Broncos comeback delay for Hodges - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Broncos comeback delay for Hodges

Laine Clark 11/06/2011 01:25:40 PM Comments (0)

The return of Justin Hodges to Broncos training has been a welcome sight for coach Anthony Griffin.

But Shea Moylan would have been forgiven for not being as ecstatic.

Twice the utility back has been in sight of an NRL debut after being slotted into the Broncos side as cover for their representative stars.

And twice he has been pulled at the last minute after Test and Queensland winger Jharal Yow Yeh opted to back up.

Moylan was again named in the Broncos line-up for Sunday's Suncorp Stadium clash with Canberra - and then Hodges arrived at training.

The rumour mill went into overdrive after Hodges stretched out in his first session since tearing a hamstring almost a month ago.

It prompted speculation that Hodges would be a late call-up against the Raiders - prompting, you guessed it, Moylan to drop out.

While Griffin admitted it was tempting to inject the Test centre into his `baby Broncos' side on Sunday, the Brisbane coach on Saturday provided the news Moylan had been waiting for all season.

"He (Hodges) is close, probably just not close enough," Griffin said.

"It's tempting to play him but we will have to sit him on ice for a week or two.

"But it's good that Moylan is getting a chance.

"He was in the team until the last day the last two times we've had our rep players out so it's great that he gets a chance."

Moylan - 24 last week - will make his debut in an historic match for the Broncos no matter the result.

Utility Alex Glenn, 22, will become the youngest captain in the Broncos' 23-year history when he leads them out on Sunday.

Glenn was also the Broncos under 20s captain under then coach Griffin.

But the Broncos mentor laughed off jibes that Glenn was a "coach's pet".

"I had no idea he would be the youngest (captain) when I picked him," he said of Glenn who takes over from Test and Queensland skipper Darren Lockyer.

"He is a real strong character, he leads by example.

"He is just a real steady head.

"I have worked with him before so we've got a relationship there - and there are 11 of them who came through the (under) 20s system out there this weekend, so it won't be anything different for him."

Canberra have won only two of their past 16 games in Queensland.

But Griffin said he was wary of a Canberra side still smarting from last round's 40-24 loss to North Queensland - after leading 22-0.

In a worrying stat, Brisbane have won just one of 12 games without Lockyer since 2009.

But Griffin expected nothing less than victory from his Baby Broncos.

"They (Canberra) will have a real sting in their tail after letting that game go," he said.

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