Should we be worried for 2017?

[Foordy]

In my point of view Kevin Walters deserve the credit for 2015.

It could have been Walters, it could have been Hodges, or 2016 could have been a result of losing the GF, messing with the players heads.

or a combination of all three

 

[holdzy]

It could have been Walters, it could have been Hodges, or 2016 could have been a result of losing the GF, messing with the players heads.

or a combination of all three

It was lightning in a bottle stuff, doesn't come often. Hoping we just needed a year between us and the gf loss. Put the hangover/heartbreak away and rev up.

 

[Rico]

As it stands, I'm not too worried but sure will be if we get well beaten in say 4 of the first six games with the tough draw we 've got - its a long way home. That said I'm hopeful of a top 4 finish if we can get off to a good start.

Things of Concern to me:

-Red Zone metres. Been a struggle here and cant keep relying on outside back to scrape out some metres.
- Team spirit as we know is reflected in defence. Like other guys am worried there is a few guys still with shit on their liver.
- Moose may not in my view cut it at 13. Undisciplined and on the face of it an unpopular team member and potential cancer. Really hope this is not the case but its not sitting well with me.
- Leadership. We looked lost without Hodgo most of last year and when we got behind began whinging at refs etc.
- Storm blowout from last year. This might be a one off for most but I think it showed how brittle we can be after a couple of setbacks.
- Predictability in attack. I agree we are too flat and run only 2 x plays then finished off with a touch in goal kick. Not good enough.

Positives on last year:
- Wayne looks to have built competition for the utility and at least 1 front row bench spot
- Mead hands down better squad addition than Maranta and will be hungry to do well on a 1 year deal
- Trial form of Sims. I cant see us being stood over with him and Blair as 1st choice front row.
- Demetriou as assistant. He looked as pissed off as me with that ridiculous offload from Herman. Seems to have an edge about him and solid man manger.
- TPJ. I think this guy can explode this year. Looks fit and up for it. Can be the answer to vary our predictable attack. Great 4th tackle ball running option to get field position. Can see him getting us 10 odd tries this season.

 

[Super Freak]

It could have been Walters, it could have been Hodges, or 2016 could have been a result of losing the GF, messing with the players heads.

or a combination of all three

It's a common trend for teams that lose GF's in such a way.

They all struggle the following year.

Some of them took a very long time to recover.

 

[Super Freak]

Predictability in attack. I agree we are too flat and run only 2 x plays then finished off with a touch in goal kick. Not good enough.

Our attack is fine.

We have the best strike rate in the competition.

Our problem was ball handling and lack of patience.

 

[badyon]

It could have been Walters, it could have been Hodges, or 2016 could have been a result of losing the GF, messing with the players heads.

or a combination of all three

Blasphemy to say it around here, but I think NOT having McGuire was another reason for the run in the 15 finals.

Less one out, killing of the ball, ala Gallen, in opposition red zone.

Thaiday and Blair doing more 4th and 5th tackle options and offloading to halves.

 

[Rico]

Our attack is fine.

We have the best strike rate in the competition.

Our problem was ball handling and lack of patience.

Agree with the lack of patience and ball handling. Our points for last season was enough to get us in the top few but the raiders scored 130 odd points more than us.

Are you talking about conversion per 20mtr visit?

 

[john1420]

Why do our ex-players seem to love putting the boot in so often?

Irrelevant people trying to get relevant

Bagging out people is more "story worthy" than saying Wayne's great

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Irrelevant people trying to get relevant

Bagging out people is more "story worthy" than saying Wayne's great

Yeah, journos can't get a story out of "Wayne's a great coach. The Broncos will be ok this year".

 

[Foordy]

Blasphemy to say it around here, but I think NOT having McGuire was another reason for the run in the 15 finals.

Less one out, killing of the ball, ala Gallen, in opposition red zone.

Thaiday and Blair doing more 4th and 5th tackle options and offloading to halves.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Blasphemy to say it around here, but I think NOT having McGuire was another reason for the run in the 15 finals.

Less one out, killing of the ball, ala Gallen, in opposition red zone.

Thaiday and Blair doing more 4th and 5th tackle options and offloading to halves.

This is what concerns me when people talk about wanting McGuire in the 13. We need Milf and Hunt getting the ball in the 20 metre zone as much as possible. McGuire can't offload worth piss, but then again Parker dramatically cut down the offloads in the twilight of his career as well, so maybe that's Bennett's doing.

 

[1910]

I can't remember the full story, but Carne came off kind of bitter in the book 'Bennett's Broncos' as well. I don't think he said anything particularly scathing though...

Meanwhile Dowling always gives it to the players. He's infamous for bagging out 'Jane' Carlaw and going after Lockyer when he eventually led Brisbane, Queensland and Australia to success all in the same year.

As for Brisbane playing flat, it predates McCullough by several years and was in response to the gang tackle which was beginning to gain notoriety. Under the old structure, the Broncos would barely make it past the advantage line before they'd get swamped by the defence. By playing flatter, it gave the defence less time to organise itself and allowed for a better roll on.

Carne was angry about his ankle he hurt at Red Hill; the fence post was sticking out and he lost his speed after that injury in '94 he was gone 18 months later.

But I have heard him say since I would have sacked me too.

 

[Donald Garner]

Hi guys new to the forum but a long time broncos supporter. Absolutely love everything broncos!!!

Go easy on me because I'm new :)

I think we should be worried about this season. Here is why.....

1) our 6, 7 & 9 are not consistent enough to win us the big games. Not since Lockyer have I been confident that we can close out a game. Take the Cowboys and storm. They have people in those important positions to win you the right games.

2) our kicking game. I don't care what anybody says but our kicking game has to be the worst in the Comp. Hunt and milfords lack of ability to get repeat sets kills us and kills any momentum we have!

3) our forward pack. Why do we never have any impact from any of our fowards? I'm hoping the signing of sims will help with the front row but from what I'm seeing we just don't have the cattle upfront to compete with the better teams.

I can see our season going like this. We will probably start well but as the season gets towards the back end we won't be able to keep up with the better teams and as previously stated our lack of consistency from our 6, 7 & 9 and the inability of our forwards to make those big metres in the big games will eventually cost us the season. I think we will be around 7th or 8th but unfortunately I can't see us making any impact in the finals unless something changes.

 

[Jason Simmons]

Hi guys new to the forum but a long time broncos supporter. Absolutely love everything broncos!!!

Go easy on me because I'm new :)

I think we should be worried about this season. Here is why.....

1) our 6, 7 & 9 are not consistent enough to win us the big games. Not since Lockyer have I been confident that we can close out a game. Take the Cowboys and storm. They have people in those important positions to win you the right games.

2) our kicking game. I don't care what anybody says but our kicking game has to be the worst in the Comp. Hunt and milfords lack of ability to get repeat sets kills us and kills any momentum we have!

3) our forward pack. Why do we never have any impact from any of our fowards? I'm hoping the signing of sims will help with the front row but from what I'm seeing we just don't have the cattle upfront to compete with the better teams.

I can see our season going like this. We will probably start well but as the season gets towards the back end we won't be able to keep up with the better teams and as previously stated our lack of consistency from our 6, 7 & 9 and the inability of our forwards to make those big metres in the big games will eventually cost us the season. I think we will be around 7th or 8th but unfortunately I can't see us making any impact in the finals unless something changes.

Nice post, welcome.

For the record I called 5th or 6th and then do nothing in the finals.

 

[Wild Horse]

I have been on this forum for just a few weeks. Some of you guys really know your shit and have helped me see and understand the inner workings/mechanics (if you will) of our football team. We do have some serious issues and I can't deny the posted logic on this forum, but guys, who's got a better line up on paper than ours?...

And if we are to finish in 7th or 8th (which I defiantly can't see happening) - who are these teams that are going to top us on the ladder? List the Broncos in your foreseeable top 8.

Though we have lost massive amounts of leadership in the past 2 years, i think the Broncos are a team on the up. If anything wouldn't it be Melbourne, Nth Qld and Cronulla dropping down the ladder? And as far as Canberra and Penrith go, I can't see those teams being consistent enough to produce what they did last year again this year. I think the Broncos have got an opportunity to at least catch up to the big guns and possible surprise them.

My (gutsy) tip is that the 2017 Broncos are gonna be streamlined and hungry. Our 6, 7 and 9 have a fresh start. Our forwards with the addition of Sims and (hopefully more game time for TP) look heavier. We'll make the top 4 this year.

 

[Donald Garner]

I have been on this forum for just a few weeks. Some of you guys really know your shit and have helped me see and understand the inner workings/mechanics (if you will) of our football team. We do have some serious issues and I can't deny the posted logic on this forum, but guys, who's got a better line up on paper than ours?...

And if we are to finish in 7th or 8th (which I defiantly can't see happening) - who are these teams that are going to top us on the ladder? List the Broncos in your foreseeable top 8.

Though we have lost massive amounts of leadership in the past 2 years, i think the Broncos are a team on the up. If anything wouldn't it be Melbourne, Nth Qld and Cronulla dropping down the ladder? And as far as Canberra and Penrith go, I can't see those teams being consistent enough to produce what they did last year again this year. I think the Broncos have got an opportunity to at least catch up to the big guns and possible surprise them.

My (gutsy) tip is that the 2017 Broncos are gonna be streamlined and hungry. Our 6, 7 and 9 have a fresh start. Our forwards with the addition of Sims and (hopefully more game time for TP) look heavier. We'll make the top 4 this year.

I really hope your right mate but I honestly believe our 6, 7 & 9 are a big concern. This is their 3rd year together and from what I saw in the trial in England they don't look like they've played with each other at all. I know that was a trials but they were totally outplayed by an6 & 7 I've never even heard of or seen before. Imagine when we play the storm our the cowboys just to name a couple of teams. Our poor kicking game which hasn't improved (if anything it's got worse since 2015) is going to cost us in big games. The inability to find touch with a long kick, the inability to get repeat sets when we need them and the inability to put any pressure on the opposition team is a HUGE concern for me.

As stated before we don't have any impact forwards. The players we have are solid but we don't have the guy who is going to make you the 150m a game each week. All the good teams have that one player who does. Our forward pack is small in comparison to most other teams which means I can see is being steam rolled up the middle a lot this year.

As for where I see us finishing on the ladder I can't possibly agree with your top 4 prediction.
I really wish I could but I just can't see it happening. Storm, sharks, cowboys, panthers, raiders will more then likely be above us. Then there is the likes of the Bulldogs, warriors, roosters who if they get their arses into gear this year could also finish above us. I'm still predicting a 7-8 finish.

 

[pagey]

So many people are reading into this trial like it was a real game! I think everyone needs to take a step back, wait tll we are a few games in then assess where we're at.

 

[BroncsFan]

This is what concerns me when people talk about wanting McGuire in the 13. We need Milf and Hunt getting the ball in the 20 metre zone as much as possible. McGuire can't offload worth piss, but then again Parker dramatically cut down the offloads in the twilight of his career as well, so maybe that's Bennett's doing.

I believe the middle forward playing at first receiver has to be a coaching tactic. In 2015 I don't remember us playing this way; however also in 2015 Canterbury had some success having a ball playing middle (primarily Graham) as first receiver and when teams see something that works they tend to copy for better or worse. It has been evident in broncos since the 2016 WCC and Blair appears to be our ball playing middle (he receives it a lot) but parker also covered when Blair was off.

I believe the reason for doing it could be an evolution of having halves split either side of the ruck. By giving the ball to a middle forward (who can pass a bit) it removes your halfback from having to play first receiver and you can effectively have both halves as second receivers on the edge of the ruck.

Outside looking in you would think that should work for us given we basically have two five eights anyway. Where it goes horribly wrong is when you have a quick play the ball and it goes to the middle forward who then proceeds to slow everything down.

In 2015 our halves played running football and often linked together this doesn't appear to be happening anymore and it's not because Blair, Parker and McGuire suddenly want all the ball it's because it's been coached into them.