OPINION Surely this is a hatchet job

[Midean]

So you're saying other teams were affected as well? It wasn't a plot to screw the Broncos over to make another Brisbane team more appealing?

Those other teams are considered collateral damage.

 

[PineappleHead]

Yeeeeah, not buying in to that conspiracy theory. Sorry.

So the NRL introduced new rules, that effect the whole comp, just to screw the Broncos over? Rightio. A second Brisbane team was ALWAYS coming.

The Bronco's are just shit at the moment. We can't blame anyone else for it. Even if the 6 again effected us the most, we've had a season, off-season and 10 rounds this season to adapt. We have shit halves + injuries that have compounded our lack of confidence. It's as simple as that.

The time comes when blaming incompetence becomes ridiculous. There comes a time when mounting evidence morphs into Captain Obvious that no one can be this incompetent and this unlucky without design.



We must stop fooling ourselves that the Broncos have just fallen on hard times because its their turn, or because their lazy, or because they are arrogant.



There are PR companies today that specialise in strategically staging fake and manufactured “incidents” to appear that they “just happened”. They use psychological tactics to manipulate the minds of people to think the way they want them to think.



The line between journalism and PR is now non-existent – with journalists effortlessly moving between professions.



Take a read of this list, and tell me whether the demise of the Broncos which we have witnessed over the past three years “just happened”:

• It started with the complete farce of the contract negotiations of Wayne Bennett (together with his assistant coach as a succession plan). Could not have been handled worse – beyond incompetent and in hindsight a planned move
• Why planned? It was crucial for the of the upcoming hatchet job to get rid of Bennett – someone who would stand up to the BS being handed-out, and because the public would never believe Bennett could coach a team to the wooden spoon
• The ridiculousness of signing a virtual rookie coach, Seibold, to a five-year contract, which would ensure Seibold was financial incentivized to do a quick job of white-anting the club, so he can then enjoy a huge payout when sacked early
• Seibold went from a wooden spoon coach to being employed by the NRL as a “tactics commentator”. If you can’t see a problem here … can’t help you.
• Seibold banning all ex-players and “old boys” from responsibility within the club – effectively isolating the players from positive influences who would mentor the young players in club culture
• The six-again rule was rushed in during lockdown so no crowds would initially complain about the one-sided decisions which were designed to psychologically cripple the Broncos team during matches. Booing of decisions started when crowds came back
• Six again rule is clearly a match-fixing device – no media scrutiny (though in the past they scrutinized every decision), no data published by the NRL, and even if data is published it means little because the effectiveness of the six-again rule as a match fixing device depends on when and where it is awarded (late in the tackle count, two/three in a row, either giving the opposition a ride up field, or forcing the Broncos to defend several sets on their line, preferably late in the first half when the team is tired or early in the second half to cripple psychologically)
• The Broncos won the first two games of 2020, and have only won three games out of 18 since the rule’s introduction. Previous year the team won 11 out of 24 and one draw. Nothing significantly changed between 2019 and 2020 in terms of team
• The media line that the Broncos failed to adopt to the “new rules” is based on zero observation evidence
• Before some players were moved on (Nikorima, McCullough in particular) there were media campaigns attacking the players’ abilities. Next thing they are out the door. The media led the charge to get these players out the door. McCullough is an experienced player who was in a team of young players. This proved the tight connection between the club management and the media
• Key player Payne Haas was inexplicably sidelined for several weeks at the beginning of 2020 for effectively standing up for a mate. Go figure.
• Pangai Jnr was unofficially suspended the remainder of the season for a supposed COVD breach and being deemed to be guilty by association (when was anyone suspended merely for visiting a barber shop because apparently it was owned by bikies?) – while other players in other clubs (Nathan Clearly for example) who did the same were either fined or suspended for a week or two
• Bronco players were also targeted unfairly with heavy COVD breach fines over over $140,000 between 10 players, and it was later revealed they didn’t do as they were accused
• It is my belief (can’t prove it), that Broncos players were subjected to greater lockdown rules than other clubs, as revealed by Alex Glenn who said he was even told not to spend time with his wife and children – putting them under great psychological pressure
• Inexplicable team selections throughout the year – Darius Boyd continually picked despite being an obvious handicap. Milford continued to be picked despite no form and looking overweight
• Seibold’s complete indifference during after-match interviews – giving no answers and showing no clue (then suddenly in 2021 he’s dissecting games for the NRL – particularly in defense)
• The club letting match-winning players – Fifita, Walsh, Sam Walker, Coates – without a fight
• The club calling Tom Deardon “the future around who we can build a club” and then letting him go without a fight within weeks
• Before signing Reynolds, no major signings to the club since Jack Bird. So we’ve let all these amazing young players go – for what reason? To hold which players?
• The announcement of the NRL accepting proposals for a second Brisbane team the same day a story ran quoting Wally Lewis (the king) that the Broncos were no longer Queensland’s team – impossible coincidence.
• The announcement of the Firehawks being accepted announced a few days after the worse match fixing exhibition ever seen – Manly v Broncos at Magic Round – the biggest fixture weekend of the year – impossible coincidence. Also sending a very strong message that the Broncos were cooked.
• The continual anti-Broncos media beat-up over the past two years – calling the team heartless and lazy, and the ridiculous call for Kevin Walters to put a pen through the playing roster – to solidify in the public’s minds that the Broncos demise is their own fault and not from external factors
• Who can remember this headline June 30 last year: “Brisbane Broncos’ NRL struggles badly timed as league eyes expansion to 17th team

All this just "happened"? Yeah ... righto.