What an embarrassment.

[winslow_wong]

It's hard to put a finger on what the difference between last year and this year is.

Something I have noticed is last year we had a lot of average players playing above their potential. Maranta, Reed, Thaiday and Blair in particular come to mind.
The backs:
With the loss of Hodges as well as Maranta (although he is coming back from injury) and Reed being very average we have lost alot of point scoring ability. Also our depth is really being tested and is failing at the moment. Without Oates and Hodgo it really shows how much we miss a back who can play as an extra forward or scoot making metres out of our end.
It amases me how so many clubs seem to so easily unveil new wingers nearly every year, Vunivalu (or what ever his name is) for example, yet we seem to struggle in that area. It's a real shame we weren't able to see if Opacic was going to be an option for us at centre.

The forwards:
Thaiday was good for us last year in the front row, occasionally he was fantastic standing up to opposition forwards such as Hargreaves. This year he has been average, he comes on does a job and goes off without much impact. His role in the team has decreased. He needs to find that fire he had last year and make every minute out there count. Bennett needs to give him a player whether it be Hargreaves, Bromich etc, and just tell him to destroy them.
Blair has lost his edge since his few suspensions. He needs to get some mongrel back, dominate in tackles, pressure the kickers and ball players that play at the line. We all know he is never going to be the guy to look to to make the big hit up but he does need to get back to where he was when McGuire got injured last year.
Looking back it's really hard to believe have far we went last year without our best front rower, McGuire.

On another note. Last year we were quite lucky with injuries. We built a structure around that team, everyone had a specific role within the team and it worked. This year we have had alot of injuries of late. And in the last few weeks, injuries at the start of the game which is killing us. We have had to make a lot of reshuffles and I think that is really killing us. We aren't coping with the change and new faces. I know that is no excuse, and great teams should be able to cope with this to an extent, especially when we have the majority of our spine in tact still. But its just what I think is the difference between 2015 and 2016.

Please don't mention maranta and hodges in the same breath but I get your point. Totally agree on Thaiday, we all saw what he did to klemmer in origin 2 so he's still got it but it's getting him in the right killer mindset. He seems more interested in being a media personality though.

 

[Stix]

When, this year or next.

Our run home doesn't seem so easy now... Unless a miracle happens I can see us only wining maybe 2 more games.... We're f***ed

 

[Broncoman]

Hopefully getting flogged in front of our home crowd is the perfect wake up call we needed. Losses like that can really fire the team up, I remember that 56-0 loss to the Raiders back in 2009 and from memory we came back from it and didn't lose another game until that preliminary final in Melbourne.

 

[Jason Simmons]

You reckon it can get worse? I'm with Lynx000. This has to be the bottom of the barrell.

This isn't the bottom of the barrel as we are getting spanked by top 4 teams...

When we get beaten by bottom 4 teams will be bottom of the barrel...

 

[rnabokov]

Football is supposed to be fun. None of our team except maybe Oates looks like he is having fun.

Can't win if you're not enjoying your footie.

Hunt looks miserable and disinterested, Milford looks the same.

C'mon guys, throw the ball around and have some fun. The play last night with Roberts for his try is a good if fleeting moment of fun... more please

 

[winslow_wong]

This isn't the bottom of the barrel as we are getting spanked by top 4 teams...

When we get beaten by bottom 4 teams will be bottom of the barrel...

We got spanked by the Warriors and any time you lose to the tigers it's considered a spanking.

 

[Jason Simmons]

We got spanked by the Warriors and any time you lose to the tigers it's considered a spanking.

Yeah, though neither are currently in the bottom four...

If we struggle against the Rabbits in two weeks, that will be the bottom, IMHO.

 

[uptheguts]

A few points:
iIt is nearly impossible maintain the grinding style of football the Broncos play. Sooner or later the players just run out of energy or enthusiasm for it. In truth , we nearly grinded our way to a premiership last year, but it is just wearing the boys out now.

Our poor line speed is really hurting us. It is giving momentum and confidence to our opponents, plus too many shots at our line., and we just do not have the forward power to bully our way up the paddock.

When our only option is to put KNick on the wing after Oates was injured , then we have real problems with our playing roster . I have to ask why this is, given that we are one of the more wealthy and well supported clubs. We really need to recruit smarter .Our present strike rate with picking winners from young players is not really that good.

 

[Super Freak]

We just don't seem to have the hunger this year.

Last year we had the hunger, the will to prove everyone wrong and as the season went on, we got better and better.

This year, it's completely different. There is no hunger.

Can we produce a month of winning form in the finals? Yeah we could, with the right attitude. But we don't have it at the moment.

I suppose, stranger things have happened. What you do during the year means **** all in the finals.

I'm hoping for a 2006 or 2009 type of revival, but I just can't see us winning the premiership this year.

 

[winslow_wong]

The reduced interchange has probably effected us more than any other team with our roster and style of play.

 

[Bucking Beads]

The reduced interchange has probably effected us more than any other team with our roster and style of play.

How so?


I think injuries have hit hard in the middle of the Origin period plus there is a few key blokes down in form. Add to that the talk of a few blokes getting big heads in the locker room and it is a recipe for some really ordinary performances.

 

[broncos4life]

The reduced interchange has probably effected us more than any other team with our roster and style of play.

Yes, our small, fit, mobile forward pack has been decimated by the reduced interchange...

 

[Stix]

Yes, our small, fit, mobile forward pack has been decimated by the reduced interchange...

Drives me nuts, we have the side to exploit the reduced interchange around a big tiring forward pack yet we try and match them for size in the middle making 40meters a set until we tire and get run over....

 

[winslow_wong]

Yes, our small, fit, mobile forward pack has been decimated by the reduced interchange...

By not moving up in defence our small mobile pack is getting bashed. Doesn't matter how fit you are the constant wrestle with larger bodies is going to empty the tank.

 

[Pushkin]

Broncos are 6 on ladder if raiders win today broncos gone finish on 7 on ladder. Two week ago broncos were in top 4 position. Are broncos gone be top 8 end of the season.

 

[lynx000]

Broncos are 6 on ladder if raiders win today broncos gone finish on 7 on ladder. Two week ago broncos were in top 4 position. Are broncos gone be top 8 end of the season.

If their current form continues, then probably not. If there is a turn around then yes, but it is looking more unlikely they will get a top 4 position.

 

[holdzy]

I heard on the Footy Show this morning the Eels should lose their points next week - and we've got a bye and the Raiders have the Cows next so with a win following Origin 3 we should be back around the top 4 soon and look to try and stay there.

 

[tommy]

If we can't beat the Souths outfit we just saw then I am seriously worried we won't even make the 8.