I've noticed a few forums and threads have been discussing the topic of the club's recruitment history since 2006/07 and I've found it amazing how little everybody remembers.
While none of us here will be able to recount exactly what took place at Red Hill, I feel as if I could definitely write a solid account of what transpired over the past few years to remind you of the players we've lost and how we've lost them...
So without further ado...
The History of the Brisbane Broncos Recruitment (Since their last premiership edition)
The year was 2006, a simple year where folks didn't believe in the word choke, Tame Tupou was destroying fools and a young bludger named Darren stole the ball from Matt King's hands and went onto record Queensland's first State of Origin victory in five years. Ah those were the days.
Now onto recruitment and things weren't too easy for the Broncos. A number of prospects were coming off contract and deserved upgrades as they had since become representative stars since signing their last contracts.
Easing this bid was the retirement of Shane Webcke who had been on pretty good coin. Also supporting them in this bid was the sudden departures of Costigan and Seymour who were released from their contracts.
In doing this the Broncos were able to upgrade the contracts of Hunt, Stagg and keep Ennis, Hannant, Lacey and Moon.
However in 2007 it became apparent the club was in desperate need of a halfback after experimenting with five players in that position. The club sourced out young Peter Wallace who at this time was apart of a struggling Panthers outfit who did little to keep him. It's safe to say, the Broncos picked up a bargain and had found their half for at least the next two years.
Now this is where the recruitment began to grow weird.
Along with signing Wallace, the club announced they had signed his team mate Joel Clinton to very good coin believing he would partner Civoniceiva upfront and rebuild his floundering career.
Well...it didn't happen like that.
Camp Civoniceiva took their team sorting out a deal with the Broncos, so in their infinite wisdom the Broncos took back their contract to Petero and instead signed young prospect Ashton Sims with apart of the money and told Civoniceiva he was no longer wanted.
So Civoniceiva left as the club upgraded the contracts of Hodges (substantially, remembering of course he basically came crawling back on little coin and had since become the best centre in the game), Thaiday, Eastwood and they signed the Gold Coast connection (Kemp, Boyd and Michaels) to extensions.
Now if the Civoniceiva mess wasn't weird enough, that the club basically gave him up for Sims and a few prospects in the squad, the club finished the month of October by announcing the signing of Marsh to an alluring contract that would extend to 2010.
If you were to get my opinion, aside from Wallace the rest of these signings were touch and go. Now I can understand the signing of Clinton, he was a guy who could essentially replace the void left by Thorn, Carlaw and co. and give us that experience. Okay, I understand that...but signing both given both had been anything but sure things over the past couple of years was really silly, ditto Marsh who was more or less a novelty hooker from Parra who occasionally put on a big shot from dummy half. Really, Civoniceiva should never of left and only one of Sims/Clinton should've been signed and if the club was desperate for a back up hooker, Riley Brown should've been looked into.
Things move on and 2008 begins with the announcement Bennett is out. However to take the sting out of that announcement, Bruno announces the signing of Folau to a very handsome contract. How handsome? Well, handsome enough that a few players were going to have to leave.
Wallace had his contract substantially upgraded and Te'o is also scouted on big money. Meanwhile, half the squad is basically told to leave with only Rod Davies, Tonie Carroll and Eastwood leaving on their own accord.
Mind you, that last one could've been avoided with better management. The club just decided to be Greg's financial advisor instead of their boss and allowed him to walk out on his final year of his contract, to attempt to go overseas...when they should've known full well that he would have difficulty with his Visa.
Setu signs cheaply, wanting to return home to his large family while Gorrell is scouted from France when it's realised our stocks at No. 9 are short.
Six NYC players have their contracts upgraded.
2009
The Broncos now have a squad made up of 7 debutants...
Te'o has his contract extended before the season begins.
Thaiday, Parker, Glenn and Kenny all re-sign to upgraded contracts.
Six NYC players are signed to two year deals.
Hunt walks out on a 400K deal. A deal that had been tabled as early as April and laid dormant until August when he made his announcement.
A QRL restricted Taylor chases the money.
Hewitt and Gorrell get a tap on the shoulder. Tupou takes a good offer from North Queensland.
Lockyer accepts less money.
Kemp comes back cheaply.
Ahern and Gillett are secured cheaply.
Clinton surprise surprise leaves.
Broncos then sign up Anderson with some of the dosh left behind.
All in all, it's just been silly. Due to the club's reckless spending, they've lost a ton of experience and damaged the culture of the Broncos by chasing after prospects instead of securing their own representative players who have since gone onto make names for themselves at other clubs.
I just hope the club learns from this period and shows more faith in their own juniors. I thought 2009 had signs of that...I hope to see it continue and improve.
