DeVere set to replace Hodges for Broncos - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

DeVere set to replace Hodges for Broncos

By Jim Morton 23/03/2009 07:12:46 PM Comments (0)

Reactivated Bronco Mick DeVere is poised to make a remarkable NRL comeback with Justin Hodges facing an almost certain ban for a grapple tackle.

Hodges was on Monday cited by the NRL's match review committee for dangerous and unnecessary contact with the head and neck in the 16-14 win over Melbourne.

The Broncos will decide on Tuesday whether to fight the grade one charge as the Test and Queensland centre would still cop a one-week ban if he delivered an early guilty plea.

Waiting in the wings to play the New Zealand Warriors is veteran De Vere, 32, who has overcome a hamstring injury to be fit for his first NRL match in more than four years.

It's also been nearly three years since he played at the top-level, bowing out of the game after a two-year stint with Huddersfield in the English Super League, which ended with a loss to St Helens in the 2006 Challenge Cup final.

Hodges slotted straight back into the right-side centre position in his impressive comeback from shoulder surgery against the Storm, moving Israel Folau to the wing.

But coach Ivan Henjak is yet to decide where best to position Folau, who like De Vere, can play both centre and wing, and on either side of the field.

"I'm hoping to play this week," said De Vere, who also works as a junior league development officer. "It will be great to get out there again.

"I'm happy to play centre or wing - it doesn't worry me. I'll even play fullback if I have to ... wherever I'm needed.

"I play left side and right side so I can slot in there anywhere."

De Vere's accurate goalkicking will also be a help to selection judging by his efforts at Red Hill on Monday morning, missing only a couple from several dozen attempts.

As omens go, Stacey Jones' successful NRL comeback for the Warriors on Sunday wasn't missed by De Vere, who will play his 163rd top-grade match for Brisbane dating back to 1997 if picked on Tuesday.

"It was good to see him come back, I suppose I'm in the same boat, I guess he only had a year out.

"Same thing once you get back into it, it all comes back pretty quick.

"It's always good to see guys who are out come back in and do well." The former Test and NSW three-quarter admitted his last match in England felt a world and an age away.

"It does but when you get back into (training) it feels like you haven't left.

"It's been competitive during the pre-season and the guys that have come in have done well. But if I keep working hard, hopefully I'll get the nod."

Prop Nick Kenny (hamstring) remains under a fitness cloud while fellow forward Lagi Setu (sternum) is expected to be cleared to travel to Auckland.

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