Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

gregjm87 said:
I think he has always clearly been first grade quality but a worse footballer than just about every other clubs starting middles.
My disdain for him (and not his fault) comes from others talking him up or at least talking up attributes that I believe he lacks. The best example I can think of is I recently (and have often historically) read on here how he should start to sure up our middle defence. Now he in my opinion is very good at making his tackles but is hopeless at suring us up defensively as he does nothing to help those around. Doesn't tie in, no inside pressure, no line speed, no ruck control, nothing. But, yes he does tackle well.
Similarly his offence is one dimensional and ineffective but at least he is always willing to take a carry.
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You are always a good analyst @gregjm87
My opinion is Alex Twal is every bit as good a player as what Corey Jensen is at this stage of their careers.
Do you or anyone else believe it would have made any difference to the Broncos winning the 2025 Premiership if Alex Twal was their starting prop instead of Corey Jensen ?
 
Vicious said:
You are always a good analyst @gregjm87
My opinion is Alex Twal is every bit as good a player as what Corey Jensen is at this stage of their careers.
Do you or anyone else believe it would have made any difference to the Broncos winning the 2025 Premiership if Alex Twal was their starting prop instead of Corey Jensen ?
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No, but we don’t have a Payne Haas who is practically two forwards in one
 
Wezt said:
No, but we don’t have a Payne Haas who is practically two forwards in one
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We lack an explosive ball running forward who can bust tackles and make line breaks and we also lack a highly aggressive defender who hits hard and can force turnovers.
In regards to us lacking an explosive ball running forward, we have hope that a much fitter Royce Hunt, the inclusion of Bunty Afoa, the hopefull continued improvement from our younger emerging forwards such as the Fainu brothers and Fonua Pole, the possibility of KPP standing deeper and running onto the ball at speed much more often and a wildcard in Solo Saukuru among a few other emerging young forwards could go a long way to providing us with some explosive ball running, tackle bust and line break ability.
The constant defensive line speed and hard hitting defence is more of a problem as we do not have anyone who really stands out in this area, however it’s more of an attitude than anything else, so let’s hope it’s drilled into them during the offseason.
 
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Vicious said:
You are always a good analyst @gregjm87
My opinion is Alex Twal is every bit as good a player as what Corey Jensen is at this stage of their careers.
Do you or anyone else believe it would have made any difference to the Broncos winning the 2025 Premiership if Alex Twal was their starting prop instead of Corey Jensen ?
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I think Twal gets through a bit more work but Jensen is a bit more effective in what he does though not a huge difference in either.
As to the hypothetical, no I don't think it would have made much difference, though I think with other workers around at Brisbane Jenson fits that role slightly better than Twal does.

As much as I'm critical of Twal, he is more representative of the problems at the club than he himself being the problem. I see this in two ways. He should be a role player like Jenson is rather than the key forward the club seems to want him to be. Unfortunately we've just never had multiple quality middles around him. His faults as a player are common faults across the squad, pretty much for the duration of his career.
 
pawsandclaws1 said:
I'd happily forego Elliott for a chance to sign Jesse Colquhoun. He is very good footballer.
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Jesse is a future Origin player I would risk it and offer him a 4 year contract pay overs for the first two years and the last two what ever a quality origin play is on
kiwitiger said:
Who would be the player on good money released for this?
We are getting close to the point were we have only average money left for our remaining roster spots.
Ave of about 250k each
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Heaps of cap left
 
Vicious said:
Thank god someone evaluates a player in conjunction with their contract value.
There are far too many comments where players get evaluated as if they are all on the same contract value.
It has pretty much been confirmed that Alex Twal’s contract value is 400k which I believe is decent value in relation to his playing ability.
That type of contract generally means the player is a regular in his teams top 17, but not an automatic selection if his form drops.
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I really tried to let this post slide, but I can't let this opportunity pass me by..

If you have that logic when it comes to players, can we also evaluate our owners in conjunction with the value/investment they bring?

In the last two years Canterbury leagues club invested $12.9 million.. in that same period HBG invested $3.5 million..

No response required.
 
Vicious said:
We lack an explosive ball running forward who can bust tackles and make line breaks and we also lack a highly aggressive defender who hits hard and can force turnovers.
In regards to us lacking an explosive ball running forward, we have hope that a much fitter Royce Hunt, the inclusion of Bunty Afoa, the hopefull continued improvement from our younger emerging forwards such as the Fainu brothers and Fonua Pole, the possibility of KPP standing deeper and running onto the ball at speed much more often and a wildcard in Solo Saukuru among a few other emerging young forwards could go a long way to providing us with some explosive ball running, tackle bust and line break ability.
The constant defensive line speed and hard hitting defence is more of a problem as we do not have anyone who really stands out in this area, however it’s more of an attitude than anything else, so let’s hope it’s drilled into them during the offseason.
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I think you have correctly identified what we lack. I'd add a middle forward that can pass effectively/selectively at the line to get themselves and those around him 1 on 1 into contact.
I'm hopeful of a fit Hunt being that explosive runner but given he's never maintained his output for any duration in a long career im very much doubtful. Pole is the guy we really need to be that guy. 2 years ago I was confident he would be. At times, when at his best, he has been but again these performances aren't sustained. He is another who's defence is holding him back and unfortunately it just hasn't improved. For him though it rarely seems a lack of effort or positioning but he just isn't very good at actually tackling. I thought by now this would have been worked on and improved and I haven't yet given up hope. But every year I think surely this is the year only to be disappointed.
Unfortunately I don't see anyone in the squad that can effectively ball play. Someone will no doubt tell me May can. He can pass at the line fine but it rarely is selective. It seems more premeditated without any consideration to what is in front of him or the bloke he is passing to. Almost like he has only ever trained his passing against witches hats rather than proper opposed sessions.
 
gregjm87 said:
I think you have correctly identified what we lack. I'd add a middle forward that can pass effectively/selectively at the line to get themselves and those around him 1 on 1 into contact.
I'm hopeful of a fit Hunt being that explosive runner but given he's never maintained his output for any duration in a long career im very much doubtful. Pole is the guy we really need to be that guy. 2 years ago I was confident he would be. At times, when at his best, he has been but again these performances aren't sustained. He is another who's defence is holding him back and unfortunately it just hasn't improved. For him though it rarely seems a lack of effort or positioning but he just isn't very good at actually tackling. I thought by now this would have been worked on and improved and I haven't yet given up hope. But every year I think surely this is the year only to be disappointed.
Unfortunately I don't see anyone in the squad that can effectively ball play. Someone will no doubt tell me May can. He can pass at the line fine but it rarely is selective. It seems more premeditated without any consideration to what is in front of him or the bloke he is passing to. Almost like he has only ever trained his passing against witches hats rather than proper opposed sessions.
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Liam Knight could be worth taking a risk on for 12 months as he can definitely ball play and could be a handy addition to our squad, particularly with the 6 man bench coming into play.
 
Vicious said:
Liam Knight could be worth taking a risk on for 12 months as he can definitely ball play and could be a handy addition to our squad, particularly with the 6 man bench coming into play.
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Honestly mate I can't ever remember the last time I saw Liam Knight play to note his ball playing. I don't recall any particular quality about it but honestly couldn't comment one way or the other.
 
gregjm87 said:
Yeah, if he's on the market he gets offers. There would be very few best 17s he doesn't make (probably only Brisbane, Roosters, Canberra and Penrith).
I kind of question the tries hard. He does to a certain extent. As I said always willing to take a carry but also doesn't do many of those 1% in defence I noted.
He also hasn't addressed this at all in the nearly 10 years in the top grade. Someone trying hard should be improving different aspects of his game. Particularly the aspects that don't involve actual ability.

Will have to agree to disagree. I don't think I went to any of our games last year for the first time in quite some time so perhaps you were seeing more than what I could see televised.
You also could very well be right that my bias plays a role in what I see. So when I see Twal slow to move I think Twal again but with some others in the same scenario it doesn't really register in my mind.
From what I see however (rightly or wrongly) he is usually half a step behind the line. In some respect he has an excuse as he is often last one back on side due to being 2nd or 3rd in and finishing off tackles, rather than standing around and watching his teammates struggle to bring someone to the ground like some of our forwards do.
Api for mine was the one to easily lead the line speed and you could see this with how often he was first into contact. Unfortunately he would often drop off tackles (purely from being a smaller body in the middle). This again meant he was the first off the ground and retreating and then first on side to lead again.
As unpopular as he is I actually think Seyfarth, when through the middle, is probably the forward that both works hard getting off the line and completes his tackles. I've some criticisms of him to but I don't think he lacks for effort areas.
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I get what your saying seeing h8m behind the line sometimes, I've noticed that too now you mention it. I think he leads the line speed significantly 2, maybe 3 plays a set on a good set, but could very well take that breather you mention on other plays. Im ok with that breather play just as long as he pushes up with the slowest player and pushes across when needed. You just cant drop out of the line completely
 
mtd#2 said:
Interpret it how you want, I'm not conveniently leaving anything out.. I'm just realistic as to the impact losing the bloke the team was around for 2 preseason has on the teams output - especially when you don't have depth + injuries. To dismiss the impact it had is naive and/or narrative driven.

We were the Wests tigers coming off 3 consecutive spoons, not the Melbourne Storm who have solid foundations in place.
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Well you are overstating the impact.
There were other concerns that played their part.
 
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