Out to prove it wasn't a fluke

[GCBRONCO]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 5992545067

IT IS known as the dreaded second-year syndrome. And boom Broncos utility Matt Gillett is doing everything he can to avoid it.

Not content with clinching NRL rookie-of-the-year honours last season, Gillett is set to terrorise opponents again in 2011 after an off-season bulk-up regimen has seen him tip the scales at a powerful 104kg.

The NRL is littered with tales of rookies who hit the code like a tsunami in their maiden year, only to crash and burn the following season as their ego grows in direct proportion to the weight of expectation.

Gillett, however, is keeping a level head. Last night, he entered camp with the Queensland Emerging Origin squad, his larger frame evidence of his hunger to be a consistent back-row force with the Broncos this season.

"I've heard of that second-year stuff, I've had a chat to a few of the boys about it," said Gillett, who scored 12 tries from 21 games in his debut year in 2010.

"It's not something I'm worrying too much about, but in saying that I don't want to drop off at this stage of my career.

"There's a fair bit of pressure on at the club. There's a couple of backrowers wanting positions so that has kept me on my toes and made me train a bit harder. Dane Carlaw is back so he's another guy wanting a spot.

"Opponents are going to be more aware of me after what I did last year."

Since arriving at the Broncos two years ago, Gillett has added 10kg to his frame. He has put on 3kg in recent months, a transformation fuelled by a diet that requires him to eat every two hours.

Gillett played back-row, centre and five-eighth last year but hopes his improved physique will see him finish his career in the forwards.

 

[simmo77]

Gillett and Parker have both bulked up among others. Could be some exciting times for Gillett and maybe Parker might hit the ball up straight with his new found heft rather than running sideways [icon_pray.

 

[Kimlo]

Gillett and Parker have both bulked up among others. Could be some exciting times for Gillett and maybe Parker might hit the ball up straight with his new found heft rather than running sideways [icon_pray.

Has Parker actually bulked up? I haven't read anything about that.

 

[Porthoz]

Neither have I.
Last year, Parker had his best ever season at the Broncos IMO, doing an absolutely incredible amount of work, and that's probably because he wasn't as bulky as in previous years.
He does run a bit sideways, but that's his style. He does manage to break quite a few tackles due to his body rotation and fends, opening up holes in the opposition defence line, where our quicker players slip through.

Gillett looks impressive. Hopefully he hasn't lost speed and agility, and more importantly doesn't succomb to second year jitters. He needs to play 80 minutes, as does Te'o, Parker and Thaiday, which is why I'd like to experiment with Thaiday in the front row...

 

[Big Pete]

Parker is fine running on the fringe, it's closer to the middle of the ruck where he'll sort of bob, weave and then Oz-tag his way around trying to free up an offload.

 

[Nashy]

I hope he's not hanging around with Wallace too much.

 

[simmo77]

Gillett and Parker have both bulked up among others. Could be some exciting times for Gillett and maybe Parker might hit the ball up straight with his new found heft rather than running sideways [icon_pray.

Has Parker actually bulked up? I haven't read anything about that.

"They (Broncos coaching staff) have asked a lot of us to put on some weight so I'm at 104kg now. It's the heaviest I've been.

"Among the forwards, me and Corey (Parker) were the lightest ones so we needed to add a bit more size. I'm not eating huge meals; my breakfast, lunch and dinner are good meals but in between I'm having a lot of protein and keeping my fluids up.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 5992482063

 

[Coxy]

Parker needed to bulk up. He was soft.

 

[Je$ter]

Parker is fine running on the fringe, it's closer to the middle of the ruck where he'll sort of bob, weave and then Oz-tag his way around trying to free up an offload.

Parker is terrible on the fringe. Te'o, Gillett, Thaiday - heck even Carlaw - are all better on the fringes.

Parker does his best work cleaning up in defence and taking the shit runs in the middle that no one else wants. A few extra kilos won't hurt him. He has no impact on the fringe and a few kgs might put some sting in his d.

 

[Big Pete]

I've got no issue with him putting on the weight, I agree he needs it.

But honestly he was great on the fringe last year, broke a lot of tackles and was a big metre eater.

He's much better than Carlaw on the fringe and there isn't much between Gillett, Thaiday and Te'o who are basically the best in the biz at fringe running.

 

[Coxy]

Nah, what Jester said. He's pretty hopeless on the fringe. Has no explosive power, so even if he does manage to bust a tackle he's not going to set any second phase play up. And being so light last year he wasn't busting tackles.

Then there's the times he would spin out of a tackle...all well and good, but then he'd be facing completely the wrong way to be able to offload to his outside men. So all it did was make him an easy target to be cleaned up again.

If he's bulked up a bit and worked on his power, great.

 

[Big Pete]

Nah, what Jester said. He's pretty hopeless on the fringe. Has no explosive power, so even if he does manage to bust a tackle he's not going to set any second phase play up. And being so light last year he wasn't busting tackles.

Then there's the times he would spin out of a tackle...all well and good, but then he'd be facing completely the wrong way to be able to offload to his outside men. So all it did was make him an easy target to be cleaned up again.

If he's bulked up a bit and worked on his power, great.

This sounds like an accurate depiction of 2008-09

Parker was generally making ground of 10m or so and breaking tackles.

 

[Coxy]

Nah, what Jester said. He's pretty hopeless on the fringe. Has no explosive power, so even if he does manage to bust a tackle he's not going to set any second phase play up. And being so light last year he wasn't busting tackles.

Then there's the times he would spin out of a tackle...all well and good, but then he'd be facing completely the wrong way to be able to offload to his outside men. So all it did was make him an easy target to be cleaned up again.

If he's bulked up a bit and worked on his power, great.

This sounds like an accurate depiction of 2008-09

Parker was generally making ground of 10m or so and breaking tackles.

That's lovely. But as I said, if you're not then popping offloads to a support player, or getting a quick play the ball (which he rarely did because of his lack of size making him easier to dominate), then it's pointless.

At least when Gillett makes busts, he looks for, and usually gets, the offload away - sometimes it goes to ground.

Parker racks up good stats, few errors, but ultimately doesn't create much. I'd rather someone like Gillett who might not make as much ground, might make a couple of errors a game, but is also going to create space and opportunities for the men on the outside.

It's kind of like preferring a bowler in cricket to take 4/60 off 10 overs rather than 0/30.

 

[Big Pete]

if you're not then popping offloads to a support player

Parker was popping up at least two offloads a game, more than any other backrow in the side.

Parker racks up good stats, few errors, but ultimately doesn't create much. I'd rather someone like Gillett who might not make as much ground, might make a couple of errors a game, but is also going to create space and opportunities for the men on the outside.

You do realise Parker set up more tries than Gillett right?

Gillett may of set up more linebreaks, but it was only 3 more. Given his suspect defence it's hardly the comparison you're after.

Gillett is a better strike player (as in he's the guy who will make the linebreaks) but to dismiss Parker as a ballplayer is a tad ignorant, he certainly improved last season.

 

[Coxy]

Of course he improved last year. But I'd still say Te'o, Gillett and Thaiday all outplayed him.

And there's every likelihood Glenn will develop into a more potent backrower than Parker.

Dare I say it Parker should work really hard on bulking up and make himself Hannant's front row partner?

 

[Big Pete]

Fair suggestion, but it never worked in the past can't see it working now.

Parker just doesn't have the strength to make it in the front row, even at his bulkiest. In the backrow, at least he can use his mobility.

I'd argue he had a better all-round season than Gillett and Te'o.

 

[Big Pete]

For reals?

I didn't actually think he started showing some potential until 2003 and really only became a stand out in 2005 but really 2006.

Then in 2008 he got injured and was one of the most overated players in the game up until last year.