Big Pete
Referee
- Messages
- 29,078
It's going to be an interesting year.
Traditionally, when a club loses one of it's greats they've understandably struggled, no matter how they've approached the season. However, I don't think they're truly comparable to us. Say with Newcastle, Joey's departure coincided with a change of culture. Sydney tried to buy themselves out of trouble and failed miserably and Daley bowed out with a few experienced players in toe.
Meanwhile Locky leaves a Broncos side that remains largely unchanged, that's played together since the Toyota Cup and will be looking to enter the new phase. While things remain uncertain and I'm sure the initial teething stages will be tough I feel we're better equipped than those aforementioned sides.
Obviously all eyes will be on Norman, Hunt and Wallace but I hope Hook looks to improve our attack this year. I've got no problem with him focussing on our defence during his first year as that's what all the great premiership sides in the modern era have built their success on (yes even the West Tigers despite the popular myth) but if we want to be that little bit better we can't rely on cross field kicks to Reed and Yow Yeh to score tries. There just isn't enough points there.
That's why I think the likes of Gagai will need to step up. No doubt Dane has talent, just doesn't have the strength at the moment .
I think we look great in the forwards and I can see us building our game around them. Hopefully they can keep up the good work and the likes of Hannant can step it up a bit. If they can gives our halves the opportunities than I believe the loss of Locky won't be that big after all.
My early predictions: Broncos to be contenders, but not favourites. Top 6 finish with 2013 being our year.
Traditionally, when a club loses one of it's greats they've understandably struggled, no matter how they've approached the season. However, I don't think they're truly comparable to us. Say with Newcastle, Joey's departure coincided with a change of culture. Sydney tried to buy themselves out of trouble and failed miserably and Daley bowed out with a few experienced players in toe.
Meanwhile Locky leaves a Broncos side that remains largely unchanged, that's played together since the Toyota Cup and will be looking to enter the new phase. While things remain uncertain and I'm sure the initial teething stages will be tough I feel we're better equipped than those aforementioned sides.
Obviously all eyes will be on Norman, Hunt and Wallace but I hope Hook looks to improve our attack this year. I've got no problem with him focussing on our defence during his first year as that's what all the great premiership sides in the modern era have built their success on (yes even the West Tigers despite the popular myth) but if we want to be that little bit better we can't rely on cross field kicks to Reed and Yow Yeh to score tries. There just isn't enough points there.
That's why I think the likes of Gagai will need to step up. No doubt Dane has talent, just doesn't have the strength at the moment .
I think we look great in the forwards and I can see us building our game around them. Hopefully they can keep up the good work and the likes of Hannant can step it up a bit. If they can gives our halves the opportunities than I believe the loss of Locky won't be that big after all.
My early predictions: Broncos to be contenders, but not favourites. Top 6 finish with 2013 being our year.
