What a year it has been for the Brisbane Broncos.
The first two rounds of the NRL season they looked incredible. Since the restart, they have looked like a completely different team.
Poor performances and off-field issues have plagued the Broncos in 2020 – and the current board has a lot to answer for.
Paul White’s time at the Broncos has been up since 2018 when players declined to attend a BBQ at the CEO’s house.
Bridges were burnt with the current CEO and his board when they treated Wayne Bennett poorly. Obviously at the time the Broncos needed to look into the future, but the great coach was practically thrown out the door.
In my eyes, that’s not the way you treat one of the great coaches. There is clearly a sour taste left within the club since the debacle and power brokers should hire Ben Ikin to clean the place up.
As a former player of the Broncos, Ikin knows the values and beliefs of the club. He has also served on the board at the Cowboys and was an independent director at the QRL.
Listening to him speak on NRL 360, you can hear the passion in his voice about rugby league and in particular, the Brisbane Broncos. He wants to bring success back to the Broncos and has made it clear that if successful for the role as CEO, his first mission is to sign Cameron Smith.
It would be a tall task to take Smith from the Storm but if the deal is done, it would be considered a master stroke from Ikin.
Furthermore, he is not afraid to make tough decisions about the current coach, Anthony Seibold. Due to recent events and poor performances he may not have to make that decision, but it is promising to see that he’s willing to make those changes for the betterment of the club.
Finally, due to his connection to the club he can reintroduce the old boys who have been treated so poorly by the club.
This doesn’t mean to sign Kevin Walters as the coach (because personally I don’t think he could do the job) but bring him in to assist as a halves coach would make a world of difference.
Comments from Broncos legend Willie Carne state that club greats have been shut out from the club. He also went on to say that many of the former players would love to be involved with the side – something that younger players would surely benefit from.
Bringing these former players back into the club for events such as barbeques can allow the current crop of players to reconnect and find that pride within the jersey.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
No, family issues, allegedly.
MarkD
Guest
Further fallout from Bennetts Newcastle fiasco?
Larry1950
Guest
Not sure Ikin is the answer, this current debacle needs an experienced tough nut like Shane Richardson who rebuilt South's, made hard decisions then walked away to save them money when Covid-19 hit. He's a Qlder, came through Easts Tigers & knows Brisbane footy.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
I heard they no longer speak.
MarkD
Guest
What's John Ribot up to?
Guy Hazlewood
Roar Rookie
Appreciate the comment mate
Big Daddy
Guest
That's not what I wanted to hear. It won't stop me from being a Broncos supporter but jeez it makes it hard.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
NewsCorp is the controlling shareholder of the Broncos. Ikin is a NewsCorp employee. NewsCorp are running pro Ikin stories (including this website). No one else serious is putting up their hand. It’s a done deal.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
He is extremely smart... Might be overstating things a bit there. He’s not even really noticeably much smarter than the people who appear on his show. And they are mostly brain damaged alcoholic sports journalists and footballers.
MarkD
Guest
The Broncos need a clean break from anyone who has anything to do with Bennett . Ikin is way to close to him. My take on Bennetts departure differs from yours. Bennett cracked the shits when he was told his contract would not be extended and from that point on behaved like a petulant child not like a professional coach let alone a great coach .
Big Daddy
Guest
Gray- Hand, what you have said rings pretty true. If we recall the NRL had Greenberg and a very mediocre board. When V'Landys came aboard things soon changed. But in general if you cast your eye across the NRL clubs most CEO s have been recycled from club to club. Since Brisbane are privately owned I don't see them making the mistake of hiring someone like Ikin. If he wants to become a board member of have no problem with that but like so many board's it's a numbers game.
LeftRight
Guest
Based on the CV described in this article, which is light on actual quantified experience and achievements, I wouldn't interview him! The Broncos need a fixer. Someone who has previously pulled failed/failing organisations up by the bootstraps & got them on course again (long term). Such people usually only stay in the job for a couple of years, spill plenty of blood, identify & get rid of the deadwood and get the organisation performing again despite the wailing and gnashing of teeth. After that time a nice person can take over. But at the moment the Broncos don't have a clue on or off the field, placing yet another "insider" in the CEO role will just lead to continued failure. And for God's sake, don't recruit Cam Smith - he's good, but he too old!
Rellum
Roar Guru
Well first options are the CEO's of the Storm or Roosters.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I am not sure many incompetent politicians have been found out.
Rellum
Roar Guru
We will need more than a new CEO. Broncos general manager of football Peter Nolan should go as well as Seibold. None of them have been up to the job.
Tezzer
Guest
" too old & wise " l think maybe you can add grumpy bugger to that Sad to see that the TALL POPPY syndrome is alive and well. How anyone can get enjoyment out of watching successful teams failing is beyond my understanding.
Don
Roar Rookie
Good comment. And agree entirely. If the CEO is doing a great job you rarely see much scrutiny of the composition of the board. Nor should you. When the business is travelling poorly and making decisions resulting in losses, then yes, you look at which directors may have had involvement in decisions. That’s why I keep thinking Lockyer should have more heat applied and more accountability for the troubles they are in. He was on the selection panel for a new coach. He’s been on the player recruitment and retention committee since 2013. Both have proven to have made seriously flawed decisions. Forget the coach. The player recruitment and contracting has been ridiculous.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Aahh ,reminiscing about the good old days- yeah that KP ‘s a pansy , hardly left a mark.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Does that rule Alfie out for the job?
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
That’s cause “your fired “ if you make a mistake under Madge