- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
After a strong Auckland Nines tournament, it looks like the Brisbane Broncos are ready for a return to the glory days.
With some key off-season signings headlined by Ben Barba, Martin Kennedy and Daniel Vidot, plus the return of Jharal Yow Yeh after almost two years on the sidelines, the Broncos are poised for a big year.
There are still some headaches ahead for Anthony Griffin and his team, though.
Will Ben Barba play like he did in 2012 or 2013?
Barba had a breakout year in 2012, winning the Dally M Medal and guiding the Bulldogs to the grand final. He started strong last year scoring a hat trick in the Indigenous All Stars’ victory over the NRL All Stars, but from there he went downhill.
Barba was admitted to a rehabilitation program after breaching the Bulldogs’ code of conduct. He returned to the field in Round 4 but failed to reach the standards he set himself in 2012, due in part to injuries sustained throughout the year.
Will the Broncos get the best out of him? Only time will tell.
Will the club be able to keep Josh Hoffman happy?
Josh Hoffman openly expressed his disappointment after the Broncos announced the signing of Ben Barba. He clearly feared the fact that Barba would stand in the way of him becoming the club’s long-term No.1.
The Bulldogs have already shown interest in luring Hoffman away from Red Hill, but the Broncos are fiercely digging their heels in to ensure Hoffman will stay until his contract ends in 2015.
If the Broncos are to compete this year then Barba and Hoffman will have to put any differences aside and work together.
Who will partner Ben Hunt in the halves?
The 2013 season saw Ben Hunt rise from back-up hooker getting maybe 30 minutes a match to being the starting halfback towards the back end of the year. But the retirement of Scott Prince and Peter Wallace’s move back to Penrith leave a massive hole in the Broncos side.
There are multiple candidates for the vacant five-eighth spot such as Zach Strasser, Kodi Nikorima, Marmin Barba, Jordan Kahu and Ben Barba, with even Justin Hodges putting his hand up for a run in the No.6 jersey.
This is one problem the Broncos will be desperate to find a solution to.
So Anthony Griffin and his coaching staff have some big decisions to make in the future. I can feel a Top 4 berth coming this year and a premiership just around the corner.
My best Broncos line-up
1. Josh Hoffman
2. Jharal Yow Yeh
3. Jack Reed
4. Justin Hodges
5. Daniel Vidot
6. Ben Barba
7. Ben Hunt
8. Josh McGuire
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Ben Hannant
11. Alex Glenn
12. Sam Thaiday
13. Corey Parker
14. Martin Kennedy
15. Matt Gillett
16. David Stagg
17. Corey Oates
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.