Crash Craddock: Broncos can find their missing grit by calling one of the scrappiest cricketers of all time
A former legend reckons the Broncos have lost the art of winning ugly. Chatting to sport’s greatest scrapper may help, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.
NRL
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The Broncos should invite Test cricket great Allan Border in for a chat about how to win when it’s not your day.
It’s true that Border retired from Test cricket before most of the Broncos were born but he remains the eternal example of the heavy duty sportsman who somehow managed to turn bad days into something better when everything was running against him.
Andrew Johns made the sound point on Channel 9 on Sunday that the Broncos need to learn how to win ugly.
He reckons when you get them in an arm wrestle they try and fight their way out with flashiness and often perish from self-inflicted wounds.
A few words from Broncos fan Border about his pet topic – mental disintegration and digging in for the fight – might hit the spot.
THE BIG CALL
The worth of Tevita Pangai has caused a sharp difference of opinion between the Dolphins and Broncos.
The Broncos bench forwards were woeful against the Sharks on Saturday night yet the club recently decided not to show any interest in Pangai who we understand would have asked only $150,000.
Pangai, who ran for 171m for the Broncos feeder club Souths two weeks ago, has been a flighty performer who has been difficult to control.
The Dolphins have signed him in the belief his old mentor Wayne Bennett will find the steel within.
THE MISSING MAN
The Broncos are missing their Caped crusader.
Kurt Capewell’s January departure to the Warriors did not create the huge public ripples that the departure of Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler has but it made some Broncos players wince.
They knew there would be a time when they needed his calm, sage hand and he wouldn’t be there. Like now.
Experienced utility Capewell is no legend of the game but was a respected standard setter and a wise on field voice.
With Adam Reynolds sidelined, it cannot always be the irrepressible Origin duo Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas to carry the load when they have been heavily taxed by playing for their states.
Capewell, who returned from injury to play a typically solid game for the Warriors in their upset over the Cowboys, is just sort of experienced, strong voice the Broncos are lacking at the moment.
QUEENSLAND TEAM OF THE WEEK
1 Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys)
2 Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans)
3 Brian Kelly (Titans)
4 Beau Fermor (Titans)
5 Braidon Burns (Cowboys)
6 Tom Dearden (Cowboys)
7 Jock Madden (Broncos)
8 Cory Jensen (Broncos)
9 Billy Walters (Broncos)
10 Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys
11 David Fifita (Titans)
12 Klese Haas (Titans)
13 Pat Carrigan (Broncos)
UNDER THE HAMMER
The Dolphins have shopped well by re-signing the exceptional Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to a five-year deal.
The precise terms of the contract are not know but it has been speculated the Hammer will receive around $800,000 a year.
Given an NRL document said the top five fullbacks in the game are averaging $1.24 million a year that makes the Hammer a solid buy given the way his star is rising.
BAD ODDS
Rugby league historians are at odds with bookmakers about the Broncos premiership chances.
The historians tell us that to win the competition you have to finish in the top four and the Broncos, with seven wins from 13 games, may need to win nine out of their last 11 for a top four finish. A tough ask yet the bookies have posted them $5 second favourites to take the title.
THE FLYING MACHINE
Anthony Seibold’s tenure as Broncos coach may have gone horribly wrong but it did have one unsung thread.
Melbourne Storm winger Xavier Coates revealed during the first State of Origin cam that his try of the season against the Warriors, where he sailed through the air like Superman after diving over in the corner from five metres out, was Seibold inspired.
Coates said Seibold encouraged his wingers to practice their theatrical touchdowns in the corner which have become one of the most attractive features of the game.
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