Top 4 finish?

[Number6]

On ladder predictor have us finishing 4th losing to Melbourne week 1 assuming our picture of on and off competence and scraping through. Not the worst run after that with decapitated Cows and fairytale less Sharks. Just not seen the consistent steel and desire to win a premiership.

Think it's D-day. Demote the underperforming or at least give it a QCup wake up call. Pick and stick a halfback that is not Hunt. Give Hunt a shot at hooker after the initial softening period and Waddell early so he can have impact. No more favourites all on notice otherwise enjoy QCup or in a certain captains case the centres. Like stability and loyalty but that assumes you are getting the commitment back aside from Gillo, Oates, McGuire and KNik (Macca this year if he keep on his attack) haven't seen it consistent effort and drive to improvement in last couple of years. Don't blame Gillo for mid year slump think his back was sore from carrying half the pack.

Too many just doing enough to avoid the embarrassment of getting fired and that was never part of the broncos culture when we were wining premierships. At the very least a few shock drops puts them on notice for next year. Having said that, in other cases effort isn't the problem it is dumb execution and poor attention to detail. Another issue that has been allowed to fester far too long.

Short of my rant: is fed up after 10 years (and that one was lucky) and want consistent attacking football and a premiership.

 

[winslow_wong]

On ladder predictor have us finishing 4th losing to Melbourne week 1 assuming our picture of on and off competence and scraping through. Not the worst run after that with decapitated Cows and fairytale less Sharks. Just not seen the consistent steel and desire to win a premiership.

Think it's D-day. Demote the underperforming or at least give it a QCup wake up call. Pick and stick a halfback that is not Hunt. Give Hunt a shot at hooker after the initial softening period and Waddell early so he can have impact. No more favourites all on notice otherwise enjoy QCup or in a certain captains case the centres. Like stability and loyalty but that assumes you are getting the commitment back aside from Gillo, Oates, McGuire and KNik (Macca this year if he keep on his attack) haven't seen it consistent effort and drive to improvement in last couple of years. Don't blame Gillo for mid year slump think his back was sore from carrying half the pack.

Too many just doing enough to avoid the embarrassment of getting fired and that was never part of the broncos culture when we were wining premierships. At the very least a few shock drops puts them on notice for next year. Having said that, in other cases effort isn't the problem it is dumb execution and poor attention to detail. Another issue that has been allowed to fester far too long.

Short of my rant: is fed up after 10 years (and that one was lucky) and want consistent attacking football and a premiership.

Does this include Wayne Bennett as a coach and what he's bringing to the table as well?

 

[PerthBrissy987]

Would mind finshing fourth and playing melbourne at their home we have played pretty well there lately better than suncorp

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

Bennett obviously peaks his teams very well for the finals by smashing them 3/4 way through the season then easing back up b4 the finals... unfortunately with this method we go through a poor period where we lose games we should have won or just plain play poorly. Im hoping he started doing this after the Canberra game (minus the origin players. If he's only just started we are in for a poor few weeks and won't have a chance of making the top 4)). The bonus of this is we peak for the finals, the problem is if we aren't in a strong position we need some luck to get in to the top 4 (eg this year, 2006 and last year)... if we get in the top 4 we will go close to winning it, if things don't go our way though we wont (as much as a mental block as anything else I believe these days for teams) especially with our team which seems a bit mentally weaker then past broncos teams of the 90's.

When Bennett starts the season he has one day in mind, grand final day, every year. As fans (+the media) it's hard to think like that but that's why he's coach and we ain't. Obviously this could not go to plan and we could not recover from the slump or injuries/etc, but I believe the risk is worth the reward...

 

[Stix]

Macca's knee is cooked(thanks Adam Blair)
Surgery Friday, end of season

 

[Kyall]

Ffs well our chances are fucked now 2018 here we come

 

[Accept]

Ffs well our chances are fucked now 2018 here we come

Does that mean you won't be posting anymore in 2017? I hope not.

 

[vertigo]

With Macca out? No chance.

 

[Number6]

Bad luck for Macca. Hope he recovers well and gets through surgery ok is the priority.

Secondary and less problem is won't make him faster or more confident runner.

Re the season. If forwards step up and stop being lazy relying on his defensive grinding and Waddell and hunt step up is possible to overcome loss Macca (not to dismiss his huge contributions him but he doesn't add a huge amount in attack it is his glue job in holding together the middle that will bite us) but problem is rest of spine with Milford injured and our version of the slim shady will the real broncos halfback please stand up. Boyd needs a huge improvement really needs once in a career form. A lot of big asks.

 

[winslow_wong]

With Macca out? No chance.

It's up to the rest of the boys to make a real fist of it now if they can get a let's do it for Macca mentality rather than let's wait for Macca next year mentality

 

[Super Freak]

We don't lose a great deal with Macca being out.

Defensively, it will likely hurt a bit and of course it will take time to form defensive combinations. Attack wise, he isn't really any better than Waddell.

 

[Unbreakable]

McCullough has 5 try assists, 3 line-breaks, 2 tries and has drastically improved his long kicking game this season.

If we're comparing him to other first choice Hooker's, that's really not all that bad.. Factor in his composure & workload in defence, and we're losing a top 5 Hooker in the game.. People still underrate him.

(As of Round 20) -

Try Assists / Line-Breaks / Tries

Granville 8 / 3 / 3
Hodgson 7 / 2 / 2
McInnes 6 / 2 / 2
Farah 6 / 2 / 2
Smith 6 / 1 / 1
McCullough 5 / 3 / 2
Friend 4 / 2 / 3
Peats 4 / 0 / 0
Koroisau 3 / 7 / 3
Luke 3 / 5 / 1
McIlwrick 2 / 4 / 2
Levi 2 / 3 / 2
Pritchard 2 / 2 / 1
Brailey 1 / 1 / 2
Wallace 0 / 1 / 2
Lichaa 0 / 1 / 1

 

[Number6]

McCullough has 5 try assists, 3 line-breaks, 2 tries and has drastically improved his long kicking game this season.

If we're comparing him to other first choice Hooker's, that's really not all that bad.. Factor in his composure & workload in defence, and we're losing a top 5 Hooker in the game.. People still underrate him.

(As of Round 20) -

Try Assists / Line-Breaks / Tries

Granville 8 / 3 / 3
Hodgson 7 / 2 / 2
McInnes 6 / 2 / 2
Farah 6 / 2 / 2
Smith 6 / 1 / 1
McCullough 5 / 3 / 2
Friend 4 / 2 / 3
Peats 4 / 0 / 0
Koroisau 3 / 7 / 3
Luke 3 / 5 / 1
McIlwrick 2 / 4 / 2
Levi 2 / 3 / 2
Pritchard 2 / 2 / 1
Brailey 1 / 1 / 2
Wallace 0 / 1 / 2
Lichaa 0 / 1 / 1

Agree so much better this year but slowness in service is still a very big negative that destroys the whole momentum of attack. Top 8, was working towards top 5 this year but needed faster service, couple more good kicks a game and a better running game. That would make him elite level and ready to play for QLD. Hope he uses this injury as a chance to take some time and think about his game as being more than a tackling machine. First step would be watch every game cam smith has played then second step would be a high speed auto ball feeder and to pass all day and night as quickly as possible.

 

[Waynesaurus]

We definitely don't want to finish 4th and be playing the Storm first up in the finals for mine. It would be a massive game and would take a lot out of us, almost our grand final a few weeks early.

Third or second with the Sharks to play the Storm first week and bash the stuffing out of each other is the ticket.

If we do finish 4th and have to play the Storm we really need to lift and win that game for the week off.

 

[Morkel]

Hey, maybe it's a good thing that Macca relies on his consistency and defence, and he's not one of these flyweights who relies on quick dummy half runs. Coming back from the damage Macca did would **** the careers of Granville, Luke, etc.

 

[Mr Fourex]

....I suppose you're right. I think it would be humanly impossible for McCullough to come back any slower.