Saturday 2 March 2013

NRL 2013: Brisbane Broncos Season Preview

Season Preview:
BRISBANE BRONCOS

2013 NRL Premiership

By W D Nicolson - March 2, 2013


Last Year: 8th with a 12-12 (+34) record and 28 points.

@NRLTweet's BRIEF
Rebuilding through the system took a backseat in the off-season after the Broncos slipped to 8th in 2012... the decision makers brought in Scott Prince to improve their title chances but was Anthony Griffin's team only a 33 year old halfback away from a title a season ago?

Click Logo for 2013 Team Preview | Link added when published



IMPACT PLAYERS
Scott Prince gets his chance to prove he's not past it with a spot in the halves... but if he's going to go through the motions in attack like he did the last two seasons (turn a forward inside time after time and then hope for a result from his last tackle kick) then the Broncos will move on from him very quickly. It's not like Prince hasn't got any ability, it's just the speed at which he plays the game is not what it once was... David Stagg might have a role to play in the backrow if any one of Corey Parker, Matt Gillett or Alex Glenn need a break, while Jharal Yow Yeh will seem like a new signing if he is able to return from a badly broken leg the same player he was pre-injury.


BEST LINE-UP | If every player is available, this is the top squad listed 1-17.
Josh HOFFMAN
Jharal YOW YEH
Jack REED
Justin HODGES
Corey NORMAN
Peter WALLACE
Scott PRINCE
Ben HANNANT
Andrew McCULLOUGH
Sam THAIDAY
Matt GILLETT
Alex GLENN
Corey PARKER
Bench:
Scott ANDERSON
David STAGG
David HALA
Josh McGUIRE
Coach:
Anthony GRIFFIN

Remainder of Top 25 Squad/QLD Cup:
Kurt BAPTISTE, Delroy BERRYMAN, Joe BOND, Luke CAPEWELL, Dale COPLEY (out for 2013), Luke DALZIEL-DON, Mitchell DODDS, Liam GEORGETOWN, Brendon GIBB, Jake GRANVILLE, Ben HUNT, Jordan KAHU, Denan KEMP, Dunamis LUI, Lachlan MARANTA, Chris McLEAN, Francis MOLO, Corey OATES, Nick SLYNEY, Jarrod WALLACE, Aaron WHITCHURCH.
Notables from U20s:
Stephen COOMBE, Cameron CULLEN. Caleb TIMU.

ACTUAL ROUND 1 TEAM | NAMED MARCH 1
Brisbane's Round 1 Team was named early, with coach Anthony Griffin springing at least one major surprise and that's not Scott Prince at five-eighth... it's the guy he replaces in the #6 in the #1. Corey Norman is once again in the fullback job, pushing Josh Hoffman to the wing. Lachlan Maranta has won the other wing spot, suggesting that none of the other young Broncos impressed enough in the trials to keep Hoffman safe in the #1. Ben Hannant will come off the bench, though Josh McGuire might find himself there come game time. Mitchell Dodds is the young prop on the bench, while David Stagg makes his return to the Broncos in the top grade

BRI: C Norman, J Hoffman, J Reed, J Hodges, L Maranta, S Prince, P Wallace, J McGuire, A McCullough, S Thaiday (c), A Glenn, M Gillett, C Parker.
Bench: B Hunt, B Hannant, M Dodds, D Stagg.
Need an update on who will or won't play in Round 1?
Make sure you take a look at our dedicated NRL Injured List

YOUNGSTER WATCH
Jordan Kahu is highly regarded in the outside backs but is coming off two knee reconstructions and his pre-season form wasn't good enough to convinced his coach to put him in the side with a spot seemingly wide open. Joe Bond and Delroy Berryman joined the squad in the off-season but may have to wait a long time for a chance, and the same goes for young prop Jarrod Wallace who impressed in a short first grade stint last year. NYC forward Caleb Timu is still a couple of years away.

HOME GAME YOU CAN'T MISS
The Broncos play a big game every week according to Channel 9 but their first two home games should be a great indication of their contendership. On Friday March 8 they host Manly in Round 1, while in Round 4 the Storm come to town on Friday March 29. The Brisbane faithful will keep filling the seats but if they drop both games - it's not a great message for what's to come at Suncorp for the rest of the season.

PLAYOFF CHANCES
Good... but not great.
Royal intervention isn't going to turn them into a genuine contender - but they have enough quality in the squad to make some sort of playoff run. No team gets the kind of rest between games like the Broncos as Channel 9 darlings, but that's something they have to take advantage of - not try and defend. Just can't see them being a week in week out force in 2013... unless Griffin really rolls the dice and puts Justin Hodges at fullback and sees what happens...


@NRLTweet's PREDICTED REGULAR SEASON FINISH
9th | The Broncos just got into the playoffs last year and this year shapes as a tougher ask with a few teams below them likely to improve. If they chop and change in the #1, #6 and #7 all year - they won't be playing into September.

The NRL Injury List is updated regularly during each week of the season, making it an invaluable Fantasy and Tipping Tool alongside our Weekly NRL Previews once again.

Remember if you want game-specific Late Mail every week, then check out our Round Previews Every Wednesday and they are updated with all the very latest Late Mail on Friday.

If we are missing any players on this list - please comment below, reply on Twitter or email this address.
Can Justin Hodges or Scott Prince take Ben Barba's mantle as the game's best player in the 2013 @NRLTweet Player of the Year Awards?

The Prestigious Award returns for a 4th season in 2013.

Remember you can track all the votes each week after each match in 2013 via the Twitter hashtag #nrltweetpoty