PRE-GAME Round 1 - Broncos vs Eels

[Sproj]

Yobbo essentially alluded to the fact that last year the club assured him we were building ourselves around him for the future, and now here he is fighting for a spot with Croft who admittedly was pretty shit last year, at least compared to Dearden.

Personally I think this Croft thing is a smokescreen and Dearden will be named.

Sending him back to ISC doesn't mean anything bad though. It is a pathway these kids have skipped but going back there likely IS showing he is the future by letting him develop properly away from the spotlight. I wish Coates, Niu and Flegler were all doing the same. Unfortunately a squad depth is woeful and there is no succession planning. This is where the Allan, Opacic, Lui and Capewell types would be so useful.

 

[PNG Broncos fan88]

... he is fighting for a spot with Croft who admittedly was pretty shit last year, at least compared to Dearden.

Dearden was shit too...**** his ego and his manager. Give Gamble and Kelly a go, at least their willing to spend time in reggies to prove their worth.

 

[the_next]

Chris Garry reporting that the herbinator is ready and fit for rd1.
He is the Broncos that fella.
Give him the captaincy.
On ya herbs!

 

[theshed]

Also if Kevvie leaves because they lose round one, **** him, good riddance. Same with Donaghy. If he leaves before he even starts, **** him. Good riddance. Also Cam Smith, if he doesn't sign because he's decided to retire **** him. Good riddance.

I mean...yeah

 

[Gaz]

I'm not expecting anything in the W column just hoping to see some resilience when things get tough, also how much we have lightened up to improve our lateral movement and how much we have improved on the new rules .
If KW can get these things sorted we will at least compete.

Be happy for some decent defence. Particularly on our try line. Also like to spend some time in their half, attack or defence doesn’t matter to me as long as our kicks and kick chase get us down there consistently.

 

[Gaz]

So in other words Dobbo is guessing like everyone else.

I wish there was a website that kept track of each major sport journo and gave them a % score out of how much of what they say turns out to be true.

Like Snopes mixed with Rotton Tomatoes

He reports what he’s told - they use him to their advantage.

 

[Allo]

Dearden was shit too...**** his ego and his manager. Give Gamble and Kelly a go, at least their willing to spend time in reggies to prove their worth.

Yes ... they’re in reggies because they want to be

 

[winslow_wong]

C

Kinda had one in the centres as well for a while with Darren Smith

Such good days...

We also had tunza who would float between centre and lock. Also had a few stints at 5/8th lol

 

[NSW stables]

Dobbo was on Triple M this morning, Croft has won the 7 according to him, the sharks (Cowboys) are circling for Dearden as a result and Oates is dangerously close to being dropped altogether.

Oates won't see out the year as a Bronco I reckon. A fair amount of discontent from both parties going on there I think.

Swap with the cowboys, drinkwater for oates?

 

[WASSHHH]

Speaking of big forwards on the perimeter.... Anyone remember when Greg Eastwood used to do stints on the wing for us?

He was actually damn good there for a big fella.. I remember one game in particular against the Warriors he tore it up out on the flank.

This was when he was still young.. before he added considerable HEFT later into his career.

I do

Reading this reminds me of when Eastwood had to drop back to the wing to cover injuries in a game against the Warriors in NZ - he just or the job done, even scored or setup a try from memory.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Swap with the cowboys, drinkwater for oates?

Lol like hell the Cows would take that offer. I think Boyd or Roberts rubbed off a heap of their trash attitudes onto Oates while they were here. He has fallen so, so far from where he was only a couple of years ago.

 

[broncsgoat]

Dearden was shit too...**** his ego and his manager. Give Gamble and Kelly a go, at least their willing to spend time in reggies to prove their worth.

Average*

 

[Thelmus]

Reading this reminds me of when Eastwood had to drop back to the wing to cover injuries in a game against the Warriors in NZ - he just or the job done, even scored or setup a try from memory.

Eastwood was very good. I was surprised when we let him go. It can't have been for on field performance.

 

[Foordy]

Eastwood was very good. I was surprised when we let him go. It can't have been for on field performance.

IIRC, he went for a bigger offer to the ESL. but there was a visa issue so took a last minute deal with the Bulldogs

 

[Thelmus]

I've gotta say, if Dearden leaves because he isn't picked for round 1 and doesn't want to work for it or has his ego out of joint to the point he wants to leave, good riddance.

I couldn't agree more. Hunt wasnt the perfect halfback but there grit he showed fighting back from injury, only to be dropped and then absolutely smashing it in qld cup is the template dearden needs to follow.
He should look at it as an opportunity to work on the things he needs to and there are still plenty.
Hes a good player, but far from the finished product as far as first grade halves go.
Remember hunt went on to play for Australia.

 

[BroncsFan]

Yobbo essentially alluded to the fact that last year the club assured him we were building ourselves around him for the future, and now here he is fighting for a spot with Croft who admittedly was pretty shit last year, at least compared to Dearden.

Personally I think this Croft thing is a smokescreen and Dearden will be named.

I'm calling BS on all that from Yobbo.

His manager can sniff around all he wants and try and use his demotion as leverage, but the plan has always been that he develop in ISC before coming into first grade.

Just because Seibold is a fucking derp that crumbled to media pressure doesnt mean he has no more development in him.

He's played 6 ISC games in 2 years.

I think Dearden would be happy to play ISC as long as he's paid accordingly.

If he gets a 2-3yr contract on $400k-$500k then he's secured and able to develop with reduced stress.

The pressure then goes back onto Milf and Croft as to who wants the long term half role beside him, which I think has been the question since Croft signed last year

The media are simply using the situation to create hysteria for clicks.
- "Dearden will walk because of demotion"
- Leads into "Former Broncos legend claims youngsters are entitled brats and need to earn their place"
- Leads into "Kevvie responds to legends claim of entitlement "
- Leads into "Kevvie laughs off suggestions of entitlement"

And so on and so forth


I'm sure behind the scenes Kevvie is letting him know that he wants him down in ISC to develop away from the spot light and reduced pressure of ISC.

And then the next best thing Kevvie could do is to head down to the Souths Logan games to watch Dearden personally... and make sure he's seen doing it. Of course that leads to "Kevvie spotted at Souths game to watch next Alfie, intensifying pressure on Croft to hold his position".... but **** the media!!

Kevvie just needs to make sure he's communicating with the players and then **** around with the media to put the pressure on himself and off the players.

Also dont put Dearden, Croft or Milf up for a media sessions, because you can anticipate the shit questions they'd receive... instead just chuck clowns in front of them and tell them to pass off the questions (hell make a game of it to see which player can backhand the questions the best)... put the assistant coaches in front of them... or better yet put no one in front of them.

Give them nothing and just keep laughing off all their garbage questions.

 

[McHunt]

I couldn't agree more. Hunt wasnt the perfect halfback but there grit he showed fighting back from injury, only to be dropped and then absolutely smashing it in qld cup is the template dearden needs to follow.
He should look at it as an opportunity to work on the things he needs to and there are still plenty.
Hes a good player, but far from the finished product as far as first grade halves go.
Remember hunt went on to play for Australia.

Wildcard is Milford. If he continues to play like the last two years, I can see Croft taking his place and Dearden returning to halfback. More like than not to happen by round 6. If that happens, and Dearden lifts the team he will be captain next year.

 

[Thelmus]

Wildcard is Milford. If he continues to play like the last two years, I can see Croft taking his place and Dearden returning to halfback. More like than not to happen by round 6. If that happens, and Dearden lifts the team he will be captain next year.

Yeah that's a fair call but I'm hoping a few things go to change that outcomes.
Milford is being given responsabilty to drive the attack as he sees fit and is apparently fitter than he has been in years.
I'm not expecting him to be anything more than a turnstile in defence he has always been but his attacking game in general relies on two things. Confidence and being able to enjoy his playing.
I think those two things are set so we may see a resurgence. If that happens, whoever plays in the spine with him will have an infinitely easier time. Time will tell.