2017 Brisbane Broncos Thread - we hate them for their freedom

Honeysett wrote:I don't understand how your lineup is strong when your 1-5 is absolutely woeful minus Boyd who's coming off a brilliant year.

troll or no troll, I'm not letting that one through to the keeper, in years past you might have had a point, when our choices were a kick in the nuts or a punch in the face (insert Maranta and Eden in whichever order you like), but unless you conspiracy theorists get what you want, we're going into season 2017 with a 1-5 of Boyd, Oates, Kahu, Roberts, Mead - the only place in the universe where that might be considered woeful is over there on anti-bronco island.  Even if the NRL find truth in the allegations, we have Opacic and Pearson who both didn't let anyone down when called upon before Marshall is even in the conversation, our backline isn't going to lose us games.

On the other hand, our prop forward rotation might lose us games and did last year, and honestly, Korbin doesn't fill me with hope... he's great value and if we get 2015 Korbin that forced his way into origin camp, then fantastic, but if we're getting 2016 Korbin that was routinely outplayed by Mataora and the Saifitis, then he can take a seat behind Offa & Pangai and earn his league minimum in Q-cup, we have potential and toilers in the 17, what we need more than anything else is an experienced metre-eater and I have extreme doubts this move solves that problem.

Honeysett wrote:

Instead you've signed struggling 5/8 Benji Marshall to play in the centres.

The latest about James Roberts is the nightclub is refusing to hand over CCTV footage to the NRL investigators so either
a) it's an absolute media beat up and nothing happened
b) Broncos have paid the nightclub under the table to not hand over the tape.
c) something way worse has happened that doesn't involve James Roberts and they don't want to incriminate anyone else.

As much as I would like to fuel the fire and say it's B, it's most likely A and James Roberts will get yet another lifeline.  

d) the nightclub owner is a Broncos supporter and doesn't want to see Roberts sacked.

A friend is of the opinion Wayne didn't want Ben Hunt anyway - which begs the question did he really get Benji up as cover in case Hunt buggered off??

I know he has a reputation for pulling the odd miracle out of the hat, but if I see a Milford / Benji combo as a permanent fixture on the team sheet each week, it'd take a return to 2005 form for me to feel happy about it.

No offense to Benji: I've always been a fan of him. At someone else's club. Would love a slice of humble pie at the end of the year though.

Nah you're right. Current day Benji and Milford would suck.

Once he got over all his injuries he was also pretty damned awesome through 2009-2012. Can't see him getting back to that ever, let alone with a different style of team around him.

If he is a starting centre he is going to get absolutely fucking smashed!

dasherhalo wrote:A friend is of the opinion Wayne didn't want Ben Hunt anyway - which begs the question did he really get Benji up as cover in case Hunt buggered off??

I know he has a reputation for pulling the odd miracle out of the hat, but if I see a Milford / Benji combo as a permanent fixture on the team sheet each week, it'd take a return to 2005 form for me to feel happy about it.

No offense to Benji: I've always been a fan of him. At someone else's club. Would love a slice of humble pie at the end of the year though.

If Wayne didn't want Hunt, there's no way he allows Ash Taylor to go elsewhere.

To be fair who thought any club would offer Hunt such massive dollars. I don't blame him for taking the cash and running however I thought the Broncos could have counter offered somewhat close to that offer with only 700-800k going on the salary cap with the rest being TPA's.

If its true, Hunt would be absolutely stupid to not take that offer. 6million over 6 years is fucking crazy for a guy who has already hit his peak, and hes not even as good as mitch pearce.

That is such a bad offer from the dragons, if true.

Hypothetically, who would you rather..
Luke Brooks on 500k or Ben Hunt on a million?

Pieman wrote:If its true, Hunt would be absolutely stupid to not take that offer. 6million over 6 years is fucking crazy for a guy who has already hit his peak, and hes not even as good as mitch pearce.

That is such a bad offer from the dragons, if true.

Hypothetically, who would you rather..
Luke Brooks on 500k or Ben Hunt on a million?

Fuck that is harder then it should be to answer

I think Hunt is a wonderful player, but the 500k difference between them at least means we could pay for a half decent second rower. But then again at least Hunt would actually puts his hand up.

Pieman wrote:Hypothetically, who would you rather..
Luke Brooks on 500k or Ben Hunt on a million?

Korbin for $85k

We could probably have given Hunt and attractive offer for a couple of years, but Ben Hunt turns 27 in March, which means that by the time that contract is finished with The Dragons, he is well over 33. Hunter has done unbelievably well in the last couple of years in my opinion, but he's not in organising halfback like Cooper Cronk or something like that. He really relies on explosive strength and a great dummy to make breaks. I don't know if I would be taking a risk on 33-year-old doing that for a million a season.

As far as I'm concerned he'd be mad not to take it, and he leaves with my best wishes for 2018 and beyond and I hope he proves me wrong. I sincerely think him for his service, particularly at the last couple of years when he performed so much better than I ever thought he could. It's been fun.

surmo13 wrote:

troll or no troll, I'm not letting that one through to the keeper, in years past you might have had a point, when our choices were a kick in the nuts or a punch in the face (insert Maranta and Eden in whichever order you like), but unless you conspiracy theorists get what you want, we're going into season 2017 with a 1-5 of Boyd, Oates, Kahu, Roberts, Mead - the only place in the universe where that might be considered woeful is over there on anti-bronco island.  Even if the NRL find truth in the allegations, we have Opacic and Pearson who both didn't let anyone down when called upon before Marshall is even in the conversation, our backline isn't going to lose us games.

On the other hand, our prop forward rotation might lose us games and did last year, and honestly, Korbin doesn't fill me with hope... he's great value and if we get 2015 Korbin that forced his way into origin camp, then fantastic, but if we're getting 2016 Korbin that was routinely outplayed by Mataora and the Saifitis, then he can take a seat behind Offa & Pangai and earn his league minimum in Q-cup, we have potential and toilers in the 17, what we need more than anything else is an experienced metre-eater and I have extreme doubts this move solves that problem.

I must have missed the memo, isn't Oates a second rower now? I thought that was confirmed.

Mead is certainly servicable but hardly what you're used to at the Broncos and Kahu is a walking injury. You've got little to no depth. Opacic is injured and out is he not? Roberts should be sacked if he's done anything wrong however minor on the piss being that it's his second fuck up on as many years.

Boyd is brilliant St the Broncos though and really helps them out a lot but your backs will cause you problems this year.

Honeysett wrote:

I must have missed the memo, isn't Oates a second rower now? I thought that was confirmed.

Mead is certainly servicable but hardly what you're used to at the Broncos and Kahu is a walking injury. You've got little to no depth. Opacic is injured and out is he not? Roberts should be sacked if he's done anything wrong however minor on the piss being that it's his second fuck up on as many years.

Boyd is brilliant St the Broncos though and really helps them out a lot but your backs will cause you problems this year.

You are forgetting Moga, Seve, Pearson, Pangai and .... Marshall.

Out of all the things to be having a go about us or that is normally complained about, I really didn't think our backline would come into question?? I think its fine its definitely above average

Mighty Fishes wrote:Out of all the things to be having a go about us or that is normally complained about, I really didn't think our backline would come into question?? I think its fine its definitely above average

I must be missing something hey, I just don't see them performing well.

Who comes in for Roberts if he's gone? If Oates stays there on the wing you guys should be alright because he's a gun finisher. I just think they should struggle defensively big time.

1. Boyd is defensively the best fullback in the game and arguably the best decision maker for the last pass in the game
2. mead is a good winger and it wouldnt shock me if he was the top try scorer come the end of the season
3. Kahu is one of the better outside backs in the league but has largely played on the right wing - not left centre so we will see how it goes
4. Roberts is the best centre in the game on his day - whether he will be there or not is another story tho
5. Oates - teams figured out that he isnt great at catching the ball and bringing it back, besides that he is an excellent winger

Id dont really know what you are on about HS...
Sure if you take Oates, Kahu and Roberts out of the backline, its fucking shit - but if you take 3 of the best outside backs in the game out of any backline - the backline then becomes shit.

Boyd is their linchpin though. If he gets hurt, that is their entire attack fucked besides milfords light stepping but again if you take the fullback and focal point out of any attack, the attack struggles.

You're off ur head HS! IMO, when healthy it is close to the best back line in the league - but you are right on one point, there is fuck all depth there.

Moga is an interesting one though.
Was touted as the next Izzy when he was at the roosters but has had 100 knee reco's since.
If he can stay healthy it would be interesting to see how he goes.

Pieman wrote:1. Boyd is defensively the best fullback in the game and arguably the best decision maker for the last pass in the game
2. mead is a good winger and it wouldnt shock me if he was the top try scorer come the end of the season
3. Kahu is one of the better outside backs in the league but has largely played on the right wing - not left centre so we will see how it goes
4. Roberts is the best centre in the game on his day - whether he will be there or not is another story tho
5. Oates - teams figured out that he isnt great at catching the ball and bringing it back, besides that he is an excellent winger

Id dont really know what you are on about HS...
Sure if you take Oates, Kahu and Roberts out of the backline, its fucking shit - but if you take 3 of the best outside backs in the game out of any backline - the backline then becomes shit.

Boyd is their linchpin though. If he gets hurt, that is their entire attack fucked besides milfords light stepping but again if you take the fullback and focal point out of any attack, the attack struggles.

You're off ur head HS! IMO, when healthy it is close to the best back line in the league - but you are right on one point, there is fuck all depth there.

Totally agree, if you remove Roberts (should be fired) Kahu more than likely via injury and Oates to the forwards we got nothing!! I'm not exactly excited about our depth though

Yeah, it was good to see him make some late appearances for the Cows last year. Given they picked him ahead of Bowen, who went well in his first couple of games, they obviously liked what they saw in him.

Either he'll go great, or be one of those guys who never met his potential because he was always injured.

Personally I think Oates stays on the wing due to the lack of depth