The Brisbane Broncos were once the premier club of Queensland and a major force in the NRL.
Entering the competition in 1988, they’ve won six flags – in 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2006 – and have become a franchise and brand that all young Queenslanders supported and dreamt about playing for.
But now the Broncos are struggling, and receiving a first wooden spoon in 2020 is an unacceptable situation for a club that was often in the premiership conversation.
So how can the Broncos return to finals contention given the club haven’t won a grand final since 2006 and haven’t competed in a grand final since the narrow loss to North Queensland Cowboys in 2015?
I suggest five strategies for the club to achieve success in the immediate future and the long term.
First, given that all successful clubs have strong cultures staff and players enjoy being part of, Brisbane must also embrace their former players to encourage important interaction between them and current players to pass on vital skills and pride for wearing the Broncos jersey.
While Kevin Walters has already attempted to do this through a race day for former and current players, Gorden Tallis (160 games for the Brisbane Broncos) rightfully expressed concern when senior management at the club cancelled the day.
It’s a no-brainer that their young forwards can learn much from Petero Civoniceva (235 games), Shane Webcke (254 games) and Corey Parker (347 games). The backline would also benefit greatly from being mentored by players such as Steve Renouf (183 games), Darren Lockyer (355 games), Shaun Berrigan (186 games) and Justin Hodges (195 games).
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
Second, the Broncos need to build their side around key players in the current squad: Tom Dearden (halfback), Kotoni Staggs (centre), Xavier Coates (wing), Payne Haas (prop), Jordan Riki (back row), Patrick Carrigan (lock) and Thomas Flegler (prop).
Six of these core players already have the talent, drive and top-level representative experience to be leaders of a successful club. Carrigan and Coates were in the Queensland Origin squad (2020), Haas has been in the New South Wales Origin set-up for the last few seasons, Riki played in the Maori All Stars (2020-21), Flegler played in the Prime Minister’s XIII (2019) and Staggs has played for Tonga.
While lacking representative experience at this stage, Dearden is one of the best young halves coming through and is a genuine contender for the number 7.
Third, the Broncos must be methodical in signing players for the future, a crucial aspect that may explain the club’s downfall in recent years.
By chasing quick rather than long-term success the club have gathered too many players in the squad through huge money based on untried NRL potential rather than the necessary quality experienced players.
The club should clear out underperforming and overpaid players. Anthony Milford, Brodie Croft, Ben Te’o, Alex Glenn, Matt Lodge and even Corey Oates need to be released to make way for the future.
Milford, Croft and Te’o are underperforming given the value placed on them. Glenn has not been performing up to his previous standard. Lodge has spent more time on the sidelines than playing in recent years despite taking up a considerable portion of the salary cap space. Oates, because of his desire to play in the back row and the club’s reluctance to play him there, should be allowed to explore his options elsewhere, which would also provide some salary cap space.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Fourth, Brisbane need to identify and attract marquee players who can strengthen the squad, in line with other key players identified earlier.
I have identified four possible players and a franchise player to fill key holes.
Cameron Munster (franchise player) (five-eighth)
Munster will add a wealth of experience in club games as well as big games. He’s a devastating ball runner and game-changer at both club and representative level. He would be an ideal fit outside of Dearden.
Dane Gagai (centre)
Gagai has a wealth of experience that can add talent and composure to the side. He’s proven himself as a damaging centre for Queensland and club. With such depth and talent at South Sydney, attracting him to Brisbane could be a real possibility.
Dale Finucane (lock forward/prop)
Funicane, albeit currently injured, can add many positive attributes to the Broncos outfit. He has an unbelievable work rate in defence as well as inspirational talent and the experience and calmness that would aid an inexperienced Broncos pack.
Nathan Brown (lock forward/prop)
Brown has been one of the NRL’s best lock forwards for the last few seasons, as evident by his call up to the 2020 New South Wales origin side. He is aggressive and loves making the hard yards in the middle for his team. Adding him to Brisbane’s middle alongside Haas and Carrigan could prove a formidable combination.
Will Kennedy (fullback)
Will Kennedy is an underrated fullback. When provided an opportunity to play first grade, he looks comfortable and composed. He has done a magnificent job for Cronulla. When the Sharks have a fit roster, Kennedy is not the first-choice fullback. He would be a bargain buy for the Broncos and would have an immediate impact on the team.
Fifth, Brisbane needs to add five to eight solid players to fill the void during the representative season and to cover injuries. This would include recruiting youth players from the Queensland Cup system along with the new signings. Youth players could include Ethan Bullemor, Corey Paix, Keenan Palasia and Kobe Hetherington. Fringe players adding depth to the squad could include Lloyd Perrett (Burleigh Bears), Kurtis Rowe (Burleigh Bears), Patrick Kaufusi (Townsville Blackhawks) and Javid Bowen (Northern Pride), just to name a few.
Based on the above points, which includes key existing and new signings, my best 17 for the Brisbane Broncos would be:
- Will Kennedy
- Xavier Coates
- Dane Gagai
- Kotoni Staggs
- Herbie Farnworth
- Cameron Munster
- Tom Dearden
- Nathan Brown
- Jake Turpin
- Payne Haas
- Tevita Pangai Jnr
- Jordan Riki
- Patrick Carrigan
- Corey Paix
- John Asiata
- Dale Funicane
- Thomas Flegler
With the help of Chris Lewis I have offered some ideas about how Brisbane can revive their great past and look forward to seeing the Broncos return to their previous position as a major NRL force.
Jacob
Roar Rookie
Capewell would be a good buy for them. As I don’t support the broncos ????
Bingo
Roar Rookie
Broncos sign players who are too much icing and not enough cake. Katoni Staggs is suss defensively but has had some outstanding attacking moments. Five eighth? A risk. Coming back from ACL? A risk Off field behaviour? Another risk Could turn out to be another James Roberts. All Jet but no engine.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You will have to pay him well but he's your man. Oh I see there are rumours you may get Capewell . Hes a real workhorse . Not quite Finucane but a good signing at the right price.
Jacob
Roar Rookie
I believe Funicane is needed. You know he won’t stop working and that ethic can rub off on the young one
Jacob
Roar Rookie
I believe Melbourne to be a model club for all teams in the way they are internally structured. Where can you get information from? Melbourne. Makes sense to raid them.
Contego
Guest
Brisbane have a poor coach, no quality halves and since Cyril Connor left seem to have poor player development. Munster and Funicane would add professionalism but you’d have to pay overs to get them. Gagai would show desperation and I don’t get Nathan Brown as a solution. Develop juniors and buy 2 quality key players but please as someone who hates the Bronco’s bring back Wayne as a coach
Rellum
Roar Guru
It didn't filter down to your mob though. The Dolphins have that culture and I think that will set them up well if/when they get the license. (what is with the Brisbane Jets carry on like they already have the license?). I don't like the NRL clubs being affiliated with just one team thought. The Hunters for example and the Fiji team in NSW won't develop if they are left in a third tier. I might do the numbers on all the teams and see how many there are if you take out the NRL clubs with the same branded NSW cup sides.
matth
Roar Guru
I agree 100% with the need to formalise the two 2nd tier comps and relationships with the NRL. The constant chopping and changing of which club is affiliated with which NL team makes continuity of culture and training difficult, which muddies the pathways and makes the step up harder. Having a QCup game as a curtain raiser to Broncos games is frankly a no-brainer. the only issues will be non-affiliated clubs like PNG, and situations where all the north QLD clubs are affiliated with the Cowboys. As for Souths, the mess at the Broncos obviously filters down - no clear direction or style. As usual it is the well run clubs such as Melbourne and the Roosters who actually focus on what their feeder clubs are doing, aim for a common culture and as a result their players always seem to step up.
Rellum
Roar Guru
For sure. No QCup last year was an issue. I love the Q Cup, you are aware of that, it is my favourite League comp. But I am starting to see the amount of teams in the QRL cup compared to the amount of teams they are feeding in the NRL as becoming a problem. The gap there is maybe too far. This year with your Dolphins going all Kiwi on on us with have a 5-14 relationship that is a little better with Warriors players filling out the Dolphins. I am firming in my belief that we need to combine the NSW and QLD Cups to make two divisions with promotion and relegation below the NRL to give each NRL team one reserve grade team each year. If that doesn't happen soon then I fear the NRL will make a reserve grade and we lose the State Cups as second tier football and potentially more old clubs. Heck I would like to see the affiliated clubs rotate to play before the Broncs on home games right now. If we combined the comps then they affiliated team could play before all Broncs games. The other issue is how bad is Souths run. We get all this talent from the Broncs every year and we lose constantly. We are constantly terrible. Most of the guys who come into the Broncs who struggle seem to come out of Souths. The Broncs need to sit down with the magpies and sort out South this year. This weekend I assume we get Milf, if we lose with him then I am seriously concerned for the state of the Magies and it seems that if the Magies are hopeless on the inside so are the Broncs. That goes for all the affiliated clubs but Souths have been horrible for the longest.
matth
Roar Guru
I think the kids need more time in the QCup before having to step up. the big clean out and then having basically a team of kids didn't work. Of course having no QCup in 2020 didn't help at all.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
get these primadonna twerps to sit down with Wally, Alf, Renouf, Webke, et al, all of the legends of the club & listen to what they have to say about teamwork, respect, culture, will to win, playing for your team mates, playing for your club, playing with heart and passion, playing for the fans who shell out their hard earned cash to watch them play, giving your all win or lose. That it isn’t about them, their twitter account, how many selfies they can post on facebook and stuff. losing a game of footy is a part of life, as long as you bust your guts trying no one can complain. Do what the new breed does and the club and sponsors should be tearing up their contracts
mushi
Roar Guru
12th spot with a bullet!
Crow
Roar Pro
Yes granted they are however their absence does make way for emerging players. I don’t like the Broncos being a retirement home for old players. Developing emerging first graders is the way forward as well as some key signings.
Emcie
Roar Guru
He's on one of those lifetime deals, they tend to last a while
Rellum
Roar Guru
Agree with most of that Matt. They definitely need to settle of a players worth and stick to that. If other clubs want to pay overs then fine, "BUT" we need to get back to having a steady stream of NRL kids coming through like 88-2015. Right now we have talented kids but they are not NRL ready when they step up. There is too big a gap there and the Broncs need to fix that so we can hold the line on certain valuations knowing we have other options. The other thing is fixing up the culture so that kids want to stay here. Hopefully the new CEO starts that process but I feel like the Board and Murdoch himself need to go before the boys club is finally rooted out. Peter Nolan certainly needs to be moved on.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
You should be on the Broncos board!
MUCK
Guest
Sooooo , ok . Hes not my favourite player but I wouldnt be upset if we picked up Daley Cherry Evans for 2 years. Hes a half , a leader and a competitor. Thats 3 boxes we need ticked , all in one player. Im not sure when his contract expires , it might be this year . Theres not many halves out there , its not the worst option.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Just someone who can show that young pack how a professional does it. They all have talent but have no idea what to do and what standard is required. You willhave to pay overs to get him but its worth it imo.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You and I are on the same pages. The Cows won on the weekend ( good as far as it goes) but we opened 30 points. Forget scoring just tackle. As soon as we play any team that can tackle we are Fed.
matth
Roar Guru
Congratulations on your first article. These would be my priorities for the Broncs from here. 1. Look at whether our recruitment staff are up to the task and not just mates. We’ve struggled in this area ever since the late Cyrril Connell retired. Which leads me to my second point. 2. Understand a player value and let other teams pay overs if they want. 3. Recruit on defence and attitude to fill out the roster with mid to lower tier tough defensive players. 4. Time to find some better defensive assistant coaches. 5. Accept our mistakes, don’t go paying chunks of the cap to have players go elsewhere. Just don’t offer contacts that long. If Oates and Milford, for example aren’t up to it, leave them in the QRL, and they can look for another deal if they want. 6. Find a lock. Harder than it looks I think, the development of the modern lock appears to have caught the previous coach by surprise. Carrigan is a good lad, but he’s a prop in today’s game. Send Lodge to the QCup, have Carrigan play the big minutes, with Haas and Flagler ripping in. 7. Pray that Staggs and Herbie get fit. 8. Back Dearden. Whichever of Milford and Croft don’t make the starting side go to the reserves. The starting halves shouldn’t feel like they are auditing for the job each week. Have a proper back up hooker on the bench or a game breaking running back. Maybe that’s Nui’s role, sniffing around the middle in the back end of halves.