Missing the NRL finals for the second time in 21 years might yet be the best thing that could have happened to Brisbane, coach Anthony Griffin says.
The Broncos’ mentor admitted he had heard the critics “singing like canaries” ahead of Thursday night’s Suncorp Stadium clash with the finals-bound Canterbury ended the worst season in the club’s history.
But Griffin said earning a last-gasp finals berth this year could have papered over problems the club had to address to become a 2014 title threat.
Instead of pats on the back for scraping into the top eight, Griffin said the club would benefit more from facing some hard off-season truths.
“Everyone will want to see mass changes but it is important we don’t throw the baby out with the bath water,” said Griffin.
“The fact we are in this position gives us a real chance to analyse ourselves.
“If we had snuck in and made the semis, maybe we would not have analysed ourselves as hard.”
Brisbane are 13th on the ladder with a 9-1-13 record.
Their previous worst season was an 11-win effort in 2010 – a tally that resulted in then coach Ivan Henjak being sacked.
But Griffin – who will miss the finals for the first time since taking the Broncos reins in 2011 – wanted critics to keep their results in perspective.
“If we had won a couple of close games that we had this year, we would all be sitting here talking about finals next week,” he said.
“We will cop whatever we have to cop at the moment.
“But then it’s a matter of having a clear head and sitting down and analysing where we want to go.”
Still, Brisbane copped a fresh spray on Wednesday when ex-Broncos captain Gorden Tallis called for a “massive shake up” at the club.
But Griffin wouldn’t bite on Wednesday.
“We are fair game at the moment. That was always going to happen,” he said.
“Everyone is singing like canaries so we will just let them go.”
Griffin said he was more focused on acknowledging Scott Prince (300th and final game), Peter Wallace (returning to Penrith) and David Stagg (200th game) with a win on Thursday night.
It will be an emotional night for ex-Queensland Origin half Prince, 33, who will draw the curtain on his impressive 16-season career.
But it remains to be seen whether emotion alone helps Brisbane snap a two-game losing run and down the fifth-placed Bulldogs.
A shock loss won’t have a massive finals impact on Canterbury – if they finish fifth or sixth, they will still host a knockout playoff next week.
However, after watching the Bulldogs steamroll Penrith 34-14 last round, few will back against them improving on their impressive recent record against Brisbane.
The Bulldogs have won four of their past five clashes.
al
Guest
+1
symbolsoup
Guest
Couldn't agree more, Gaz.
symbolsoup
Guest
Can't believe Griffin used the line “If we had won a couple of close games that we had this year, we would all be sitting here talking about finals next week,”!!! We could quite as easily have lost a few more games than we did, some very close wins in which we were lucky with refs calls. Then we would be closer to the wooden spoon. The guy has zero accountability and is rotting away the Bronco brand, along with Andrew Gee and our pathetic excuse for a captain in Sam Thaiday. Bloody three stooges if ever I've seen them. What's worse is they are all best of mates so this rot will continue as they pass the soap to one another. I'm disgusted and will not be putting a single cent into the club until there are some positive management and coaching changes. “Everyone will want to see mass changes but it is important we don’t throw the baby out with the bath water,” said Griffin... Griffin, that metaphor works well if the baby you are talking about is you - this "baby" was obviously still-born to start with in which case lets have our funeral now and sack you.
Gaz
Guest
Agree, however the club needs a new coach. Not coach bashing here for the sake of it, put simply Griffin is too soft, to much of wanting to be one of the boys. The players look tired, unfit and have been just going through the motions of getting a game over and done with. Sure they put on a spurt for Prince last night but previous games have shown they were looking forward to mad Monday more than playing finals footy. Tragically for the fans, 2014 is not looking any better, Barba's not the answer, Griffin is. Get rid of him.
RICHARDN
Guest
This Broncos management and the current player roster they have built mean that realistically we are not really top four contenders for two years. The whole team needs a serious make over and that is just not possible. All we can do is start to rebuild. Barba is a good start. I would also buy one quality centre and one big foward ASAP, then keep the cheque book ready to snap up any real quality players who become available. At the moment the team lacks most of the basic ingredients for a top four finish . Just compare Manlys back line to ours and it shows you how far off the pace we are.
Sluggers
Roar Rookie
Sorry but Griffin is a large reason why Broncos are in free fall at the moment. Since Broncos extended his contract in 2012 his record is diabolical, it is UNDER 30%. Aside from Griffin’s shocking win rate the other most concerning attribute appears to be the lack of player development (players under 25). Aside from Hoffman (who he was playing out of position) no other player has improved over the past 12-18 months. Players such as Gillett, Reed, Glenn, McGuire should be starting to stamp their authority on games, yet I don’t see it. Take a look at the progression of opposition players such as Fifita and Cordner over the last 12 months. Compare it with our boys and it’s extremely concerning. Is Neil Henry the answer? I’m not sure, but I know if we continue with Griffin we will be talking about the same thing in 12 months time. Act now, or 2014 will be another wasted season.
ferret
Guest
OMG Boz! I think we have a psychic link; either that or I'm split personality and just don't realise it. In which case, am I Brad Pitt or Edward Norton!?!
Boz
Guest
Yes. And the style of football they have been playing for the past few years has been ordinary, particularly in the red zone. 5 hit ups to the same side of the field, then crossfield kick to the other corner. IMO its a combination of the players they have are not very skillful, and the coach doesn't seem to have a creative bone in his body either.
john badseed
Guest
I don't get why broncos fans want a second team. Broncos supported SL expansion to Melbourne. The best Qld Cup team feeds Melbourne. So where's the Broncos v Storm rivalry? It's like Parra wanting a second team.
al
Guest
Griffin should have been sacked ages ago. This guy has no idea. I refuse to attend a Broncos game or spend a cent on Broncos merchandise until they get a real coach and a real spine. I want to see at a least a 10% chance to win the premiership at the beginning of the season to support the Broncos. With Griffin as a coach the premiership chances remain ZERO.
ferret
Guest
@ Boz, and what's really frustrating is that amateurs like me and you (presuming there) could see that (i) we are one or two props short (Totally agree with your Sammy comment) and there is no pace and we have been saying this since about game 6 in 2012. So if we can see it why can't the coach? Same for Predictable Pete and Prince - it was obvious from about 4 games into this season they weren't going to win a grand final, but Hook persisted with them to about round 19. I think Hook was hoping that if the Broncs fell into the 8 then he could avoid the scrutiny. Either that or he really doesn't know what it takes to win the comp.
des right hand
Guest
Hahaha that's loser talk enjoy watching manly win the premiership oikee
Decay
Guest
This guy (Griffin) is delusional. Those close matches that they lost would have been won had he played Hoffman at fullback and not that lazy bugger Norman. He is to blame for missing the finals this year.
Boz
Guest
I agree ferret. For several years now, it seems the Broncos have decided that a good year is any year we make the finals. This attitude is killing them. If they want to be fair dinkum, they need to continue overhauling their playing roster. Prince and Wallace going is a step in the right direction. Their big problem is they need another good Prop, to get Thaiday back in the second row, running wider off the ruck. They also need a couple of good centres. Hodges is getting older and more injury prone. Jack Reed is abysmal. He has no pace, can't pass or set up his winger. How he plays first grade is beyond me.
Pest
Guest
So it's your management ,,, not Henjack , why didn't you just write that ? But it still doesn't explain how a side full of reps cannot make the finals , maybe there just sick of playing in Brizzie
oikee
Guest
You dont understand, i am not blaming Henjack, i am blaming the guys in charge who hired him. Same as Griffith. They have put Andrew Gee in as recruiting officer and all the talent is walking out the front door. The club is in tatters, needs a overhaul before a 100 milion dollar enterprise is turned to chitlings. Tom Petty wrote s song for the Broncos, called free-falling.
Pest
Guest
Yep blame Henjack , you can't be serious , how many rep players at the broncs again ? and on Henjack , he's put on a lot of weight , grown his hair and changed his name , yep ,,,,,,, henjacks fault
ferret
Guest
If Griffin needed to miss the finals to realise "all is not well", then he truly is not the man for the job. Every team should view losing the grand final (or not even making it) as a wasted season and need to take stock. Seems like for the once mighty Broncos making the 8 now constitutes "success".
oikee
Guest
This club is now in free-fall. The attitude the philosophies the passion the pride, all gone now. The signing of Henjack was the beginning of the end. Now we have a coach saying losing is good. They should never have signed on the new CEO, memberships have stagnated, support is withering, a once mighty club that could easily attrack 50 thousand to games now struggles to get 25 thousand turn up. The NRL need a derby and competition to the Broncos, ASAP, this club needs a competitor and should have had another side in Brisbane 10 years ago, so we are 10 years now behind where we should be, by the time this new Commission introduces another Brisbane team we will be 15 years behind. This is awful, the worst marketing and planning i have ever seen of anysport or business worldwide, ever. They have a ready made worldclass derby sitting right under their noses and refuse to act on this, no-one would be that backward, nobody in the world. The NRL are now offically the worst run code,,,,,,,IN THE WORLD. Opportunity in their face cant even awaken them.
Pest
Guest
Yeah missing finals footy is a benefit ,,,,,,,,,,,, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ha ha ha ha ha