Conversation at pubs, clubs and around the dinner table this weekend is likely to focus on who is going to reign supreme in the NRL in 2020.
However, one thing is certain. It will not be the Brisbane Broncos for one simple reason: they have no football IQ. They could very well find themselves flunking in the race for the finals.
The term football IQ is bandied around by commentators and journalists on a daily basis, but what does it mean?
In its simplest form, football IQ refers to a player’s ability to learn and problem solve, yet it is more finely grained.
The concept also involves a host of sub-skills, including critical thinking, improvisation, time management, and forward planning. Football IQ is Wally Lewis scooting down the blindside to score untouched in the corner, it’s an Andrew Johns 40/20 on the second tackle or a Johnathan Thurston chip-and-chase after he spots that the fullback isn’t at home.
Next week, the side from Red Hill will take to the field with one of its youngest ever rosters to start the home-and-away season. While it is plausible that they could develop into a top outfit, I feel as though I have been here many times before.
During the Broncos’ 14-year premiership drought, how many times have I heard commentators exclaim: “Look at the Baby Broncos go. In two years they will be world beaters”.
Sorry people, it hasn’t happened and the one constant has been a lack of football IQ.
This was no more clearly on display than last year when it became apparent that Anthony Seibold’s game plan was too complex for the young apprentices.
(Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
They failed to complete sets and even get kicks away on the last because they were focusing on the structures they had been training in, as opposed to staying in the moment and thinking for themselves.
Perhaps the biggest reason for this is that young players are often happy to take the good with bad and feel no urgency to learn. Whenever they cop a drubbing in the press, they can reply with the mantra: “But we are still young and learning”.
If the boys from the stable truly want to change their tune and experience growth, they should probably change the way they prepare for big matches.
Allan Langer would finish a Panasonic Cup match on a Wednesday night and then go back to the team hotel and watch video footage of the opposition halfback he was clashing with on Sunday at home in Brisbane. Only then would be study the form for the Ipswich gallops the next day.
Who could forget how the Broncos prepared for their finals match against Parramatta last year, by going down to the local and chucking a few lazy 50s through the pokies. Players these days are certainly not always students of the game.
In many respects, though, it is not the players themselves who are solely to blame for the lack of football IQ in the modern game. One massive contributing factor, especially at Broncos HQ, has been the over-intellectualisation of the sport.
What was once a game of catch, draw and pass has evolved into a science. This is a science of human movement, biomechanics and databases, of structures, angles, curves, unders, overs, lead runners, blockers and anything else a computer program can draw up. Coaches now create plays that require a player to run to a specific shoulder of a defender, inside or outside, for the motion to take effect.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Coaches, and the many assistant coaches, fill these kids’ heads with so much data that it is almost impossible for them to think for themselves when they step onto the field. These kids become puppets, able to run ten different variations of the same structure, yet unable to think for themselves.
A perfect illustration of this happens every time a team is attacking. The ground swarms with blokes in yellow barking instructions from the coach about how the team should respond in the next few sets. Could you imagine someone like Artie Beetson being told what to do by a trainer?
Last year Seibold thought that he had the smarts and the game plan to bring the best out of the Broncos. He gave the young fellas the notes and they turned up full of energy.
However, having the notes is no good if the teacher changes the test on the day. Unless new playmaker Brodie Croft can provide the Broncos with some of the football IQ they have been missing, it might be a case of being sent to detention in 2020.
Adam
Roar Guru
Probably why he has to be out there so much...He's actually not saying much, it just takes that long to get what he is saying
mushi
Roar Guru
I thought an Oneil line would have been the go to.
mushi
Roar Guru
I think it's about when knowing when the variables have shifted to turn an assumed low percentage play into a risk reward lay down. Few players can do it and its learned in earlier grades. It's why those types of players make terrible coaches
mushi
Roar Guru
The thing is, have you heard Alfie talk. Trying to do what he says on the run would be like an Uzbekistani who learned English 2 months ago trying to transcribe the Wire in a noisy room.
Paul C
Guest
Everybody seems to like repeating the 58 nil loss by the Broncos last year to the Eels. I remember the Broncos putting on over 60 points against the Eels & that was a "home game " for the Eels & Sterling was still playing for the Eels.
Randy
Roar Rookie
The Storm have effectively been acting as Brisbane 2 since about 2005 and have sucked the Broncos dry. It's going to be very interesting to see what this new Brisbane team does to no only the Broncos but also the Storm.
Michael Butterfield
Roar Rookie
Agree with you about McCullough, Hook moved him from 5/8 to 9 in the Under 20's, dropped the guy who scored 7 tries in the first 7 games, then brought the guy he dropped back for the preliminary final who scored the winning try on the bell, played him for 20 mins in the grand final & never offered him a go at the Broncos, that guy played over 200 games in the Queensland Cup, he was much much better than McCullough.
Emcie
Roar Guru
To be fair, the Broncs havn't had a solid option for captain since Locky retired 9 years ago. Sammy's game suffered noticably, Hodges missed too many games, Parker was a great player but not sure about his leadership credentials and Boyd was pretty much the last man standing when he took on the role. Cyril and Porkey have been gone for a long time (and it should be noted that a lot of the current talent the broncos have been criticised for not retaining or spotting on the way though their system was on Cyrils watch). The side's been dealing with these for years and still been more successful then most, I'm not sure that they are quite the obstacles they're made out to be.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Hunt had one or two good seasons. Hodges was fullback for a similar time, he was mainly a centre. Boyd was at his best at the Dragons. He has been ordinary since he left the club. I stand by my comment
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Karmichael Hunt, Justin Hodges, Darius Boyd. None of them decent? I don’t think many will agree with you there.
Cyril Snodgrass
Guest
The Broncos will be "also rans" in 2020 a new half isnt going to solve their problems..... Just think their last game against Parra in 2019....58-NIL says it all
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
They haven't replaced Lockyer with anyone decent. Haven't had a decent fullback since Lockyer. When was the last time the Broncos had a decent hooker? McCullough is terrible but no one at the club has the guts to move him on. That's the reason. Haven't had a decent spine since the 90s with Lockyer at fullback, Walters and Langer in the halves. Spent big on forwards in recent years but ignored key positions. They won't be playing finals in 2020
johnno 2
Roar Rookie
YES, But the rot starts at the top , let's have a look at those stats. A lot of bad choices and purchases and poor related coaching
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The plight of the Broncos highlights one of the games greatest myths. The ability of a mentor to have any sort of valuable role in helping the next generation. Alfie Langer and Darren Lockyer have surely been doing their best to get the halves up to speed over the last 20 years. Joey Johns at the Knights and Kenny and Sterling at the Eels are two other examples. Croft didn't turn in to Cronk despite being having a birds eye view of exactly how he operates. The Broncos success will hinge largely on the natural abilities of the members of the spine. If they're not up to speed it won't matter who is training, coaching and advising them. Recruitment is king!
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Agree BD - they could spot a winner or wanker a mile away.
Big Daddy
Guest
:thumbup: Guys like Cyril Connell and Ron Massey were legends. No-one like this today.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It shows how little regard they had for Croft. I haven't studied him closely enough to form a reliable opinion but the Storm were happy to let him go to a rival club and can't be too worried about him as an opponent.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Since the Broncos entered the competition, I cannot recall a time, other than now, when (1) they have limited options as captain, (2) They have spent big money on young or ‘external players, (3) Had such a young roster, and (4) have coped so much abuse/insults from fans. I think the late Cyrill Connell and Porky Morgan were the backbone of that club and have proven to be irreplaceable.
McTavish
Roar Rookie
If that was their best regular season then Croft was a regular for the majority of it. Not saying he was the cause of it, but Storm underperformed in finals after Brodie was dropped!?
McTavish
Roar Rookie
That's who I was referring to!