Rnd #1 Broncos line-up

[pagey]

Benched on the bench, or benched to Q-cup? I can't see a reason too carry him on the bench, unless Macca is dropped altogether.

To cover for bird /boyd maybe

 

[Foordy]

Sure that can't be the case with Macca on the bench that only leaves 2 forwards Hoppa being 1 and he's a second row and probably Kennedy. That's a very very weak bench unless Macca is dropped.

IF Badel is to be believed the Hoppa isn't one ... as he would be on "standby" likely for if Glenn is ruled out

 

[I bleed Maroon]

I love how Badel managed to sneak "former jailbird" in there. What a cynical ****.

 

[rnabokov]

Sure that can't be the case with Macca on the bench that only leaves 2 forwards Hoppa being 1 and he's a second row and probably Kennedy. That's a very very weak bench unless Macca is dropped.

Or unless Macca is part of the forward rotation? I imagine it will be warm in Townsville so our forwards will need rest breaks. To me that leaves only Macca to be part of the forward rotation. I guess he could come on as lock. The lengths we go to keep Macca in the side.
As for Isaako on the bench, I guess we could do worse. He can cover 1 - 5 and he can kick and he has 1st grade experience. Interesting if true

 

[Shane Tronc]

Isaako on the bench is dumb. We’re gonna need all the middle forward cover we can get.

 

[Thelmus]

I'm not sure you can start round 1 without at least 2 front rowers on the bench. If not, who will replace the second prop?

 

[Foordy]

I'm not sure you can start round 1 without at least 2 front rowers on the bench. If not, who will replace the second prop?

we will have 2 on the bench ... Flegler and Kennedy ... plus we can move Carrigan there during the match if we need to

 

[Big Pete]

For all intents and purposes that maybe the best 17 the Broncos can field and that's terrifying.

After the 58-0 embarrassment, you would think some players would have been put on notice. Instead nobody has been demoted to the Queensland Cup with the only changes either coming through injuries and suspensions. The only new faces are Jesse Arthars and Brodie Croft, two players who can hardly be relied onto reverse that awful result we've had to live with for six months.

Maybe the talent just isn't there and this is the best 17 the Broncos can come up. A horrifying thought, especially since it's a coach's job to create a healthy competition for spots and develop these players.

 

[Painin the Haas]

Just shows our lack of depth in the forwards. I just can’t see how that bench would work especially without lodge

 

[Rookie Alan]

Just shows our lack of depth in the forwards. I just can’t see how that bench would work especially without lodge

Last season, when Seibold sign Kennedy, everyone in this forum was talking about our depth in forward and he’s a redundant choice.

Now, without lodge, we suddenly lack of depth in forwards? You should add Joffa too, but i never concern that much about our forward compared to our backs. At least, we still have Haas, Flegler, Carrigan and Kennedy, not even including TPJ

 

[Art Vandelay]

Last season, when Seibold sign Kennedy, everyone in this forum was talking about our depth in forward and he’s a redundant choice.

Now, without lodge, we suddenly lack of depth in forwards? You should add Joffa too, but i never concern that much about our forward compared to our backs. At least, we still have Haas, Flegler, Carrigan and Kennedy, not even including TPJ

There's no suddenness about it. Our top 30 last year looked nothing like our top 30 this year. This off-season we lost Gillett, Mago, Fensom, Tagataese, Savelio and Fai. We upgraded Hopoate and Palasia to top 30 contracts at some point last year or early this year but we signed no new forwards for 2020. Our depth for the forwards is at least four men fewer than it was last year.

 

[Painin the Haas]

There's no suddenness about it. Our top 30 last year looked nothing like our top 30 this year. This off-season we lost Gillett, Mago, Fensom, Tagataese, Savelio and Fai. We upgraded Hopoate and Palasia to top 30 contracts at some point last year or early this year but we signed no new forwards for 2020. Our depth for the forwards is at least four men fewer than it was last year.

also let sua go too

 

[Big Pete]

There's no suddenness about it. Our top 30 last year looked nothing like our top 30 this year. This off-season we lost Gillett, Mago, Fensom, Tagataese, Savelio and Fai. We upgraded Hopoate and Palasia to top 30 contracts at some point last year or early this year but we signed no new forwards for 2020. Our depth for the forwards is at least four men fewer than it was last year.

The Broncos lost Savelio early last season, well before the 30 man squad was finalised.

The composition has certainly changed, albeit not as drastically as you'd think. Last year the Broncos had 13 middle and edge forwards in their NRL squad, this year it's 11. When you add the 3 development players from each squad it shakes out to 16 in 2019 and 14 in 2020.

 

[McHunt]

I love how Badel managed to sneak "former jailbird" in there. What a cynical ****.

No such thing as a "former" jailbird. Jaibird encompasses anyone who's in or been to prison. However, it usually denigrates a repeat offender.

Given Hopoate's family history and the incident which put him in prison - repeatedly kicking an unconscious man on the ground and then viciously bashing someone trying to stop what might've become manslaughter - I'm inclined to give Badel a pass on this. This isn't like having a drunken kip in your car with the aircon on.

He might be on the road to public redemption, but he's not there yet. Ask Lodge how that works.

On a more positive note, he seems like a pretty handy player.

 

[Big Pete]

Just to give you an idea of the other squads and how many forwards they have in their NRL squads...

Brisbane: 11 NRL, 3 Developmental
Canberra: 13 NRL, 2 Developmental
Canterbury: 12 NRL, 3 Developmental
Cronulla: 15 NRL, 2 Developmental
Gold Coast: 13 NRL, 1 Developmental
Manly: 13 NRL, 2 Developmental
Melbourne: 14 NRL, 3 Developmental
Newcastle: 12 NRL, 1 Developmental
North Queensland: 14 NRL, 3 Developmental
Parramatta: 14 NRL, 2 Developmental
Penrith: 14 NRL, 1 Developmental
Souths: 13 NRL, 2 Developmental
St George: 13 NRL, 2 Developmental
Sydney: 14 NRL, 1 Developmental
Warriors: 13 NRL, 3 Developmental
Wests: 15 NRL, 1 Developmental

Worth noting that some of these teams only have 29 players announce as well.

So definitely a couple players below, which isn't great when you're starting the season with three unavailabilities.

 

[Allo]

Just to give you an idea of the other squads and how many forwards they have in their NRL squads...

Brisbane: 11 NRL, 3 Developmental
Canberra: 13 NRL, 2 Developmental
Canterbury: 12 NRL, 3 Developmental
Cronulla: 15 NRL, 2 Developmental
Gold Coast: 13 NRL, 1 Developmental
Manly: 13 NRL, 2 Developmental
Melbourne: 14 NRL, 3 Developmental
Newcastle: 12 NRL, 1 Developmental
North Queensland: 14 NRL, 3 Developmental
Parramatta: 14 NRL, 2 Developmental
Penrith: 14 NRL, 1 Developmental
Souths: 13 NRL, 2 Developmental
St George: 13 NRL, 2 Developmental
Sydney: 14 NRL, 1 Developmental
Warriors: 13 NRL, 3 Developmental
Wests: 15 NRL, 1 Developmental

Worth noting that some of these teams only have 29 players announce as well.

So definitely a couple players below, which isn't great when you're starting the season with three unavailabilities.

Assuming that’s counting hookers as forwards too?

 

[Big Pete]

Assuming that’s counting hookers as forwards too?

Nah, just middles and edges.

I consider dummy halves a specialised position that has more in common with halves.

Only exception was Brandon Smith who basically plays as a middle these days.

 

[Gaz]

Arthars on the wing, Isaako to bench, Staggs goal kicker.

Arthars to play wing against Cowboys, Isaako to bench

Jamil Hopoate closes in on NRL debut for Broncos

www.nrl.com