1- Corey Norman has the instincts to be at the right place in broken plays, is physically strong and can break the line quite well, can throw a good pass in a set play, and has a very good long kicking game. Hoffman needs to go back to the drawing board and learn to use space and time in a offensive set, to give himself the chance to either throw a pass or evade the player rushing out of the line to tackle him!
2- Dale Copley: Like most people here, I have been impressed by his progress this season. He has become very safe under the high ball, is a damaging runner of the ball, and if he gains a little more control, he can be a great finisher. Lachlan Maranta and Josh Hoffman await in the shadows to grab this spot.
3- Jack Reed, unless he doesn't recover from his 2nd year syndrome, at which point he could become a handy bench 2nd rower, while Copley moves into his favorite position and Maranta or Hoffman fight over the remaining wing spot.
4- Justin Hodges really came of age in the second half of the season, and showed how good he really is, and still amongst the top 3 centres in the game. Hoffman could try to make a name for himself here during the Origin period if he doesn't keep the FB spot.
5- Jharal Yow Yeh: I just hope he comes back to his best, because he can and will make a huge difference to our backline, especially his aerial game will a huge gain.
6- Peter Wallace, a great organization halve with a great short kicking game and the vision to make things happen, as long as he gets the time to execute them, which he won't get as first receiver.
7- Ben Hunt needs at least half a season to get into a partnership with Wallace and a more capable fullback in Norman. If he doesn't succeed, then Wallace comes back into the position and we look at what Kahu / Norman are capable of, or... we throw a blank checkbook at Shaun Johnson!
8- Ben Hannant will become our number 1 prop after Civo's departure, and will hopefully be able to keep producing high quality minutes.
9- Andrew McCullough is becoming a bit more consistent and is certainly the best option at hooker for the Broncos. Hopefully, he will start playing 90 minutes so we don't waste a bench spot on someone to relieve him for 5 to 10 minutes.
10-Corey Parker is increasingly becoming more of a prop in his play style, runs with purpose, offloads at will and tackles well, with the advantage of leaving room for the more mobile Glenn, Thaiday and Gillett in the second row.
11-Alex Glenn is a no-brainer really, who IMO should be our captain, but I guess that ship has sailed...
12-Sam Thaiday hopefully will return to his damaging best on the right fringe, where his partnership with Hodges and Yow Yeh can create havoc for the opponent.
13-Matt Gillett after a year where he clearly let himself down, has to take the opportunity to go to the next level. I think he can play a role similar to that of Glen Stewart at the scum, and provide us with that extra x-factor we have been lacking so much.
14-Aaron Whitchurch could be the utility on the bench, capable of filling a position in the back-row or in the back-line.
15-Josh McGuire is another no-brainer, who will only keep getting better. His rotation with Hannant and Parker should allow for Hala to have more impact in his shorter stints.
16-David Hala can be our bulldozer and damage defenses in the later stages of each half, generating quick play the balls and opening gaps for our back-row and back-line to slip through.
17-Rotational spot for one of the many back-rowers we have, giving them the chance to gain experience and help us overcome the much maligned Origin period.
I still see the above team as having top 4 potential as long as it is utilized properly, and better attacking plans and set plays are created and trained until they are ingrained in each player's subconscious. And although we may be a bit thin in the prop depth, the likes of Maranta, Hoffman, Capewell? and Kahu in the backs, as well as the plethora of good back-rowers guarantee us a cushion we can rely on during injuries and/or Origin.
Gee and Griffin have the time to act now. Use that time wisely!