Broncos keen to re-sign Matt Gillett
FORMER labourer Matt Gillett is set to be offered a significantly upgraded and extended contract by the Broncos following a stellar start to his NRL career, which has netted seven tries in 11 games.
Gillett, 21, is expected to play centre for Brisbane against Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium next Saturday night, with Alex Glenn to be sidelined for four to six weeks with a high ankle sprain.
A lock-forward or five-eighth at Brisbane Norths last year, Gillett has been the ideal utility for the Broncos and excelled at centre against South Sydney in round 14, scoring two tries in a 50-22 win.
He played wide in attack in Friday night's 22-12 loss to Penrith but had few chances to shine.
A Bribie Island junior, Gillett is on a lower-tier, two-year deal at the Broncos but such has been his impact that his exceptional skills and intuitive reading of the game have not gone unnoticed by Queensland coach Mal Meninga, who has earmarked him as a future Origin representative.
Broncos officials were tight-lipped yesterday about the progress of negotiations but the club's manager of football operations, Andrew Gee, confirmed talks were under way with Gillett's manager.
"We certainly want him to stay long term," Gee said.
Broncos coach Ivan Henjak said he couldn't be happier with Gillett's efforts.
"There are some real positives in the way we have been using him off the bench," Henjak said. "He's going to be an 80-minute player, I have no doubt about that. But he has only played 11 games at this level and I don't want to kill him either."
Besides Gillett and Ben Te'o, the other centre option for Brisbane is Dale Copley, who has scored 14 tries in under-20s this year, but it is likely the 18-year-old will be given more time in the youth competition.
Centre/fullback Gerard Beale, another member of the Broncos top squad, is two weeks away from a return from medial ligament damage.
"Alex Glenn was going really well, but we have cover there," Henjak said.
The Broncos-Parramatta match throws up the intriguing prospect of an Israel Folau-Timana Tahu clash.
Parramatta star Tahu ruled himself out of Origin II when he walked out of the NSW camp in protest at assistant coach Andrew Johns's alleged racial vilification of Aboriginal and Islander players in the Queensland team, including Folau.
The NSWRL, through the ARL, is still trying to have Folau banned from Origin III following his signing with the new western Sydney AFL franchise.
The NSWRL sees Folau's selection as a promotional tool for the AFL.
Parramatta arguably has the most fanatical supporters in the league, and they are sure to give Folau a hard time.
