Broncos Player Analysis: Round 3 Team Selection

Following the Broncos impressive victory against the North Queensland Cowboy, attention now turns to the Broncos clash versus the St George Dragons, and which 17 available players make up the Broncos’ most productive team for the match.

To do this, we need to look at the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprises the Broncos’ senior squad.

Methodology

In assessing the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprise the Broncos’ senior squad, each player is allocated into four positional categories (with some players considered in multiple positional categories due to their perceived versatility).

Those positional categories consist of:

• forwards;
• halves and hooker;
• centres and wingers; and
• fullback.

Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category is then considered, using data sourced from the NRL.

To provide a realistic picture of each individual player’s on-field production, only data from those seasons, throughout the player’s professional career, where the player has played at least 13 games in the NRL, was considered. Where a player has not met that criteria, their productivity data was not assessed.

The KPI data considered for each positional group is based on the assumption that the cornerstones of the Broncos’ tactical approach is as follows:

• All players in all positional categories (excluding the fullback positional group), to have minimal missed tackles (<2 missed tackles per player per game).
• Each player in the forward positional group to generate 100+ run metres and multiple offloads (1+) per game (to create second phase play for the halves, hooker and/or fullback to create try assist opportunities for the centre and winger positional group).
• Each player within the centre and wing positional group to generate 100+ run metres and multiple line breaks (1+) per game.
• Each player in the halves and hooker positional groups to generate 100+ kicking metres, and multiple try assists (1+), and forced dropouts (1+) per game.
• Each player in the fullback positional groups to generate 100+ run metres, 100+ kicking metres and multiple try assists (1+), and forced dropouts (1+) per game.

The findings provide an invaluable insight as to:

• how each player ranks against their internal competition within their positional category; and
• which 17 players make up the Broncos’ most productive team.

Internal player rankings

The player rankings by position are as follows:

Round 3 line-up

Based on the above analytical comparison, the Broncos’ aforementioned tactical basis and minimum required KPIs, and with Hetherington and Oates recovering from injury, the 17 players which comprise the Broncos’ most productive team for their Round 3 clash vs the St George Dragons would appear to be as follows:

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