 |
| The Broncos edges couldn't handle the explosive power of the Storm's Fijian wingers. |
In an age
when Fijian wingers are all the rage, Brisbane are one of the few teams
fielding a smaller build of a player in their outside-back positions. The irony
in this can be found when considering one of the Broncos most dominate eras
came on the back of a two-winger combo of big, physical, and well-built
athletes in Lote Tuqiri and Wendall Sailor. Both those players were virtually
the only wingers running around at that time – of that build. Today, we see the
likes of Radradra, Koriebete, Vatuvai, Taufua and Ato-Carr menacing the defence
of smaller opponents. This type of athlete seems to have become the go-to for
filling wing or centre positions, and it’s having incredible results. Friday
night’s game is the perfect example.
While the
loss of Corey Oates early in the first half was a blow to Brisbane’s line-up
and combinations, it’s hard to see the Queensland winger making much of a
difference in stopping Storm wingers Suliasi Vunivalu and Marika Koroibete.
Both of the Storm’s Fijian Flyers were at the peak of their powers; destroying
their opposing edges and making a mockery of Brisbane’s defence. Their first
forty minutes was outstanding; with Vunivalu bagging a double and Koroibete
showing all the skills that led him to Melbourne in the first place. The power
and brute force both players so explosively possess is couple with the speed
that they somehow maintain despite the extra muscle. The second forty-minutes
only ensured their nights’ got better. Vunivalu grabbed a third try, only after
crippling Anthony Milford with a shot that folded the young playmaker. Koroibete
got his name on the scoreboard with a try that had a steal which wouldn’t look
out of place on an NBA court.
While
Melbourne are no-doubt in season-best form, Brisbane are on a losing streak
which has seen them lose five out of their last six games. An amazing drop in
form considering they led the competition early in the season. While State of
Origin has surely played a part in their fall from consistent and impressive
performances, their run of losses would now be beginning to become a concern
for the great master, Wayne Bennett. Bennett’s teams of the past have typically
been sluggish through Origin periods and usually have a mid-season lull, but recent
memory cannot recall a drop in form as poor as this one. No doubt a reader of
this will point one out, but it’s a worrying concern for a team looking to
emulate and go one better than their 2015 result.
The
game-plan for other clubs to take on the Broncos has now been written by the
Storm, and it will involve attacking them on the edges. Alex Glenn played in
the left-centre role on Friday night, but it’s hard to see him playing there
again. A solid foundation a few years ago, Glenn is now accustomed to playing
within the middle third. High valued off-season recruit James Roberts showed
that while he has some of the best speed in the country – or more than Oxford
Street according to the man himself – he is still to master the defensive role
with his outside pairing in wingers; Lachlan Maranta, Greg Eden, and Jordan
Kahu. While the continual turnover in the right wing position would not be
helping his cause, it’s an area other clubs will now be looking to exploit.
The fact
Bennett does not have a bigger mould of a winger in today’s game is intriguing.
Usually one to be ahead of the game or generally on-the-pulse, Bennett does not
have the weapons that the Storm have in their arsenal. While Sailor and Tuqiri were
two of Bennett’s most effective and useful tools in Brisbane’s long domination
of top-level Rugby League during the early 2000’s, it’s interesting Bennett
hasn’t been unable to un-earth a player of similar potential today. Much of the
2016 side can be similarly aligned to some of Bennett’s best sides. Milford and
Hunt can almost mirror the Langer and Walters combination; while Josh McGuire
and Adam Blair could fall into the roles of Gorden Tallis and Shane Webcke as
enforcers. You could match these up across the park, but not for the wingers.
No Sailor emulator, No Tuqiri new-age sensation.
Has the
Broncos weakness been found? Or is the winger of the future upon us?