pick your Round 1, 2012 team

[small white dick]

1. Hoffman
2. Gagai
3. Reed
4. Hodges
5. Yow Yeh
6. Wallace
7. Hunt
8. Hannant
9. McCullough
10. Civoniceva
11. Glenn
12. Thaiday
13. Parker

14. McGuire
15. Gillet
16. Te'o
17. Beale

 

[noisetheory]

realistically what is everyone expecting? it could well be basically the same team as last year, except norman slotting straight in for lockyer (and assuming civo doesn't make round 1). how many other teams start a new season with 16 of the same 17 from the last?

 

[Coxy]

realistically what is everyone expecting? it could well be basically the same team as last year, except norman slotting straight in for lockyer (and assuming civo doesn't make round 1). how many other teams start a new season with 16 of the same 17 from the last?

This. And I think it's a great position to be in.

Pretty sure we'll see:

Hoffman
Yow Yeh
Reed
Hodges
Beale
Norman
Wallace
McGuire
McCullough
Hannant
Glenn
Thaiday
Parker

Anderson
Hunt
Gillett
Te'o

(Assuming Civoniceva isn't fit. If he is fit, then Anderson and Te'o will be fighting to retain their spot on the bench).

 

[noisetheory]

This. And I think it's a great position to be in.

yup exactly. i am itching for this damn season to get started.

 

[m1c]

Very stable 17. Only 6 and a bench spot are up for grabs. Great position to be in.

 

[mrslong]

realistically what is everyone expecting? it could well be basically the same team as last year, except norman slotting straight in for lockyer (and assuming civo doesn't make round 1). how many other teams start a new season with 16 of the same 17 from the last?

Yes, but it's like saying the same old Indiana Colts but without Peyton Manning....

It's not "just gotta replace our old 5-8".

It is made somewhat easier by having virtually the same 16, but it doesn't make it easy.

 

[Porthoz]

Yes, but it's like saying the same old Indiana Colts but without Peyton Manning....

It's not "just gotta replace our old 5-8".

It is made somewhat easier by having virtually the same 16, but it doesn't make it easy.

Even though Lockyer is the God of Rugby League, no way a 5/8 has as much influence in a RL team, as a QB in an NFL team. You can't really compare...

 

[Fozz]

Yes, but it's like saying the same old Indiana Colts but without Peyton Manning....

It's not "just gotta replace our old 5-8".

It is made somewhat easier by having virtually the same 16, but it doesn't make it easy.

Indianapolis.

And it's an entirely different situation between the Colts and the Broncos. Lockyer doesn't make 100% of the plays as an NFL QB would. We've lost a high calibre player but we've been without Lockyer before and still won. And now we have an offseason to prepare without him.

 

[mrslong]

yeah yeah I knew that (about indianapolis!). my brain is actually shrinking.

Anyway it was just an analogy - it's not by any means going to be a seemless transition is all I was alluding. Lockyer is not "just another" player to replace.

 

[Coxy]

Of course not. But having a stable forward pack that, as we saw last year, is capable of dominating its opposition; combined with a set of outside backs that can make something out of nothing and capitalise on half chances; plus a strong defensive structure that can suffocate opposition, the pressure on said 5/8 is going to be a lot less than it would otherwise.

I think the Broncos' priority early in the season will be, like last year, to really be strong defensively and keep opposition teams to < 16 points. That way the onus isn't on the halves to create a shitload of points, but convert pressure and field position into 3-4 tries a game. Very achievable. The last thing we want is a Henjak-esque style of play where we leak 22-26 points a game and puts the pressure on to create a minimum 5 tries a game. For a fairly generic halfback and rookie five-eighth, that's going to be very very difficult to achieve.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I am expecting Hook to have a bolter on the bench.

 

[Big Pete]

Bring on the Gibb!

I want to see another 2008 NYC Grand Finalist

 

[Bucking Beads]

Ben Hunt looks in pretty good shape. Looks leaner in the legs.

 

[Kimlo]

Of course not. But having a stable forward pack that, as we saw last year, is capable of dominating its opposition; combined with a set of outside backs that can make something out of nothing and capitalise on half chances; plus a strong defensive structure that can suffocate opposition, the pressure on said 5/8 is going to be a lot less than it would otherwise.

I think the Broncos' priority early in the season will be, like last year, to really be strong defensively and keep opposition teams to < 16 points. That way the onus isn't on the halves to create a shitload of points, but convert pressure and field position into 3-4 tries a game. Very achievable. The last thing we want is a Henjak-esque style of play where we leak 22-26 points a game and puts the pressure on to create a minimum 5 tries a game. For a fairly generic halfback and rookie five-eighth, that's going to be very very difficult to achieve.

Yeah have to agree with that. I think 2012 is going to follow a similair format to 2011 except without Locky.

The biggest question mark will be how we perform in the big games post-Locky. I wouldn't say we're a great chance of taking the title this year but I'm sure hoping we do. Imagine how good it would be to win the premiership the year after Locky retires :)

On Wallace, I can't see him winning us games by his brilliance but we need the stability he provides in the halves for at least this year. Cooper Cronk>>>>> Wallace, worth 500k easily and 800k if the cap rises to the supposed 7mil.

 

[dukey]

Wallace has always played his best in Lockyer's absence. I think he'll step up and lead the team this year.

 

[m1c]

Farrrk - really? Against good opposition he's been terrible as the sole playmaker to the point of concern. He needs to be in the right environment, and when he is, he is a very good player. Macca and and moreso Norman or Capewell than Hunt are crucial to that.

 

[user_nat]

He was good against Melbourne last year without Lockyer. Can't think of many other examples against quality teams though.

 

[Bucking Beads]

We can't estimate the shift the team will have without Lockyer being around at all. I suspect a totally different mindset to the halves in particular.