On paper, Broncos should win the comp this season

There are at least two people who need the Broncos to win more than they lose

FULLBACK: Brisbane Broncos captain Darius Boyd. Picture: DAN PELED

THE NRL finally started last night and just taking a wild guess I would think the Broncos would have started with a win over Melbourne Storm last night but nothing would surprise me about that result.

On paper, the Broncos should win the competition and Melbourne should be a rough chance of making the eight due to their continuing loss of quality players to retirement and other clubs.

The Broncos should have won last night and should win the competition for a couple of reasons.

Their playing roster is outstanding but also with the shunning of Kevin Walters as coach and the appointment of Anthony Seibold there are at least two people who need the Broncos to win more than they lose and be lining up in the last weekend in September still alive in the premiership and that's the coach and the CEO.

In regards to Melbourne, they have been written off time and time again as they continually shed players out the back door because of the salary cap and retirement but someone forgets to tell coach Bellamy they are no chance.

He continually gets them to the last weekend against the odds to the point that his board members expect him to work miracles so basically he is a victim of his own success and he is no doubt the best coach in the NRL, particularly at turning discarded players from other clubs into better players and of course developing young blokes into superstars, which continually backfires on him as they are poached by other clubs.

For mine the surprise clubs this year will be the Raiders, as they nearly have to make the finals to meet expectations and disappointments over the past few seasons, and Wests Tigers.

Expected to do well along with the Broncos and possibly Melbourne are the Cowboys and the Roosters (who don't have a salary cap but a sombrero) and maybe Souths while I reckon a value bet is Newcastle?

Do I have any idea? Probably not, which reminds me of someone who was really special.

There has been plenty of press over the last few weeks of the passing of Nick and Gerry Clatworthy which was so sad as they were a wonderful couple.

They were Sunshine Coast icons who always seemed to have time for everyone.

It didn't matter who you were, they treated everyone the same.

Both had a wicked sense of humour and the reason I mention them in my sports column is because Gerry always talked to me about the NRL, every time I saw her.

I will say she knew I had no idea, as back in the day when I was a guest Daily tipster before they sacked me.

Gerry proudly told me that I was the default tipster in their competition, meaning if they never got their tips in they were gifted mine out of the paper which she used to tell me with a twinkle in her eye that it motivated everyone to get their tips in.

RIP you two wonderful people, the world is a better place for you being here.

Local league gets under way tomorrow in the Vantage Homes Cup, with Caloundra at home Kawana, Swans at home to Beerwah, Noosa to Caboolture and Nambour at home to Rivers.

It should be a great weekend of local footy.

Originally published as On paper, Broncos should win the comp this season