There are plenty of issues at the Brisbane Broncos, who were knocked out of last year’s finals by the North Queensland Cowboys, but they are ready to explode in the upcoming season and it will likely spell disaster for one of the most successful clubs in the NRL.
I realise that by writing this article, I won’t be able to show my face in Queensland for the next twelve months (or until I am proven right – whichever comes first), but here goes.
The Brisbane Broncos will not make the top eight in 2017.
There, I said it. But why? Why would a club who have supercoach Wayne Bennett at the helm and enough talent across the field to compete with the best of them last season not make the finals?
It’s bordering on scary for Brisbane fans to think it, but Bennett’s years are starting to fly past him. There is no question of his talent and he might still be one of the best man-managers in the game, a skill any coach needs to have, but others are rising up and taking the mantra as best coach in the game.
When in Brisbane, Bennett has always had one of the strongest rosters in the competition and credit to him, he has made it work.
You only need to look at his amazing record to know exactly how well he has done and how lucky the Broncos have been to have him onboard all these years. His record speaks for itself, with a career winning percentage of 62 and seven grand final wins from eight attempts in 30 seasons.
It’s the best record in Australian rugby league history bar none, and his influence over the Broncos and, indeed, the St George Illawarra Dragons and Newcastle Knights when he moved away from the Sunshine State, has been incredible.
But Bennett’s impact is starting to fade. It’s debatable if he is the best coach in the game anymore and this year will be pivotal if he is to keep that tag anywhere near him. This may be his biggest challenge since arriving at the Knights.
As much as some won’t want to admit exactly how important the role of a coach is in the modern game, it’s the reason teams like the Melbourne Storm have been at the top of the ladder year after year. Yes, the players have to be special, but the coach still needs to bring that all together and get the best out men who never met their potential at other clubs.
Players like Dale Finucane are a testament to that. Craig Bellamy has always had the key elements – Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater – but he has had youngsters and a band of players hit standards above what anyone thought they were capable of at other clubs.
No matter how good Bennett’s record is, the cavalry is simply not as strong as it once was. The loss of Corey Parker is going to be brutal, and with issues in forwards depth and half combinations, the Broncos’ season looks on the ropes before it has even begun.
But it’s the halves that look to be the biggest problem.
Ben Hunt, who has already signed with the St George Illawarra Dragons for 2018, had a poor 2016 season by his standards and struggled for consistency, something Bennett normally gets from everyone who puts on a Broncos jersey.
While Hunt is playing alongside Anthony Milford, who will be pushing his case for State of Origin, Hunt is supposed to control the game with his kicking and directing the side around the park. He failed to do that job for the majority of last season and while the Broncos did make the finals, they were well below their best.
Hunt has never recovered from dropping the kick-off that cost Brisbane the 2016 grand final, and while he may improve this year, the impending move to the Dragons isn’t going to win him any favours with Bennett or his teammates.
If Hunt struggled to control his side on the back of a strong forward pack last year, improvement is going to be a tough thing to achieve during this campaign with a different pack.
While Andrew McCullogh will still lead the charge from hooker and Josh McGuire will have a bigger role than ever, there are elements of inexperience in the pack and the depth coming from the bench looks shallow with Joe Ofahengaue, Tevita Pangai Junior and Herman Ese’Ese likely to be in the best 17.
That’s going to make Hunt’s role more important than it was last season. That’s even more so the case with the Broncos’ incredibly talented backline, led by Corey Oates, James Roberts and new skipper Darius Boyd.
If they don’t have the field position to work their magic, though, it again falls on Hunt’s kicking game to get them through.
It’s not just issues with their best 17 that are going to derail the Broncos, though. State of Origin will once again be a killer, with Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillett and Darius Boyd all certainties and others in line for a call-up.
Losing all those players with the Broncos’ depth this year is once again going to turn the pressure up on Bennett to work miracles, but what’s different about this season is that Brisbane may not enter the representative season in a strong position on the ladder. In fact, they probably won’t.
That the Broncos competed in the World Club Series, where they put on an unconvincing display with a near full-strength line-up against Warrington, doesn’t bode well for their NRL campaign.
No team has ever won the premiership after travelling to England, but it will be a lot worse than that for Brisbane this season.
Given they start the NRL season against the Sharks, Cowboys, Storm, Raiders, Bulldogs and Raiders, it’s difficult to see them being better than three from six – and a start like that will almost certainly spell disaster.
Simply put, with all those issues in the squad, the Broncos will do well to make the eight and it’s going to take a masterstroke from Wayne Bennett to be any more than on the border of finals footy.
You heard it here first, though. The Brisbane Broncos will not play in September this season.
Dale
Guest
1st September. Broncos only one game off 2nd place and guaranteed a top 3. OOPS
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
Read my comment below. Thanks for proving my point. It is such a pity QLDers suffer such an inferiority complex that they are so polarised in their opinions! Blinded by state loyalty. Tell that to Corey Parker who got screwed by the Broncos!
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
squidward, I am NSW born and bred but I lived in QLD (Brisbane north) for 4 years about 15 years ago. At least back then the media was more biased and one eyed than you can imagine. They only ever covered or focused on the Broncos as if they were the only team in the competition. I know people who are formerly from NSW but still live in QLD but they say nothing has changed in that respect except that now the Cowboys and Titans are acknowledged and covered to a lesser extent. The sad truth is that people from NSW see QLD as a rival state while QLDers see themselves like Palestinians and New South Welshmen as Israelis!
cantabofbroncoland
Guest
By the way, what are you a Guru of? Certainly not teams north of the Tweed. Most BRONCO fans have a name for bias commentators like yourself but I'm too much of a gentleman to repeat it here. If you would like to know have a look at some of the BRONCO supporters pages on face book. Let's face it if they were a Sydney side they'd be the best thing every year. And just been reported the only sides to make a profit is Broncos and cowboys with the Broncos being the most profitable club every year since they started.
cantabofbroncoland
Guest
If you rate the warrington game as where the Broncos are what about the Sharks, they copped a good flogging. And the Broncos didn't have any starting props in their side.
Casper
Guest
I'm on the fence, would like a creative centre instead of Roberts, he's a lazy passenger most games& speed only helps when used as a shock tactic (Chris walker ring a bell). If Dodds has got over the broken leg sustained in the UKSL, I reckon he'll add to the pack's quality. I'd prefer they went with Glenn as lock, more skill than McGuire & less volatile. Ofahengaue is a backrower at this stage of his career & being held back by playing up front, he's got good pace & hands that are under-utilised. Like Pangai Jnr, he's going to be a gun. Broncos weakness is the halves, Milford is a runner, not a creator and suffers in that role. When he cracks the line, they struggle to have backs who can keep up with him & Mead might be a partial answer. Thought Moga got a raw deal up north, looked like he could play origin a few years back so hope he comes good. Pretty sure Wayne will go to the market for a good half next season, Hunt leaving is a blessing in disguise.
Jara W
Guest
I don't understand how there can even be any question that Gillett will play in 13.
Luke
Guest
I don't think depth is a problem at all. We've signed David mead benji Marshall and Tautau moga for cover in outside backs which we didn't have any depth for last year. And in the forwards we've got korbin sims to replace Wallace, and I really see our young guys arrow ohahengue and pangai stepping it up this year, they are crucial. Pangai will be one of the best forwards in the game in a few years still only 20. Adam blair will provide our second phase so underrated. Parkers form last year was pretty bad to be honest as soon as he announced he was retiring, I don't see him doing any worse. Our halves are the biggest problem, too inconcsistent and could be a long for poor benny hunt. Best 17 is. Boyd Oates Kahu Roberts Mead Milford Hunt Sims McCullough Blair Thaiday Gillett McGuire Nikorima Glenn Pangai Ogahengue/arrow
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
They were my cherries Dean, I was honestly just mocking. PNGBF did say before Origin those were just some teams that had lead before Origin before falling away. Not at Orifin.
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
1. We do hate our nearest rival. That rival is NSW 2. The Switch rocks. Drinking Coalminers Stout at the Pumpyard is all kinds of awesome
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
Couldn't have said it better myself eels47.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Canterbury were leading the comp on 18 points after round 12 in 2014. Brisbane, Nth Qld, and SGI were all on 18 points in 2015. Melbourne and Cronulla were both on 20 points in 2016. I don't think that they were cherries that you were picking Vincent - on a bright note though, a certain edible was legalised Nationally just yesterday.
Rod
Guest
He did, 92 they only had to beat the dragons. 93 it's was not a convincing win. If Stuart did not break his ankle/leg Raiders showed enough prior, they would have won the comp that year. I think the panther could have won in 92
Rod
Guest
I'm a Souths supporter we were not anywhere near leading the comp bar the first 4-5 rounds.
Gray-Hand
Guest
There is no way in hell that this broncos team is finishing as low as13th. Come on.
eels47
Roar Rookie
Totally agree, the Panthers had set up a great young team that had the potential to string a few premierships together until Ben's tragic death, and the Raiders team was simply outstanding. You cannot deny the talent that Bennett had at the Broncos though, he really should have a few more premierships.....
Rod
Guest
If it wasn't for Penrith falling apart after the Ben Alexander death or the raiders having injuries to key players circa 92 and 93' Bennett may not have got one till the late 90's. I think both those sides at there peaks were better than the Broncos. I really didn't rate Bennett until he got the Dragons across the line. But he shown since than he knows how to stuff a club when he leaves.
sue Jones
Guest
i also feel very anxious to where the broncos will end up this season. I feel that the great coach has more important issues to deal with outside of footy. Is he losing his aura I hope not. Only time will tell.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I reckon that's true. The Broncos get knocked out and half of Brisbane pulls on their Thurston origin jerseys for the rest of the season. I like that the culture is different. I'll cheer for the Cowboys or whoever all day long over another Sydney team.
Jeff dustby
Guest
Incorrect, even with your unfair influence and advantages you still aren't good