Brisbane Broncos’ roster failings exposed by shock NRL debut numbers
They boast the best breeding ground for NRL talent having debuted the most number of players in the competition this year - but these Fox Lab figures expose Brisbane’s roster failings in 2020.
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For Brisbane, the numbers don’t lie.
The Broncos’ roster has been brutally exposed this year with numbers showing that while Red Hill is a fertile breeding ground for NRL talent, Brisbane is not reaping the benefits.
Fox Sports Lab Statistics reveal the Broncos have unearthed the largest number of NRL talent in the competition, with 41 players across all 16 clubs having debuted for Brisbane.
However, 18 of those 41 players are now playing for a different club – including Ben Hunt (Dragons), Josh McGuire (Cowboys), Kodi Nikorima (Warriors) and Ash Taylor (Titans).
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Some may argue that Brisbane’s current young roster has let the club down, but ladder leaders Penrith have debuted almost exactly the same amount of NRL talent (40 players) but are enjoying the rewards in 2020.
Former football Titans manager and Panthers premiership winner Scott Sattler said Brisbane’s woes stemmed from a combination of three things: salary cap pressure, the perception of greatness and lazy recruiting.
“They just can’t keep them all,” Sattler said of the 18 Brisbane debutants now playing for different clubs.
“That’s the nature of the business and the salary cap becomes it’s own quasi draft.
“One reason they can’t keep all their players is because they’re (in) a one-team town and for years anyone who the Broncos developed and debuted became a real commodity at other clubs.
“There was a perception that if you came from the Brisbane Broncos or Melbourne Storm, you’re going to be a first class NRL player.”
Sattler was also critical of Brisbane’s recent recruitment and believes they have become complacent.
“I feel as though the Brisbane Broncos have probably not recruited wisely from the outside,” he said.
“They’ve become lazy in recruitment.
“With the Panthers, they’ve been able to harvest their development players and keep them in the system.
“That creates a really happy unit from the CEO down.
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“Those sort of players want to stay at Penrith, maybe for less money, just to be part of that unit.
“At the Broncos, you’ve got a team of really young rugby league players who don’t have a lot of rugby league intellect. That’s where they’re being exposed.
“They’re not a happy unit internally.”
However, Sattler says he can see light on the horizon for the struggling Broncos, pointing to parallels with the Penrith side he played in that went on to claim the premiership in 2003.
“The year we won the comp, they went through a real culling phase in 2001, 2002,” he said.
“They blew the club up.
“In 2001, we (Penrith) get the wooden spoon and then in 2003 we won the minor premiership and the comp.
“I feel as though there’s a lot of synergies between both the Panthers back then and the Broncos of today ... and fans have got to stick by them.
“The pain and the turmoil that the playing group is going through at the moment is going to help them in 12 to 18 months’ time.
“They’re in the University of Tough Love at the moment.”
2020 PLAYERS’ DEBUT TEAM
41 Brisbane
40 Penrith
38 Sydney Roosters
37 Melbourne
34 Wests Tigers
33 South Sydney
31 Canberra
29 Warriors
26 Cronulla
26 Canterbury
25 St George Illawarra
25 Manly
25 North Queensland
22 Newcastle
21 Gold Coast Titans
16 Parramatta
Originally published as Brisbane Broncos’ roster failings exposed by shock NRL debut numbers