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Brisbane Broncos 2016 NRL season preview

28th December, 2015
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Will Bennett be at the Broncos in 2019? (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Roar Guru
28th December, 2015
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The Brisbane Broncos were extremely unlucky in last year’s epic grand final, but they will put this behind them in 2016 and continue their charge toward a seventh premiership.

Wayne Bennett has an excellent roster, so if he does any worse than a top-four finish he will be at an extreme risk of losing his job as head coach.

Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford reached an all-new level at the backend of 2015 and they will be expected to carry that form into 2016. And with the clock ticking down on the careers of Corey Parker and Sam Thaiday, the Broncos will be hungry to deliver the two club legends another premiership.

The recent recruitment of Dally M centre of the year James Roberts from the Gold Coast Titans will only add to the Broncos’ chances. Brisbane head into 2016 as heavy favourites – and with good reason, they will be the team to beat.

Rookie watch
Bennett isn’t expected to blood too many youngsters in 2016, but during the Origin period, Ipswich Jets sensation Carlin Anderson will likely step up to fill Darius Boyd’s absence in the number 1 jersey.

At just 20 years of age, Anderson skipped the Holden Cup and went straight to the Queensland Cup, where he helped to break the Jets’ 33-year drought.

Despite being one of the best in last year’s competition, Anderson has plenty of room to improve, and is a star in the making.

Under pressure
All the pressure will be on Bennett, with the supercoach beginning to show signs that he may no longer be the best in the business.

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Last year Bennett was replaced on the NRL Competition Committee, by Souths coach Michael Maguire, and lost his first grand final.

The Broncos must, at least, make the semi-finals. Otherwise, Bennett’s 22 years of coaching Brisbane could come to an end.

Will the Broncos finally win in 2016?
2016 is the Broncos’ year. After coming so close in 2015, their star-studded roster is expected to deliver.

Now that Milford has had a year to settle into five-eighth, he is set to become one of the NRL’s best in his position, reflective of his form in late 2015.

Corey Oates and Jordan Kahu will continue to improve and new recruit James Roberts will help to bolster the Broncos’ roster.

With very few rookies to be blooded in 2016, Bennett’s roster has the experience needed to deliver another premiership. They will be the benchmark of the competition and the team to beat.

Is Ben Hunt destined for a breakout season?
Ben Hunt was outstanding last season, finishing fifth in the Dally M Awards behind Johnathan Thurston, Michael Ennis, Benji Marshall and Aaron Woods.

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But in 2016, Hunt needs to put his grand final blunder behind him and lead the Broncos to a premiership.

Hunt is one of the front-runners for the 2016 Dally M, and could take both the Maroons and Kangaroos utility roles. The Blackwater Crushers junior is the key to the Broncos’ premiership hopes in 2016. Put simply, if Hunt fires the Broncos will fire. If Hunt fails, the Broncos will fail.

Broncos player Ben Hunt Ben Hunt had a stellar 2015, but it will likely only be remembered for one thing. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Who will fill Justin Hodges’ boots?
With Jack Reed unavailable for Round 1, Hodges’ position is wide open, with Dale Copley, Lachlan Maranta, Reed and Carlin Anderson vying for the right centre spot.

At least one of Copley, Maranta or Reed are likely to leave Red Hill following the arrival of former Titans Roberts, with Bennett expected to make a decision before the Broncos return to training in the new year.

The number 4 jersey isn’t the only thing Hodges has left available, with Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker and Ben Hunt in a three-way tussle for the coveted captaincy, previously held by the likes of Wally Lewis, Allan Langer and Darren Lockyer. Both Thaiday and Parker have previously captained the side, however their form dropped as a result of the added pressure.

Hunt has been touted as the man to steer the Broncos into the future, with Parker, Thaiday and Andrew McCullough set to assist him in the leadership group.

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Can the Broncos bounce back from their grand final loss?
Come kick-off time at Pirtek Stadium in March, the Broncos will be raring to go, particularly Hunt.

With the return of Josh McGuire from injury, Brisbane will have an even bigger forward pack than 2015, set to rip into their opposition.

And the recruitment of Roberts could prove to be the x-factor Brisbane need to deliver a premiership.

It’s a new season, which means a new start.

Must watch

Round 4 versus Cowboys
Friday, March 25, 8:05pm at Suncorp Stadium

Good Friday will be better than ever in 2016 with a grudge match to rival the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs added to the line-up.

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The Broncos and Cowboys will do battle in a grand final rematch – the first premiership game between the two Queensland clubs since the 82-minute thriller that saw North Queensland claim their first ever premiership.

Brisbane will be hoping for revenge just weeks out from both the Anzac Test and State of Origin, meaning there will be plenty of representative jerseys on the line.

Hunt will battle directly with Michael Morgan for the Maroons bench role, while Broncos forwards McGuire and Matt Gillett will also be hoping to show they are worthy of representing their state.

Round 10 versus Sea Eagles
Saturday, May 14, 7:30pm at Suncorp Stadium

The Broncos will play 13 regular-season games at Suncorp Stadium in 2016, after Manly opted to take their home game against the Broncos to Brisbane as part of a double-header which will also see the Storm take on the Cowboys.

There will be plenty of State of Origin jerseys on the line with this being the last game before teams are selected.

Hunt will again be hoping to make his way onto the team sheet by scoring points over Daly Cherry-Evans in a gruelling encounter between the two star halfbacks, while Sam Thaiday will both be equally desperate to snare a spot in the starting side from Nate Myles.

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Both teams are certain to go on a heavy premiership tilt and the game will no doubt provide many a match-up, both on the field and in the coaching box.

Predicted best XVII
1. Darius Boyd, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Jack Reed, 4. James Roberts, 5. Jordan Kahu, 6. Anthony Milford, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Josh McGuire, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Sam Thaiday, 11. Alex Glenn, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Corey Parker

Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace, 15. Adam Blair, 16. Joe Ofahengaue, 17. Kodi Nikorima

2016 signings
Carlin Anderson (Ipswich Jets), Herman Ese’ese (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Salesi Funaki (Wests Tigers), James Roberts (Gold Coast Titans), Caleb Timu

2016 draw (AEST)
Round 1: Eels versus Broncos (Thursday, March 3 8.05pm @ Pirtek Stadium)
Round 2: Broncos versus Warriors (Friday, March 11 8.05pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 3: Panthers versus Broncos (Saturday, March 19 7.30pm @ Pepper Stadium)
Round 4: Broncos versus Cowboys (Friday, March 25 8.05pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 5: Titans versus Broncos (Friday, April 1 8.05pm @ Cbus Super Stadium)
Round 6: Broncos versus Dragons (Thursday, April 7 7.50pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 7: Broncos versus Knights (Saturday, April 16 7.30pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 8: Broncos versus Rabbitohs (Friday, April 22 7.50pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 9: Sharks versus Broncos (Sunday, May 1 4pm @ Shark Park)
Round 10: Sea Eagles versus Broncos (Saturday, May 14 7.30pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 11: Cowboys versus Broncos (Friday, May 20 7.50pm @ 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 12: Broncos versus Wests Tigers (Friday, May 27 7.50pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 13: Warriors versus Broncos (Saturday, June 4 3pm @ Mt Smart Stadium)
Round 14: Broncos versus Raiders (Thursday, June 9 7.50pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 15: Bye
Round 16: Bulldogs versus Broncos (Saturday, June 25 7.30pm @ ANZ Stadium)
Round 17: Broncos versus Storm (Friday, July 1 7.50pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 18: Bye
Round 19: Rabbitohs versus Broncos (Saturday, July 16 7.30pm @ ANZ Stadium)
Round 20: Broncos versus Panthers (Friday, July 22 7.50pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 21: Roosters versus Broncos (July 28-August 1 @ Allianz Stadium)
Round 22: Dragons versus Broncos (August 4-August 8 @ WIN Stadium)
Round 23: Broncos versus Eels (August 11-August 15 @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 24: Broncos versus Bulldogs (August 18-August 22 @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 25: Storm versus Broncos (August 25-August 29 @ AAMI Park)
Round 26: Broncos versus Roosters (September 1-September 4 @ Suncorp Stadium)

Prediction
After falling short last year, 2016 will see the Broncos secure their seventh premiership, ten years on from their last title in 2006.

Brisbane will claim both the Provan-Summons Trophy and the J.J. Giltinan Shield after a very strong season.

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