The Brisbane Broncos are lost at sea.
This season the Broncos have been defeated in five out of seven of their games. Five losses from five games since the restart. 6-34 Parramatta, 0-59 Roosters, 18-28 Sea Eagles, 6-27 Newcastle and 12–30 Gold Coast.
That is 42 points scored and 178 points conceded.
These figures clearly say there is a problem in attack – and a massive problem in defence.
The defensive line and the line speed of the Broncos is the worst in the competition and they are a far cry from the historically solid defence of this once proud club.
Another coaching error, Seibold mishandled the interchange in the Gold Coast game. He ran out of interchange players with fifteen minutes to go before Matt Lodge had to leave the field with no replacement, making the team play with twelve men.
Darius Boyd is well spent. He will retire at the end of the year but it’s a year too late. He is not firing. I don’t understand why he continues knowing he is not making an impact.
In the history of sackings there was none bigger than Wally Lewis, so if Seibold doesn’t have the gumption to make the tough calls he might have to be next to go.
Seven-time premiership-winning coach Wayne Bennett was dumped by the board at the end of 2018 and the fans got Seibold. He has never played first grade and now as the Broncos are second last on the ladder he tries to convince the public he is in for the long haul.
I hope not.
As for Tony Milford, he has never lived up to his price tag. Is he a fullback or a five eighth?
He is no Darren Lockyer so let’s be honest. They waste money on Boyd and Milford and look like loosing David Fifita.
Crow
Roar Pro
Sorry Tim. Correction. Seibold never played a first grade at the Brisbane Broncos, (1992–1995), while Wayne Bennett was coach, The club had an aura and those who follow know that. Currently that aura is lost. Seibold never experienced it and then replaced Bennett. He can’t pass on something he doesn’t have. Bennett coached for twenty one years consecutively and won six premierships. As a player he was a first grader, Queensland and Australian rep. It think it is extremely relevant that someone has played the game at the highest level to transform into a successful premiership head coach. Bellamy played 148 games for Canberra. Does Hasler, Ricky Stuart, Jeff Toovey, John Morris, Justin Holbrook, Brad Arthur and Phil Gould all had a lot of time on the paddock before making the transition to coach.
Tim
Guest
Seibold did play first grade. For the Raiders and the London Broncos. And since when is that relevant as to whether someone is a good coach or not?
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Yeah, fair points Crow. I think however that the Roosters took their foot off our throats when they were up 18-0 after 14 minutes and, if Garrick had his kicking boots on, Manly would have beaten us far more comprehensibly. Let's face it - both of our squads have been rubbish. :unhappy:
Crow
Roar Pro
Good question. I would like to ask Corey Parker his first choice coach.
Crow
Roar Pro
You make some good points. I think Seibold was prepared to play two backs on the bench and push Corey Oats to the second row. Well perhaps. Like you say the BB forwards need more relief from the current fast paced middle. The only fire left in Darius should be ‘fired’.
Crow
Roar Pro
Yes I wrote the title. I do t think it is too far off. They sit in 15th position on the ladder and play the Bulldogs (16th) in round nine. They have opportunity this week to respond against the Warriors.
Crow
Roar Pro
Yes I have watched all the Bulldogs games this year. They are 16th place and performing poorly. I have also looked at their results and the scores are better than the broncos. Broncos 92 points scored. 209 conceded. Differential - 117 Bulldogs 76 points scored. 162 conceded. Differential - 82 They have been close to winning a few games. The current premiers and benchmark Roosters bashed them (42-6) but not as badly as they smashed the Broncos (59-0). They play each other in round 9 so we will see.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Fair point, and it is why I am not sure the Walker Brothers are the right fit, but if we are only giving out short contracts if Seibold is gone then I would give them a season and a half to show if they could get the team to buy in.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
"Busted Broncos must be wooden spoon favourites" ......have you watched the Bulldogs play recently Crow? ;)
Nat
Roar Rookie
I like the Walker Bros attitude but I'm not sure this is the group. There has to be a lot of trust and experience in the group to play contract football. The premise being to keep the ball alive and to someone in a better position, effectively denying the opposition the ball. Being able to pass doesn't mean you should and I'm not sure they know the diference yet or the maturity to pull it off. I have no opinion on Fitzy but if he follows the O'brien style/attitude I'll be open to him.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Nope. If they get Staggs, Fifita and Turpin back on the paddock I wouldn't be surprised to see them give some of the top teams a run for their money. With a massive shift in attitude of course. And that’s got to be the most frustrating part. They’re absolutely playing like cellar dwellers, but they simply aren’t.
LeftRight
Guest
Last sentence should be "obvious recruitment errors"
Rellum
Roar Guru
Coaches who are attached? Wane maybe. Not sold on Hooks, been there done that. Fitzgibbon might be worth a try for a year and a half but Politis has a "hand shake" deal from him to stay. Or my own favorites, the Walker brothers. Kevie doesn't fill me with confidence. I still think we should have a push to bring Bellyach here in 2022 even as a coaching director and maybe try and Get Smith here as an assistant, lets be honest, if any recent player had coach written all over them it is Smith, but he will probably coach the Storm soon enough.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Tough question as good people always have jobs. I know it won't happen but Demetriou would have been ideal. Hook is good at developing youung players but I'm not sure he's premiership material. As Rellum says Tooves would bring grit. Never know, Smith might retire and after a few months on the coast over Winter might inspire Bellamy to 'Cronk' us for 2yrs into retirement. I would mind them having a shot at Shaun Wane. His style of SL play could benefit this young group and the new pace of the game.
LeftRight
Guest
To be able to turn a previously competitive team into a punching bag, even for regular cellar dwellers the Titans, within a 12 month period really is an achievement. The tangled mess of player and coach recruitment, dollars paid to players and coaches, contract constructs offered and accepted by players and coaches (e.g. supposedly no performance criteria in Siebold contract), regular non performing players always selected to play, game plans that don't work every week, cliches rolled out every week excusing the latest flogging etc etc. You look at all of the above and you see a very, very badly managed club. And worse still, obvious recruitment (players and coaches) are locked in for years and years. What a bloody mess!
Rellum
Roar Guru
Unattached, Tooves is the only one I would consider.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Nat. Hypothetically if Seibold is "let go", who would your choice of replacement be from coaches who are currently unattached?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
LOL.. I seem to be reading a lot of this lately. So, in repeat of my previous observations - while I don't entirely absolve Boyd for his efforts - it was the stupidest thing for Seibs and the board to expect, that after Broncos shafted his mentor Siebs would just walk in and smoothly take over. There were obvious divisions at the start and the proper efforts should have been made to keep the peace. Most apparent thing to me is they are not playing as a team nor have for a while. Only made the semis last year on the back of some amazing individual efforts by Haas, Fifita and Turpin to win a couple of tight games.
Nat
Roar Rookie
I respect your passion for the club Crow. The team is playing poorly and you've outlined a few obvious flaws in their game. Seiboold carrying an extra back on the bench has been a bug-bear of mine since the day it started. Along with a utility, it puts far too much strain on the forwards, this "young" pack cannot handle the intensity for extended period and they get what they are receiving. The team make up and positioning means little, they've nearly possible combination (including Oates in the BR) and it hasn't worked. Look at the way Des rotates his bench. AFB had 2 spells, played 60mins and ran for 200m. TPJ should be used in this fashion, maybe 40mins total but make it impactful, he can bludge on the edge if he plays 80mins. The same applies with Haas, Play the first 40 and return with 25 to go. Rotate Lodge for Fleg, TPJ for Haas, Te'o for Carrigan and Paix for Bully. Every back they have can play 2-3 positions comfortably, right down to Paix in the halves. There is no need for an extra back on the bench, it's a wasted interchange and the forwards are paying for it. Yes Darius has to go. He's not an attacking thread and is a defensive liability. I'm sure the heart is willing but the head is not in the game. He's a veteran and a proffesional so he knows how to train, he probably looks superb on the turf in Redhill but the games are evidence enough that his body is no longer willing. If I could get Darius just to do one thing - stand deeper in attack. He trails along virtually side-by-side to Milford and when he gets it, he has no options. The Broncos best attacking play of the last 4 seasons was the Boyd cut out to Oates. If you are going to wear the jumper, give it an extra 2m and give yourself some opportunity. On the Title - did you write it? The Roar editiors are going a little DT on the Broncos so I wouldn't be surprised. The Broncos are never going to be spoon favourites. No one looks at the Broncos team sheet and struggles to identify talent as you can with a few clubs. Playing poorly enough to earn that title is a different matter.