Season Preview (need your help)

[JLA007]

For the upcoming season I plan to do a season preview for every team on The Roar ,I thought best way to get an great understanding of each teams prospects is from the fans that themselves. Happy to accept multiple answers from fans to get a range of perspectives.

From being up 16 points in the Grand Final in 2023 to finishing 12th in 2024 and having your coach was sacked. My question is what on earth happened in the space of a year and was Kevin Walters hard done by being let go?

Michael Maguire is now in charge does his style of coaching provide something the Broncos need and is it weird that NSW coach from last year now coach of Queensland biggest club?

What is the plan for Ben Hunt long term, he will play in the halves until Ezra Mam returns but he will join a plethora of hookers it unsure who will get the dummy half role?

Do you feel in attack Brisbane are too reliant on Reece Walsh and at times it can be a bit predictable to shut down with his sweeping plays?

Looking at your predicted bench looks like a lot of unproven players are you confident the team won't go forward won't dramatically fall off once Patrick Carrigan and Payne Haas leave the field?



Who is a player's that is due to have a breakout season and what rookie can debut which can make an impact?

Who is best addition to the squad and who is the biggest loss to the squad?

What is the biggest weakness in the team heading into the season? Can you it improving?

How is the squad depth do you feel comfortable the team can cover to an injury to a key player?

What is the strongest 17?

What will be considered a pass for this year and what will be considered as a failure for 2025 and lastly what is your prediction for this year ?

 

[Culhwch]

From being up 16 points in the Grand Final in 2023 to finishing 12th in 2024 and having your coach was sacked. My question is what on earth happened in the space of a year and was Kevin Walters hard done by being let go?

I don't know what you are talking about, the competition was suspended in 2023 so there wasn't a Grand Final. First time since 2015, if I'm remembering correctly.

 

[Redux]

1A. There are multiple reasons we failed in 2024. We had a really short preseason, it started late because of the GF and a few players selected for the pacific championship. Then the preseason was cut short because we had to go to Las Vegas. Without doubt we were underdone, throw in the fact we had a rough draw and a brutal Origin period. Then there were the injuries to key personal, mainly Walsh, Reynolds and Hass, all playing about half a season, also lost a few of our backup players to injury as well. We then lost quite a few players during games, mainly second row, I would guess at least half the season one of our second rowers didn't make it till the end of the game. All this meant that we crashed and burned in 2024.

1B. Yes and no. Kevvie was dealt a rough hand there is no question but some of the short comings of the team, mainly backups, was well known before the season start. The buck ultimately stops with the coach, he had a good run and perhaps was a bit unlucky but he got the club back on its feet, so I cant knock him to much.

2A. Yes, Michael Maguire style is something the Broncos needed. The Broncos are a flashy team with talent up to their eyeballs but work ethic perhaps not. With Maguire here, we are looking for a hardness in the team and a willingness to do the dirty stuff so when the flashy plays don't come off, we are not headless in defence. I'm looking for more control around the ruck and more physicality in the tackles. To do this we need to be rock hard fit and that's something Maguire seems to bring where as with Kevvie it seems it was his coaching staff.

2B. Yes, very weird but as long as he can improve the team, I couldn't care less.

 

[Redux]

3. The plan for Ben Hunt long term is halfback when Renno retires. Short term in the 5/8, then when Ezra's back we change it up. I could see Mam as our 14 for a few around if he doesn't get the 5/8 full time gig back straight away. Think Kodi Nikorima ,2015, super sub or maybe 30 minutes of Mam at 5/8 with Hunt moving to Hooker to give Paix a spell. If Paix goes well I can see him keeping the 9 spot and Mam moving to 14 till he's up to speed.

4. Last year I would say Yes but with Reynolds out for half the year a feel that Walsh took it upon himself to try and win games. This year should be a little different, with hunt in the team and his ball playing ability being better then Mams, I see hunt pulling apart the opposition on his side with Walsh. If they are rushing Walsh, a short ball to the second rower/ cut out to the winger or just a plain old dummy and go, should make Hunt lethal on that side. Walsh wont have to touch the ball just the mere threat of Walsh will open up sides.
With a fit Reynolds and a firing hunt there should be much less pressure on Walsh to just "do something" with the ball. The other great BENefit of hunt, is if Renno goes down, it wont all fall to just Walsh again to work magic.

 

[Broncapz]

From being up 16 points in the Grand Final in 2023 to finishing 12th in 2024 and having your coach was sacked. My question is what on earth happened in the space of a year and was Kevin Walters hard done by being let go?

No, he looked lost by the end and made false promises to the fans. We didn't look well coach (next man up mentality) in 2024, leaked tries and just generally frustrating dumb footy over and over. Too many injuries for talent to gloss over.

Michael Maguire is now in charge does his style of coaching provide something the Broncos need and is it weird that NSW coach from last year now coach of Queensland biggest club?

Systems and meta gaming and defensive focus. McGuire brings things like wrestle and the tactics that Melbourne and Penrith are employing.

What is the plan for Ben Hunt long term, he will play in the halves until Ezra Mam returns but he will join a plethora of hookers it unsure who will get the dummy half role?

6/9 and inevitable backup 7.

Do you feel in attack Brisbane are too reliant on Reece Walsh and at times it can be a bit predictable to shut down with his sweeping plays?

Not this year, we look a lot more dynamic and have added the BTK crash play.

Looking at your predicted bench looks like a lot of unproven players are you confident the team won't go forward won't dramatically fall off once Patrick Carrigan and Payne Haas leave the field?

Our bench is lowkey stacked with Jenson, Willison, Tekura and Tapau as options. If anything our quality bench will help not overwork Haas and Carigan like years past, giving them more impact.

Who is a player's that is due to have a breakout season and what rookie can debut which can make an impact?

A more diamonds and less rocks Reece Walsh.

Who is best addition to the squad and who is the biggest loss to the squad?

Ben Hunt. We're still missing Herbie.

What is the biggest weakness in the team heading into the season? Can you it improving?

Defense. Giving up 2-3 tries in quick succession. Easily.

How is the squad depth do you feel comfortable the team can cover to an injury to a key player?

I think we might have the best depth in the comp currently outside of 2RF

What will be considered a pass for this year and what will be considered as a failure for 2025 and lastly what is your prediction for this year ?

Top 4 will be a pass mark and include not losing to Melbourne twice in that.

Honestly haven't looked this good going into a season in a long time. I think anything less then a minor premiership would be a personal dissapointment.

 

[Redux]

5. Our bench should be okay, predicable, yes, unproven, no. I think like many others on here our bench will be 14. Walters 15. Jensen 16. Willison 17. Piakura, at least for the first 10 rounds.
Walters was/is our starting hooker with a 95% tackling efficiency.
Jensen averaged 120m+ and a 95% tackling efficiency.
Willison averaged 100m+ and a 94% tackling efficiency.
Piakura averaged only 70m and a 85% tackling efficiency but he also didn't finish a few games last year effecting his stats. With Piakura he is our go to replacement for when one of our second rowers dosnt finish the game, also could be sneaky good for fill in for 20mins for Kobe Hetherington at 13. Staggering Hass and Carrigan time, will help the go forward.

6. Jordan Riki. If he can get it together, he could become an absolute elite backrower. So for him and us he needs a breakout year.

If we get a debutante this year it could Black or Leota. As for rookie to make a splash Big Ben Te Kura or Blake Mozer if Paix dosnt work out.

7. Ben Hunt, for reasons I have already outlined.
Corey Goats will miss the big feller.

8. Our weakest position is center with the injury to Staggs. The second rowers are a close second but I feel like they wont win us many games but they also wont lose us many either.
The improvement for our C's/SR's will be in a improved defence structure/ better control of the ruck. If we can get those things right, it will buy time for our outside men to make better choices.

9. Squad depth is hit and miss, with second row and full back now being our weakest. Front row and hooker are our strongest, we have good cover for the 7 and 5/8, second row and center/wing has some questions and fullback is Cobbo or bust, maybe a sneaky Arthurs.

 

[Santa]

From being up 16 points in the Grand Final in 2023 to finishing 12th in 2024 and having your coach was sacked. My question is what on earth happened in the space of a year and was Kevin Walters hard done by being let go?

A little. People forget that within 3 years, he took a wooden spoon team to 5 mins from winning the grand final. I don't think any other coach could have done any better. Similarly to the team though, it seems like he unfortunately suffered from a bit of grand final hangover, and was a bit lost for answers at the end. With what he did, I thought he deserved another year to turn it around, but that's not on Madge. Can only move forward now.

Michael Maguire is now in charge does his style of coaching provide something the Broncos need and is it weird that NSW coach from last year now coach of Queensland biggest club?

I guess we'll find out. But from the sounds of it (concentration on discipline, defence, fitness, etc), it sounds good do far. Don't care that he coached NSW, as long as we're winning.

What is the plan for Ben Hunt long term, he will play in the halves until Ezra Mam returns but he will join a plethora of hookers it unsure who will get the dummy half role?

Depends with how we're going. You would assume we wouldn't change a winning team (even for Mam). Madge seems to have a theme of earning your position (which also includes our players on big money). Maybe he doesn't get back in this year at all (although you would assume he would at least get a chance around origin anyway).

Do you feel in attack Brisbane are too reliant on Reece Walsh and at times it can be a bit predictable to shut down with his sweeping plays?

It was at times, but I think that was due to necessity a bit with the amount of injuries we had last year (especially with Reynolds out). With players like Hunt and Reynolds both available, I expect a more balanced and unpredictable attack (like we did in the trials).

Looking at your predicted bench looks like a lot of unproven players are you confident the team won't go forward won't dramatically fall off once Patrick Carrigan and Payne Haas leave the field?

Our bench is awesome this year (especially in the middle). Willison, Jenson, Tekura, Taupau, can definatly hold the middle (and even dominate) against most other starting forward packs.

Who is a player's that is due to have a breakout season and what rookie can debut which can make an impact?

After a injury plagued 2024, Walsh back to his best, as well as seeing how Paix goes as starting 9. Shoutout to Cobbo back on the wing and Hetherington at 13 too. Lots of potential.

Who is best addition to the squad and who is the biggest loss to the squad?

Obviosly Hunt. I dont think we lost anyone too important from last year.

What is the biggest weakness in the team heading into the season? Can you it improving?

Defence. It was so bad, it can only get better.

How is the squad depth do you feel comfortable the team can cover to an injury to a key player?

Yes, significantly better than last year. The trials showed how much depth we have.

What is the strongest 17?

1. Reece Walsh
2. Selwyn Cobbo
3. Kotoni Staggs
4. Deine Mariner
5. Jesse Arthars
6. Ben Hunt
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Patrick Carrigan
9. Cory Paix
10. Payne Haas
11. Jack Gosiewski
12. Jordan Riki
13. Kobe Hetherington

14. Billy Walters
15. Corey Jensen
16. Xavier Willison
17. Brendan Piakura

What will be considered a pass for this year and what will be considered as a failure for 2025 and lastly what is your prediction for this year ?

Top 4 minimum.

We're winning the premiership.

 

[Redux]

10.
1. Walsh
2. Cobbo
3. Staggs
4. Mariner
5. Arthars
6. Mam
7. Reynolds (c)
8. Carrigan
9. Hunt
10. Haas
11. Piakura
12. Riki
13. Hetherington

14. Paix
15. Willison
16. Jensen
17. Taupau

If injury during the game was of no concern.

11. A pass mark like always if finals footy, but realistically, baring mass injury, if we don't make the top four, I feel that we would of underachieved. A failure is not making the 8.
I feel that we finish top 4, then go all the way, for a GF of Broncos vs Storm and the second coming of the 2006 Grand Final.

 

[Redux]

Just a side note on my first answer on why we failed in 2024, the Penrith Panthers find themselves in almost the same position.
We lost a few great players from the 2023 Gf they lose some from the 2024 Gf
Our preseason was short because of GF and internationals into Las Vegas, that's what they have done this year.

If the panthers finish outside the top 8 this year, someone highlight this and I will owe Kevvie an apology.

 

[Fitzy]

For the upcoming season I plan to do a season preview for every team on The Roar ,I thought best way to get a great understanding of each teams prospects is from the fans that themselves. Happy to accept multiple answers from fans to get a range of perspectives.

Sounds awesome. Wish you luck, the comments are always brutal on roar. Nonetheless this sort of effort to have a great review is commendable. Sure many people would love for you to post a link once it’s out

From being up 16 points in the Grand Final in 2023 to finishing 12th in 2024 and having your coach was sacked. My question is what on earth happened in the space of a year and was Kevin Walters hard done by being let go?

Many things. Obviously we have a mentally fragile group who didn’t handle that loss well. I think in that back half of the year we really didn’t play traditionally premiership winning football, however we defended like one and that was key. However key systems and platforms were missing in games we were just so much bigger, stronger, faster, more confident, more complete than every other team. 2024 we had bad habits, a shortened preseason, drama galore, injuries and a bad attitude. Additionally there seemed to just be a very poor standard set everywhere within the joint. Obviously a very toxic nature in the club, when they turn it TURNS.

Michael Maguire is now in charge does his style of coaching provide something the Broncos need and is it weird that NSW coach from last year now coach of Queensland biggest club?

Didn’t Craig Bellamy coach NSW? He has been pushed as being a broncos coach for an eternity. His coaching performance was QLD like. Anyone who can make billy look silly, who looked untouchable the first 2 series, and win a series decider at Suncorp with that traditionally pea hearted lot south of the border, you have earned the right to coach the Brisbane Broncos, add a premiership to that and you can most definitely coach my club.

What is the plan for Ben Hunt long term, he will play in the halves until Ezra Mam returns but he will join a plethora of hookers it unsure who will get the dummy half role?

Well 6 for the foreseeable future. Likely hooker upon Mams return but he could be to good to move. Halfback at the end of Reyno’s career into his own retirement. Absolutely no question if he moves from 6 that he is the starting dummy half. For now Paix seems likely at 14 but Mozer needs to be in the team once he gets fit and going. Unclear as to when that will be if at all this year.

Do you feel in attack Brisbane are too reliant on Reece Walsh and at times it can be a bit predictable to shut down with his sweeping plays?

Maybe last year cause Mam was a dear in headlights without Reynolds (as all young halves who rely on there running game would be) and Walsh had it all on his shoulders. But in 2023 there was just to many threats. We all know what’s coming, but you got to stop it. Teams had to put him on the sideline to stop him. With Reyno, Hunt and Mozer and Ezra to add to the mix he is just gonna be a decoy all day every day. Gonna be very hard to stop. Strip his amount of touches right back and they won’t have a clue what hit them. I think at times last year for a fullback from time to time he controlled some sets quite well for his age and his experience with plenty of touches. Every now and then I would give walshy a set and say go nuts but to begin with just nice dimples and structured. Run hard, tackle hard and put walshy in to space. Whether he gets it or not doesn’t really matter it will be a nightmare for the opposition.

Looking at your predicted bench looks like a lot of unproven players are you confident the team won't go forward won't dramatically fall off once Patrick Carrigan and Payne Haas leave the field?

I couldn’t disagree more if I tried. Name me a better bench and I’ll wait. Walters, Jensen, Willison and one of BTK/Piakura/Gosiewski. Jensen so underrated and so good, Willison one of the best young props in the game, brings mobility, size and is old enough that he isn’t dense in the head and riddled with errors.

Who is a player's that is due to have a breakout season and what rookie can debut which can make an impact?

Not to many youngsters in our team. Everyone needs to return to form which is more so where we are focused on in terms fo improvement. Willison to get even better, Kobe renaissance and BTK and Mozer (if he can get on the field for long enough) to really break out and make an impact. BTK nearly the best player all pre-season imo, really impressive. Has earned a bench spot imo but sadly for him Willison and Jensen have earned the right to be in that side and we really do need second row cover in this side so the 17 jersey isn’t necessarily his to be had.

Who is best addition to the squad and who is the biggest loss to the squad?

Hunt obviously. Sailor biggest loss especially with Perhams recent injury. Very handy bloke to have cover Reece. Lot of pressure on Latrell to do well when he has to do that role some time this season.

What is the biggest weakness in the team heading into the season? Can you it improving?

Second Row still. Riki hasn’t performed that highly, Piakura is very over albeit the potential is there. Gosiewski and Hunt have improved over the offseason from what we have seen but they are merely just now reliable first graders as depth (for Gosiewski case seemingly starting) which is handy. However in our actual 17 Second Row.

How is the squad depth do you feel comfortable the team can cover to an injury to a key player?

I guess after your Reggie’s team smashes a very handy titans side you say yes. Fullback looks very skinny. There’s definitely quality options at back up almost everywhere it’s just how deep they go. A lot of halves and hookers in the squad which means you run a bit short in the forwards and backs. Big shortcoming from us last year.

What is the strongest 17?

1. Reece Walsh
2. Selwyn Cobbo
3. Kotoni Staggs
4. Deine Mariner
5. Jesse Arthars
6. Ezra Mam
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Pat Carrigan
9. Ben Hunt
10. Payne Haas
11. Jordan Riki
12. Brendan Piakura
13. Kobe Hetherington
14. Blake Mozer
15. Corey Jensen
16. Xavier Willison
17. Ben Te Kura/ Jack Gosiewski (tactically)

What will be considered a pass for this year and what will be considered as a failure for 2025 and lastly what is your prediction for this year ?

Top 4 is the only pass mark. The team should be wanting to win it. Melbourne is very strong but I think Brisbane is the next strongest. Penrith will fall off just enough to fall slightly below those 2. Sharks, Dogs and Manly another drop below Penrith. It’s between them. Melbourne vs Brisbane Grand Final. Can’t say at this stage you can back against Melbourne winning the comp though.