In the wake of the Brisbane Broncos finishing 12th on the ladder and missing the finals, Barry Maranta, a founding director and former chairman of the club, has called for a strategic shift in player recruitment. Maranta suggests that the Broncos need to follow the example set by legendary coach Wayne Bennett by recruiting “hard heads” to bolster their forward pack and complement their existing young talent.
Maranta reflects on the Broncos’ past successes when they had formidable players like Tonie Carroll, Peter Ryan, and Trevor Gillmeister, along with tough, uncompromising forwards such as Glenn Lazarus, Shane Webcke, Gorden Tallis, and Brad Thorn. These players, who were crucial to the Broncos’ six premierships and 22 finals appearances over Bennett’s 25-year coaching tenure, had the ability to intimidate opponents and set high standards on the field.
Maranta expressed concern that the Broncos might have overinvested in young players without balancing the roster with experienced, hard-nosed veterans. He pointed out that while the team has promising young forwards like Ben Te Kura, Brendan Piakura, Jordan Riki, and Xavier Willison, as well as key players like Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, they lack the intimidating presence and leadership of players like Victor Radley or Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who are currently seen in top-performing teams.
He criticized the approach of paying for potential rather than proven performance, suggesting that the Broncos may have spent too much on promising but unproven talent, leaving them without the necessary experience and toughness. Maranta noted his own experience owning teams, including the Broncos and the London Broncos, and emphasized that paying for established, tough players with proven track records is crucial.
Maranta also highlighted the example set by Bennett at the Dolphins, where Bennett successfully assembled a forward pack with seasoned, tough players like Felise Kaufusi and the Bromwich brothers, despite initial doubts about his ability to secure certain players. He lamented the Broncos’ decision to let Herbie Farnworth go, calling it a significant mistake, and pointed out that Bennett’s approach, combined with financial resources, had proven successful.
Despite these issues, Maranta remains confident in the capabilities of current Broncos coach Kevin Walters, believing that Walters can lead the team to success with the right mix of players. However, Maranta stressed that this will likely require a more aggressive approach to recruitment, focusing on acquiring players with a proven track record of success and toughness.
Maranta concluded by expressing hope that Walters would address the current imbalance in the squad and find the right players to complement the young talent. He remains optimistic about the team’s future but believes that correcting the current recruitment strategy is essential for the Broncos to return to their former glory.
