Who's Your Man To Watch This Season?

[GCBRONCO]

Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak is hoping to unleash a bigger, fitter and faster Dave Taylor this NRL season with the young Bronco putting his future with the six-time premiers on the line this year.

Despite being rated a future NRL star, Brisbane only offered the 20-year-old Taylor a one-year deal for season 2009.

Clearly they want the former Blackwater Crusher to show he can be disciplined on and off the field before they offer him a long-term deal.
Taylor could be pivotal to Brisbane's forward rotation and Henjak needs him to be able to play 20-minute spells in attack and defence.

It's a challenge Taylor says he's ready for and which Brisbane and Queensland Origin selectors hope he can deliver.

At training Taylor is as skilful with his hands as any back.

When he opens the throttle he has exceptional balance and genuine speed for someone who's a massive 120kgs.

What he needs is to get his fitness up to NRL standard.

"Dave is a lot bigger than what he was last year but he's also a lot fitter and a lot quicker than he was last year," said Henjak. "The key for Dave is trying to get as many minutes out of him.

"He'll play all three trials to build him up so hopefully he'll be able to play the minutes we require in our first game."

 

[gUt]

Saw an article on Dave Taylor the other day saying he was bigger, heavier, but fitter and quicker.

He's all ready to go, and Ivan wants him to play at least 20 minutes at a time hitting the ball up and getting involved in as many tackles as he possibly can during his spell.

Apparently he prefers this to "being all over the place" last year like running out wide.

Look. If I hear another story about him being pumped up without seeing some results, he'll just be Willie Mason Jnr in my eyes.

HTFU and DO YOUR JOB.

QFT

 

[Coxy]

Amen brother!

 

[mick]

Saw an article on Dave Taylor the other day saying he was bigger, heavier, but fitter and quicker.

He's all ready to go, and Ivan wants him to play at least 20 minutes at a time hitting the ball up and getting involved in as many tackles as he possibly can during his spell.

Apparently he prefers this to "being all over the place" last year like running out wide.

Look. If I hear another story about him being pumped up without seeing some results, he'll just be Willie Mason Jnr in my eyes.

HTFU and DO YOUR JOB.

No argument from me. Well said, really.

However, we still need to remember that he is pretty young. Plenty of forwards have buggered around a bit and haven't been overly committed in the early years, before really hitting their straps as they get older. The potential has always been there, I just hope these reports are true.

Basically, I'd want him to spend the first 10 weeks in the Q-Cup, working his butt off, never complaining and playing some good footy. If he does that, he can spend the rest of the year in first grade IMO.

 

[Je$ter]

People need to realise DT is only 20, most props don't mature till 23-24. He's already played a handful of games in his teens, and the older he gets the more mature and wiser he'll become. I expect him to kick ass this year, especially while he's playing fora contract.

 

[Assassin]

articles only mean so much... its results that really tell the truth. I was reading through the rubgy league weeks 2009 preview edition yesterday and there is a rather comical two page article on how tuamata is gonna turn things around at the storm, grow up... secure a 1st grade spot etc... man he didn't even last the off-season!

I wanna wish DT all the best... but still I'll get myself excited when I see him hit the field

 

[Coxy]

People need to realise DT is only 20, most props don't mature till 23-24. He's already played a handful of games in his teens, and the older he gets the more mature and wiser he'll become. I expect him to kick ass this year, especially while he's playing fora contract.

He was kind of playing for a contract last year too. He earnt a 1 year tentative extension.

He better lift his game this year. I don't think anyone's expecting him to be at his career peak, but he should be improving year to year. That he went backwards last year was a concern, although second year syndrome isn't that unusual.

 

[Emma]

I don't want him to be the man of the match each week, I just want him to look as though he's as fit as he can be and that he's actually putting in.

 

[Coxy]

Agree Emma. Too often last year it was like he'd do one good thing, and then go "my work here is done" and do **** all the rest of the time he was there.

Notable example: his big hit on that big Bulldog unit at Suncorp Stadium (With Ashton Sims). Huge shot, awesome stuff...then he was unseen for the remaining game time he had.

Basically I don't want to see any forward come off the field who's not gasping for breath. Well, maybe not that bad, but you know what I mean, they should have worked their butt off for the time they were on the field and NEED a rest.

 

[Emma]

The problem with DT last year though Coxy was that he would do shit all and still come off the field gasping for breath!

 

[mrslong]

He had one pretty good game in the baby broncos v the Panthers that I recall. Showed his potential, got everyone excited and then went AWOL again.

 

[Guest]

Palmer Wapau ... he's the emerging man this year for me.

With Tunza gone he's the wide running backrower we'll be looking for. I predict an awesome year for Palmer. He only missed out on first grade last year due to injury and timing ... he came good for Redcliffe at the back end of the season when Benny wanted stability in the team ... so didn't bring him in.

Wapou has great ball-skill and runs on the right hand side ... could form a great combination with Folau and Hodges. I can hear it now ... "WAPOU TO FOLAU ... OH WOW (a plug for the sponsors there as well!)

 

[Coxy]

The problem with DT last year though Coxy was that he would do shit all and still come off the field gasping for breath!

Yeah, I agree [icon_lol1.

 

[Hamm.0]

The problem with DT last year though Coxy was that he would do shit all and still come off the field gasping for breath!

Yeah, I agree [icon_lol1.

I wish I had a photo of the image I saw in the Broncos v Storm semi last year (yes...that game). If you want to see a forward give 100% for the time they are on, you guys should have seen Lima and Manu when they left the field, at differing intervals during the game.

In the first half, Manu came off and deadset, he could barely breath. He was actually choking whilst trying to sip water, as he needed to breathe as well. He was lathered in sweat and was struggling to gasp for oxygen. Same same Lima towards the end of the half. In the 2nd half I saw Manu again, i have very seldomly seen a guy so buggered from footy. He looked like he had just finished a beach sp[rint circuit. The guy couldn't walk properly trying to breathe.

Both players oozed commitment. If we got even half that from DT, I'd be impressed.

I'd give ANYTHING to get Manu and/or Lima in a Broncos jersey....I even give Je$ter.

 

[mrslong]

Pity they didn't know to save some of that up for the GF. Ha!

 

[schmix]

I think Taylor suffered greatly from overexposure. Too many people were telling him how great he will be, and he started to believe he was already there. Thankfully there has been very little press on him this year. I hope he's been missing the attention and will come out wanting to EARN it back.

 

[Jeba]

Meh, Manu and Lima will have massive second season syndrome.

 

[Dave]

In the first half, Manu came off and deadset, he could barely breath. He was actually choking whilst trying to sip water, as he needed to breathe as well. He was lathered in sweat and was struggling to gasp for oxygen. In the 2nd half I saw Manu again, i have very seldomly seen a guy so buggered from footy. He looked like he had just finished a beach sp[rint circuit. The guy couldn't walk properly trying to breathe.

That's because Manu is unfit. My read on Manu is that he will prove to be very hit and miss - giant killer 1 week, powder puff the next.

I reckon you have over-rated both these guys big time Hammo. Lima is a good forward but I think I read where you said he would be #1 prop in the game by season's end - a huge call and from what I have seen a very little chance of happening. Petero and Price have lengths on Lima and I would rate guys like Poore and Troy Thompson at least the equal of Lima - If on the other hand you said Blair then we would be in agreement - he has massive scope for improvement and wil be a top shelf 8 or 10 sooner rather than later.

Our pack, whom everyone seems to throw crap at, bashed and bullied the Storm pack for 79 minutes of the game that night, hardly a great recommendation for the Storm pack is it?