The once-mighty Brisbane Broncos face huge decisions to make in 2020, with a young, inexperienced team desperately trying to get beyond the first week of the finals for the first time in three years.
The last two years have been roller-coaster rides for fans of the club. From 2018’s hope then fade under Wayne Bennett, followed by a coach swap and a struggle throughout 2019, before another finals loss, the demand for better is clear.
Anthony Seibold, despite making the finals last year, is among the coaches who will be under the most pressure in 2019, but as it stands, there is very little he can do with the team he is fielding.
The Broncos are in a spot where they need experience before they can hope to do any better. But they need experience of the consistent, making-other-players-better kind, rather than flashy brilliance.
They already have the flashy moments of brilliance in spades. Players like Anthony Milford, Jamayne Isaako, David Fifita, Payne Haas and Jake Turpin.
But the one thing they all have in common – even Milford – is that they haven’t had the right option playing alongside them in the last 12 months or longer to really flourish and ensure this ridiculously talented team are playing at their absolute peak.
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
And from an experience point of view, things aren’t really going to get any better with the medically-forced retirement of Matt Gillett.
While it won’t help in the second row, Blake Green is the man the Broncos should be chasing to make the most out of their 2020 campaign.
Chad Townsend was probably the first guy I had on the list, but the chance of him being released by the Sharks is lower than the chance the Gold Coast Titans will go into the 2020 season as premiership favourites.
That is not the case with Green, however, who is rumoured to be on the outer at the Warriors and has struggled for form since Shaun Johnson departed the joint at the end of the 2018 season.
That is because while Green is a great man to lead the side, telling everyone where they need to be and managing the kicking game, he isn’t the man who is going to produce the flashy brilliance that racks up enough points to win games of rugby league.
But all those factors that Green is so good at were lumped on Milford’s (or Darius Boyd’s) plate late last season, and neither are players who should be trying to run that element of the contest.
The most pressing issues the Broncos are having are finding someone to manage the team, and finding a way to keep Boyd out of the spine, if not the team.
Green does just that. He will make Milford better and allow him to play in the halves, which then allows Isaako to play at the back and for Turpin to apply the proper blowtorch to Andrew McCullough for the number nine spot.
When you go over Green’s track record, he has a way of making exceptional players better by simply hiding in the background and doing his job, whether that be at Melbourne, Manly or the Warriors across his last three stints.
He played a phenomenal part in the form of both Daly Cherry-Evans and Shaun Johnson in the last couple of years, and while there were other factors at play, it’ll be the same scenario at Brisbane – coming into a side who need to improve and finding a way to get it done.
The things Green does can’t really be explained in stats, but to watch him play, there is a clear sense of calmness in his decision making, and that then transfers to the rest of the team.
There is a reason why he was being talked about as a New South Wales Blues bolter in 2017 and 2018.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Of course, he is getting on in age, but Green is better than he showed in 2019 and still has plenty to offer in the right environment.
Mark it down that this isn’t a long-term solution for the Broncos, but rather something to tide them over until this explosive forward pack of theirs learns their role in the game, and how to do the right thing at both ends of the park week in and week out and until they can produce their own controlling half.
Thomas Dearden is just that man coming through the ranks of the club, but the job at hand for the men at Red Hill is just too enormous for a rookie to handle.
Instead, the 18-year-old should spend the year learning the best of Green and Milford, waiting in the wings for an injury replacement.
While there has been talk that Brisbane will chase Brodie Croft, that’s not a great idea either. Outside of the Melbourne system, he may not be the player he is, and it also sends the wrong message to Dearden by signing another youngster.
If Brisbane are serious about making something of the 2020 season and getting their youngsters developing correctly, someone of Green’s stature is a must.
Muzz
Guest
You're desperate if you think Scott Green is the answer.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
If Manly were smart they would get Green back to Brookvale ASAP! Your Dragons could also benefit from Green's experience and control Scott just as much as the Broncos could. No sense doing them any favours.
Ja ja klazo
Guest
You think Keary would leave Robbo to play for Seibold? You're dreaming
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Josh Reynolds used to get the Dogs home with will power at times but needed a different balance of players around him I believe. If I was Siebold I'd be showing his players footage of how Reynolds was always on the ball and ready to back someone up or strike if a chance presented itself. A lot of the Broncos were watching their young forwards make half breaks as spectators not participants.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
I’m a huge Josh Reynolds fan and would love to have him at the broncos. We’ve been guilty of having flat moments and he definitely brings plenty of energy. He doesn’t fit the bill for what we’re missing atm though.
Don
Roar Rookie
You could get Josh Reynolds from the Tigers very cheaply. He’d be handy depth at half and has plenty of mongrel in him to fire up his forwards.
Don
Roar Rookie
If Keary is was lured “home” then he’d end up at the Titans not Brisbane.
Don
Roar Rookie
I’d be trying to get Tyrone Roberts from the Gold Coast in some type of player swap / deal. Just for 2 years. He plays next year at half and if Dearden develops as expected then Roberts’ second year is at number 14 swapping between hooker and half. In a really up and down side he just plays good solid footy but still has some spark in him that a bloke like Green hasn’t.
Spookweno
Guest
Pls God no. Just what the team needs, another flashy half with no game management skills... Ugh
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Wait this year out, play Dearden and Milf in the halves. Last year for Milford to shine, downgrade his salary or go to the Tiges, by then Bird would have jacked off already - leaving space in the cap to lure Keary home 2021.
Bronwyn
Guest
Well done Tonga, Broncos already have a built in halfback, look no further Katoni Staggs. Put ball to toe and kicked perfectly, ball landed in the right spot every time. Go Katoni play like a half back consistently for Brisbane Broncos
Rellum
Roar Guru
To be honest I don't think we have any money. Now with Gillett retiring our salary cap is lower than the other clubs. I can't see us getting the South Sydney treatment. We need to focus on locking down the gun youngsters we have. Once that is done look down the track at a gun half. I can't see us doing any better next year. Maybe if we get rid of Jack Bird and we can use that money on a half we can look at some options like Sezer.
jamesb
Roar Guru
If Green was to go to Brisbane, then what about the Warriors? Nikorima is more of a 14, and CHT is a five eighth. Also what’s Aidan Sezer up to? Is he going to England. Just like Green, Sezer isn’t flashy, but he is five years younger.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Brisbane's roster management when it comes to their halves has been diabolical and embarrassing.
Nat
Roar Guru
Fair argument Scott, his experience would be invaluable. At Manly he was very good. Definitely concerned about what he showed between RTS AND Johnson, wouldn't think that position was Money for Jam... But he is 33 and is it's not just Dearden but he'll hold back O'Sullivan then Corey Paix as well. Not to mention a few quality halves playing ISP. Then they have Bird, ball-playing lock or running 5/8? In the mid season I thought O'Sullivan formed a decent little partnership with Fifita on the left and showed good defence. I agree Dearden could use a season in ISP. If he dominates and demands selection, then pick him. I'm not adverse to the idea of Croft either. I think Croft/O'Sullivan/Milford/Turpin is worth a try. I'm not sure Seibold will just make the switch back to the halves for Milford either. He took a huge, unsuccessful punt swapping them over last year. To swap back virtually concedes a wasted '19 campaign. Coach started it, he needs to see it through.
Tonester
Roar Rookie
So I guess it's "go with what we've got" then.
R J
Guest
Big 4 year contract and medically retire in two. Job done.
Paul
Roar Guru
at the end of the day, it probably doesn't matter who the Broncos get, they need to break away from their current setup, which relies too heavily on opportunistic halves and get into a more structured game plan. I suspect, regardless whether they snare Green or not, it will be another season at least before Dearden's ready and the team as a whole can play under a different system.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
well Scot they certainly need some on field direction and when you look at What Benji has done for the Tigers, Cronk at the Roosters & Cam Smith at the Storm and all three are no spring chickens.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Good read Scott. I just can’t remember the Broncos ever being so low on experience and could this the lowest number of Broncos in a current Kangaroo test team? Must be enormous pressure on Seibold without any real leadership group. As we all know contracts mean nothing, I’d chase Michael Morgan from the Cows - or can Ben Hunt be resurrected!