Justin Hodges next Broncos captain?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/brisbane-broncos-departures-leave-salary-cap-room-for-2016/story-fni3gv5x-1227116199614

I think its a great swap. Boyd is twice the player that barba is. His experience will help the two halves out so much and the outside backs will see alot more ball than they did with hoffman and barba at fullback. He also charges fearlessly into the defence on kick returns which i like.

Looks like Sportal is on the money.There are plenty of Broncos fans not happy about the inclusion of Boyd and the departure of Barba.Some requesting a refund on membership. Bennett making it clear that there is a standard.

They are trying to get merrin for when parker retires. Would be a better replacement than taumalolo. Similar workrate to parker and a little bit more skill

The Sharks might be a good fit for Barba. Who has a bit of that 'tainted' feeling about him that I have been talking about. Where there probably aren't a million clubs knocking downthe door. They might not have to sell the farm to get him and he will provide some spark at number 6 which is where they should play him IMO. Hoffman doesnt have a passing game which is so essential in this day and age. I can see why Hoffman doesn't want to play wing, t is very limiting in terms of earning ability. Taumololo in 2016 would be a coup, with PArker getting on.....

Some great insight boys.Vidot is a tank.There's a fine line imo with how much extra muscle outside backs should put on.Get too big and it effects your agility, coordination and lateral movement/speed. Sportal(who is not reliable) is reporting that the Sharks will announce Barba's signing in the coming weeks.

Yea vidot is not the best finisher. But I would rather a winger works hard in the red zone, more valuable. Darius boyd is a complete fullback. Hoffman and barba were not. He will be good for the team and help milford who has never played in the halves in the top grade. A player like Hoffman who only wants to play one position does not have a spot in Bennetts team

Vidot just needs to work on his finishing ability. Although I suspect a decent centre would have a big impact on this. Too many times Reed died with the ball. Bennett is a fan of Hodges as well, so I don't think his spot is under and clouds. And if Boyd comes down he will be given whatever he wants. I wonder how much this whole boyd thing gets under the skins of players at new clubs. Watching five or six players get shunted to bring the coaches pet in, especially when you already have 3 pretty hand players for that 1 position anyway.

Copley was electric this year and was one of the broncos best. Hes played his whole career at centre/wing, defensively would struggle in the backrow as would most centres. Vidot played like a 7th forward, which is what you expect from a 6 foot 4, 110kg winger. His average hit ups and running metres per game were huge and I cannot remember a game where he was quite, he was very consistent. There two spots in the team will be as safe as ben hunts or corey parkers if they perform like they did this year.

I think you should swap Barba for Greg Bird.I really like Copley.He's a future rep player in the making.Has he played any footy in the backrow?What are your thoughts on Vidot?

I was a big Alex Glenn fan a few years back. But he has failed to lift since then. Merrin would be a good fit. Although I don't like having NSW Origin players in the Broncos. At least when you lose players for QLD I can feel like, worthy cause. But losing good players to play against QLD is just awful. I had certainly forgotten about Dodds. He will be thereabouts as well. Copley/Reed will be fighting it out for the other centre spot so one of them or Kahu are a pretty handy replacement for the 9 games minimum Hodges will be out with injury. What are the odds on a hammy in round 1. Copley and Vidot both probably deserve a spot in the team. Vidot had one of if not the highest kick return metres in the comp and Copley had a great year, so I think Eden may be a backup Fullback. Barba would be an ordinary winger. So much of what was great about his awesome year came from, not luck, but kind of luck. So many of the tries and the mments were balls ricocheting off goal posts into his arms and stuff like that. I don't think he is ever going to have a year like that again. I would like to see him leveraged for a quality player.

Merrin would be a good buy at $550k max, any more and it would cause bad blood. I reckon we've all forgotten Mitchell Dodds who would pick up and carry Hala. You've got to make more than 3 runs when you get on the field and Hala is a liability getting off the ground at marker. The other wing spot might go to the pommie Eden who had wraps as a Billy Slater of the ESL. Can't have Maranta, never dents the line when he brings it back ans isn't evasive. They might be a top 6 side with no injuries but how many games will they get from Hodgo? Need another good young centre but Tom Opacic from the 20's looked a decent prospect while they have to lock up the Nikorima brothers for years. The front row is a problem with size but coaches will find a strategy to deal with the big boppa's like the Rabbitohs have. It will be interesting to see if more bronco U20 GF players go on with it compared to the early maturing Warriors. There looked to be plenty of talent in that U20 grand final. Ps: I'm a big Alex Glenn fan, he always puts in and Bennett has had plenty of his unfashionable types of forwards in his premiership teams.

I do like Merrin.Apparently the Roosters tabled an offer for $500k and it was rejected so we signed Big Marty Kennedy and Lagi Setu.Both on base deals.Plenty of room for Jarryd Hayne now. FPN may be available.Tigers are interested at around $400K

I think because barba is taking up so much of the cap they will try to unload him. Brett morris is the best winger in the world is he isnt gettin paid as much as barba. Trent merrin is valuable player, he carries the dragons pack. He plays 80 mins, makes 40 odd tackles, over 120 running meters, but what sets him apart from most workhorses is his footwork and offloading ability. He prI think because barba is taking up so much of the cap they will try to unload him. Brett morris is the best winger in the world is he isnt gettin paid as much as barba. Trent merrin is valuable player, he carries the dragons pack. He plays 80 mins, makes 40 odd tackles, over 120 running meters, but what sets him apart from most workhorses is his footwork and offloading ability. He probably is worth 800k with the increased salary cap, but i dont think the broncs would be prepared to pay that. Although. Ben hunt just resigned for half of what hes worth and hodges and parker are nearly ready to retire, so i think they will have the money, especially if they can get rid of barba. He would be worth. And 80 minute work horse is nearly as valuable as a topline halfobably is worth 800k with the increased salary cap, but i dont think the broncs would be prepared to pay that. Although. Ben hunt just resigned for half of what hes worth and hodges and parker are nearly ready to retire, so i think they will have the money, especially if they can get rid of barba. He would be worth it. And 80 minute work horse is nearly as valuable as a topline half

Barber would make a great number 5, how hard could it be : ) Trent Merrin wants $800k a-year.Slightly overs imo. As much as i like Gavet's fearless approach, he is a mistake freak and has that special knack to make mistakes at crucial times.Bennett must see some potential though.

Yea hala was definately a powerful ball runner, that mould of player has faded out of the game pretty much because of the speed of the game. He has 2 or 3 damaging runs and then he puffing. Maybe it is due to all of his injuries. If he can string a full season together he may be able to build some good match fitness. Sam moa has a similar physique and runs as hard but can play a solid 25-30 mins each half. the word is they are going after trent merrin, the dragons are struggling with there salary cap. I hope they do get him. He is a rare talent.

Yeah, I have big hopes for Gavet/Garbutt. What I loved about Hala. And there are only a couple of forwards that do it nowadays. Is he ran through the line. Almost every ran he took, you could see he sort of expected to just run through. It's hard to describe. But I love seeing it. A bit like Special K. Or even Parkers epic drop out return that Andrew Johns pointed out led to Inglis's try in the 4 nations. Now slowing down at the line. It is one of my favourite things to see. No brace for impact. Just a runaway freight train. I imagine Glenn may be on the bench because Joe is probably not quite ready. As for Barba. He isn't safe under the highball. And it was his support play/ball playing that led him to the dally M, and you aren't going to get any of that from the wing. So I just don't see it. I would be using him as leverage in a trade for a Sam Moa type. Or even maybe Adam Blair the way he is playing in the 4 Nations.

Gavet thats right.If you have some free time, watch that Bunnies vs Tigers round 3 game, it's very entertaining!

Gavet looks like he has alot potential, his physique is perfect for someone who could turn into a 80 minute forwards, players like hala are a liability in defence after 10 minutes. I dont think there is a place in the team for him. Hes not a winger. They will show him the door

Who was the hair bear you signed from the Tigers?He's as crazy as a cut snake and i wish we picked him up.He was a stand out in the worlds longest game Bunnies vs Tigers round 3.Bennett may be able to turn him into something special. Is Barba too exy to play on the wing or will his head space be an issue regardless of where you play him?