Broncos name new faces for Dragons clash
Fed up after his side's horror start to the 2010 NRL season, Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak is prepared to go through a world of pain to get his message across to his players.
Henjak on Tuesday announced a side full of no-names to tackle St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium on Friday, preferring to risk a hammering if it means getting the Broncos to raise their game.
Even former Broncos coach Wayne Bennett would struggle to recognise some of the players in Henjak's 17-man squad.
It features youngsters like Dale Copley, Gerard Beale, Mitch Rivett, Ben Hunt and under-20s graduate Dunamis Lui, a 100kg prop/second-rower yet to see one minute of NRL action.
Henjak has surprisingly named prop Nick Kenny on the bench, preferring to start Ashton Sims and Scott Anderson up front against Dragons props Michael Weyman and Matt Prior.
Henjak, who on Monday made the tough call to drop in-form pair Ben Te'o and Antonio Winterstein for disciplinary reasons after they arrived late for training, was is no mood to defend team selections with another four of five star players sidelined through injury.
"It's the situation we are in," said Henjak.
"Having eight or nine players missing either with injury or for discipline issues doesn't help.
"Having half your salary cap out of your team doesn't help.
"But the guys have to go to Wollongong and take up the challenge and grab their opportunities.
"No player's position is safe.
"Things are tough, but it's not terminal. We'll come out of this and be better for it.
"I don't care if we win. I want the players to show some commitment and get their attitude right and have a real crack."
Brisbane are doing it tough with representative centres Israel Folau (finger) and Justin Hodges (Achilles), lock Corey Parker (knee) and exciting young flyer Jharal Yow Yeh (knee) all a number of weeks away from playing.
Copley, a country 18-year-old who played four NRL games last year, joins Alex Glenn in the centres, while Beale shifts onto the wing taking Winterstein's spot.
Josh Hoffman, who narrowly missed out on the fullback jumper to Corey Norman, was named on an extended 18-man bench.
Lui, an apprentice mechanic, has impressed Henjak with his form in the club's Toyota Cup side to get a call-up with Brisbane looking at their fourth straight loss.
"He's done as much as some of the other under-20 kids who have got a chance," said Henjak.
Bookmakers rate Brisbane as the biggest outsiders of the round, given the only experience in their backline is halfback Peter Wallace and five-eighth Darren Lockyer.
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