NYC 2012 Wrap Up
Position: 12
Played: 24 (Home 12, Away 12)
Won: 9, Drawn: 0, Lost: 15, Byes: 2
For: 629 (116 tries, 82 goals, 1 fgoals)
Against: 790 (144 tries, 106 goals, 2 fgoals)
Points: 22, Difference: -161
Round 1 [02 Mar 12] L 16-24 v Parramatta (A)
Round 2 [09 Mar 12] W 26-20 v North Qld (H)
Round 3 [16 Mar 12] W 24-16 v Newcastle (A)
Round 4 [24 Mar 12] L 30-54 v Souths (A)
Round 5 [30 Mar 12] L 34-42 v Dragons (H)
Round 6 [06 Apr 12] W 46-30 v Wests Tigers (A)
Round 7 [13 Apr 12] L 12-40 v Canberra (H)
Round 8 [27 Apr 12] L 8-23 v Gold Coast (H)
Round 9 [05 May 12] L 10-34 v Warriors (A)
Round 10 [11 May 12] W 52-36 v Manly (H)
Round 11 Brisbane bye
Round 12 [25 May 12] W 30-10 v Melbourne (A)
Round 13 [03 Jun 12] L 18-46 v Newcastle (H)
Round 14 [10 Jun 12] L 18-28 v Roosters (A)
Round 15 [15 Jun 12] L 16-28 v North Qld (A)
Round 16 [22 Jun 12] W 34-32 v Souths (H)
Round 17 [29 Jun 12] L 24-30 v Cronulla (H)
Round 18 Brisbane bye
Round 19 [13 Jul 12] L 22-38 v Warriors (H)
Round 20 [20 Jul 12] L 16-29 v Gold Coast (A)
Round 21 [30 Jul 12] W 42-26 v Parramatta (H)
Round 22 [05 Aug 12] L 36-50 v Canberra (A)
Round 23 [12 Aug 12] L 32-38 v Canterbury (A)
Round 24 [17 Aug 12] L 18-60 v Melbourne (H)
Round 25 [24 Aug 12] W 29-22 v Manly (A)
Round 26 [31 Aug 12] W 36-34 v Penrith (H)
If history has proven anything about NYC, it's that it's largely cyclical. The reality is some crops of talent are better than others and as far as the Broncos concerned this has been their worst crop yet.
On paper this hardly comes as a surprise. The decision to revert back to the Broncos old policy of playing their best talent in the Queensland Cup, a competition that is generally considered stronger, robbed the NYC side of Lachlan Maranta, Aaron Whitchurch & Mitchell Frei.
From the club's perspective it's for the best and a decision they should have stuck with or at least been more considerate of in 2009. However, as far as the NYC was concerned it was the blow that left them dead on arrival.
In terms of experience, this NYC side had very little of it. To put it into numbers only six players in the squad had played half a season prior and of those six were Binge & Berwick who had to adjust to new positions.
It's a wonder what happened to the Brisbane class of '92 & '93 for this to happen. Some departed (Sims, Elliott, Caleb Binge, Mboya Adams, Waita Setu) & others just didn't come on as expected for a few reasons (Burgess, Leedy, Diffey, Cullen). Bottom line, it wasn't good enough and didn't provide the basis for the next generation to be blooded comfortably.
The season itself was typical of a rookie side. They could match teams for periods but as the halves wore on fatigue would set in and they'd fall prey to the opposition. It was a frustrating cliche and the Broncos were never able to overcome it at all this season.
The highlight of the season, at least from an entertainment point of view was their incredible 26 point comeback against Souths. Broncos piled on 34 points in the second half, including a last minute beauty to Whitchurch who was relieved of Queensland Cup duties at the time. Other highlights include a Round 6 flogging to eventual premiers West Tigers in a game in which Louis Frisby starred. Speaking of players...
Timu, 18, had a memorable season becoming the most destructive backrow the Broncos have ever had at this level. Normally, U/18 players are held back to lend their services to their respective Mal Meninga cup sides but Timu's talent was so great that he was pushed straight into the starting line-up and would go onto to have a great season which included recognition in the NYC Team of the Year (which is judged by all the NYC coaches), Queensland U/18s and U/20s and he took home the NYC Player of the Year award at the Rugby League Player's Association presentation.
Timu is a player that has the ability to become one of the best backrows in the game. He has the size, strength and athletic ability to match it with anyone in his age group or two years above for that matter. There are still question marks on his composure and defence but if he can refine that aspect of his game it shouldn't come as a surprise to see him play first grade as soon as next season.
Despite his impressive season, Timu wasn't recognised as the Broncos player of the year, that honour went to team mate Francis Molo.
Molo, 18, was at one point rumoured to have left the club during the pre-season. While the full story has yet to come out the little is known is that he was recovering from a shoulder reconstruction that sidelined him from the 2011 AIS Tour. When he returned in Round 10 to play Manly, his presence off the bench helped swing the game for the Broncos who were trailing by 18 before hand. He made his second appearance for the U/18s Maroon in their victory against the Blues and would go onto play the season for the Broncos where he would eventually take a starting spot from incumbents Coombe and Alvaro.
The decision to award him the NYC Broncos Player of the Year confused a lot of people including myself but it shows just how highly they rate a player of his ilk. There's definite first grade potential about him and if he can refine his game and improve his discipline on the field (he was binned earlier in the year and guilty of giving away a lot of penalties) he could become the club's best prop in a number of years.
Other players to receive recognition at the Broncos awards night were Oates & Lee. Oates, 18, is a very handy fringe runner with a handy habit of scoring tries with 14 coming from only 15 games. Oates has been apart of the Broncos system for years now, featuring in their U/15s side back in 09. He's originally from Rockhampton and was a star for their CC & MM side before making the trip down south. Like Molo, he was in line to represent the 2011 AIS side but pulled out due to injury.
He's a confirmed member of the 2013 senior squad and has the potential to fill the fringe role Te'o left vacant on the bench.
Lee, 18, is a gritty but skilled backrow/utility from Coffs Harbour. He filled in at hooker and did the best job of any starter overall providing crisp service and strong defence through the middle. Of the four he's probably the least likely prospect but he has the potential to become a solid player if he realises it.
At the end of the season, coach Kurt Richards was moved on after two years in the job. Despite his successful background in coaching the ridiculously successful Keebra Park school, Richards just couldn't achieve any level of success with the Broncos which sealed his fate. He's been replaced by Norths Devils Qld Cup coach Craig Hodges. Hodges comes into the job off the back of an impressive year with the Norths devils where he took an inexperienced squad into week two of the finals. Whether he can live up to former Qld Cup convert Anthony Griffin remains to be seen but it's clear the Broncos have decided to go down a route that worked for them in the past.
Finally I wanted to wish Berwick, 19, all the best. There hasn't been an update on his condition after his car accident but his condition was the true damper of the Broncos entire season and I wish him, friends and family nothing but the best.
2012 NYC Most Used Broncos Side
1. Daniel Levi
2. Soape Palau
3. Matt Berwick
4. Corey Oates
5. Tristian Lumley
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Cam Cullen
8. Stephen Coombe
9. Brandon Lee
10. Daniel Alvaro
11. Caleb Timu
12. Chris Binge
13. Benn Malley
14. Louis Frisby
15. Travis Peeters
16. Ajuma Adams
17. Francis Molo
2013 Eligible 20s Players: Ajuma Adams, Daniel Alvaro, Jai Arrow, Jayden Berrell, Matt Berwick, Billy Brittain, Kurt Capewell, Stephen Coombe, Cameron Cullen, Rian Diffey, Che Fa'alafi, Brandon Lee, Jerome Leedy, Daniel Levi, Tristian Lumley, Francis Molo, Kodi Nikorima, Corey Oates, Soape Palau, Travis Peeters, Caleb Timu, Richard Tuala, Jarrod Watson & Rhett Webster.
