RANT This might be our year

I know I'm not the only one here who's been stuck in the mindset of us being in perpetual recovery/rebuild. That our premiership winning team is still some way in the future.

I admit I've been fixated on our inadequacies around dummy half since pretty much forever, while others of you have fixated on other positions - second row, fullback, etc. We just need something more from Riki, from Staggs, Haas to offload, Mam to mature, etc etc. Maybe we need a ruthless coach, rather than a good bloke.

In my head, I have us treading water until Mozer clicks into the spine. But I'm starting to think by that time we might be weaker in other areas, most obviously halfback.

Next year we should have at least one more genuine hooker, but if that's Mozer he'll still be finding his feet. Reynolds won't be any younger, and he'll be doing well to be see out the season at the top of his game. Which we'll need to win a premiership. Although we have ample stocks to replace Herbie and Flegler, it's hard to foresee their loss strengthening us. Not in the short term. Mariner might turn out to be an upgrade on Farnworth, but we haven't seen evidence of that yet. And Cobbo is still a wildcard.

So, I'm tossing this thought into the air: what if, despite our obvious shortcomings and the question-mark over our coach, this is as good as we're likely to get in the immediate future? What if 2023 is our year? Is that even possible?

What do you think?

 

[Sproj]

Hmm. Might reconvene on that thought in a couple of days - after we've run them through.

Let's hope so. I just can't shake the feeling we will lose tomorrow night.

 

[Santa]

Big difference, unfortunately. There's a little bit of pessimism/realism in this.

Unlike @Santa I'm not saying we're going to win. Only that this might be our best chance for some time. Tell me why I'm wrong.

I take offence to this...

 

[tommy]

Can’t say we aren’t doing well so far. But I’m not overly confident, not after last year’s fade-out. We clocked off completely with 10 weeks still to go.

 

[McHunt]

I take offence to this...

So convince us we'll be even better next year.

 

[McHunt]

Can’t say we aren’t doing well so far. But I’m not overly confident, not after last year’s fade-out. We clocked off completely with 10 weeks still to go.

Let's hope so. I just can't shake the feeling we will lose tomorrow night.

I'm pretty convinced by our ability to defend. I'm convinced we have the strike power. But I'm yet to be convinced we can hold the ball long enough to rack up cricket scores.

I'd like to see us lift our completion rates, but even more I'd like to see use really trounce some teams.

 

[Santa]

So convince us we'll be even better next year.

The majority of our team is still young and just starting to enter there peak years. It's only going to get better for us. Reynolds will be like Lockyer or Cronk, better with age, manage the team, and let the young ones do the flashy stuff. Farnworth and Carrigan while good, are replaceable. We have plenty of capable forwards and centres to replace them.

 

[ChewThePhatt]

The majority of our team is still young and just starting to enter there peak years. It's only going to get better for us. Reynolds will be like Lockyer or Cronk, better with age, manage the team, and let the young ones do the flashy stuff. Farnworth and Carrigan while good, are replaceable. We have plenty of capable forwards and centres to replace them.

Umm, @Santa, you know I love you Bro
But
You gotta proofread my man!
That is one inexcusable mistake!

Carrigan
WTF

 

[McHunt]

The majority of our team is still young and just starting to enter there peak years. It's only going to get better for us. Reynolds will be like Lockyer or Cronk, better with age, manage the team, and let the young ones do the flashy stuff. Farnworth and Carrigan while good, are replaceable. We have plenty of capable forwards and centres to replace them.

Cronk is certainly best case scenario, and not impossible. Worst is a rerun of Langer.

 

[Santa]

Umm, @Santa, you know I love you Bro
But
You gotta proofread my man!
That is one inexcusable mistake!

Carrigan
WTF

Lol my bad! *Flegler!

 

[Broncosgirl]

Read an article in the CM early this morning where Riki really only spoke about his friend Liam, who has passed away. He said that he is driven and determined to win a Premiership, with The Broncs .. and to do it for Liam. His actions this season, are speaking as loudly as his words. After working closely with Matt Gillett and Sammy Thiaday, they have given him a bit of a new perspective on his game. And that has been shining through <3

And then there is Reece. He plays as though he is going to win the competition .. and nothing is going to stop him. Aside from his obvious skill, his enthusiasm, confidence, clear drive and determination, is having an affect on his team mates and filtering down through the playing squad, and lifting all the players, on many different levels. As far as the mental aspect of winning a game goes .. Reece, imo, really is leading the way.

Staggs is firing, as are all the younger guys. Feel as though everyone wants to be a part of it all. The vibe running through the place is clear for all to see. All the ingredients seem to be there, all we need to do is keep to the recipe, and keep getting the method correct.

Yes, I really do believe that our window is currently wide open, and The Premiership really is ours for the taking.

 

[Xzei]

Let's hope so. I just can't shake the feeling we will lose tomorrow night.

 

[Xzei]

Best defensive sides are usually there when the whips are cracking if we are still solid there after 27 rds we are a shot

 

[McHunt]

Best defensive sides are usually there when the whips are cracking if we are still solid there after 27 rds we are a shot

Unless we limp there busted and broken like last season.

 

[Xzei]

Unless we limp there busted and broken like last season.

maybe lol this year we are a bit more clear on 1 6 and our 9 and 14 i think as the year goes on the stability in the spine will really start to show,im happy to revisit this thread after the origin period and see where we are at.
injuries and all that good stuff can really **** a season.

 

[Sproj]

That Melbourne defense last night was amazing, that’s how well we’ve been defending but can we keep it up?

 

[Midean]

We look better than every other team so far.

I reckon Sharkies might be there as well, barring any injury to Hynes.

We are a real shot this year I think.

 

[holdzy]

This might need its own thread but how do we rank this team against all other Broncos teams?

is it better than 2015? I think it’s close to one of our best sides, so balanced and so much attack.

 

[LittleDavey]

This might need its own thread but how do we rank this team against all other Broncos teams?

is it better than 2015? I think it’s close to one of our best sides, so balanced and so much attack.

This is a good question to ponder. I'd say we don't have as much in the way of old head experience as we did in 2015 but there's definitely parallels with X-factor game breakers.

We had Boyd in good form, and Hunt/Milf was an amazing combination. I would say Walsh already is on par or perhaps even better than prime Boyd as far as attack, defence maybe not quite there but he's been very good so far this year for the most part. Reyno offers different threats than Hunt - Ben loved to run as well, Reyno not so much - but Reyno has the edge in game management, which can't be understated. Mam is not where Milf was, but he does offer similar threat with ball in hand.

I'd be interesting to compare the sides # for # tbh.