Glenn fills Folau’s shoes, but team must lift, says Henjak

Officially, the big shoes left behind by injured Broncos superstar Israel Folau have been handed to Alex Glenn. But Broncos coach Ivan Henjak warned that the pressure was not just on the 20-year-old Kiwi to perform in Folau’s absence.

“I am just hoping that we are not relying on him (Folau) to come back to save our season,” Henjak said on Tuesday.

“The fellas who are taking his place and playing there (in the team) have a responsibility to get us there (NRL finals).

“I am hoping we are in good shape and in a good position on the ladder when Izzy (Folau) comes back because he will be a big bonus for us.”

Folau will return from a broken ankle in six weeks – in the NRL regular season’s penultimate round – after going down against the New Zealand Warriors a fortnight ago.

Glenn will run out against South Sydney in the opener to Friday night’s Suncorp Stadium doubleheader in the only change to the Broncos side.

“This is where you really have to start arming your game, getting your confidence, getting the players happy and healthy,” Henjak said.

“It’s a really important few weeks now, and we are aware of that.

“We are in pretty good shape. As long as we get through (Origin) unscathed this week we can start working on heading towards the semis.”

Glenn was given the vacant right wing spot when the Broncos named their first team since being robbed of their trump card following last round’s bye.

Brisbane selectors opted to include their full Maroons contingent for the Souths clash, including fullback Karmichael Hunt (ankle) who had been considered an injury concern for Wednesday night’s Origin III showdown at Suncorp Stadium.

“I am not concerned about them (Origin contingent). From all reports he (Hunt) is very confident of playing in Origin, if he gets through that we are hoping he is going to be okay for us,” Henjak said.

“If he doesn’t get through we obviously have some plans in place.”

One plan is to again slot Hunt’s heir Josh Hoffman into the No.1 jersey – the only potential problem is that the Redcliffe youngster will also be playing on Wednesday night in the Origin curtain raiser for Queensland Residents.

“Hoffman did a great job (replacing Hunt earlier this season),” Henjak said.

“Although he is playing as well on Wednesday night in the Residents team, hopefully he gets through if Karmichael doesn’t.”

Ben Te’o fills the vacant bench spot after returning from a two week ban that also gave the mercurial forward time to rest injuries.

“He has been carrying some injuries and also illness. When the side was struggling there it wasn’t only him – there were a lot of players involved,” Henjak said of Te’o’s hot and cold form.

“Hopefully with the freshen up and getting the body right he’ll be ready to go from here until the end of the year.”

Teams for round 18 of the NRL
FRIDAY
BRISBANE BRONCOS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS at Suncorp Stadium, 6.40pm
BRONCOS: Karmichael Hunt, Antonio Winterstein, Steve Michaels, Justin Hodges, Alex Glenn, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Josh McGuire, Andrew McCullough, Joel Clinton, Guy Williams, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Tonie Carroll, Lagi Setu, Ben Teo, David Taylor.
RABBITOHS: Nathan Merritt, Jamie Simpson, Colin Best, Beau Champion, Fetuli Talanoa, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Luke Stuart, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi (c), Ben Lowe, Eddy Pettybourne, David Faalogo. Interchange: Craig Wing, Shannan McPherson, Michael Crocker, Scott Geddes Dave Tyrrell (one to be omitted).
Referees: Gavin Badger, Tony De Las Heras.

BULLDOGS v GOLD COAST TITANS at Suncorp Stadium, 8.30pm
BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Josh Morris, Daryl Millard, Matt Utai, Ben Roberts, Brett Kimmorley, Jarrad Hickey, Michael Ennis, Michael Hodgson, Yileen Gordon, Andrew Ryan (c), David Stagg. Interchange: Brad Morrin, Chris Armit, Gary Warburton, Daniel Holdsworth, Ben Barba (one to be omitted).
TITANS: Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Esi Tonga, Brett Delaney, David Mead, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince, Luke Bailey (c), Nathan Friend, Michael Henderson, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Matt White, Brad Meyers, Daniel Conn, William Zillman, Will Matthews (one to be omitted).
Referees: Jared Maxwell, Ben Cummins.

SATURDAY
PENRITH PANTHERS v CANBERRA RAIDERS at CUA Stadium, 5.30pm
PANTHERS: Jarrod Sammut, Junior Tia-Kilifi, Michael Jennings, Brad Tighe, Michael Gordon, Wade Graham, Luke Walsh, Frank Puletua, Paul Aiton, Matthew Bell, Trent Waterhouse, Gavin Cooper, Nathan Smith (c) Interchange: Adam Woolnough, Tim Grant, Joseph Paulo, Maurice Blair Geoff Daniela, Joel Romelo (two to be omitted).
RAIDERS: Phil Graham, Daniel Vidot, Jarrod Croker, Joel Monaghan, Adrian Purtell, Terry Campese, Marc Herbert, Dane Tilse, Glen Buttriss, Troy Thompson, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Bronson Harrison, Alan Tongue (c). Interchange: Joel Thompson, Nigel Plum, Josh Miller, David Shillington, Glen Turner, Joe Picker (two to be omitted).
Referees: Jason Robinson, Gerard Sutton.

CRONULLA SHARKS v MANLY SEA EAGLES at Toyota Stadium, 7.30pm
SHARKS: Nathan Stapleton, Blake Ferguson, Ben Pomeroy, Matt Wright, Luke Covell, Trent Barrett (c), Scott Porter, Kade Snowden, Corey Hughes, Luke Douglas, Reece Williams Grant Millington, Anthony Tupou. Interchange: Jak Afamasaga, Johnny Mannah, Mitch Brown, Terence Seu Seu.
SEA EAGLES: Michael Robertson, Tony Williams, Jamie Lyon, Ben Farrar, David Williams, Chris Bailey, Matt Orford (c), Jason King, Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Hall, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Kieran Foran, Brent Kite, George Rose, Shane Rodney, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (one to be omitted).
Referees: Steve Lyons, Alan Shortall.

SUNDAY
SYDNEY ROOSTERS v NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS at Sydney Football Stadium, 2pm
ROOSTERS: Sam Perrett, Sandor Earl, Mitchell Aubusson, Tom Symonds, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Ben Jones, Mitchell Pearce, Shane Shackleton, Jake Friend, Lopini Paea, Setaimata Sa, Willie Mason, Craig Fitzgibbon (c). Interchange: Stanley Waqa, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Anthony Cherrington, Nick Kouparitsas, Sia Soliola (one to be omitted).
WARRIORS: Wade McKinnon, Kevin Locke, Jerome Ropati, Joel Moon, Manu Vatuvei, Isaac John, Stacey Jones, Sam Rapira, Ian Henderson, Steve Price, (c), Simon Mannering, Jacob Lillyman, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Lewis Brown, Lance Hohaia, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal (one to be omitted.)
Referees: Ben Cummins, Brett Suttor.

WESTS TIGERS v NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS at Leichhardt Oval, 3pm
TIGERS: Shannon Gallant, Taniela Tuiaki, Blake Ayshford, Chris Lawrence, Beau Ryan, Benji Marshall, Tim Moltzen, Bryce Gibbs, Robbie Farah (c), Todd Payten, Gareth Ellis, Danny Galea, Corey Payne. Interchange: John Morris, Alan Schirnack, John Skandalis, Simon Dwyer.
COWBOYS: Matthew Bowen, Michael Bani, Ty Williams, Willie Tonga, John Williams, Grant Rovelli, Johnathan Thurston (c), Shane Tronc, Anthony Watts, Matthew Scott, Carl Webb, Scott Bolton, Steve Southern. Interchange Travis Burns, Steve Rapira, Antonio Kaufusi, James Tamou, Manase Manuokafoa (one to be omitted).
Referees: Shayne Hayne, Matt Cecchin.

MONDAY
PARRAMATTA EELS v MELBOURNE STORM at Parramatta Stadium, 7pm.
EELS: Jarryd Hayne, Luke Burt, Krisnan Inu, Joel Reddy, Eric Grothe, Daniel Mortimer, Jeff Robson, Nathan Cayless (c), Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Joe Galuvao, Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Kevin Kingston, Broderick Wright, Tim Mannah, Ben Smith.
STORM: Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Will Chambers, Greg Inglis, Joseph Tomane, Brett Finch, Cooper Cronk, Brett White, Cam Smith (c), Adam Blair, Sika Manu, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Maloney, Scott Anderson, Aiden Tolman, Jeff Lima, Matt Cross (one to be omitted)
Referees: Ashley Klein, Bernard Sutton.

(St George Illawarra and Newcastle have the bye)

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