Round 1 team prediction

[Fozz]

100% agree. its like come origin time, someone ALWAYS suggests playing prince on the bench in case lockyer gets injured or something. that chance is slim, and so a spot on the bench is wasted

Nailed it.

Lockyer, Wallace and McCullough could have a perfect injury free season. That's 24 games with a player on the bench who was never needed.

Hunt will be better off directing a team around for 80 minutes on the field. If he wants to watch how Lockyer plays then he can sit on the sideline or watch a video.

 

[GCBRONCO]

and if lockyer doesn't get injured, which is more likely then he does, what is hunt/smith going to do? waterboy? injuries are going to happen during a game, you make do and bring a replacement in for the next game... Glenn/Gillett/parker etc. are all capable of filling in at hooker and macca can shift to 5/8 for a game... thats why theres a coaches box...

Actually judging by recent years his shown the amount of injuries his having are increasing, not surprising given his age, Wally Lewis had the same problems and that caused problems for the Broncos in the early days in his absence from them. Glenn, Gillet, Parker would only be effective at hooker defensively, attacking wise they wouldn't be effective compared to someone like Smith or Hunt can provide, McCollough can play 5/8th yes but he hasn't the experience nor the kicking game to step up to the absence of Lockyer, Wallace can't do it all himself. As for what Smith or Hunt can provide during a match, different options at 5/8th, halfback and hooker in attack if a change in gameplan is require as well as the option to give Lockyer a rest, an option that would be very handy to have if you want him to be at his best in the last few years of his career.

 

[GCBRONCO]

100% agree. its like come origin time, someone ALWAYS suggests playing prince on the bench in case lockyer gets injured or something. that chance is slim, and so a spot on the bench is wasted

Nailed it.

Lockyer, Wallace and McCullough could have a perfect injury free season. That's 24 games with a player on the bench who was never needed.

Hunt will be better off directing a team around for 80 minutes on the field. If he wants to watch how Lockyer plays then he can sit on the sideline or watch a video.

Lockyer dodged a bullet in the Allstars game and that was only a few minutes into it, we have hodges out for 6 months, Yow Yeh out for at least 4 weeks, PJ Marsh and Hoffman also injured and in recent seasons Lockyer has shown to have had injuries that have restricted his time on the field that have hurt us not to mention injuries to Wallace, your underestimating the chances of it occuring and the damage it can do not just during a season but a match.

 

[dukey]

I would be in favour of having Smith on the bench, solely so that Darren can be rested late in games. Bringing Tim on with 20 minutes to go until fulltime would not only change the face of the Bronco's offence and confuse and test tired defenders, it would also be 20 less minutes Locky is out there taking hits. He's been injured far too much in the last few years, and in trying to get the most out of him I feel it's acceptable to wrap him in cotton wool.
I back this plan 100% if (when) Locky or Wal get picked for Origin. I'd much rather have Smith stepping into a starting role from the bench, than into a starting role from QCup.
And, the final reason, I want Smith to get game time so that he sticks around. Locky won't be around for much longer, and I think that if Smith keeps his nose clean and works hard he's the perfect replacement.

 

[Fozz]

Lockyer dodged a bullet in the Allstars game and that was only a few minutes into it, we have hodges out for 6 months, Yow Yeh out for at least 4 weeks, PJ Marsh and Hoffman also injured and in recent seasons Lockyer has shown to have had injuries that have restricted his time on the field that have hurt us not to mention injuries to Wallace, your underestimating the chances of it occuring and the damage it can do not just during a season but a match.

Yes, Lockyer is a chance of getting injured but I don't see why we need to carry a player on the bench in case we lose him in the middle of a match. Our forwards would be more effective with a four man bench, which puts us in a better position to win matches during the season while having Smith or Hunt on the bench in case of injury to one of our halves would be insurance for a single match.

It comes down to numbers for me. If we lose Lockyer or Wallace during a match then it would be worth having Hunt or Smith on the bench, that could save us losing a match. On the other hand, if we have four forwards on the bench then, in my opinion, we would be a better position to win every match that either of them aren't injured. One match (Hunt or Smith on the bench) versus 20 others (four forwards).

 

[GCBRONCO]

Lockyer dodged a bullet in the Allstars game and that was only a few minutes into it, we have hodges out for 6 months, Yow Yeh out for at least 4 weeks, PJ Marsh and Hoffman also injured and in recent seasons Lockyer has shown to have had injuries that have restricted his time on the field that have hurt us not to mention injuries to Wallace, your underestimating the chances of it occuring and the damage it can do not just during a season but a match.

Yes, Lockyer is a chance of getting injured but I don't see why we need to carry a player on the bench in case we lose him in the middle of a match. Our forwards would be more effective with a four man bench, which puts us in a better position to win matches during the season while having Smith or Hunt on the bench in case of injury to one of our halves would be insurance for a single match.

It comes down to numbers for me. If we lose Lockyer or Wallace during a match then it would be worth having Hunt or Smith on the bench, that could save us losing a match. On the other hand, if we have four forwards on the bench then, in my opinion, we would be a better position to win every match that either of them aren't injured. One match (Hunt or Smith on the bench) versus 20 others (four forwards).

As Dukey has suggest its not just to insure of an injury, it provides other benefits like the option to give an Ageing Lockyer a rest later in the match making him more effective for the seasons ahead which benefits the side during that time and to provide a fresh creative attacking option into the match, something 4 forwards can't provide and really with at least 2 80 minute forward options in the side the need for a 4th forward on the bench is questionable, IMO your better placed to have that option of a creative utility then you are of just 4 forwards when you already have options available to cover forwards.

 

[lyn]

If you are so concerned about Locky that you need a half on the bench then Locky shouldn't be playing.

 

[The Brizz]

If you are so concerned about Locky that you need a half on the bench then Locky shouldn't be playing.

Completely agree with this, the bench with the way the game is played needs to have 4 guys who can play forwards because the game is so fast now and interchanges have decreased. Carrying a half is so wasteful.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I could live with PJ Marsh on the bench if he was fully fit and in form but I can't see that happening ever again.

 

[rod78]

what about pushing wallace to hooker

 

[The Brizz]

McCullough was better at hooker for large portions of late last year than Lockyer was at 5/8 why the hell anyone wants to give him less time or move him is crazy.

 

[Bucking Beads]

what about pushing wallace to hooker

Madness I tell you. McCullough is going to push C. SMith out of his Origin jersey if he continues to develop the way he is.

 

[rod78]

wallace would be better, and it will free up space n the halves

 

[GCBRONCO]

If you are so concerned about Locky that you need a half on the bench then Locky shouldn't be playing.

Completely agree with this, the bench with the way the game is played needs to have 4 guys who can play forwards because the game is so fast now and interchanges have decreased. Carrying a half is so wasteful.

Not really with 2 80 minute backrowers in Glenn and Parker (add in Gillett and that would give you 3) and at least another 2 in Thaiday and the other on the bench your more then covered, its the prop forward position thats the most concerning when it comes to the interchange and thats why I would make sure theres 2 props on the bench.

 

[GCBRONCO]

what about pushing wallace to hooker

Madness I tell you. McCullough is going to push C. SMith out of his Origin jersey if he continues to develop the way he is.

Thats a big call, McCollough is developing into a good player but that doesn't necessarily mean his going to be good enough to push Smith out of his spot, his still got a lot of developing to do before his ready for Origin.

 

[GCBRONCO]

I'd just like to clear up something, despite suggesting a different bench I actually don't have a problem with a 4 man forward bench overall provided its selected right, realistically this will be the case and thats fine if so, I just prefer it if Henjak looks at all options available not just go straight with the stock standard configuration if there are benefits available in a different one. Can't wait for round 1 icon_thumbs_u

 

[Charmamba]

wallace would be better, and it will free up space n the halves

Wallace is an Awesome halfback and Mc.C is an awesome Hooker.

Brisbane have 1 of their best 6/7/9's and with now Smith waiting to bust in and locky About to retire we will be set for another 5yrs.

 

[Clintos]

wallace would be better, and it will free up space n the halves

Why would you even suggest that?

McCullough is coming along very nicely, and with experience he could be one of the best hookers in the game. Why on earth would we want to move a halfback, who I'm assuming has never played the position before, to hooker just to accommodate someone we haven't really seen play?

Sure, if form warrants Smith's selection then by all means, put him in the team, but we shouldn't be moving other people around to do so. If Smith makes the team it will be from the bench. I'd say he would play a roaming dummy half role and could be used to give McCullough a rest. I recall last year Henjak expressing concerns about McCullough's workload, so perhaps 50 minutes a week of McCullough, then 30 minutes of Smith will be beneficial on two fronts;

1. It would enable McCullough to keep fresh since he is still adjusting to the defensive levels of the NRL, and
2. If Smith's form warrants selection then it would be in the Broncos' best interests to play him. It would be stupid to just leave him to carve up QLD cup when we could be utilising his play making abilities.

FWIW - I don't believe that it would be wasting a bench spot at all. We have a number of forwards that are capable of big minutes, and if it means we get an extra injection on creativity around the ruck, then I'm all for it.

Of course all this is assuming Tim Smith is showing good form in the QLD Cup. I don't think he should be in the team come round 1.