The Dragons.

[Chumbason]

The Broncos have not played good team footy for any amount of time in years and right now is a perfect example. The Dragons are playing great team footy and thats why they look like the kind of team and play the type of footy that the Broncos should be. It's a culture thing, because the broncos are doing what they have done for years under WB, the Dragons have gained very little from his coaching, just motivation. Give him too long there and they will start looking like a team of good players and not a good playing team... just like the Broncos. It's sad, it's a shame, but it's true. That's why we get lost on the feild, it's why we have no game plan or team work and thats why unless a superstars does it for us, we get beaten or only just scrape home. The Broncos haven't belted anyone in years, and have been thrashed far too many times to be able say they play as a team. Again it is very sad, but it is so obvious.

 

[Professor47]

^
I reckon you are way off the mark - if it is just 'motivation' the Dragons gained from WB, that would have dried up way before now. Clearly, they ARE a better football side - you cannot deny that.

WB at the broncos - well, I think he should have stayed the years we signed the 'new' broncos for 08. So 09/10 would have been great but then I think it was time to go. I just feel that players like Wallace, Clinton, Sims and Marsh did not receive the plans WB had for them in full. Regardless, I think The broncos and WB both needed a change, but maybe not so soon. In the end it won't matter too much - the players he's coached for a long time have already got what they can from him.

 

[Chumbason]

The motivation won't dry up while ever they are winning. They have enough new blood and a coach with a great record (at first glance) to keep them on a high. For the majority of the years the Broncos have been a one man team, and now that the one man is starting to steady, people confuse that with the loss of the "great" coach. WB's days are long over, that doesn't mean he's a bad coach, it just means he's human.

 

[mick]

Dogs are specials for the premiership this year. Dragons and Storm are their only threats.

QFT. Dogs should win it this year.

 

[mick]

Ok, I'm going to put it out there. The Dragons in 2009. Could win it.

How GOOD did the Dragons look against the Cowboys? Wow. I won't jump the gun but if this is a small taste of what is coming in September, then look out. Apart from a small middle lapse, they might not have been dominating but they showed some signs they could really be leading up to something big. They look dangerous!

Could win it for sure. But IMO they have looked even better than they do this year in quite a few seasons so far this decade. Long ways to go.

 

[m1c]

I'm loving that the Dragons are going so well, if WB had anything left to prove to his detractors it was whether or not he could be successful at another club. Just reinforces what all of us here already knew - the man is god!

 

[ddd]

But the dragons are still a team of douches

 

[Bucking Beads]

But the dragons are still a team of douches

icon_thumbs_u I agree 100%

 

[Big Pete]

That's an interesting point that Coxy brings up and I argue that whilst we have been guilty of putting in a number of dissapointing efforts, we've also responded well despite low expectatctions. I believe in particular we were expected to struggle in both 00, 04 and 06 yet in 2/3 years we managed to take out the premiership and in 04 we came 3rd which was good considering how many injuries we had to key figures in our team.

The only time I've been dissapointed with the Broncos was in 99 and 07. In both years the Broncos were coming off premiership victories and received minimal squad changes yet lacked the desire to go back to back. 07 was particularly dissapointing because just as it appeared we were going to turn the corner a number of our key players go down injured ruining our chances of a succesful defence. Shame really because the boys certainly put in an effort each and every game but we were the walking dead by the finals.

There's always been interesting factors heading into each season though since 00 and we've either responded well or we've struggled through out.

For instance:

2000:
Was expected to be a rebuilding year following the loss of Langer, Renouf and Gee (among others) yet our youngsters stood up and followed a very effective game plan to a tee allowing the Broncos to take home the premiership pretty comfortably.

2001
We lost further club icons yet still competed with the best of them until injuries and a gruelling Origin series strapped us of our commitment.

2002
We built on the 01 side and welcomed home two experienced players in Langer and Gee allowing us to make it into the finals before getting eliminated by the Roosters unconvincingly in Sydney. Dissapointing result but that's footy.

2003
We lost a number of international players and relied on a number of players who were expected to pull their weight. Sadly the success of the side rested on the shoulders of Lockyer and when he was injured, our side lost it's spark and bowed out.

2004
We went into the season with a brand new 1,6,7,9 combination and looked competitive at times grabbing third spot before limping into the finals without a proper halfback or hooker. Bowed out, but there was certainly a number of positives to take out of it.

2005
We were expected to grow from the 04 season but after a dissapointing Origin campaign and a number of injuries the Broncos fell quietly to a number of sides before bowing out.

2006
Following the dissapointment of 05 a number of media personalities believed we had grown far too complacent and we'd run our race. A fair statement until a number of positional changes livened the side up and caused us to claim our 6th premiership.

2007
We were expected to carry on the success of 06 but after a few experiments failed to deliver any promising results we were left with a very complacent side that couldn't find their rhythmn. Just as they appeared to of turn the corner a number of key players fell to injury and we were left with an impotent backline.

2008
A changing of the guard that was going to deliver some interesting results but after knee injury kept Lockyer from the field for long durations which didn't help the club. Sadly there was consistensy issues around the board with a number of individuals coping with increased responsibility, injuries or just couldn't cop a break. We gave it our best shot in the finals but we pulled up tragically short in the finals.

 

[Professor47]

^
A nice sum up there but I don't think you can blame 07. You said yourself, we were the walking dead. Furthermore, we were not the same side as 06. 06 was only ever going to work that year - it was time to move on. This was shown by our team in 08. I bet you any money that 08 team was "meant" to build for a 09 title but we were better than we thought we would be - to the point where we actually had a real crack at the title. I wonder what would have happened if Locky didn't have knee troubles in 08. hmmmm that is all "what ifs" though. Unfortunately off-field administration issues resulted in WB handing in the resignation before the season started. A successful season probably overshadowed by the way we lost to the Storm. It hurt but not as much as 02. =(

 

[Big Pete]

You've got to admit that first half of the 07 season was very ordinary. Especially the losses to Penrith, Titans, Storm, Sharks and Dragons. In all those matches (probably not the Storm game, we were screwed over by some very controversial referee decisions) we were expected to win yet we'd drop our heads if momentum swung against us.

You make a good point for 08. Nobody expected Ennis or Wallace to play as well as they did and both proved to be a key part of our success in 08. Sadly I believe I grew dissapointed with the season after the boys couldn't best their performance from Round 3 - we came close against the likes of Canberra and Newcastle yet we never played with that confidence and commitment. In a way though I didn't see 08 as a rebuilding year, rather a changing of the guard as we recruited quite well (at least in my opinion).

During the off-season I definately saw 09 as a rebuilding year with the focus being on youth and inexperience as opposed to the tried and tested signings of 08. Sadly unlike other years, we haven't been able to take in our stride and the youth has played a key factor in our complacency.

 

[Bucking Beads]

So the complacency is coming from the more senior players not the youth??

 

[ethos]

. Sadly I believe I grew dissapointed with the season after the boys couldn't best their performance from Round 3 - we came close against the likes of Canberra and Newcastle yet we never played with that confidence and commitment.

I saw 2008 as a very successful season and, honestly, we had the Storm beaten in the semi final. That spot in the grand final should have been ours.

In terms of 2009 we started amazingly well (something that is often overlooked) which shows that the team definitely has the ability. However, the last month or so has been extremely disappointing, we've looked very tired and lazy. But in saying that it's almost impossible to be at your peak for the whole year.

I get the feeling our next three games (Sharks, Eels and Warriors) won't be all the flash either but hopefully the team can start to build towards their peak after the Round 18 bye and Origin series.

 

[Raw Boned Youngster]

Every year there is/are teams that over achieve. They have a bright start, have great table position and then fade. The reality is that both the Dragons and Bulldogs will find the pressure of maintaining their current consistency difficult.
I believe the Dragons, in particular, will hit a slump that could derail and confuse them. They are not used to consistency.
'My money is still on the Storm. They know all about big games and are the smartest team in the comp.

I laugh at some of the predictions at this time of the year. The real test happens in the lead up to the semis.
It is the test of the mind.

 

[Bucking Beads]

BLAH BLAH BLAH the Storm are awesome BLAH BLAH BLAH. The Storm rely on individual brilliance more than any other side... Take Billy Slater out of the Storm side and all of a sudden the points dry up and they don't look like a decent side at all..

 

[Professor47]

^
Agreed.

But on that point, take Lockyer/Hodges out of the side and we look like nuffies too.

 

[Bucking Beads]

^
Agreed.

But on that point, take Lockyer/Hodges out of the side and we look like nuffies too.

Yes well we are missing Hodges now and we are struggling.. I just think people are too quick to write of the Broncos at this time of year. The Broncos traditionally struggle at this time of year so patience for us Broncos fans and we will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Big Pete]

I believe the main difference between this year and 08 is our dummy half area which has mostly been controlled by Andrew McCullough who isn't asking enough questions up the middle of the ruck.