't do enough, will never be more than just an average prop
Gillett-Misses a lot of tackles but a definite long term Bronco, will get better with experience, need more like him
Thaiday-Has been superb lately but has had an inconsistent couple years, not a captain nor a front rower
Parker-Just gets better with age, a very good player on a terrible team, has got 3 good seasons left in him, should be skipper
Tasi- Has played 2 first grade games this season, way too early to rate him, probably Hook's new 8 minute man
Hala-Is suffering from Hook's lack of anything logical, will get much better under a new coach
Glenn-Has had a poor season but we all know what he is capable of, will also benefit from a new mentor
Hunt-Never been a first grader, isn't a first grader, will never be a first grader, he and Wallace are the poster boys of everything negative about this club

I love your optimism nabakov, it even gives me a glimmer of hope everytime I read your posts but reality does eventually sink in and the reality is that this organization has massive problems.

Well, I had no choice but to stick with Macca and Hunt 'cos as you say, "the organization" won't do anything about that - you can't see too much with one's head in the sand.

Macca or Hunt should be dropped with Granville on the bench, but that won't happen for the reasons you correctly identify.

As for the other forwards, I am basing my optimism on 2 things:

1. The clear lift in performance in the last 2 games - my hope is based on its continuation based on pride in our magnificent club;

2. The closeness of this most erratic season where positions will depend more so on other results than I can remember in the past.

If however Thaiday is played up front, we are doomed. As for Gillett's missed tackles, I have checked other club stats and while he is up there, he is not the only one missing tackles in the top teams, AND, I believe part of the problem is that the rest of our defensive line speed is way too slow and his is way to fast.

There needs to be some sensible coaching analysis about this absolutely critical issue of defensive line speed which is perhaps our major problem area.

I will resign myself to flatline this season if we lose the next 2 in a row

 

[broncos4life]

Sadly, I can see 6 & 8 becoming 6 & 11 very quickly.

Whoever had the bright idea of having us play the Warriors in two Origin affected rounds and compound that by having us back up 5 days later to face Melbourne in Melbourne quite clearly isn't a Broncos fan.

I think it's pretty clear that no one involved in the nrl administration is a broncos fan

 

[CaptainHook]

I am not confident that we can win any of our remaining games after looking at the run home. None of them are a given.