The Brisbane Broncos put in a tremendous effort to comeback in the second half against the Melbourne Storm on Friday night.
At one stage it looked like the Storm would rack up a cricket score, and at 6–20 it didn’t look dissimilar to a cricket score when Australia is batting!
There is no shame in losing to the Storm. It was a gallant effort to come as close as the Broncos did. But coming close to beating a side is one thing; actually beating a side is another.
I have very simple solution to improve the Broncos; play your two best players in their preferred positions.
Sam Thaiday plays his best football in the second row, while Justin Hodges stated in the off-season he wants to play fullback.
Admittedly, Hodges didn’t play Friday night and Anthony Griffin said it was earlier in the week it was possible Hodges would spend time at fullback. But I think when Hodges is fit he should be playing fullback for 80 minutes.
Hodges is by far and away the Broncos most dangerous players in attack. Therefore he needs to get his hands of the ball as much as possible.
He should be able to pop up on both sides of the field, which would increase his effectiveness and make the Broncos more dangerous in attack. He would also have more room to move at fullback. Just look at how much more dangerous Greg Inglis is at fullback rather than at centre.
I think Corey Norman could play right centre to accommodate Hodges at fullback. Currently, Norman’s biggest strength is running the ball, thus the centres would suit him.
Moreover, Jamie Lyon has shown how effective it can be having a ballplayer in the centres.
Even though Norman wants to play five-eighth, where he will probably play next season, I don’t think it would do him any harm to play a season in the centres.
Three of greatest five-eighths in recent times; Laurie Daley, Brad Fitler and Darren Lockyer all started their careers in a different position.
Meanwhile, even if Josh Dugan signed with the Broncos, I think they should put his straight into counseling and stand him down from the NRL for a few weeks at least.
Anyone who couldn’t be bothered going to training, instead preferring to drink alcohol in the morning clearly needs help.
Furthermore, Dugan recently suggested a fans should ‘end themselves’, in response to comments they wrote on Instagram.
This is an absolutely horrible thing say at anytime, but particularly given the recent events regarding Brett Seymour and Mosese Fotuaika.
Clearly this guy should be getting professional help not playing in the NRL.
Even if he does sign with the Broncos, when he does take to field I think he could play five-eighth in attack and fullback in defence.
Hodges is accustom to defending on the frontline and it would allow Dugan to return kicks, a strength in his game.
It frustrates me every time I see Thaiday named in the front row.
I’m sick to death about hearing how it accommodates Matt Gillett in the starting side.
Thaiday is the club’s best forward who plays his best football when he is using footwork on the edges. In the second row he can play eighty minutes very effectively, which is important given he is the captain.
Gillett plays fantastic off the bench. But if Gillett must start I’d rather see Corey Parker start in the front row and Gillett at lock.
Like Thaiday, Parker is better suited to the back row. However he isn’t as dangerous as Thaiday on the fringes. Moreover his workrate would very useful in the frontrow.
Things may change when Josh Migure comes back, however I still think it is time for the likes of Scott Anderson, Mitchell Dodds and Dunamis Lui and David Hala (when fit) to step up.
If they can’t I think the Broncos should take Gordon Tallis’ advice and try and sign a big name front rower such as Martin Kennedy or David Shillington for 2014.
The Broncos showed some promising signs against Storm.
They have to tough decisions to make such whether or not to persist with Scott Prince and who they should try and sign for 2014.
But two decisions should be very simple; play Hodges at fullback and Thaiday in the backrow. Your best players must play in their best positions.
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