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Are the Broncos contenders or pretenders in 2016?

Ben Hunt is back from Queensland Cup exile - but for how long? (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
Roar Pro
3rd July, 2016
14

In the Broncos versus Storm game on Friday, we saw something special – Brisbane were completely outplayed for the first time in a long time. Wayne Bennett was embarrassed. His post-match comments were a sign of his own denial.

For a few weeks now there have been signs that all is not right in Broncoland.

There was the Round 9 first-half performance against the Sharks, the Round 12 loss to Wests, the Round 13 Warriors man-handling, the Round 16 40-4 capitulation against the Bulldogs, and Friday night’s 48-6 flogging at home by the Storm.

Yes, Origin is on and Brisbane have put up six players. So what?

Bennett took off for a visit to the UK after Origin 1 to oversee the UK Test side, but you would have thought the team was in good hands while the coach was away.

As a fan, I’ve watched the team closely, and the weakness exposed by the Storm in the outside backs has been there for most of the season. When Corey Oates plays, the left-side defence performs better, but the right side leaks points. Since Jack Reed has been out, James Roberts’ pathetic defence, lazy plays when returning onside, his lack of urgency and any effort to tackle front-on has been exposed.

Fill-in winger Lachlan Maranta just hasn’t got it anymore. Alex Glen as a stop-gap centre is exposed every week he plays there, and still Bennett sticks with the same team.

Kodi Nikorima’s hesitation at dummy half while he ponders whether to run or not has all the support stopping on their run. Or, when he does pass, it is almost always misdirected. On Friday night, his true worth to this team was exposed. It was embarrassing and if the ranks of players wanting a shot are that thin, the team is really in trouble.

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Last season, their run to the finals was built on defence, this season it’s now open season and the players look at each other to see who opens the gate. The halves are scared to run because other teams have closed them down. Ben Hunt’s defence is hesitant as he is half covering for Roberts. Anthony Milford needs Hunt to set him up, and it’s pure individual brilliance if they happen to fluke a try or two.

They will be lucky to make the eight on current form.

So why is coach Bennet in denial about this team’s performances? Why has he not sent Roberts down to the Queensland Cup with a stint in the forwards to toughen him up? Why has he allowed this weakness in defence out wide to continue? Is he distracted, or is his tactic to prove a point about how Origin weakens teams who offer up the most players?

On that score, the Broncos have six (Cory Parker, Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillet, Darius Boyd, Cory Oates), Cowboys five (Johnathan Thurston, Michael Morgan, Justin O’Neil, Matt Scott, Janes Tamou), Sharks four (Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen, James Maloney, Jack Bird), Bulldogs three (Josh Morris, David Klemmer, Josh Jackson), Storm two (Cam Smith, Cooper Cronk), Tigers two (Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah), and a few other teams have one player away on Origin duty.

Of the six players Brisbane offer up to Origin, four are forwards, yet when watching the losses mentioned above, only the Bulldogs and Storm got the better of the Broncos’ forwards. This once again points to the backs as the problem.

Up until Round 8, the Broncos averaged 27.3 points scored per game, since Round 9, their average is 19.8. Defensively, up to Round 8 they had conceded an average of 10.1, since Round 9, that is now 27.

Set completions have fallen from 81.3 per cent to 75.87, missed tackles 7.6 per cent increased to 9.2 per cent, average run metres decreased from 9.2 to 9.0, tries scored decreased from 4.5 to 3.4.

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The only positive stats are penalties conceded, 5.1 down to five, and errors, 8.6 down to 8.1.

The Origin and byes period started in Round 12 and runs to Round 19.

Before Origin 1 the Broncos played Tigers without their Origin players and lost 18-19. After Origin 1, they played the Warriors away three days later and lost 36-18.

Before Origin 2, they had a bye. After Origin 2, Brisbane played the Bulldogs away three days later and lost 40-4.

Before Origin 3 the Broncos get another bye. After Origin 3, they play the Rabbitohs away in Round 19, also three days later.

This draw obviously bleeds excuses for performances if you believe Bennett – he laid this platform pre-Origin.

Brisbane sit on 20 points with a bye in hand to sit in seventh place – although that would be sixth if the Eels had their points stripped.

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In the coming weeks, the Broncos play: Rabbits away Round 19, Panthers at home Round 20, Roosters away Round 21, Dragons away Round 22, Parramatta home Round 23, Bulldogs home Round 24, Storm away Round 25, and Roosters home Round 26. On current form, none of those games are a lock for a win, except perhaps against the Eels.

All the other teams have tough forward packs, and given the weak defence on both edges, the Broncos are a stretch to make the eight this season.

I struggle with both the team’s performances, and Bennett’s inaction on players’ lack of performance. Other coaches will now be focused on this team’s weaknesses and they won’t be slow in taking advantage.

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