Hoffman in the halves

[Alec]

Missing the point, putting him into a role that demands more out of him as a playmaker isn't going to solve the situation.

Yeah, and this is why we need to bring in an actual half instead. So Barba can play his natural game, Hoffman can stop ruining our attack...and I don't care how inexperienced they are, they'll learn and we'll create actual depth.

 

[Foordy]

Re: Round 6 - Titans v Broncos - Pre-Match Discussion

Yeah, and this is why we need to bring in an actual half instead. So Barba can play his natural game, Hoffman can stop ruining our attack...and I don't care how inexperienced they are, they'll learn and we'll create actual depth.

Name one "actual half" that is playing well enough in the lower grades to demand selection?

 

[Alec]

Re: Round 6 - Titans v Broncos - Pre-Match Discussion

Name one "actual half" that is playing well enough in the lower grades to demand selection?

It doesn't matter how well they are playing, you can't have Hoffman in the halves full stop. Srsly, even SOS Shane Perry.

Besides, I believe Strasser was pretty damn good last week.

 

[Foordy]

Re: Round 6 - Titans v Broncos - Pre-Match Discussion

It doesn't matter how well they are playing, you can't have Hoffman in the halves full stop. Srsly, even SOS Shane Perry.

Besides, I believe Strasser was pretty damn good last week.

of course it matters how well they are playing ... what makes you think that a half that isn't performing extremely well consistently in the lower grades will instantly get better once they start playing NRL (the toughest rugby league comp in the world). this is realty not dream land.

If a half seriously wants to be considered for NRL duty they need to PERFORM at a level in the lower grades that suggests they could handle the NRL ... even if it means leaving our stop-gap measure in place for the remainder of the year... not ideal, but better than throwing one of our promising youngsters to the wolves

 

[Alec]

Re: Round 6 - Titans v Broncos - Pre-Match Discussion

Hoffman is only playing in the halves because he was going to walk out unless he got his way... it's pretty clear as day.
It wouldn't take much at all to be a better half than him, and even if we did go with a stop gap, you can literally draw 16 other names out of a hat and they'd probably do a better job.

 

[Foordy]

Re: Round 6 - Titans v Broncos - Pre-Match Discussion

Hoffman is only playing in the halves because he was going to walk out unless he got his way... it's pretty clear as day.
It wouldn't take much at all to be a better half than him, and even if we did go with a stop gap, you can literally draw 16 other names out of a hat and they'd probably do a better job.

Actually Hoffman was going to walk out because he wasn't considered the number one fullback at the club anymore and the Bulldogs needed one... and FTR, if Kahu didn't get injured during the trials Hoffman would be on the wing right now

 

[Super Freak]

Re: Round 6 - Titans v Broncos - Pre-Match Discussion

Name one "actual half" that is playing well enough in the lower grades to demand selection?

From the games I've seen the 20's halves have been doing pretty well..

Do they have to set the world on fire to get selected or something?

 

[Foordy]

Re: Round 6 - Titans v Broncos - Pre-Match Discussion

From the games I've seen the 20's halves have been doing pretty well..

Do they have to set the world on fire to get selected or something?

I don't rate the 20's at all ... defense is non-existent. and in no way should be used to judge how a player is going to go in the NRL, and IMO yes, if they are being selected from the 20's they should be setting the world on fire

 

[Kimlo]

Re: Round 6 - Titans v Broncos - Pre-Match Discussion

of course it matters how well they are playing ... what makes you think that a half that isn't performing extremely well consistently in the lower grades will instantly get better once they start playing NRL (the toughest rugby league comp in the world). this is realty not dream land.

If a half seriously wants to be considered for NRL duty they need to PERFORM at a level in the lower grades that suggests they could handle the NRL ... even if it means leaving our stop-gap measure in place for the remainder of the year... not ideal, but better than throwing one of our promising youngsters to the wolves

On the flip side, I don't think Hoffman would play extremely well at 6 in Qcup so yeah, I'd take just about anyone over Hoffman at 6. For 2 reasons... One being he's awful as a 5/8 and two being he's a weapon on the wing or at centre.

 

[Big Pete]

I know we have a 2014 halves thread...but since Hoffman's stint in the halves has dominated a lot of discussion around here, I thought it'd be wise to put it all into one big thread.

Based on what I saw last night, I'd take Hoffman over both NYC halves.

Easily.

The NYC halves have way too many simple errors in them and neither of them are ready for first grade.

I haven't seen enough of Strasser to judge, but I'd say he's in with the best shot if Hook does look for alternatives outside of Kahu. Paia'Aua an outside chance if he takes the Qld Cup promotion with both hands.

 

[Bull Shark]

people need to stop trying to pluck a quick fix out the air because there isn't one ... I'm not sure the wonderkid we've got coming in next season is the answer either because his strengths appear to be better utilised elsewhere on the field.

Once again I just smh at the person who's put the club in this position ... as a broncos fan since day one, this current situation is extremely tough to swallow.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

people need to stop trying to pluck a quick fix out the air because there isn't one ... I'm not sure the wonderkid we've got coming in next season is the answer either because his strengths appear to be better utilised elsewhere on the field.

Once again I just smh at the person who's put the club in this position ... as a broncos fan since day one, this current situation is extremely tough to swallow.

Complacency put us where we are and a reliance on Lockyer that the club clearly thought would last forever.

 

[Morkel]

If Hoffman can develop a pop pass in traffic we'd have our problems solved. He's constantly able to draw 3 defenders and thrashes his way through. It leaves huge gaps around him.

 

[mrslong]

Re: Round 5 - Broncos vs Eels - Post-Game Discussion

I still get so mad when I think the reason we didn't like Hoffy at fullback was because he DIDNT PASS THE FRIGGING BALL....bing, I know let's put him in at 5-8 where your main job is PASSING THE FRIGGING BALL.

bring on Kevvy & Wayne.

 

[rnabokov]

If Hoffman can develop a pop pass in traffic we'd have our problems solved. He's constantly able to draw 3 defenders and thrashes his way through. It leaves huge gaps around him.

I am increasingly becoming convinced that Hoffman plays for Hoffman, and not the team, the players around him. He seems just unaware that a pass, or an offload is really what we need, to keep the ball alive.

The Eels were rather good at that.

Out of interest, isn't it true that there are a number of very young players given opportunities by other clubs to play NRL? Or are they so so far ahead of our talent, that Hoffman is our only option?

I still maintain that we will rarely if ever defeat any of the better sides with Hoffman choking our attack. We can't win the big games with 1 half

 

[Unbreakable]

I like Hoffman, I think he's a great runner of the ball, great finisher, the perfect winger.

I hate Hoffman, I think he's got the worst passing game in the world, literally the worst Five-Eighth.

It's your call Griffin.

 

[Rhys van Beurden]

[h=1]Josh Hoffman is determined to secure the No. 6 jumper ahead of Broncos-bound Anthony Milford[/h]
JOSH Hoffman says he is determined to secure the No. 6 jumper in a scenario that could put him on a collision course with Broncos-bound Anthony Milford.
Traditionally a fullback, Hoffman answered a playmaking SOS from coach Anthony Griffin, who shifted the Kiwi Test star into the front line to enable Ben Barba to claim the No. 1 jumper.
Hoffman has responded with an impressive opening five weeks at the Broncos scrumbase, but with Milford having signed with the Broncos for next season, Griffin faces another positional conundrum with his new five-eighth.
Milford was slated for the Brisbane No. 6 jumper this season before the Raiders refused to broker an immediate release.
With Barba entrenched at fullback, Hoffman could be moved again if Milford honours his commitment to play for the Broncos from next season.


The Queensland under-20s pivot is currently playing fullback at Canberra, but Hoffman hopes his performances can convince Griffin to retain him at five-eighth.
“I definitely want to stay at six,” Hoffman said.
“Hopefully we can stick with the same process, I am really enjoying the role of playing five-eighth and getting my hands on the ball, especially in defence.
“It’s really good having Jack Reed and Alex Glenn around me with their talk, we are getting a good combination on the left side and hopefully we can keep that going for the rest of the year.”
Last season, Hoffman was dissatisfied at being shunted to the wing.
After making peace with Broncos management after his request for a release in February, Hoffman now does not want to rock the boat.
If Milford eventually arrives at Red Hill, Hoffman says he will accept whatever call Griffin makes.
“I just have to be thankful and happy that I’m in the team,” he said.
“Wherever I play I will give my all, but I would love to keep the No. 6 and try to make a go of it.


“Whatever happens next year with Milford is not in my court. I will let the coach decide what happens.”
Legendary Broncos five-eighth Darren Lockyer said he was not surprised by Hoffman’s almost seamless transition into the halves.
“Josh is a competitor and he has a good mix in his game,” Lockyer said.
“Hopefully Milford still comes to the Broncos but for Josh it is probably a mental challenge.
“If Milford is confirmed after Round 13, he will be back in the position he was last year, unsure where he will be playing. Josh can’t worry about things he can’t control, he just has to play good football.
“He’s done a great job adapting to the position at short notice and he seems to be enjoying getting the ball a bit more. He’s developed his game to where he can play in the halves and that’s a pretty handy asset to have.’’

Why can't he be content with making the number 2-5 his own? He's not doing much more than a centre would be doing anyway.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Who cares if he's content. At this point, I would be quite happy to see the back of him.