Player movements are part and parcel of rugby league – and any Australian code for that matter – so you’re a good chance to witness at least one of your favourite players move on from your club in your lifetime.
I can usually handle player transfers, but the latest one has rubbed me the wrong way. Although it could be seen from a mile away, I’d been holding out hope that the Broncos would do everything they could to keep Josh Hoffman
Hoffman has arguably put in the most work for the Broncos out of the current generation of players – playing in any position asked of him – and he’s been chewed up and spat out. He chose to leave, but what choice did he have?
Sit on the wing while every other back gets a crack at his preferred position? Through no fault of his own, he’s returned a poor hard-work-to-reward ratio, so I’m not surprised he’s moving on.
I highlight the Titans as the club that will most benefit from the Broncos’ clean-out because Josh Hoffman is easily the biggest loss for 2015. He’s developed into a hard-running outside back and deserved to be made the Broncos’ long-term first-choice fullback. William Zillman might put up a fight to assume the position at the back although Neil Henry should have the nouse to pick Hoffman.
Speaking of: much has been said about Broncos trying to sign fullback after fullback, so I won’t flog a dead horse. I will, however, comment on their uncharacteristically short-sighted management of two players this previous year.
Ben Barba
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to see Barba make the move to Red Hill and, until Anthony Milford was confirmed as Bennett’s preferred option for the No. 6 jumper.
I had high hopes of Barba forming a premiership-winning combination with the ever-improving Ben Hunt. With little to no interest from other clubs to sign Barba, he’s set to go the way of Hoffman by the time his contract expires.
Martin Kennedy
I’m starting to think Martin Kennedy is has the best PR man in rugby league. The hype surrounding him signing with the Broncos following a decent season as a passenger in Sydney Roosters’ premiership-winning 2013 team was nothing short of remarkable.
With Kennedy returning to the Roosters for next season, this will complete the most poorly thought-out signing the Broncos have made in the last 10 years.
As Kevin Walters is being groomed as Bennett’s eventual successor, sensible player management will take place over the course of Bennett’s final tenure at Red Hill: Milford will form the partnership with Hunt that Barba was recruited to do; Corey Oates will develop in the penultimate years of Corey Parker’s co-captaincy; Matt Gillett will assume the role as leader of the forward pack.
One man I will keep a strong eye on, though, is Darius Boyd. He’s followed Bennett everywhere, so his [lack of] club loyalty will always be under my scrutiny. Will he stay with the Broncos or continue his journey across rugby league’s eastern seaboard to sign with yet another team?
Linedropout
Roar Pro
Hannant was a huge loss.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
Which is a huge shame because he has buckets of talent. Hopefully he can repeat his 2012 form and win the Dally M again one day.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
This is something I wholeheartedly disagree with. He's been on the end of arguably the best backline league has seen (Maroons) and was part of the best Dragons backline in the last decade. IMO he's never been a standout player by any stretch.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Unfortunately for Hoffman, he hasn't exactly been in any successful teams whereas Boyd has a proven track record. Not sure joining the titans will help josh's cause either
Muzz
Guest
Bennett and Boyd will retire at the same time.I can't see it happening any other way.
peeeko
Roar Guru
i know the whole history mate, but Bennett has hoffman, barba and milford and still wants to get Boyd into the team. theres obviously no room for him but bennett is making it happen. Maybe its time for Boyd to become his own man at 27?
Jack
Guest
Agree with the sentiment of the article that Hoffman got a bit of a raw deal, but.... Cowboys are the club with the most to benefit by the Broncos's clean out! They signed Ben Hannant and Jake Granville this year off us. I'm seriously considering going for them next year! Granville is a gun hooking utility, I heard that he was fastest over 40m and grew up playing fullback so such a great option off the bench. And Hannant is a huge metre-eater, for most of the year he had the best stats of any of our props. In a game against Cowboys last year I think, he had better metres and tackles than both Tamou and Scott, the Australian props at the time. Not resigning Hannant at least (sounds like the Granville loss was a shock) showed an extreme lack of foresight.
Hez
Roar Rookie
On the wing
Maroon Blood
Guest
On a par? If fit, Boyd would have been a walk up start for the Four Nations. Hoffman didn't even make the original squad for the Kiwis. Hoffman is a good, honest and loyal club footy player who I would have loved to see stay at the Broncs, no argument, but in all-round playing ability and as a tried and proven big game player, Boyd is in a different class.
Maroon Blood
Guest
If you knew anything of Boyd's history, then you would realise that the situation between them is the reverse. A lot of players who have been coached by Bennett say he has been like a father figure to them, with Boyd this is almost literally the case.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Kennedy went to the Broncos on big bucks, the roosters wouldnt be taking him back on that kind of money. Brisbane must be paying a decent chunk of his salary next year. i dont like to knock Bennett but his obsession with Boyd is a little weird
Matth
Guest
Hard call on Boyd. He has had a stellar rep career. Selectors must see something. A he was a key to the Dragons breaking through for that premiership.
Broadly Speaking
Guest
Dayer, I totally agree that Hoffman is nowhere near the best fullback on the market, let alone being the number 1 - number 1 - in the Bronx.... When Hoffman runs he puts the blinkers on and lets the 'red mist' take over! There have been many games where I was yelling at the TV: "pass it, pass it, PAAASSS IIIT!!!" only for the play to break down because Hoffman thinks he can run through brick walls and score himself. The rare times I have actually seen a couple of Hoffman passes, they either hit his target's feet or went behind the player or over their head and into touch.... He couldn't create much as a 5/8 or a fullback, so Zillman may have a head start there and both the Z man and Mead have more speed.... I reckon Hoffman is a better and stronger defender so he could well be more suited to centre and doing dummy half runs like Hodges and running lines out wide where his lack of a 'draw and pass' or a decent 'cut out' may not cost them many tries.... If the money issues are that bad at the Titans, i wonder how much the Broncos are subsidising his pay now and if he will get the same amount (or more) in the future. The true proof of Hoffman's cost vs benefit may be when this particular contract is up.... On another note about Broncos fullbacks, before Morgan's breakout year at the Cowboys, I thought Benny Barba would have been an ideal replacement for Matty Bowen. I am not so sure now....
gaga
Guest
Hoffman has been one of Brisbane's best players during all those years when Brisbane had hopeless coaches...
Leo
Guest
I'm implying his attacking play just wasn't good enough for him to be dictating terms.
pjm
Roar Rookie
I've been saying for years that Kennedy is overrated. Now the Roosters will have 2 most overrated props in the game, JWH and MK.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
I would say he's at the very least on par with Darius Boyd in terms of ability at the back. Boyd's ability is horrendously overestimated.
dayer
Guest
unfortunately he is not a fullback where creating, evasiveness and passing skills are the norm for fullback nowadays and am sorry to say he aint got none of these skills but he is a good straight runner... he plays better at wing where his job is to run at the try line and score which he did very well when moved there so why can't he see that and change positions. i was hoping he stayed and played wing for the Broncos. i hope the Titans coach puts mead at fullback and hoffy at wing. go the broncs
Christian D'Aloia
Roar Guru
I can't believe people actually believed Barba would be a premiership winner at the Broncos after the year he had in 2013. His form was on a distinct downward slide and it looks like it's still going.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
But he just isn't a top shelf fullback. I would put him as below average fullback. Poor vision. Great winger though.