Brisbane Broncos vs. North Queensland Cowboys - Post-match Review

Well, the time is finally here. As much as I love cricket, there is nothing like NRL season to get the adrenaline pumping. 2010 is slated as an interesting year in the Broncos history. 2009 was meant to be the year of failure - Wayne Bennett's departure was sure to leave the Broncos a shell of a team. With the loss of Special K, many pundits had written off the Broncos and many had touted that we'd miss the finals this year.

Lets take a closer look at Friday's game and see what the future may hold and also touch on some interesting topics...


- Gambles

There was 2 omissions which raised the eyebrows of the most ardent of supporters. Ashton Sims and Lagi Setu left out and Dodds and Gillett in. Considering the relative youth of the side, this was definitely a gamble. Both had a solid pre-season but nothing prepares you for the rigor of the NRL.

Thankfully they did quite well so there's a solid chance we may not need to see the the fumble machine, Ashton Sims. Lagi Setu needs to enforce his will on opponents before he is likely to see a bench position.

- Karmichael 'Who'?

Many media outlets spruiked 'Karmichael Who?' after the victory over the cowboys. Wonderkid Corey Norman put a stamp on the fullback jersey with a dominating performance. A brilliant try-saving tackle on Michael Bani and a seamless addition to the Broncos attack were just some of the highlights of a fantastic debut. The next major test will be facing a Melbourne-style attack who will continually put Norman under pressure.

- The Fountain of Youth..

Friday night saw the average age of the Broncos hit 22 - the youngest Broncos side in memory. Corey Norman, Mitchell Dodds and Matt Gillett were all on debut; Beale, Winterstein and Anderson all second year players. Much has been said about the Baby Broncos but Friday proved that all is not lost - the renowned Broncos youth system is still as healthy as ever. If you have any doubt about this, watch a replay of the defence from Dodds or the solid back play from Winterstein and Beale. While not a Webb, Folau or Sailor display, watch these young bucks in the coming weeks and years as they have the potential to be great footballers.

- Defence...Defence...

The main area of concern for many Broncos fans will be the defensive lapses that occurred Friday. While our set plays and overlapping running game hasn't skipped a beat over the years, the lack of hard hitting defence was a clear sign that we may well be showing our age. A defensive lapse from Beale in failing to shut down a Thurston cross-field kick was the first sign that the wheels may have been coming off. Another blunder from Wallace gives this theory a bit more momentum. Admittedly they won't be the first or the last to be deceived by a bit of Thurston magic but it's not as if JT had done anything worthy of a highlight reel.

- Referee's...

Sadly the inclusion of two referee's has improved the state of officiating however there were a number of oversights which is worrying. Two particular incidents come to mind, both well within the attacking area of the park for the Broncos. Two crucial turnovers assisted with the momentum swing towards the Cowboys. In the referee's defence, the 10m was monitored well and the ruck fairly incident free. One step at a time I think.

- The return of Denan Kemp

When Denan Kemp left the Broncos, he departed as part of an exodus from the Broncos. The backline was an Australian-quality line and one could argue that even Georgie Rose could get 20 tries a season on the end of that. Kemp has 2 qualities in particular that set him apart from your average winger - genuine pace and lateral movement. Both these allow him to outmaneuver fullbacks with ease.

Upon his return, one would imagine that it would be an awkward feeling being one of the more experienced in the backs department. While his time in NZ may have been less than ideal, I'm glad to report that he didn't skip a beat and thanks to some great vision from Locky, he blitzed down the sideline and sealed the game for the Broncos.

- Lastly but definitely not least...

Darren Lockyer approaches his 16th season at the pinnacle of his powers. While the pace he had as a youngster is well and truly gone, his vision and passing game remains rock solid and you'll be pushed to find a better 5/8th in the game. While Friday night wasn't a game that he will be remembered for, he showed why he is rated so highly - his leadership kept a relatively level head for his young side, he created the match-winning try and his kicking game was effective as always.

While the game was a roller-coaster of emotions, the Broncos may not be dead and buried after all.