What can we say at the moment?

[Huge]

I hate rumour and innuendo as much as anyone else and what I've heard at work,from someone who is normally circumspect about the inner feeling at the club has me concerned. I won't repeat it verbatim but suffice to say the former feeling of home has gone and a new mistrustful air pervades. Hopefully that is not against the rules and if it is then I'll happily edit.

 

[Dee]

I think we all know that there are problems at Red Hill, not many people like to admitt that, I certainly don't want to even think about it!

I hope it's not too massive and that it can be fixed.

I feel that in the old days, the players used to LOVE being @ the Broncos, it was a great working environment, the front office was in tip top shape, and everyone was hard working and loved making the Broncos the #1 Rugby League team in the world.

These days, I get a negative vibe out of Broncos HQ @ RedHill, players leaving, alcohol related incidents the past few years, etc. I'm not sure who is to blame, but the culture seems to have changed dramatically.

 

[Burg]

Good evening,

As a passionate, Sydney-based Broncos supporter for many, many years, this is absolutely heart breaking to watch.

I'm not sure what the answers are.
I am not sure if the Broncos should sack Henjak.
Is it all of our injuries mounting up?
Possibly.

Losing Wayne Bennett was, and always will be the biggest loss our proud club has encountered, just look at the team we are now, compared to the team we were when Mr. Bennett was running things.
The aura of that man is remarkable.
I cannot believe how he has transformed the Dragons, I cannot believe it, but at the same time, what else were we to expect?
This man is the greatest Rugby League coach the game has seen.

I can almost bet my life that if Wayne was coaching this VERY SAME Broncos outfit, with all the injuries included, we may still have only 2 wins, but our proud club would have played the FULL 80 minutes in over 95% of their games so far. Who can disagree?

Anyway, I am venting.
We have endured so much success at the Broncos that, I'm not entirely sure how to handle these losses in 2010. We, as a club and as it's supporters, have never really endured seasons like this, and I must say, it's a horrible feeling.

The injuries may be a factor to all this, but I think the Broncos offices isn't up to par.
What's going on over there @ Red Hill?
Who's a supporter of Mr. Bruno Cullen?

I must say, some of the decisions that man has made over the years have been abysmal.
How can we lose our defensive cornerstone David Stagg, our next Shane Webcke, Ben Hannant, and a star player like Michael Ennis - to gain ONE player, Israel Folau?
It just doesn't make sense to me.
That is NOT smart business/football decision making, and that decision sounds like it was made by a man who does not have a Rugby League brain and doesn't know what makes a successful footy team.

We have no real strike power in the forwards.
Lockyer is left to do it all on his own, even when Wallace was playing.
Folau doesn't get nowhere near as much ball as he should.
Our defense though, jesus christ it's HORRIBLE. We are dropping off tackles so many times that it's embarrassing.
We are leaving holes in our defensive line the size of the grand canyon, my god!

Our attack is flat and disjointed. There's no creativity or flow to it. It's easily read by the opposition and they know every play we are about to make.
It's not good enough.
We are doing the same ball movements each set of six to the left side that other NRL clubs are studying during video sessions and picking our runners off with ease.

Anyway, this is my little vent.
I know there's some of you out there wanting to share similar feelings, so feel free.

I am still a proud Broncos supporter, and I will be forever.
I love them, and no matter what - they will get my support 110%, each and every year, wooden spoon or no wooden spoon.

Thanks,
Dee.

I feel like commenting tonight, so first of all, nice post Dee. After reading some other posts I just feel I want to comment on those so here goes...

 

[Dee]

Cheers Burg.

 

[Burg]

Henjak inherited a team built on bedrock and staffed by origin and international players. He also had established first graders used to the weekly grind. None of which explains his game plan such as it is. The team has gone backwards since his tenure began. That is a plain fact. I see no evidence of improvement. This years team is one he largely had a hand in building. Bennett went to St George, another team which is continually at the pointy end of the season but his team does not appear to be struggling. Coincidence perhaps. St George appear to have a game plan and the players there are often quoted as saying how good it was to have a plan. Never hear that up here in Qld. In fact I never hear players wrapping Henjak.

Sorry I dissagree, "Henjak inherited a team built on bedrock and staffed by origin and international players" who? Lockyer, Hodges and Hunt (loves league so much he watches Basketball, and loves AFL so much he plays the off season in Union instead of learning his trade), Thaiday (regarded by many as a fringe rep player). Most forget that Falou joined the Broncos when our coach was not decided, thats why he had an option in his favour. Webcke wrote a few nasty things about Talyor and sacked himself, Alf is, well Alf, like Bennett rightly said, wants to be liked more than be a coach. Also you forget that St George has been a force for many years before Bennett took over yet their finals record has not improved. Don't forget the Dragons havn't had to field an under 21 side every week either.

 

[Burg]

As for Mick's above comment about Henjak and Jack Gibson and Bennett, I don't agree. More relevantly for me, give our squad to Bellamy or Sheens, and I reckon we'd be playing as a team instead of a bunch of talented youngsters and no-s-youngsters wondering what the f**k is going on.

I actually agree with some of what you said however on this I do not, how long did it take for Bellamy to make the finals after he left the Broncos? Also could Henjak be as successful if he had a team that for 5 years exceeded the cap and this year alone will be at least $850k over, sorry, those numbers would make even Ricky Stuart a great coach. I want to see how Bellamy does with a team that has to abide by the rules like every other club. Also I would like to see how he goes with losses to key players every week for 8 weeks.

 

[Burg]

I think Henjack has made some critical errors like taking Hunt off last night for Norman, couldn't see why that was needed, as I thought Hunt was just starting to look very comfortable. Also, MICHAELS! My God. That guy struggles in defense, never select him again.

2 things here, first what has/did Hunt do to deserve to stay on? Everyone keeps putting this kid up as the replacement for Lockyer, your kidding me right? the only reason he resigned with the Broncos is that he wouldn't get a halfback spot with any other club in the NRL and nobody in their right mind could suggest otherwise. Secondly Henjak had very little choice but to give Michaels a run due to injuries to centres, wouldn't have been my choice, but I guess he proved why he won't be at the Broncos next year. Won't get in the squad again this year.

 

[Coxy]

As for Mick's above comment about Henjak and Jack Gibson and Bennett, I don't agree. More relevantly for me, give our squad to Bellamy or Sheens, and I reckon we'd be playing as a team instead of a bunch of talented youngsters and no-s-youngsters wondering what the f**k is going on.

I actually agree with some of what you said however on this I do not, how long did it take for Bellamy to make the finals after he left the Broncos?

1 season.

He left the Broncos in 2002, Storm made the finals in 2003 and have made the finals every year until this year.

 

[Huge]

Burg, you might have said " I disagree in part because you were wrong in fact". Instead a blanket, I disagree. The facts as I wrote are not incorrect. I did not say all players were origin or Internationals but rather the broncos were staffed by those same players. Hunt, Hodges,Folau,Lockyer,Wallace,Clinton,Thaiday,Parker,Carrol and Marsh with big Dave Taylor !!...

You said:

(Sorry I dissagree, "Henjak inherited a team built on bedrock and staffed by origin and international players" who? Lockyer, Hodges and Hunt)

I can't see how you disagree but whatever. No comment on the lack of direction instead some twaddle about what these players do in their spare time and some more twaddle about Alf !! and Webcke !!..what has that got to do with anything and I sure did'nt mention them. You disagree that WB has a game plan, is well spoken of by the St George players and Henjak never gets wrapped by his own players.yeah right and whites black....

 

[Coxy]

Burg, you might have said " I disagree in part because you were wrong in fact". Instead a blanket, I disagree. The facts as I wrote are not incorrect. I did not say all players were origin or Internationals but rather the broncos were staffed by those same players. Hunt, Hodges,Folau,Lockyer,Wallace,Clinton,Thaiday,Parker,Carrol and Marsh with big Dave Taylor !!...

You said:

(Sorry I dissagree, "Henjak inherited a team built on bedrock and staffed by origin and international players" who? Lockyer, Hodges and Hunt)

I can't see how you disagree but whatever. No comment on the lack of direction instead some twaddle about what these players do in their spare time and some more twaddle about Alf !! and Webcke !!..what has that got to do with anything and I sure did'nt mention them. You disagree that WB has a game plan, is well spoken of by the St George players and Henjak never gets wrapped by his own players.yeah right and whites black....

Christ. People are allowed to disagree with you, and you are able to say "OK, let's agree to disagree" rather than sook about the fact he disagreed with you! :P

 

[Huge]

It's not that they disagree but the blanket statement. Burg does not want to concede any of what I write is agreeable. remember Coxy, I've encountered him before lol [icon_evillaugh

 

[Huge]

Also Coxy...real discussion is based on disagreement. It's how we reason and debate. It's the basis of science, postulate,test and discuss the findings. What sort of forum would it be if everyone just said, fine and dandy with whatever you've written, you'll get no disagreement from me ...The columns would be short and boring !!!

What I love is a statement supported by reasoned argument( the claimants evidence)...what I hate is...i disagree because I disagree and that's enough. I don't need no reason boy, it's just so cos, stems from my violent and drunken father, do it boy cos I said and no r-gin from ya either( die=rect quote lol )

 

[Coxy]

Totally agree. But no need to be a sook about it! :P

 

[tkday]

Yeah, why do none of the players say anything about Henjak? None of them have come out and said he's a good coach and we love playing for him. They used to do that all the time with Bennett didn't they?

 

[Huge]

Spot on + 100 % tkday...sometimes the silence is deafening. It says so so much more than a enforced endorsement. That's what I was alluding to earlier on.

 

[tkday]

Something stinks here and it's not my underarms.

 

[Burg]

IMO any time I see an out pouring of love and affection from the players or worse the CEO is akin to "your time is up buddy" in most cases. Not suggesting that this is the case with Bennett but I think there are other things at play in St George and that has more to do with getting supporters on side with a coach they have hated for 25 years. The best endorsement that Henjak got was an extension of his contract. I highly doubt that this would have happened without consultation from the senior players, not sure what you’re smoking in suggesting that it was a “forced endorsement”. I never suggested that he was the best coach in the game, but he has to coach what he has and like I say I doubt we would be any higher or not much higher up the ladder regardless who was coaching us. Then again it’s easy to blame the coach. Funny many of the same people wanting to get rid of Henjak were the same people that wanted to get rid of Bennett. Just shows, you can’t please some people.

 

[Huge]

Incidentally, very few people, St George supporters included, hate WB. He is well liked both North and South of the border but more importantly is almost universally respected. Even when he was King of Queensland he was never hated. Totally wrong there Burg. Totally.

I have'nt been smoking anything but the Broncos resigning Henjak was not on my mind when I made that reference.
Let me re-phrase then. A grudgingly given endorsement of a coach or his methods. St George players spontaneously endorse WB and his skills as a coach and his life skills as a friend. I'm not arguing with anyone about that . It seems that whenever and wherever WB coaches or simply visits the lasting impression is brilliant. Whether he coaches Origin Club State or simply doing a guest appearance( paid or otherwise) he is highly regarded. He is no myth, no beatup or pseudo swami , he is the real deal. Genuine and honest and I wish I could truthfully say, he's a friend of mine.

No-one is asked to endorse him or his methods, people do it of their own free will. That's enough for me. I've just not heard any player wrap Henjak, his coaching or his life skills. Only his coaching and life skills are important to me because they affect the team I support.