Backrow rotations!

[RWB]

I think people are being a bit too kind to Hindmarsh. He's a great worker but he is slower than Ben Smith and that's saying something, he used to be a better player but he's getting past it. He offers nothing in attack and the problem is Smith doesn't either. There's no balance in Parra's backrow and buggerall speed in the whole team tbh. They will struggle in attack with the lineup they have.

He's quickly becoming underrated because he's such an easy target as his attacking game has deteriorated (the most easily identifiable part of the game for most). However his defence is still all class and he makes countless cover tackles. He's still first grade quality and for his career to be mentioned in the same breath as David Stagg's is a laugh. Given the lack of noted defenders in their side there's certainly a spot for him, and for a few more years I think. However Ben Smith should be nothing but a depth option.

 

[RWB]

As a hole runner Hoffman is crap and has been since 2008. And now he doesnt have GI to keep the defence honest hed be even more crap at that role.

Best suited as a high-volume defender now

He was pretty good last year, don't have the stats in front of me but from what I saw they used him in a lot of their attacking sets. Got a few tries too...

His hole running isn't his only attribute, he can play in tight and take a lot of relief hit ups when needed and his defence is always solid.

I really rate Bobby Blair actually, I reckon they'll make a great combo (assuming they both play down the left).

 

[AuDragon]

Again he was solid for the Broncos, a good utility player and a great club man but he was never in the same class of Hindy or Dallas Johnson. I think Broncos fans would remember him more as a handy player who was always going to put in rather than a classy player who was a big loss to them.

Also from memory he only got the one origin jersey, not jerseys and unfortunately didn't really impress in the loss when Finch kicked that great field goal.

Stagg's a good solid player, but he's no Dallas Johnson or Nathan Hindmarsh. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

If anything I'd compare him to someone like Matt Hilder.

As a Broncos fan, I can certainly support your view. He is a hard plougher and won't let the team down, but he's indeed "just that", which to be fair, is nothing to be ashamed of.
The dogs have a few players on their roster who have more talent than him, but could definitely learn a thing or two from Stagg!

 

[Lambretta]

Any broncos fans here? If so i'm sure they will keen to tell you what an idiot you are, stagg not only had a cracker of a year with the dogs in 2009 he has ripped in for broncos in alot of positions and also earnt origin jerseys before his lock of the year award. he clearly has the ability.

Alot of players at the Broncos have looked alot better than they are because of the players standing next to them.

Stagg is an 80 minute machine and that cant be under-estimated, but I wouldnt say he was any better than Ryan Hoffman or Ben Creagh, players you're more than willing to call "cry babies".

 

[Lambretta]

He's quickly becoming underrated because he's such an easy target as his attacking game has deteriorated (the most easily identifiable part of the game for most). However his defence is still all class and he makes countless cover tackles. He's still first grade quality and for his career to be mentioned in the same breath as David Stagg's is a laugh. Given the lack of noted defenders in their side there's certainly a spot for him, and for a few more years I think. However Ben Smith should be nothing but a depth option.

I love Hindy and his ability to cover everyone in defence is often missed.

People talk up his tackle count as being a huge thing. But if you take away all his "third man in touching the players and running back to the defensive line" numbers away, his tackle numbers drop to about 30 tackles per game rather than the 50 plus he's credited with.

But all the energy he expends running back and forth when he's not needed should have been saved for attack as he's been weak in that area for about 5 years. He could easily have been a more potent attacker for alot longer had he not felt it neccessary to cover the work being done by other people.

But then again, he wouldnt be in the record books with an insane number of tackles made in his career either - so you've gotta take your hat off to him really.

 

[Cletus]

He's quickly becoming underrated because he's such an easy target as his attacking game has deteriorated (the most easily identifiable part of the game for most). However his defence is still all class and he makes countless cover tackles. He's still first grade quality and for his career to be mentioned in the same breath as David Stagg's is a laugh. Given the lack of noted defenders in their side there's certainly a spot for him, and for a few more years I think. However Ben Smith should be nothing but a depth option.

I agree he's still a first grader and he definately lifts the Eels but Smith doesn't make up for his lack of attack. I agree with Vic, I have no idea how he has played first grade this long and I just can't take the Eels backrow seriously with only Matua offering anything in attack. hindmarsh and Smith couldn't knock the skin off a custard.