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.
Symbolsoup
Guest
I guess you didn't see him run down Brett Morris over 60 metres a couple of weeks ago. Hodges is like Ian Thorpe, they look slow but are so powerful that it translates into speed through massive strides. Nothing slow about hodgo.
peeeko
Roar Guru
thats surpising, he looks a lot smaller on the field.
Maroon Blood
Guest
At what point does the NRL draw the line? Should the League cow down to players who continually stuff up and bring themselves and the game into disrepute just because they have talent? I'm not saying Dugan is a lost cause and should be lost to the game but he is going to find it EXTREMELY hard finding a club willing to fork out a sizeable lump of cash on a high risk prospect such as him. If he does sort himself out ala Todd Carney then fantastic and good luck to him, however I do feel that, at the moment, he falls into the category of those who cannot be helped as they don't want to help themselves.
Midfielder
Guest
Where is Okiee ...
RMC
Roar Pro
My thoughs exactly - I knew he wasn't exactly a wirey little outside back. In centre he would be playing and defending wider than what he did last year anyway - his size wouldn't be an issue at all. If anything you could defend Prince outside him to try and protect him.
RMC
Roar Pro
Speed is important, but it isn't everything. Hodges is extremely elusive and has a brilliant ability to break the line.
RMC
Roar Pro
So what is your suggestion? Ban him from the NRL? It won't help him and the NRL would lose an extremely talented player. To rant on with ridiculous things he said suggests he needs psychological help. Moreover the Raiders have a list of indiscretions that weren't told to the media or NRL. Working with a psychologist may be one solution, along with a strict list of rules he must abide by.
Maroon Blood
Guest
186cm, 96kg is too small??
Peeeko
Guest
Would Norman be a little small for centre?
mushi
Roar Guru
Hodges at Fullback? Problem is he's slower than a pensioner with a zimmer frame. good acceleration but horrible top end speed since he did his knee on the sandy suncorp turf.
Maroon Blood
Guest
It bemuses me that people talk about Dugan needing "professional help". Is there therapy for being selfish and immature? Is there counselling for blowing a $650K a season gig by being arrogant, stupid and a rebel without a clue? Is there a remedy for attention seeking and social media self-destruction. I am no medical professional or psychologist but I would suggest there is no "professional help" that can cure being a first class, A-grade knob. The Broncos know this and will not sign up this idiot, no how, no way.
RMC
Roar Pro
Mike: He also play brilliant football in his first few years at the Titans despite not having a standout or consistent halves partner - he forced his way back into the Queensland and Origin sides when Locky was injured. I actually think playing Hodges at fullback could help Prince. Prince would have an excellent option to go to and Hodges would draw defenders giving Prince a little more time and space. Moreover Hodges brings a real x-factor to the Broncos spine. Macca is a tough and serviceable hooker, while Prince and Wallace are generally solid without being spectacular - they don't have the natural brilliance of Hodges. I think the Broncos should stick with a Wallace and Prince as a halves combination for the now. There is no benefit to chopping and changing your halves.
RMC
Roar Pro
It wouldn't surprise if the Broncos are still interested. They always knew he needed help his comments on Instgram just highlighted this. It might be the best thing for Dugan signing with a club like the Broncos. The Broncos could get him the help he needs and then when he is in a better state of mind he could return to footy.
rl
Guest
I heard Gordy Tallis on the radio saying the Dugan deal with the Broncs isn't dead - they are just waiting on what the NRL decide. If he is "lightly" sanctioned (say a fine and/or couple weeks ban, as opposed to NRL not accepting any contract involving him), the deal may still stand. Otherwise, agree with your comments. Not to mention Parker has a bit of Gallen's "grittiness" about him (I'm putting that nicely!).
RMC
Roar Pro
I actually wrote and submitted this article on Sunday afternoon before I read the Broncos announced they were no longer pursing Josh Dugan. When Hodges is injured or retires Jordan Kahu and Josh Hoffman provide excellent cover. I think with time Hoffman can rediscover form that made him the Broncos player of the year a few years ago. I definitely don't the Broncos intend to switch Thaiday to the front row permanently. But I think he should only be used as a backrower - he plays his best footy there. The likes of Lui and Anderson can fill the void until Migure and Hala are fit. In terms of similarity to Gallen I think Parker is more like Gallen. He has a high workrate and plays in tight as opposed to Thaiday who uses footwork on the fringes.
mike
Guest
i'm not sure why everyone is attacking prince he played his best football when he had a good five-eighth(benji) yes he was at the prime of his career but hasn't played that well since because he has had inconsistent halves i didn;t see any form of attack from wallace yes prince is a weak deffender but he is still a great player with lots of experience and the broncos need a mature veteren at the club right now
rl
Guest
Not signing Dugan would make the Hodges at fullback idea work next year. I'm not sure who it was on Ch9 commentary that made the observation, but Norman showed why he is a better option than Hoffman at fullback due to his superior passing. Hodges is well suited to that role, and I thought that his replacement in the centres showed some promise. Thaiday in the front row isn't intended to be a fulltime fix I thought? Perhaps they thought he could replicate Paull Gallen's shift, but I thought he was simply there until Josh Maguire is fit again? Dumanis Lui looked good, and hopefully David Hala gets back to his 2011 form (shocking run of injuries)