2017 NRL Season Preview - Brisbane Broncos

Brisbane Broncos 2017 Season Preview 
 
2016 Review - The Broncos failed to live up to the hype of being Premiership favourites in 2016, being bundled out in the second week of the finals after finishing 5th in the regular season. Once again, the Broncos nemesis was Johnathan Thurston and the Cowboys, as they were dumped out in Golden Point in Townsville 26-20 after another blockbuster game between the two clubs. The Broncos managed 15 regular season wins, however were not the force they were in 2015 as they suffered an alarming form slump during the middle of the season which ultimately cost them a place in the all-important Top 4. Despite putting together a 6-match winning streak to finish the regular season, the Broncos did not look like the same brick wall defensively that they built their success upon in 2015. While they still had the 4th best ranked defence, their forwards struggled to dominate games, and teams often over powered and out muscled Brisbane in the middle of the field. Ben Hunt failed to replicate his 2015 form and blew hot and cold in most games throughout the season. 
 
2017 Gains - Brisbane's recruitment in the off-season has been underwhelming to say the least, with Benji Marshall (Dragons) being a highly surprising signing. Marshall appeared to be at the end of the road after disappointing performances for the Dragons last year. However Wayne Bennett decided to take a gamble on the veteran Kiwi half. The plan might be to play Marshall in the outside backs which I can't see being effective as Marshall has nowhere near the pace or elusiveness he did when he was young. Defensively he has improved a lot, however can still be suspect when exposed one on one. The Broncos did manage to pick up David Mead (Titans) from down the road at the Titans, and I think he could potentially make their starting side and give them a reliable wing combination to go with Corey Oates on the other side. Other than that, the Broncos really have not managed a marquee signing this off-season with Korbin Sims (Knights), Moses Pangai (Townsville Blackhawks)), Tautau Moga (Cowboys) and Mitchell Dodds (Warrington) coming in.
 
2017 Losses - It will be impossible for the Broncos to replace their veteran captain Corey Parker in 2017. Not only was Parker still an outstanding leader, but he was playing some of the best football of his career in the past two or three seasons. Parker won the Wally Lewis Medal as Queensland Player of the Year, and his ability to play tough and offload the ball made him Brisbane’s most consistent forward for past two seasons. The only other notable loss for the Broncos was centre Jack Reed who has been forced into an early retirement due to persistent injuries. Other losses included Greg Eden (Castleford) Jarrod Wallace (Titans), Lachlan Maranta (Rugby Union), Darren Nicholls (Panthers), and Brett Greinke (Rabbitohs) 
 
2017 Fixture Strength - (Tough draw) The Broncos have the toughest opening 5 rounds of any side in the NRL, having to play the Sharks, Cowboys, Storm and Raiders in the opening month. That’s their first four games, all against last year’s Top 4 before they play the Bulldogs in Round 5. The Broncos are the only side in the NRL that plays the Top 4 from last season a maximum 8 times, which could prove a real disadvantage.  The positive for the Broncos in the draw is they only have one 5-day turnaround and remain the Prime Time kings of the NRL with 13 games combined on a Thursday or Friday night. This will give them a real advantage in terms of their preparation and weekly schedule being relatively similar for most of the season, an advantage most of the NRL does not get. 
 
2017 Player to Watch - Ben Hunt - It will be really interesting to see how Hunt responds after he signed a multi-million dollar long term deal at the Dragons in the off-season. Sometimes, once players have signed elsewhere, they find it hard to deliver their best for the Club they are leaving due to a number of factors. It will be interesting to see whether the fans get on Hunt's back if he starts the season poorly, as it won’t take long for him to come under scrutiny if he is below his best. However, I think Hunt can have a big season and prove his worth after he was inconsistent last year. Hunt’s numbers were not too bad last year, having 20 try assists which was in the top few for playmakers in the NRL. However, his kicking game was inconsistent and he drifted in and out of games and failed to reach the heights of 2015. With Brisbane having not recruited much in terms of forward power and aggression, Hunt might have to get used to playing off the back foot and will have to take his game to another level. 
 
2017 Forecast - 9th (11-12 Wins) 

I think the Broncos are going to miss the Finals this season for the first time ever under Wayne Bennett. I didn't particularly like them last season, despite them making the second week of the finals, and the loss of Parker combined with a tough draw has me thinking they could be a shock omission from the Finals in 2017. I just think the style of football some of the top teams and emerging teams are playing is different to the Broncos’ style, and capable of having more upside. I don’t think the Broncos have the size and power in the pack to worry sides and, if they are losing the ruck, their smaller halves in Hunt and Milford are going to have less room to move.

I still think this side will be hard to beat every week, however I just think other teams have more powerful rosters across the park. I really think Brisbane needed to go out and recruit one or two marquee players to make a statement that means business in 2017. However, we are left underwhelmed with the signing of Marshall and David Mead and no one to fill the massive void left by Corey Parker. I think this side will be in contention for the Finals right up until the last couple of rounds, however ultimately will fall short with 1112 wins and finish in 9th place.