Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
- 40,686
- 29,644
THE Broncos are set to blood the first Serbian player in their 28-year history with rookie centre Tom Opacic in line to make his NRL debut.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has placed Opacic on standby for Saturday week’s clash against the Bulldogs following the injury crisis that has decimated Brisbane’s three-quarter stocks.
First-choice left centre Jack Reed (shoulder) is expected to miss a month, while his replacement Jordan Kahu (pectoral strain) is almost certain to miss the Bulldogs clash after his breakdown against the Raiders.
Kiwi Test back-rower Alex Glenn (shoulder) is also likely to be ruled out of Brisbane’s road trip to at ANZ Stadium three days after six Broncos stars take part in Origin II.
The litany of injury setbacks has opened the door for Opacic, who has been privately told by Bennett to be ready for the biggest test of his burgeoning Broncos career.
A rugged centre who tips the scales at 100kg, Opacic is firing at the perfect time, scoring a crucial try in feeder club Redcliffe’s 18-16 upset of Townsville in the Intrust Super Cup on Sunday.
Opacic would be Brisbane’s sixth debutant this year after Jai Arrow, Tevita Pangai Jnr, Greg Eden, Travis Waddell and Herman Ese’ese donned Broncos jerseys for the first time.
Bennett is a fan of Opacic, handing him a one-year upgrade a fortnight ago, and believes the 21-year-old can help bolster a depleted Broncos unit during the gruelling Origin period.
“It puts us under a bit more pressure,” Bennett said of the club’s swelling casualty ward.
“Depth is OK, but when you lose these outside backs it makes a difference.
“We can’t do anything about it. The forwards we have covered (for depth) ... the outside backs we don’t have them covered.
“The worst-case scenario is they (Kahu and Glenn) will miss a couple of weeks, maybe a month with (two) byes (during the Origin season) so it’s not too bad.”
During their glittering history the Broncos have produced scores of rep stars, including 58 Origin players, 42 Kangaroos and New Zealand, England, Ireland and Samoa internationals.
But Opacic would be the first player of Serbian heritage to play NRL for the Broncos after agreeing to represent the White Eagles following an email from the Serbian Rugby League last year.
Opacic, whose father is Yugoslavian, is on the rise at Red Hill. He travelled to England last year for the World Club Series and further impressed Bennett after starring for the Broncos in the Auckland Nines tournament in February.
No Cookies | The Courier Mail
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has placed Opacic on standby for Saturday week’s clash against the Bulldogs following the injury crisis that has decimated Brisbane’s three-quarter stocks.
First-choice left centre Jack Reed (shoulder) is expected to miss a month, while his replacement Jordan Kahu (pectoral strain) is almost certain to miss the Bulldogs clash after his breakdown against the Raiders.
Kiwi Test back-rower Alex Glenn (shoulder) is also likely to be ruled out of Brisbane’s road trip to at ANZ Stadium three days after six Broncos stars take part in Origin II.
The litany of injury setbacks has opened the door for Opacic, who has been privately told by Bennett to be ready for the biggest test of his burgeoning Broncos career.
A rugged centre who tips the scales at 100kg, Opacic is firing at the perfect time, scoring a crucial try in feeder club Redcliffe’s 18-16 upset of Townsville in the Intrust Super Cup on Sunday.
Opacic would be Brisbane’s sixth debutant this year after Jai Arrow, Tevita Pangai Jnr, Greg Eden, Travis Waddell and Herman Ese’ese donned Broncos jerseys for the first time.
Bennett is a fan of Opacic, handing him a one-year upgrade a fortnight ago, and believes the 21-year-old can help bolster a depleted Broncos unit during the gruelling Origin period.
“It puts us under a bit more pressure,” Bennett said of the club’s swelling casualty ward.
“Depth is OK, but when you lose these outside backs it makes a difference.
“We can’t do anything about it. The forwards we have covered (for depth) ... the outside backs we don’t have them covered.
“The worst-case scenario is they (Kahu and Glenn) will miss a couple of weeks, maybe a month with (two) byes (during the Origin season) so it’s not too bad.”
During their glittering history the Broncos have produced scores of rep stars, including 58 Origin players, 42 Kangaroos and New Zealand, England, Ireland and Samoa internationals.
But Opacic would be the first player of Serbian heritage to play NRL for the Broncos after agreeing to represent the White Eagles following an email from the Serbian Rugby League last year.
Opacic, whose father is Yugoslavian, is on the rise at Red Hill. He travelled to England last year for the World Club Series and further impressed Bennett after starring for the Broncos in the Auckland Nines tournament in February.
No Cookies | The Courier Mail
