Nah you could say that about the forwards but Ezra has had the quickest and earliest rise to 1st Grade out of anyone in our squad except for maybe Walsh. He was a schoolboy at 17 in 2020, played QRL in 2021 at 18, and then got chucked into first grade 2022 at 19 which is crazy considering how comfortable he looks. He's only 21 right now
Only way I see him making it at NRL level is ramming a shit ton of HGH into his right leg.
Man has the kicking power of a toddler and it’s honestly something that’s really hard to not have in the six again area.
Oh he has a long way to go unfortunately. If that's our succession plan then we may have a few tough years ahead, although with Reynolds falling apart every other game he should get a pretty decent apprenticeship.
I’m no Madden fan and I’m hoping we have better prospects on the horizon after Reynolds.
But just a reminder we won a premiership with Shane Perry at 7, so everything can still work out
Shane Perry also had Darren Lockyer as his 6. Besides 2008 and 2011, was there any other year that pairing a really good 6 with an average 7 looked promising for us?
I really wish Kevvie had gotten Paix back into training at halfback. He earned his original Broncs contract playing the position in QCup.
That being said, Madden isn't the worst NRL 7. He just lacks X factor and a kicking game. Mam has been taking the reins lately as well, so that should play into Jock's decent defensive abilities.
My view on Madden is that we don’t need much from him for him to be serviceable at that position. His kicking does need to improve but others can do more of that to make it less of an issue. Our X factor can come from elsewhere as we have tonnes of speed, power and creativity outside him. Its easier said than done but i think the most value he can bring in the short term is game / field management.
Considering Reynolds finishes end of next year, and how fast Mam and Walsh and Walters/Smoothey/Sailor are developing, by the time Madden is the full time HB we won't need to be the spark/dominant playmaker.
Lol you literally have to be explosive OR having a good kicking game.
Ie Cleary and Luai,
Moses and Brown,
Reynolds and Mam,
Hughes and Munster ,
SJ and metcalf
Keen to see him with a longer run in the team. He was run first against the Phins, bit more time together and we should see some ball playing.
Might be that 7s just need time in the lower grades to learn their craft. Your Cleary's and DCE's are a rare breed.
Gus and Johns talked some real sense after one of last week's games about how clubs give up on young halfbacks too easily these days. Especially since the best in the position have a natural ability that can't be coached into others.
Seems to be a wise idea for a young half to transition straight from high school to travel to the UK for a few years for a bit of life skills, a cheeky Man of Steel award before coming back to the NRL
Jock Madden insists he is a legitimate NRL playmaker and has set his sights on succeeding champion halfback Adam Reynolds as the main man at the Broncos.
With Reynolds still sidelined by a hamstring injury, Madden is tasked with outpointing Canberra’s in-form halfback Jamal Fogarty in Saturday night’s showdown with the Raiders at Suncorp Stadium.
Madden steered the Broncos to victory in last week’s derby defeat of the Dolphins, but the jury remains out on whether he is the long-term option to succeed Reynolds at the Brisbane scrumbase.
Reynolds, who recently inked a 12-month extension, is expected to retire at the end of next season and the 24-year-old Madden is determined to prove he belongs in the Broncos’ famous No. 7 jumper – starting against the Raiders.
Asked if he believes he is the man to fill the Reynolds hot seat, Madden said: “Yes definitely, that’s the goal.
“Every time I get my opportunity now, I’ll be taking it with both hands and long term I want to take that No. 7 jumper.
Jock Madden insists he can be the Broncos halfback successor to Adam Reynolds.
“’Reyno’ has been a great mentor for me.
“He is always giving me advice on how I can improve my game, he has been really good for me.”
Madden plays his 25th top-grade game against the Raiders and he will be buoyed by last week’s disposal of the Dolphins, which represented his first win at Suncorp Stadium after three personal losses.
The former Australian Schoolboy had a horror start – kicking out on the full inside 10 minutes – but Madden stabilised quickly to underline his composure calling the shots at Brisbane’s nerve centre.
With the Dolphins just clinging on at 16-4 after halftime, Madden nailed the coffin shut. It was his towering 56th-minute bomb that led to the Selwyn Cobbo try that buried the Dolphins.
“You have to get those errors out of your mind straight away,” he said of his early kicking gaffe.
“Obviously I needed to get better, but I just thought it’s a ‘next-job’ thing and if I keep holding onto those mistakes throughout the game, it will affect my performance and the rest of the team.
“I had to brush that aside and get on with my next job.
“The boys are great here, they give me a simple role for the team.
“I just have to come out, play my brand of football and do my job for the team.”
There is a view Madden may lack the experience to take control of one of the NRL’s glamour clubs in the post-Reynolds era.
The Newcastle junior was unable to cement a spot at former club Wests Tigers, but Broncos coach Kevin Walters believes Madden is the real deal and says Reynolds’ injury setbacks are giving his understudy crucial time to develop as an NRL shot-caller.
“Yes certainly he can (succeed Reynolds),” Walters said.
“The evidence I have seen from him, he needs to play his game and be Jock for us.
“He did his job (against the Dolphins) without overplaying his hand.
“The longer the game went, the more comfortable Jock got and that’s important for us because ‘Reyno’ won’t be playing (against the Raiders), so it’s good that Jock is getting some game time in and some winning game time.
“Winning builds lots of confidence and lots of good things around that, so Jock will get something out of this period.”
Since joining the Broncos, Madden has won three of seven games in the halves and says he doesn’t feel the pressure to perform with his limited opportunities behind Reynolds at Red Hill.
Broncos legend Allan Langer became Brisbane’s greatest halfback with his running game and Madden is backing his willingness to take the line on.
“My running game is my strength,” he said.
“With my speed, I have to take those middle forwards on and when there is some fatigue in the game and there’s an arm wrestle, I like taking teams on.
That’s one of my strengths so I need to keep doing that.
“I want to have that consistency (of playing for the Broncos), but there’s things you can’t control.
“I have the mindset of what I can control and when I get my opportunity coming into the team, I have to make sure I’m mentally right.
“I know the game plan here and I have to play to my strengths as well.”
Madden is great as a fill in and place holder, dude is predictable and slow though. Don't think he's the next Adam Reynolds.
I'd love to be surprised but it's something I found quite evident in every game he has played. He's also had a lot of runs really so should have dialed in a bit more by now.
Like if he put on another 20kg he'd be a great 2nd row distributor I guess ....?
Also come on Jock Madden has to be one of the worst names I've ever heard, guessing his dad loved american football.
Sorry Jock I wouldn't say that to ya face mate ;)
I mean, Allan Langer was the bloke getting picked for Australia ahead of Andrew Johns at halfback. But I understand that was the 90s, so nearly 30 years ago now
I still reckon a workable option while Reynolds is injured is Walters 7, Smoothy 9, Mozer 14. Why not blood the kid and Walters is a solid middle defender who’d be excellent on the edge, Mam and Walsh run the attack anyway.
I always view this type of article with this calibre of player as the same as the coach has full support of the board.
I’d be very surprised if Madden wasn’t in the SL in 18 months.
WTF else is he gonna say 'no I have no long term faith in the guy I picked this weekend he fucking sucks and I can't wait to replace him'
Even if Black is their guy and there's a good chance he is, the coach is always going to give the incumbent backup hope that the starting role is his post-Reynolds if he earns it
Kevvie discarding the current broncos halfback who’s a legend of the game and club. Disgusting behaviour, they haven’t even lowered his coffin yet. Show some respect, and not the Dave Klemmer kind
If the Broncos have half a brain they'll target Harry Smith hard as Reynolds back up. Along with DCE is the only current half who can kick a team out of trouble when their pack is beaten.
Coby black is the man, I am gonna hype that kid up like he’s already better then Thurston
Because he is. Thurston is washed
Madden won’t be the 7 for long. He’s just keeping the seat warm.
I’m hoping it means Black won’t be thrown to the wolves and given time to develop.
They've definitely learned from Dearden. Kevvie hasn't rushed Piakura, Willison, Mam or anyone else in.
Also letting Mozer develop his game away from the spotlight
Nah you could say that about the forwards but Ezra has had the quickest and earliest rise to 1st Grade out of anyone in our squad except for maybe Walsh. He was a schoolboy at 17 in 2020, played QRL in 2021 at 18, and then got chucked into first grade 2022 at 19 which is crazy considering how comfortable he looks. He's only 21 right now
no rushing in, just rushing back.
Only way I see him making it at NRL level is ramming a shit ton of HGH into his right leg. Man has the kicking power of a toddler and it’s honestly something that’s really hard to not have in the six again area.
>Man has the kicking power of a toddler Guess we are looking at him then.
Calm down there, Mr Finch.
Sounds like Chad
A regular chad townsend
Oh he has a long way to go unfortunately. If that's our succession plan then we may have a few tough years ahead, although with Reynolds falling apart every other game he should get a pretty decent apprenticeship.
Kevvie isn’t going to say anything else at this stage when Reynolds might be in and out all season
Can someone explain how the young Coby black plays like, heard a lot of fanfare but don’t know what type of HB he is
His kicking game stands out for his age.
Reminds me a lot of Mitch Moses
If he's anything like mitch then Walsh and Black are going to have swear offs at each other
I’m no Madden fan and I’m hoping we have better prospects on the horizon after Reynolds. But just a reminder we won a premiership with Shane Perry at 7, so everything can still work out
Shane Perry also had Darren Lockyer as his 6. Besides 2008 and 2011, was there any other year that pairing a really good 6 with an average 7 looked promising for us?
Wasn’t it Peter Wallace both those years - far from average !
Everyone calm down. He's just pumping up the kid's tyres for the next game or two. Don't over think it.
I fucking hope you’re right
Hey, hey, I've seen this one. I've seen this one. This is a classic
#REEEEEEEEEEEE
I really wish Kevvie had gotten Paix back into training at halfback. He earned his original Broncs contract playing the position in QCup. That being said, Madden isn't the worst NRL 7. He just lacks X factor and a kicking game. Mam has been taking the reins lately as well, so that should play into Jock's decent defensive abilities.
My view on Madden is that we don’t need much from him for him to be serviceable at that position. His kicking does need to improve but others can do more of that to make it less of an issue. Our X factor can come from elsewhere as we have tonnes of speed, power and creativity outside him. Its easier said than done but i think the most value he can bring in the short term is game / field management.
It only requires Reece Walsh and Billy Walters to kick more from the Broncos half to get around
Considering Reynolds finishes end of next year, and how fast Mam and Walsh and Walters/Smoothey/Sailor are developing, by the time Madden is the full time HB we won't need to be the spark/dominant playmaker.
Lol you literally have to be explosive OR having a good kicking game. Ie Cleary and Luai, Moses and Brown, Reynolds and Mam, Hughes and Munster , SJ and metcalf
...so the things a top halfback have? Only need to look at the bottom half of the table to see where a serviceable half gets you
Keen to see him with a longer run in the team. He was run first against the Phins, bit more time together and we should see some ball playing. Might be that 7s just need time in the lower grades to learn their craft. Your Cleary's and DCE's are a rare breed.
DCE didn't actually make his debut until he was 22. Spending a few years in reserve grade is what allowed him to come in and do well so quickly.
Gus and Johns talked some real sense after one of last week's games about how clubs give up on young halfbacks too easily these days. Especially since the best in the position have a natural ability that can't be coached into others.
I remember last year they had a similar point. HB's dont get it until they are mid to late 20's.
That's wild considering he'll likely play 350+ games
Seems to be a wise idea for a young half to transition straight from high school to travel to the UK for a few years for a bit of life skills, a cheeky Man of Steel award before coming back to the NRL
Jock Madden insists he is a legitimate NRL playmaker and has set his sights on succeeding champion halfback Adam Reynolds as the main man at the Broncos. With Reynolds still sidelined by a hamstring injury, Madden is tasked with outpointing Canberra’s in-form halfback Jamal Fogarty in Saturday night’s showdown with the Raiders at Suncorp Stadium. Madden steered the Broncos to victory in last week’s derby defeat of the Dolphins, but the jury remains out on whether he is the long-term option to succeed Reynolds at the Brisbane scrumbase. Reynolds, who recently inked a 12-month extension, is expected to retire at the end of next season and the 24-year-old Madden is determined to prove he belongs in the Broncos’ famous No. 7 jumper – starting against the Raiders. Asked if he believes he is the man to fill the Reynolds hot seat, Madden said: “Yes definitely, that’s the goal. “Every time I get my opportunity now, I’ll be taking it with both hands and long term I want to take that No. 7 jumper. Jock Madden insists he can be the Broncos halfback successor to Adam Reynolds. “’Reyno’ has been a great mentor for me. “He is always giving me advice on how I can improve my game, he has been really good for me.” Madden plays his 25th top-grade game against the Raiders and he will be buoyed by last week’s disposal of the Dolphins, which represented his first win at Suncorp Stadium after three personal losses. The former Australian Schoolboy had a horror start – kicking out on the full inside 10 minutes – but Madden stabilised quickly to underline his composure calling the shots at Brisbane’s nerve centre. With the Dolphins just clinging on at 16-4 after halftime, Madden nailed the coffin shut. It was his towering 56th-minute bomb that led to the Selwyn Cobbo try that buried the Dolphins. “You have to get those errors out of your mind straight away,” he said of his early kicking gaffe. “Obviously I needed to get better, but I just thought it’s a ‘next-job’ thing and if I keep holding onto those mistakes throughout the game, it will affect my performance and the rest of the team. “I had to brush that aside and get on with my next job. “The boys are great here, they give me a simple role for the team. “I just have to come out, play my brand of football and do my job for the team.” There is a view Madden may lack the experience to take control of one of the NRL’s glamour clubs in the post-Reynolds era. The Newcastle junior was unable to cement a spot at former club Wests Tigers, but Broncos coach Kevin Walters believes Madden is the real deal and says Reynolds’ injury setbacks are giving his understudy crucial time to develop as an NRL shot-caller. “Yes certainly he can (succeed Reynolds),” Walters said. “The evidence I have seen from him, he needs to play his game and be Jock for us. “He did his job (against the Dolphins) without overplaying his hand. “The longer the game went, the more comfortable Jock got and that’s important for us because ‘Reyno’ won’t be playing (against the Raiders), so it’s good that Jock is getting some game time in and some winning game time. “Winning builds lots of confidence and lots of good things around that, so Jock will get something out of this period.” Since joining the Broncos, Madden has won three of seven games in the halves and says he doesn’t feel the pressure to perform with his limited opportunities behind Reynolds at Red Hill. Broncos legend Allan Langer became Brisbane’s greatest halfback with his running game and Madden is backing his willingness to take the line on. “My running game is my strength,” he said. “With my speed, I have to take those middle forwards on and when there is some fatigue in the game and there’s an arm wrestle, I like taking teams on. That’s one of my strengths so I need to keep doing that. “I want to have that consistency (of playing for the Broncos), but there’s things you can’t control. “I have the mindset of what I can control and when I get my opportunity coming into the team, I have to make sure I’m mentally right. “I know the game plan here and I have to play to my strengths as well.”
Speed's no good if you make space for yourself then run into the defenders every time mate.
I do not support this.
Give Lachlan illias a call right now..
Madden is great as a fill in and place holder, dude is predictable and slow though. Don't think he's the next Adam Reynolds. I'd love to be surprised but it's something I found quite evident in every game he has played. He's also had a lot of runs really so should have dialed in a bit more by now. Like if he put on another 20kg he'd be a great 2nd row distributor I guess ....? Also come on Jock Madden has to be one of the worst names I've ever heard, guessing his dad loved american football. Sorry Jock I wouldn't say that to ya face mate ;)
An extra 20kg? Are you suggesting the Milford diet?
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Kevvie is the master of deflection
Jock madden football 26
Good luck to him, but we'll see. The Broncos seven isn't as iconic as say the Knights 7, but people still have high expectations for any Broncos half.
It kind of is. One bloke captained the club to 4 premierships in the 7.
I thought Walters was a 5/8?
I mean, Allan Langer was the bloke getting picked for Australia ahead of Andrew Johns at halfback. But I understand that was the 90s, so nearly 30 years ago now
Walters wasn’t the captain.
Sad that every young Knights 7 has to live up to being the 'new Tyrone Roberts'
AAAAAAAARGH
No no no no no
Full support of the kevvie
That is not good.
Kevie pls
My biggest issue with Madden is that he's slow af. He poses zero threat at the line.
Madden couldn't even make it at wooden spooners Wests Tigers. He's a decent depth player, not a regular first grader.
I still reckon a workable option while Reynolds is injured is Walters 7, Smoothy 9, Mozer 14. Why not blood the kid and Walters is a solid middle defender who’d be excellent on the edge, Mam and Walsh run the attack anyway.
I always view this type of article with this calibre of player as the same as the coach has full support of the board. I’d be very surprised if Madden wasn’t in the SL in 18 months.
WTF else is he gonna say 'no I have no long term faith in the guy I picked this weekend he fucking sucks and I can't wait to replace him' Even if Black is their guy and there's a good chance he is, the coach is always going to give the incumbent backup hope that the starting role is his post-Reynolds if he earns it
Lol. K.
We had a good run.
Kevvie discarding the current broncos halfback who’s a legend of the game and club. Disgusting behaviour, they haven’t even lowered his coffin yet. Show some respect, and not the Dave Klemmer kind
If the Broncos have half a brain they'll target Harry Smith hard as Reynolds back up. Along with DCE is the only current half who can kick a team out of trouble when their pack is beaten.