The Dilemma

[Coxy]

Where in the 17 was he going to play? He played a few of the bench but it destroyed the structure of the side. He should have been playing QLD cup.

Yeah but I think that's the point. His form this year was hardly forcing Griffin to find a spot for him in the 17. He was hardly setting the world on fire, although admittedly looked good in the pathetic Toyota Cup at times. Compare with Beale. Clearly not as good as Hoffman at fullback, but far too good to leave out of the 17, so you find a spot for him on the wing or centres. Hell, Reed came into the team as a fill in because Hodges was out and ended up playing every game. As did Beale.

Both guys are examples of players whose form DEMANDED selection. Norman certainly hasn't.
I can only assume Hook has utmost confidence in Norman spending the offseason bulking up, toughening up and being prepared for life in the halves.

Frankly I don't see it. He's no Shaun Johnson in attack as it is, so you don't even have a great base to work from. But we're going to be starting with a fairly raw base whoever we pick - whether that be Norman, Hunt, Capewell or Kahu. And I certainly don't expect we'll have the answer in round 1 next year. I certainly hope nobody expects whoever it is to play a blinder on debut and lock down the position for life. I'd say it'll take a good 6-7 rounds before the team starts to click with whatever 6/7 combination we have, and I really hope (and expect) Hook will give them that amount of time unless there's glaringly obvious failings.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I don't think he would have had a spot in the 17 no matter how good he played. Where would you put him? Ben hunt never really earnt his spot either. I dunno who we go with and it will be interesting to see the build up to the season

 

[dukey]

Yeah but I think that's the point. His form this year was hardly forcing Griffin to find a spot for him in the 17. He was hardly setting the world on fire, although admittedly looked good in the pathetic Toyota Cup at times. Compare with Beale. Clearly not as good as Hoffman at fullback, but far too good to leave out of the 17, so you find a spot for him on the wing or centres. Hell, Reed came into the team as a fill in because Hodges was out and ended up playing every game. As did Beale.

Both guys are examples of players whose form DEMANDED selection. Norman certainly hasn't.
I can only assume Hook has utmost confidence in Norman spending the offseason bulking up, toughening up and being prepared for life in the halves.

The examples you've given are poor. Beale played U20s in the centres, and is quick and athletic, so wing/fullback isn't such a stretch for him. Norman is a specialist half whose running game comes second to his passing and kicking; he's not an outside back. You wouldn't play him on the wing for the same reason you wouldn't play Cronk on the wing. There are only two players this year that you could've dropped for him - Wallace or Lockyer. That obviously wasn't going to happen. But when one of those guys WAS out, he was the first one called.

 

[Coxy]

Except when it counted, which I can only assume means Hook felt Norman wasn't up to it. Yet.

 

[Bucking Beads]

It is such a massive call whoever Hook picks. None of the options have done much in the halves.

 

[Coxy]

It is such a massive call whoever Hook picks. None of the options have done much in the halves.

Exactly. I'd say given the few times Hunt or Norman have played a full game in the halves they're about even in terms of what they've produced. Which is something just above diddly and just below not much. But it's going to be interesting to see how things pan out. I'm not writing off either of them. Like I said, whoever shows the most in the offseason and gets the chance, I hope they get a good 6 weeks at least to work on combinations. You can't give them a week or two and expect things to click.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Could depend on whether Hook thinks moving Wallace to the 6 is an option. Hunt would have to go to halfback I would think.

 

[Coxy]

Could depend on whether Hook thinks moving Wallace to the 6 is an option. Hunt would have to go to halfback I would think.

It doesn't really matter the way the Broncos play. One will play left, one will play right.

 

[Bull Shark]

Except when it counted, which I can only assume means Hook felt Norman wasn't up to it. Yet.

Exactly … those of you saying Norman didn't get picked because he'd somehow mess up the chemistry or whatever .. That's BS .. Why did Cooper Cronk get picked on the bench for Queensland in SOO if we already had the bext number 6 and 7 in the game ?? Because you pick your best 17 players and Norman clearly wasn't considered to be in that mix for the Broncos yet ..

I hope he proves me and every doubter wrong next year and beyond but to this point he really hasn't done anything to make a case for his selection in the top team next year other than the fact he plays the position and he's available

 

[azza.79]

One of the biggest things I think we lose with Locky and this was clearly evident on friday night is his kicking game - whoever replaces him must have a decent kicking game.

 

[rnabokov]

The point about Norman not producing much is not entirely correct. Although he played FB, he was MoM v Cowboys in rd 1 2010. He made a couple of try saving tackles, line breaks and set up Locky for a try. So he has what it takes talent wise. I haven't seen that level of talent from Hunt yet. Or any other of the possibilities so far except maybe Beale.

Sure, that turned out to be a one-off, and it was at FB, but then looking at the way Slater and Bowen play, their 2nd 2nd receivers anyway. The word also is that he is or was, the initial choice to replace Lockyer.

On that basis, I reckon Norman deserves to be first choice, and deserves to get a good number of opportunities to show if he can reproduce the form in that match.

 

[Bull Shark]

One of the biggest things I think we lose with Locky and this was clearly evident on friday night is his kicking game - whoever replaces him must have a decent kicking game.

That's one of three major elements I see the broncos losing with Lockyer .. His kicking game; his calming / steadying influence that he exuded over the rest of the group simply through his presense ; and his sense of when a big play is on (you know, those times in attack when he spots something and sprints into dummy half or calls a blindside play or takes on the line himself or kicks wide to Denan Kemp as the fulltime siren is sounding ect ect ect ect ect) .. He was one of the few remaining old school rugby league "gamers" - guys who have the sense to play what's in front of them rather than what a lot of current day youngsters do and put the blinkers on and complete a structured play despite the fact there may be a five man overlap

 

[OXY-351]

There are only two players this year that you could've dropped for him - Wallace or Lockyer. That obviously wasn't going to happen. But when one of those guys WAS out, he was the first one called.

He could have taken Hunts spot on the bench, which I think is the point BullShark is trying to make.

 

[Bucking Beads]

He could have taken Hunts spot on the bench, which I think is the point BullShark is trying to make.

He couldn't have, he can't play hooker can he?

 

[dukey]

Exactly, beads. He's only useful on the bench if Wallace or Locky need to come off. Waste of a bench spot.

 

[Fozz]

Look at Ben Barba last year, he was in such good form that they had to find him a slot on the bench.

Norman just wasn't doing that.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Barba is much more versatile than Norman.. Anyway we are going around in circles here.

 

[OXY-351]

He couldn't have, he can't play hooker can he?

Why can't he? If Hunt can do it coming from the halves, then why couldn't Norman?