Taylor in for Hunt.
[h=1]Young Gun To Cover Hunt[/h]Wed 2nd September, 10:38AMA A
THE NRMA Insurance Broncos will have a debutant against the Melbourne Storm tomorrow night after Ben Hunt was left out of the team today.
Hunt suffered a deep muscle bruise to his thigh at training on Monday, and coach Wayne Bennett decided today not to risk him.
He will hand under-20s halfback Ashley Taylor his first NRL jersey.
Taylor will go straight into the halfback position where he knows his job well, having played for the Junior Kangaroos this year.
“Ben picked up a cork (injury) at training on Monday,” said Bennett this morning.
“Ashley has all the skill set, so it is just a matter of letting him get out there and play."
Meanwhile, Lachlan Maranta gets a chance to raise his bid for inclusion in the NRL finals.Maranta will start on the right wing at Suncorp Stadium after Broncos’ coach Wayne Bennett confirmed this morning that Jordan Kahu would be rested.
Maranta has had a super season, scoring 15 tries in 19 matches.
But Bennett’s ability to mix and match according to who the Broncos are playing has cost Maranta the last two matches, after the size of Corey Oates was preferred.
However Maranta will get an opportunity to remind people about his finishing ability and safety under the high ball against the Storm.
Kahu is expected to be back for the finals after being left out to let some minor bumps and bruises heal.
As named yesterday, Jarrod Wallace will start in the forward pack for the suspended Alex Glenn, with tackling tyro David Stagg brought onto the bench.
The match will be Stagg’s last official home game at Suncorp Stadium, and honour he will share with retiring captain Justin Hodges.
A ceremony will be held to mark the occasion after the fulltime siren, with the crowd invited down onto the Suncorp Stadium playing surface to take part.
For the Storm, Tim Glasby and Jordan McLean swap between the bench and front row in an otherwise unchanged team from Saturday’s eight-point win over North Queensland.
