NRL season 2013 - Brisbane Broncos

The Brisbane Broncos are in the midst of the biggest premiership drought in their history.
Now sitting at a staggering seven seasons, the Queensland capital has forgotten what it is like to have the NRL Premiership paraded down Queen Street.
And the locals are getting restless.
While the pressure of being a one-team capital city can't usually be measured, the Broncos have seemingly struggled since one of the greatest front-rowers from north of the border, Shane Webcke, retired.
That is despite boasting an Australian front-row of Ben Hannant and Petero Civoniceva for season 2012, and captain Sam Thaiday making the step up to the front from his normal second row position.
The retirement of Civoniceva is a big loss for any team to cover, but the Broncos are in a position where they can more than make up for the hole.
As hard as it is to replace the maturity and leadership of a long-time Queensland and Australian representative, the Broncos major recuitment targets suggest captain Thaiday may be makng a permanent move to the front-row.
As lock David Stagg returns home to Brisbane after a stint with the Bulldogs, a positional battle with Corey Parker could be averted by moving one of those players to the Thaiday's vacated No. 12 jersey.
Matt Gillett and Alex Glenn will share the role of the other second-row spot, with the "loser" of that battle almost certain to take on an interchange role. Both players filled that position last season, but it is more likely that Glenn will start the games.
Andrew McCullough has improved with every year he's played, and the hooker should keep his No.9 jersey for the year if he avoids injury. Ben Hunt will probably score a bench position to keep him fresh, though brilliant Wynnum-Manly rake Jake Granville could force his way into the side. 
Brisbane's forward stocks are in good shape, especially when one considers they have State of Origin bolter Josh McGuire waiting in the wings with Dunamis Lui, Scott Anderson and Mitchell Dodds. Nick Slyney and David Hala round out the forward stocks, and could get a run with a few injuries to key personnel.
One of the biggest talking points of the off-season was the signing of former Gold Coast Titan Scott Prince.
Prince, who will turn 33 this year, could not possibly be considered a long-term answer to Brisbane's woes in the halves.
Instead, Prince will play a role much like Civoniceva did in his return to Red Hill and try to impart some of his experience on the potential future pairing of Peter Wallace, Corey Norman and Ben Hunt.
Norman was always going to be up against it in the first full season without Darren Lockyer, but the young back performed admirably and handled his role to the best of his ability.
It may not have delivered the same results as Lockyer over his career, but to be fair, Lockyer didn't learn his trade overnight.
Wallace had a pretty quiet year in 2012 and will be looking for a much better run this season. A New South Wales representative a few years back, Wallace has slipped off the radar in recent times.
Strong, consistent performances from the redhead should help deliver some good results to the Broncos, and could bring him back into State of Origin calculations.
The Broncos have an amazing level of talent in their back five but several players lack NRL experience.
Justin Hodges will lead the young backs around if he stays fit, but an injury could see Brisbane delving deep into their playing stocks to cover. The same goes for Jack Reed.
Josh Hoffman should start the season with a mortgage on the fullback jersey, but there will be some tight competition from Norths Devil Lachlan Maranta, Redcliffe Dolphin Joe Bond, and the returning Denan Kemp.
Injuries to Dale Copley and Jharal Yow Yeh have clipped the wings from the Broncos, but Bond, Maranta and Aaron Whitchurch could be called upon sooner than later to fill the void.
In all, the Brisbane Broncos have a quality roster and injury could be the only thing that lies between them and the top four.

Brisbane
1. Josh Hoffman 2. Dale Copley 3. Jack Reed 4. Justin Hodges 5. Jharal Yow Yeh 6. Peter Wallace 7. Scott Prince 8. Sam Thaiday 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Ben Hannant 11. Alex Glenn 12. Corey Parker 13. David Stagg Interchange: 14. Matt Gillett 15. Ben Hunt 16. Josh McGuire 17. Dunamis Lui
On the fringes: Scott Anderson, Joe Bond, Mitchell Dodds, Jake Granville, David Hala, Lachlan Maranta, Nick Slyney, Aaron Whitchurch, Denan Kemp

Off-season Stress Sydnrome

Footy season is back this week and to say I'm keen is an understatement.
We've already had the first round of the English Super League but the best competition in the world gets its first taste of action with the NRL All Stars game this week.
It's been a very long off-season for some, and I would have to put my hand up and admit I'm one of the people suffering from a lack of live rugby league.
Plans have already been made to travel down to Coffs Harbour next weekend as the mighty cardinal and myrtle play their second trial against the Newcastle Knights.
If you haven't already guessed, I am quite the Rabbitohs fan.
Bigger than that though, I'm a fan of rugby league.
It is the best sport in the world in my mind, and the more there is of it, the better.
An issue has crept up over the last few weeks of the length of the preseason and how meaningful trials are.
There has been some suggestions of bringing back the preseason cups so there's more rugby league for all.
I am definitely in their corner.
The Cabramatta Nines, which saw Papua New Guinea win the title, was a great advertisement for rugby league.
The concept was great, and it gave the fans a little taste of what to expect the rest of the year.
It has to be capitalised on and produced on a larger scale as far as I'm concerned.
I attended the World 7's when it was revived in the early 2000's at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Every NRL team fielded a side, as well as international teams from Russia, Lebanon, and the USA all competing.
When a team wasn't playing on the field, autograph areas were set up in the concourse where fans of all ages could take their shirts, hats, balls - you name it - and get a few signatures from their favourite players.
It only lasted two years but with more effort and better planning, it could be something that takes off.
There has been discussion of a larger 9's format being played in New Zealand during the preseason as well.
I say bring it on - the more rugby league, the better.