Despite being the incumbent wooden spooners, it’s crazy to me that the Brisbane Broncos are being tipped by many to again be at the bottom of the ladder at the end of the 2021 NRL season.
The Broncos were a mess last year – honestly, that’s putting it kindly.
The lack of commitment on show virtually across the park was embarrassing and eventually cost coach Anthony Seibold his job.
And while a fat stack of cash certainly would have played a part in his decision, being part of a losing squad surely helped make David Fifita’s move to the Gold Coast a little bit easier.
It was a tightly-run affair but when the last of the NRL’s 20 rounds were played last September, Brisbane were for the first time in their illustrious history, fairly and squarely last on the ladder.
The odd thing was, their last place was not down to a lack of talent.
As I wrote shortly before the loss to the Cowboys last September that confirmed their status as the worst team of the year, “it appears as though the 2020 wooden spoon won’t be taken out by the team with the worst players but by the players with the worst attitude.”
Since that time, as mentioned above, Fifita has left Red Hill, while Payne Haas will be missing for the first three matches of the season due to an off-field issue, and an ACL injury means Kotoni Staggs won’t be on the team sheet for a number of months.
However, if you go through the Broncos squad, it’s not half bad.
Haas is one of the game’s premier props, Matt Lodge was considered a chance of playing Origin only two years ago, and in 2019 Thomas Flegler made both the Prime Minister’s XIII and the Junior Kangaroos – a team that, to be clear, was made up of the best NRL players under the age of 23, not schoolboys, and was referred to by coach Neil Henry as “a genuine Australia-A side”.
I have no idea why the club let Andrew McCullough leave but the Broncos have made it clear they see Jake Turpin and Cory Paix as their future at hooker, so I guess that’s what’s going on there.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The backrow features the likes of internationals Alex Glenn and Tevita Pangai Jr, as well as Queensland Origin squad member Patrick Carrigan.
Keeping those three honest will be dual international Ben Te’o, premiership winner John Asiata, and youngsters such as Ethan Bullemore (referred to by NRL.com as being “the fastest and smartest forward at the club”), Maori All Star Jordan Riki and Keenan Palasia.
Halfback Tom Dearden is considered one of the brightest young prospects in the game, Anthony Milford at his best was a worthy selection for Origin footy, and Brodie Croft was the vice captain of the aforementioned ’19 Junior Kangaroos.
Though he’s injured, Staggs is the reigning Dally M Centre of the Year – and scored 2020’s try of the year – 19-year-old Tesi Niu has already played Test footy, starring in Tonga’s historic 2019 win over Great Britain, while David Mead is an experienced campaigner who has captained his country.
Xavier Coates is an Origin winger, while Jesse Arthars, well, isn’t, but he’s only 22. Then at fullback, Jamayne Isaako is another Test-quality player.
At full strength, that squad can challenge for the top eight. I mean, the core of it did play semi-finals footy in 2019.
Though he wouldn’t admit it, this level of lowered expectation certainly makes Kevin Walters’ job that much easier, because second-last place is all he needs to achieve to have surpassed expectations.
But that really shouldn’t be the case.
The problem with the Broncos last year wasn’t a lack of quality troops, it was a lack of commitment. If Walters can solve that issue – which really only seemed to become apparent after the season relaunch in May, Brisbane having actually won their first two matches before COVID put everything on hold – he’s got the makings of a team that should be placed somewhere from sixth to tenth when September rolls around.
Talk of a second wooden spoon is off. Brisbane won’t win the comp this year but they’re too good to come dead last.
Of course, I guess you would have said the same in 2020.
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
I’d move to Sydney. In my original post, I was describing the situation in the late 1980s when the Broncos won the talent lottery. I agree with you that times have changed.
Nat
Roar Guru
I get that and it's true to a point but it's becoming less of a drawcard than it was. The Broncos put every decent young fella on scholarships, more than any other club I believe in order to create that loyalty. But those few who go next level at 18yo get made all sorts of promises by clubs and their managers. Would you stay in Brisbane for $100k and play at Norths or take $200 and make top 20, if not a starter, to play in Sydney?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Tim i disagree with you on the 40m drop. I don't like the rule but it just won't be a regular thing. Last play before half time ? Yep. One or two behind and on your last set of 6 for the game , yep. Otherwise the risks are greater than the reward. I reckon 2 to 3 kicked for the whole season. Annoying but the fabric of the game( is it still polyester or are we back to cotton.?) will remain intact.
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
It’s more than salary caps and player number limits. If I am a gun junior, born and bred in BNE, and you offer me a choice of living in my home town and moving to say, Parramatta, I’ll stay in BNE. I will then play in front of my family and friends every second week on average. My girlfriend/wife will be also very close to her family, important if kids come along. Not to mention, buying a house at BNE prices versus Sydney. Then of course, I can also benefit from local sponsorship within the rules of course. I am more likely to find sponsors in a one team town of 2.5 million people than a 5 million town with up to 10 clubs fighting for the same sponsorship deals. This is in part why the Broncos could hang onto players like Langer for years, despite him earning a fraction of the official salary cap from the Broncos that he could have got from going south.
Emcie
Roar Guru
For sure, avoid it like the plague normally. But desperate times... I feel for Kevvie, but in the three years he was being pushed as a potential coach I can't remember seeing any evidence for a groundswell of support from the fans and that speaks volumes.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I'm glad the Storm grabbed Smith, Slater , Cronk and Munster from under the Broncos nose because they would have kept on winning titles I suspect.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The Broncs forum is a cesspool. It is where intellect goes to die. But I don't know anyone one is excited by Kevie's appointment.
Emcie
Roar Guru
To be honest, after writing that I got a bit worried I was way off base (I'm not a part of any bronco centric forums or groups) so I looked up a broncos forum to see what expectations were there. The most optimistic predictions involve just scraping into the 8 while most have the broncos fighting among the bottom 4. People are always gonna have their own ideas but that seems to be the consensus
The Barry
Roar Guru
Definitely don’t hear that side of it down here...
Emcie
Roar Guru
Yeah, probably not something you’re gonna hear from the Media. It’s funny, the missus had to drive a colleague from Newcastle around last week and the topic got onto how happy people must be to have Kevvie now. He was somewhat surprised by her response. It wasn’t till she told me that story that I realised people outside of brissy were under a different opinion. And to be perfectly honest I’d say it’s less about expected results than just general disillusionment with the club itself, which has been building since Bennett got booted
The Barry
Roar Guru
Thanks mate - that’s really interesting. Have to see how it works out but it puts a different context on Walters’ appointment
Emcie
Roar Guru
alright, looks like it's been lost in the nether... So basicly the general consensus in conversations i've been apart of is that he's a great halves coach but not much of a head coach (or at least yet to prove it). Fans would take him in a heartbeat as an assistant. Not exactly the end of the world. The sticking point for most (again, pretty limited sample group so I can't speak for everyone) is all the rubbish around him getting the job. There's been a lot of PR spin about how he's going to be the coming saviour that flys in the face of the public sentiment that I've experienced and that can get pretty grating. Just Google "next year we've got kevvie" if you havn't already been subjected to it. The constant "this is what you want" is especially irritating when everyone knows it was just to appease specific ex-players with media connections. Essentially, we have a coach fans don't have much confidence in, an administration fans have already lost faith in and an advertising campaign that reaks of desperation. Fans will support their team through hard times but it's hard to muster the same enthusiasm when it feels like the team is being hijacked as a pawn in constant powerplays, and I have to say, at least in my circles the old boys have lost a lot of respect. I personally know a number of people that have switch to supporting the Titans or Cows for the meantime or just lost interest entirely.
thomas c
Guest
I think they're potentially a good team when the best players are on the park. But I'm not sure they have the depth to deal with injuries or maintaining consistency once the starting forwards are being rested. If they're any chance of doing well, they need the backup players to be able to maintain pressure or increase it. There's more risk if Haas or Turpin get injured. They need the remaining signings to be astute. A couple early victories would help convince players that they weren't on a repeat of last year.
matth
Roar Guru
Good point
Ian Kaiwa
Roar Rookie
:rugby: :rugby: :rugby: :rugby:
Rellum
Roar Guru
Bleeping devils
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
I agree on the potential component Adam. Everyone pays for potential these days in the game, which is sad to a degree. I’m mean we all have the potential to bang a supermodel, but very few can actually execute that. We are also waiting for Milford to consistently deliver on his potential. Funny that you mention passion, cause the broncos played without any last year and that didn’t seem to get the 2 points either. Most successful people don’t really need an alarm clock, cause passion wakes them everyday. maybe just maybe the broncos need someone that cares about the joint to turn around the lack of anything of substance….. they dished up last year.
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
Norths as well for Walsh Kennedy also played with Norths in the trial over the weekend. Broncs affiliates are Wynnum, Souths and Norths for this year. Although you’ll see one Broncos player not play for any of those 3 affiliates in 2021.
TVS Storm
Guest
you are funny, Storm hasnt gone to your Brissy market and bought anyone
Jock
Guest
Do the Broncos have too much talent to come last in 2021? Clearly, they potentially have the right amount of talent to come last. They proved that in 2020, and their team has changed little. Talent to play in NRL is both mental and physical, not to mention a fair bit of heart. Kevvie Walters can coach. He's done a significant apprenticeship and was the best choice available for the Broncs. Aside from his unifying abilities, his strength coming into the job was his ability to bring the best out of his halves. Weakness wise, him dealing with the Broncs defensive frailties is my major concern. It was the worst by a long way that I've ever witnessed in 2020 (and I've been watching a long time). The Broncs' injury woes have not helped. Given their fair share of luck with the Footy Gods, I think Kevvie has the capabilities of getting them in the eight. He just has to coach last seasons talent out of them. Then, keep a consistent line up. I will start the season hopeful (arguably on a delusional scale). In any event, he should be given time.