Sticking with the kids.

[Ari Gold]

How about common sense? Or even consensus. Barba hasn't played rep footy - Hoffman has. Using your objective barometer both Hoffman and Beale and Reed are better.

Perhaps producing isn't the right word, but securing talent. I really do think we produce/secure the best forwards but really are nowhere when it comes to x factor players. Teams need those players and we just don't see to do it and I just don't see that game breaking quality that a DCE or Johnson have in players like Norman or hunt.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Justin Hodges and Thaiday are marquee players.

How quickly do you expect a kid to become a marquee footballer? Give it a couple of seasons.

I don't really see Hodges or Thaiday comparable to Lockyer though do you? How many of our younger players do you think will become marquee players?

 

[subsbligh]

How about common sense? Or even consensus. Barba hasn't played rep footy - Hoffman has. Using your objective barometer both Hoffman and Beale and Reed are better.

We're not comparing individuals but a club's ability to produce quality players.

 

[subsbligh]

I don't really see Hodges or Thaiday comparable to Lockyer though do you? How many of our younger players do you think will become marquee players?

There's probably 1 player (Andrew Johns) in the past 15 years that is in the same class as Lockyer.

I hate to play semantics, but depends on your defintion of marquee player. If it's probable immortals only; then none of the current crop.

If it's consistent representative players I'd say several are already there - Gillett, Glenn, Yow Yeh; Beale - at a stretch - I'm sure he's St George's key signing next year and a coup for that club. McCullough would go close to a maroon jersey if Smith was injured (if not, second to Ballin).

 

[Ari Gold]

I agree that DCE is the best genuine half to come out of the NRL for the past two years, but that doesn't mean Manly are the best at producing talent (and in fact DCE's a Qlder!)

This is kind of what I mean. I don't doubt at all that we produce decent to quality players, but we are no longer producing the creme de le creme of Queensland talent, at least when it comes to non-forwards. In respect to forwards, I think we are still doing a superb job, but elsewhere not so much.

Without a doubt Queensland's most talented backs/spine players right now are Billy Slater, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Will Chambers, Cooper Cronk, Matt Ballin, Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith, Ben Barba, Daly Cherry-Evans. Only two are Broncos and one debuted eons ago.

Given there are only 3 Queensland teams, and we seem to put so large a focus on kids mainly from the Queensland area, I don't think you can say we've done the best job ever. Of course, we still have forwards like Glenn, Gillett, McGuire, so there's still a number of positives, but if we are to be so set on doing it with young talent, then IMO we need to do a better job of securing/producing it.

 

[subsbligh]

This is kind of what I mean. I don't doubt at all that we produce decent to quality players, but we are no longer producing the creme de le creme of Queensland talent, at least when it comes to non-forwards. In respect to forwards, I think we are still doing a superb job, but elsewhere not so much.

Without a doubt Queensland's most talented backs/spine players right now are Billy Slater, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Will Chambers, Cooper Cronk, Matt Ballin, Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith, Ben Barba, Daly Cherry-Evans. Only two are Broncos and one debuted eons ago.

Given there are only 3 Queensland teams, and we seem to put so large a focus on kids mainly from the Queensland area, I don't think you can say we've done the best job ever. Of course, we still have forwards like Glenn, Gillett, McGuire, so there's still a number of positives, but if we are to be so set on doing it with young talent, then IMO we need to do a better job of securing/producing it.

I guess with the benefit of a bit of time (1 week lol) I think this year was not an abject failure by any stretch. Disappointing that our turn down the home stretch was woeful and we dropped to the middle of the pack but history will show we made the finals which is the same result as the past 6 seasons (save 2010)

 

[lynx000]

Don't read too much into Gee or White saying we're not looking at anyone outside. For so long every player that came on the market was "being pursued by the Broncos", remember? So they're just trying to stop that rumour and innuendo everytime a player is off contract. Because it impacts negotiations.

The Broncos have always been a club that looks first to its junior ranks, and scouts Queensland-wide junior talent to bring through from the time they're in high school. But they've always been savvy enough to shop around to bolster areas where the talent either isn't strong enough, or is developing too slowly for the immediate future.

Lazarus was a case in point. The Broncos were weak up front. Brought him in, and by the time he left in 1997, we had Shane Webcke emerging as a rep-standard prop and Petero Civoniceva was a year away.

Right now it's clear we have a deficiency in the halves. The Broncos will keep saying they have faith in Hunt, Norman, Kahu et al unless they have a viable option to sign from outside.

I agree Coxy, and I think it is more a point of there not being anyone available on the market in the areas where we are weak that is any better than what we have at the moment. I don't know if they made a serious play for Cronk or not, if they didn't, I think that was a mistake. The risk with Cronk is whether he would have the same impact playing outside of Melbourne's structures. I guess in hindsight it was far enough to try one year with the cattle we had, but if it is not apparent to them that there is an issue with our playmaking structures and abilities after that year, something is seriously wrong in the coaching staff.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Our scouts certainly love to sign the young guys from the Northside of Brisbane.

 

[Huge]

The Broncs have always stuck with the same winning formula, that is, fill with locals who exhibit a certain attitude and any holes , look for a specialist....with the right attitude.

 

[broncos4life]

I know this will get shot down, but I actually thought this was a really interesting article, kind of puts the calls for Norman's head into perspective.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...ahead-of-his-age/story-e6frepbf-1226474985925

 

[Alec]

I don't rate him at all as a ball player, but I'd be more than happy to be proven absolutely wrong and for him to develop into an excellent 5/8th. I just don't see it happening...but this is a case where I'd be glad to be wrong.

 

[Dexter]

He makes some very good points but he kind of argues against himself because by most of his examples Norman shouldn't be in first grade as a certain starter every week. He should be learning his trade in a slightly easier grade or playing fullback where he can see the game better then move into the 6 in a couple of years.

 

[GCBRONCO]

What I found funny was the comment about how Johns couldn't make it into the starting 13 in the Superleague less NSW side of 1995 LOL, I know it has nothing to do with regards to Norman but its just funny hearing how NSW was depleted when they had a shitload of talent regardless, if they were depleted what did that make the Queensland side then.

 

[rnabokov]

I know this will get shot down, but I actually thought this was a really interesting article, kind of puts the calls for Norman's head into perspective.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...ahead-of-his-age/story-e6frepbf-1226474985925

For mine, Norman had lots of issues this year - all of them being making the wrong decision (which includes no decision). At the same time, when he made the right ones, the results were very good. That tells me that it is fair to cut him some slack, given his age and the task most gave him (incorrectly) - to replace Lockyer.

I would find it extremely hard to imagine anyone would expect Norman to emulate Locky's playmaking at 21 and in his first full time position at 5/8.

It seems to me that the powers-that-be under-estimated the impact the loss of Lockyer's leadership and organizational skills (especially under the pump) would have on the side, and, who or whatever was meant to make up for that failed miserably. Maybe this also explains in part, Wallace's inconsistent form.

Norman does deserve another chance I reckon, and the club needs to address the other critical issues a lot better next season.

I really do not think one or more new signings will change anything much. We have all the talent we need. All that we need is someone to get it, and keep it, all together on the field, for whole 80, and for whole season.

 

[Mr Fourex]

I know this will get shot down, but I actually thought this was a really interesting article, kind of puts the calls for Norman's head into perspective.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...ahead-of-his-age/story-e6frepbf-1226474985925

Been saying it all along. Everyone is keen to stick it into the 21yr rookie........yet the same people will rattle of an endless list of excuses for the aging red headed numpty beside him.

Dexter makes an excellent point. A couple years at fullback might give him the insight and confidence he needs to slot back into the 5/8 role in the near future. Having a creative half back take some of the pressure off him will help immeasurably as well.

Norman has shown signs that he could be a very good footballer. In our last game against the Cowboys with his 45m run to the try line to score, he twice brushed past Dallas Johnson using not only his speed and evasion but he has considerable strength as well.

Not an easy thing to do when you consider the quality of defensive player DJ is.

 

[Big Pete]

Hook has to make a call on where Norman is going to play.

I don't want to hear that Norman is training at fullback and then see him only play 10 games at fullback, 6 games at five eigth and 8 games in reserves. I need to see more conviction than that.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Hook has to make a call on where Norman is going to play.

I don't want to hear that Norman is training at fullback and then see him only play 10 games at fullback, 6 games at five eigth and 8 games in reserves. I need to see more conviction than that.

I'd like to see him play a whole season at fullback. Hunt a full season at half and .......Wallace at 5/8.

Come 2014/2015......when we finally wise up and Wallace gets thrown on the scrap heap, maybe Corey Norman will be ready for the challenge of playing 5/8

 

[subsbligh]

I question whether even Lockyer could have turned around this season's slump, and with a different finals system to the Lockyer era, whether we'd have even been able to go one game better than we did.

The issue is with the culture of looking to 1 man to lead the team in difficult times.

I've said it before, but the kids (Macca, Hunt and Norman) defer to Wallace in the difficult situations. If the kids had control of the team and were on par with each other of the playmakers they'd be more inclined to take responsibility rather than go into their shells at crunch time.

While I think Wallace is one of the toughest players and halfbacks going around (and that we need a role for him in this side) he cannot fulfill that "one man band" that Lockyer did that all the kids look to him to perform.

The best way I see around that problem is to drop Wallace to 14 and bring Hunt to 7.

Farrk you could see some nightmare scores coming out of that.