Thaiday may play front-row in 2011
After establishing himself as the best back-rower in the NRL last season and one of the competition's premier players, bustling Bronco Sam Thaiday could find himself in the front-row with gun recruit Ben Hannant in 2011.
Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak says the attraction of a Thaiday-Hannant wall up front is quite appealing although he points out the club's prop stocks have not looked better for a few years.
Thaiday's career-best season in the No.11 jumper, playing an average 71 minutes, making 115m and 30 tackles a game, had him seriously challenging for rugby league's prestigious Golden Boot, taken out by Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall.
Henjak, facing several difficult selection calls in the forward pack and the backline - where they have to replace AFL defector Israel Folau, wouldn't rule out a positional change for Thaiday if it was "best for the team".
"We've got some good back-rowers there and wide running forwards so a good one would miss out if Sam plays in the second-row," he told AAP.
Henjak is keen to give 2010 discovery and NRL rookie of the year Matt Gillett a permanent place in the second row, while Ben Te'o, Alex Glenn and former premiership winner Dane Carlaw, back from the UK, are in contention.
Corey Parker, the team's goal kicker, is the first choice lock.
"It's a possibility," said Henjak.
"But Nick Kenny and Scotty Anderson are training well while Mitchell Dodds and Josh McGuire are looking more like NRL players with their body shapes having put on a few kilos.
"Our front-row stocks are as healthy as they've been for a few years."
Henjak admitted Thaiday would still want to play a wide-running style but he was sure he'd do whatever was best for the team.
"I'm sure Sam won't have an issue with it. If he has to play up front, he'll do that.
"His game might change up a little. He mightn't be required to play the minutes he has and we might get a lot more quality out of him."
Meanwhile Henjak said it was great seeing new recruit Hannant and centre Justin Hodges, recovering from an Achilles injury that prevented him playing in 2010, in full training before Christmas.
"Those two guys' experience add so much to our squad and when we get Locky (Darren Lockyer) and Sammy (Thaiday) back we'll be even better," he said.
"Both guys are training hard and contributing to our young players."
Finding Folau's replacement is a challenge with a number of players already pushing hard for his spot, including Gerard Beale, flyer Dane Gagai and dark horse Jack Reed, a smart looking prospect from Norths' Queensland Cup side.
"They can all do the maths, they know there's stiff competition and some are going to miss out," Henjak said.
"That's always good for players' preparations knowing they have to work hard and have a good attitude."
"It's an interesting puzzle because Dane Carlaw can play out, so can Alex Glenn, he's an option, and Gillett and Te'o can both play out there.
"We've still got some things to work out but it will all be clearer once we play some trials."
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