The Brisbane Broncos are in a position that is totally foreign to the club.
Not only are they languishing in 15th position on the ladder, one could argue that their competitiveness and manner in which they lose each week is befitting of the team situated in last place.
However, through these performances, many positives for the future can be drawn. Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan have started to consistently perform at a high level for larger stints in the middle of the park – performances that seem to indicate the Broncos 10 and 13 jerseys will belong to them for years to come.
Looking towards 2021, the no.8 jersey should belong to either Joe Ofahengaue or Matt Lodge, quality front-rowers who provide solid metres and consistency in the middle of the park. Tom Flegler can provide spark from the bench with his footwork.
With the departure of David Fifita, the no.11 jersey should now belong to Alex Glenn, while the mystery jersey of the forward pack is the no.12. There are three options to wear it; Aidan Guerra, Kevin Proctor, Tevita Pangai Jr.
Firstly, Guerra is an experienced representative backrower, however, at the age of 32, the length of contract necessary for him to have an impact on the development of this pack while still remaining a consistent value-for-money performer is non-existent. Likewise for Kevin Proctor (31), who also seems to be recommitting to the Titans.
That leaves Pangai Jr. as the best option, having already re-signed through until 2022. However, a bench second-rower should probably be brought in to provide a point of difference considering both the work rates of the other middles and the inevitability of TPJ being suspended.
However, the Broncos true issues lie in the outside backs and the money they are paying to underperforming players. It is well documented the huge salary cap hits of the contracts of Anthony Milford ($1 million), Jack Bird ($975k) and Darius Boyd ($800k) are greatly affecting the Broncos.
Looking towards 2021, Boyd’s retirement will free up $800k in cap space and Jack Bird should be offloaded to a club like the Bulldogs (a deal the Broncos will have to pay the majority of). Milford, on the other hand, should be offered to the Tigers in exchange for Josh Reynolds, another player on big money who plays completely different to Milford; a true five-eighth with a never say die attitude, who will provide the Broncos with a leader and tenacity as his attitude will generate defensive accountability.
The last player that should be offloaded is Brodie Croft, a 23-year-old halfback who has been outperformed by a 19-year-old in Tom Dearden. In the Storm game, the Broncos looked better when they were going through him (Dearden) as opposed to when they switched to Croft who routinely kicked the ball down the throat of the fullback and didn’t successfully throw a pass to anyone other than his backrower. Cory Paix in the 14 jumper can provide the team with Halves and Hooker coverage.
The players in the back five seem set in place for 2021. However, the positions in which they play are not.
1. Herbie Farnworth/Jessie Arthars
2. Corey Oates
3. Kotoni Staggs
4. Xavier Coates/Herbie Farnworth/Jesse Arthars
5. Jesse Arthars/Xavier Coates/Herbie Farnworth
6. Josh Reynolds
7. Tom Dearden
8. Joe Ofahengaue
9. Jake Turpin
10. Payne Haas
11. Alex Glenn (c)
12. Tevita Pangai Jr
13. Pat Carrigan
14. Cory Paix
15. Tom Flegler
16. Matt Lodge
17. Second rower/centre
Farnworth, Oates, Staggs, Coates, Arthars are all young players who have the potential to develop into one of the competition’s best back fives. Reynolds is the ideal halves partner to develop Tom Dearden as his tenacity and carelessness will complement Dearden’s role as an organiser nicely.
Ofahengaue and Flegler can be rotated throughout the game to provide a ‘go-forward’ front-rower and Flegler’s footwork will be great against tired forwards. Glenn and Pangai Jr. will provide both a consistent backrower and a backrower with the potential to break a game open. Haas should play 50-60 minutes consecutively and Lodge should come on to close out the game.
That is my Broncos team for 2021. In the future, I may provide more in-depth analysis of positional groups.
Ben smith
Guest
we need someone like keary to steer the ship
Crow
Roar Pro
Milford should go to the super league
Crow
Roar Pro
McCullough (Andrew), is a Knight and has an ACL tear and is out for the season.
ken gargett
Guest
i think you are the first to mention Nui. wondering why no love for the kid. i'll be stunned if he is not a full time starter next year and for a very long time to come - unless of course they implode even more and everyone jumps ship.
Womblat
Guest
I appreciate your sarcasm but players coming back from a series of devastating injuries is the exception, not the rule, simple fact. Don't take my word for it... ask Tim Moltzen, Pat O'Hanlon, Kyle Stanley and if you wanna go back a bit, Brett Papworth. And they were all as courageous and determined as Mal, Prince and Bird.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Lots of significant roster changes suggested in the last week or so. More experience and effort in the halves is a common theme, and Reynolds ticks both those boxes. But the bloke is an absolute lunatic. I love that abut him as a footy fan but I don’t think it is the type of experience needed for the younger blokes in the team. Although one things for sure. I don’t think he’d be keeping his mouth shut under the posts as we have seen from all the team recently. The reality is I don’t think we will be luring a quality half in the current situation. Would like to see them have a go at Green. Outside of him??? Another theme is that we need to add someone to the pack who will get in and do the 1%ers. It’s true we are lacking that. But I just don’t see why we can’t except that out of the current pack. Someone just needs to step up and do it. So chances are we are looking at the current roster to field a 17 next season. And its not as though we can’t have a competitive one. 1. Bird 2. Oates 3. Niu 4. Staggs 5. Coates 6. O'Sullivan 7. Dearden 8. Haas 9. Turpin 10. Lodge 11. Pangai Jr 12. Palasia 13. Ofahengaue 14. Paix 15. Carrigan 16. Flegler 17. Kennedy If Milford is willing to have a dig he can fight for 14. Would love to see TPJ in the middle, but Fifita has left on enormous hole on our edge. We need someone out there who is adding another dimension to our attack. So I think that spells the end of Glenn’s time. Halves are notably light on experience. But at least with other options available they will be pushed.
Big Daddy
Guest
Sporacle, Bird at his best is worth the risk. But considering his injury record that's the question. I'm leaning on yes :thumbup:
elvis
Roar Rookie
Raiders should have punted Mal after all those broken arms, bloody useless he was!
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Liam, you've put up some interesting ideas, but haven't addressed some key issues when it comes to naming your team. The first is, how do you attract players to a Club where there is clearly a dysfunctional Board as well as a coach who has taken a useful team to the bottom of the NRL ladder? The follow-on from the first point is, who would want to go and play for a side has haemorrhaged 337 points in 11 games while only scoring 142? Elite players get tired of standing behind the try line waiting for another conversation attempt. They get tired of regularly having 40 & 50 points put on them and the especially get tired of being booed by their fans and having zero chance of getting to the finals. Unless the Broncos pay serious overs for guys, especially in the spine, the Broncs are going nowhere in a hurry, not with the Board & coach they've got. PS I'm also wondering who you think might take Bird, given his track record of injuries, unless the Broncos pay a big chunk of his remaining contract? There'd also want to be a sweetener with Milford as he's damaged goods IMO. Has gone north and done little.
Randy
Roar Rookie
They got some lean years ahead, that team aren’t going anywhere…. I thought Blake Green was linking up with them. Another experienced half they could look at bringing back would be Aiden Sezer.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Three hookers in the run on? Cmon, you’re clearly just trying to make the Knights jealous.
johnno 2
Roar Rookie
not in my book - he's a dud
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
— COMMENT DELETED —
Womblat
Guest
He has to be the most amazing exception, right? After all those awful injuries, he turned out to be one of the most lethal footy players of all. Can't imagine that to be typical but. Prince was a freak.
Harry
Guest
Just as hard as playing with overpaid kids out of high school who've never fought for a thing in their lives off the field.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I think you right there JA. But the Broncos current scenario made me realise there just isn’t that much “decent mature” available talent out there. Is it just me or does the roster seem full of either young players with potential or average players that are plodders?
Rellum
Roar Guru
He has been told he can look elsewhere supposedly.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
I just don't get the Bird out thing 100%, I honestly think he's getting lumped in this by default. See if he gets fit and performs and save the payout, if not sure punt him. Geez you might be sorry you did
Rebellion
Guest
They need to get rid of him nonetheless. He has either been unlucky or has cut corners during rehab. Seibold, Milford, Boyd, White, Morris, Lockyer and Bird need to go in that order. If Seibold’s contract really is exempt of performance KPI’s then the CEO really needs to go
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Wasn't DCE booed at Suncorp after changing his mind on a move to the Titans? Oh that's right he was cheered during Origin. I suppose all is forgiven although I doubt whether he would leave Manly anyway as they are competitive.