No Baby Broncos for NRL clash: Henjak - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

No Baby Broncos for NRL clash: Henjak

By Laine Clark 12/06/2010 01:50:06 PM Comments (0)

Origin time is usually a nervous one for a Brisbane coach, but Broncos mentor Ivan Henjak has no complaints ahead of Sunday's NRL clash with a depleted South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.

The chrome-domed Henjak would usually be tempted to tear his hair out - if he had any - with his Origin contingent unavailable for NRL action.

Certainly the thought of being without the likes of Darren Lockyer, Sam Thaiday and Israel Folau would make any coach nervous.

However, Henjak said the dreaded days of the club fielding the "Baby Broncos" due to representative duties were numbered.

"We are getting a few rewards for blooding a few kids early last year and this year," Henjak said on Saturday.

"The side is pretty stable. Of course we are without Locky and Izzy but they are not big changes in the scheme of things compared to what we have gone through this year.

"We have had a lot worse situations then this and handled them.

"Melbourne (on May 9) was a good example - we had guys out (on Test duty) and we were able to get the job done.

"We are looking at tomorrow as another one of those challenges."

Indeed life is good for Henjak.

After some uncertainty over Folau's Origin selection earlier in the week, the Broncos coach is more than confident of sealing a fifth straight win on Sunday.

Experienced forwards Scott Anderson (elbow, four weeks) and Nick Kenny (calf, eight) return from injury and move to the bench while Ashton Sims slots in for Thaiday.

Corey Norman - who has belied his 18 years this season - moves into pivot for Lockyer and 21-year-old backrower Matt Gillett has shuffled into the centres for Folau.

In contrast, it is South Sydney (5th; 7-5 record) and not Brisbane (8th; 6-6) who are feeling the heat during Origin.

The Rabbitohs pack is so depleted that the club was forced to sign NRL journeyman Craig Stapleton for the rest of 2010 this week - just hours after he had clocked off working at a coal mine near Dapto, NSW.

In all, South Sydney are without 10 contracted players through injury, suspension or rep duty.

"A bit of gloss might have been taken off with so many players out (for South Sydney) but we are looking at what we have been building on for the last six to eight weeks," Henjak said.

"This has probably been the most stable (Origin period) we've had for a long, long time - there haven't been too many distractions.

"The rep season has been pretty kind to us so far."

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