New Broncos head of football Ben Ikin has backed a newfound depth at the club to create a healthy competition for spots across the board in 2022.
“I think we’re a little excited about how we finished the season, and are even more excited about some of the players we’ve got arriving,” Ikin said on 4BC’s WWOS Radio.
Ikin said there was an opportunity in front of fringe players to compete for positions, naming Q-Cup standout Ezra Mam as one who could find himself in the first grade picture this year outside new halfback Adam Reynolds – but the likes of Albert Kelly, Tyson Gamble and Billy Walters are also in the frame.
“You’ve got a young future champion sort of battling for a spot with some seasoned pros – and there’s many of those examples that exist across the roster,” Ikin said.
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“It’s important that in a halves combination to get maximum impact across the season, that you’re putting someone outside Adam Reynolds that’s going to complement his style. Cody Walker certainly did that at the Rabbitohs.”
He noted veteran middle Ryan James as another who was there not just to be a mentor to younger forwards, but to motivate them to want to steal his spot in the team.
“That’s healthy, and that’s the stuff that Kev needs to manage,” Ikin said.
It’s a tumultous transition period for Brisbane who have failed to make the finals for the past two seasons, picking up the dreaded wooden spoon in 2020 and finishing 14th this season.
“I’ve got no doubt that Kevvy, Terry Matterson, John Cartwright, and Matty Ballin who’s joined us as a development coach fresh out of the Manly Sea Eagles, will be working tirelessly to work out who their best 17 is,” Ikin said.
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He said the club was “optimistic” with Walters, and a host of young players, having an extra pre-season under their belts.
“Not that there’s any one silver bullet, but there’s a whole heap of changes and improvements that are going to take place at the Broncos that will have a compounding effect across the program.
“That was the goal – we want to play finals next year, we want to be back contending with the big boys and to do that we needed to make sure that right across the footy department, everyone was getting better.
“If we make that commitment and we kick the goals that we think we can, then the Broncos are getting closer to where they should be in the eyes of everyone.”