Does Anthony Griffin have something up his sleeve?

By Linedropout / Roar Pro

The Brisbane Broncos have long been the benchmark in regards to ‘in-house’ player recruitment, but with the stables bereft of the talent needed to return to the top in the near future, Anthony Griffin must been hiding a superstar signing.

The recruitment rumour mill has been in overdrive for most of the season (read Quade Cooper, Benji Marshall, Daly Cherry-Evans, Ben Barba and so on), so stories about Anthony Milford, Martin Kennedy and the movements of Peter Wallace in the new year need to be taken with a grain of salt.

The loss of Corey Norman will only benefit the Broncs in 2014 as it will see Josh Hoffman cement his place at fullback. But what can the halves combination possibly be when Scott Prince’s life support is finally switched off and Peter Wallace shifts from number 14 to 15? To 16. To 17. To early retirement.

This is where Hook has to pull something out of the air.

Of the current contracted 2014 players (excluding Prince and Wallace) Ben Hunt is the only established half. Ashley Taylor is definitely one to watch but cannot and will not be an immediate fix.

Looking further than Hunt and Taylor you only find more inexperienced players that will need a handful of years in top flight footy before they can provide stability at the scrum base.

Perhaps it’s too close to home for me to accept that the Broncos are in a rebuilding phase that I never thought they’d need, or perhaps Anthony Griffin is a genius behind-the-scenes operator with a trump card of the Sonny Bill Williams variety.

Either way, the Broncos look set to carry their ordinary 2013 form through most of 2014 and possibly beyond.

The Crowd Says:

2013-08-08T06:31:04+00:00

KSI

Guest


Gillette is a better bench player and will have greater impact. Better for team overall to start Glenn and bench Gillette

2013-08-08T06:27:50+00:00

KSI

Guest


Back row is great. Front is light on and inconsistent

2013-08-08T06:26:10+00:00

KSI

Guest


Hoffman is not a fullback. He does not have the ball playing skills. Yes he is a great ball runner but can't put guys into holes hence Hodges doing that job lately. I would like to see him have a cracker in the centres or stay on the wing.

2013-08-07T13:06:56+00:00

Jack

Guest


It's a great side, I think, and is potentially top 4 material. A lot of talent there, but also a lot of depth which is one of the biggest things missing this year I think. Now it'll just be important to retain players like Prince, Stagg, Anderson, Hala, Granville, Baptiste, and Oates if they're not playing first grade. If we can hang on to a few of them (letting them play Qld Cup for us) I think we'll have great depth. I like Oates and think he's done well so far, hopefully he can get a chance in the back row sometime. I agree that halves have been our problem, but I think it's more finding the right combinations of halves and the other spine players and finding the right side of the field for them than so much about their existing talent. I'm not a big Wallace fan (awful kicking game and seems to panic in the crunch situations) but I think Prince and Hunt could be a good combination to continue with next year. Prince has a fairly cool head and can win games for us with his goal and field goal kicking and good decisions, Hunt makes good decisions and has a good kicking game but is not afraid to try things (biggest thing we've been missing since Locky). In saying all that, I would sign Millford, though mainly cos I think he's a talent of the future but also someone/something that will draw the fans to the Broncos and Suncorp, especially kids.

2013-08-07T12:13:54+00:00

Jake

Guest


Tasi is already there but they aren't playing him. I think he's played 1 game out of a possible 4 or maybe even more.

2013-08-07T12:11:54+00:00

Jake

Guest


Not in the front row it isn't. I'd trade one of our many back rowers for a good prop. We need size. All of our players are around the same size, but none of them can bend the line like the Burgess boys do.

2013-08-07T11:38:49+00:00

Symbolsoup

Roar Rookie


+1

2013-08-07T11:38:15+00:00

Symbolsoup

Roar Rookie


I think his form as a winger compared to his form as a fullback has negated your statement. Crazy, but I agree with oikee... Time for a shower, I feel dirty.

2013-08-07T06:38:30+00:00

Stolzy

Guest


my side for next year, if we are able to get them would be 1. Barba 2. Copley/Yow Yeh (if he is fit) 3. Hodges 4. Glenn 5. Reed 6. Milford 7. Hunt 8. Hannett. 9. McCullough 10. Kennedy 11. Gillett 12. Thaiday 13. Parker 14. Oates 15. McGuire 16. Tasi 17. Stagg / Granville/ Cullen

2013-08-07T06:32:42+00:00

nightslayer23

Guest


Pretty sure this is what the side is going to look like next year #1 Ben Barba #2 Josh Hoffman #3 Jack Reed #4 Justin Hodges #5 Jordan Kahu / Dale Copley / J. Yow Yeh / Corey Oates / Ashley Taylor #6 Anthony Milford #7 Ben Hunt #8 Josh MacGuire #9 Andrew Mccullough #10 Ben Hannant #11 Sam Thaiday #12 Matt Gillett #13 Corey Parker #14 Martin Kennedy #15 Lama Tasi #16 David Stagg #17 Alex Glenn #18 Jake Granville (Substitute Hooker only when needed) Andrew Mc needs to take his game to the next level. They've been sitting him down watching Cam smith replays over and over to do this. He's already showed us signs in the past two weeks since the shake up that this is happening...however, he needs to start playing the full 80mins so he can own his position. Stop rotating him around with Wallace or Hunt. Pointless. Hunt has secured his spot for 2014 at halfback. Massive improvements in his game since given a chance in his preferred position. Milford and Barba should be released from their contracts and free to choose their QLD based clubs. If the titans don't swoop in on either star full-backs, Brisbane have the right away for both and should get them both. Also, Gillett will be far safer in the 2nd Row than Glenn. Unquestionable. 2014 will be a great and entertaining year for the Broncos. Looking forward to another 2006 grand final between the Storm and the boys.

2013-08-07T05:50:43+00:00

Mike from tari

Guest


Well all you Broncos fans how does it feel to be down & nearly out, don't worry about buying Milford, there's a good one running around with Redcliffe named Cullen also a better number 9 running round with Easts.

2013-08-07T03:52:23+00:00

Atko

Guest


The problem with Hoffman as a fullback was highlighted in 2012. It was year of the fullback, every team that went well had a performing fullback. Hoffman scored 3 tries I think for the entire season. In Brisbane's last game (a final against the Cowboys) Hook had had enough and switched Hodges to fullback. Brisbane scored almost immediately in a try created by Hodges. I think Griffin is handling the team well as of right now, Hoffman is a great defensive fullback and when Brisbane move into the attacking zone Hodges assumes the role of fullback. I hope he keeps it that way.

2013-08-07T02:26:22+00:00

Rob

Guest


Maybe Berrick Barnes wants to come home?

2013-08-06T23:43:56+00:00

Josiah

Guest


Hoffman is a natural Fullback you halfwit! Hence why he is the New Zealand fullback and was first choice fullback for a couple seasons.. Do you even have a clue? The Broncos season has been disappointing; but they have been so successful for so long that I refuse to be fickle and lose the plot already. I'm glad you aren't involved in RL oikee because your ineptitude would run it into the ground.

2013-08-06T23:00:35+00:00

Gaz

Guest


We will get Milford and we will get Barba. Kennedy and Tasi will strengthen the pack. Now for a change in captaincy.

AUTHOR

2013-08-06T22:09:24+00:00

Linedropout

Roar Pro


That's good news although I don't know who's making the call to recruit more forwards, our pack is pretty solid as it is.

2013-08-06T22:00:43+00:00

maximillian

Guest


Hoffman's ok at fullback IMO. The reason the Broncos are struggling are the ineffectiveness of Prince & Wallace. They need better halves more than a fullback at the moment.

2013-08-06T21:57:40+00:00

maximillian

Guest


Jack, that's actually a pretty decent side. I hope this happens so they can get back into the top 8. It will be interesting to see what plans they have for Oates going forward as I think he will end up in the back row & he's prove he can handle 1st grade, & aso if they can get Milford because the halves are the biggest issue IMO.

2013-08-06T21:47:59+00:00

Jack

Guest


Crossing my fingers this will be next year's team: 1. Barba 2. Hoffman 3. Reed 4. Hodges 5. Copely 6. B. Hunt 7. Millford 8. Hannant 9. McCullough 10. Kennedy 11. Glenn 12. Thaiday 13. Parker 14. McGuire 15. Tasi 16. Granville 17. Gillett If Yow Yeh is fit and able to play put him at 3 and Reed at 5. If we don't get Millford (but get Barba), I'm still a fan of Prince, put him at 6 and Hunt at 7 again. I think we'll go great guns next year with an exciting player or 2 like Barba and Millford and a couple of extra big men (Tasi and Kennedy).

2013-08-06T21:47:31+00:00

Jake

Guest


Martin Kennedy has already signed with Brisbane.

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