From
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20453056-23214,00.html
Sonny Bill takes a seat
September 22, 2006
THE Bulldogs are poised to take one of the biggest gambles in NRL finals history by promoting Premier League halfback Ben Roberts to the centres against Brisbane tonight.
In an 11th-hour selection switch, The Daily Telegraph has learned the 2004 premier intend to bench superstar Sonny Bill Williams and move Reni Maitua to lock for the grand final qualifier.
The last-minute move is designed to give the Bulldogs added punch, with New Zealand internationals Williams and Roy Asotasi to be used as impact weapons off the interchange bench.
Despite having made just five NRL appearances this season, Roberts will be handed the monumental assignment of marking Queensland centre Brent Tate.
Normally a halfback or five-eighth, Roberts was a late Bulldogs inclusion in the opening week of the finals against Canberra, and he was the golden point hero from the Belmore outfit's round 16 win over the Warriors.
The Bulldogs camp remained tight-lipped when contacted about the selection shock last night.
Asked about Asotasi starting the match, Folkes said: "He can be a good impact player. He hasn't played for four or five weeks so his match fitness is obviously down a bit.
"But he's been working hard off the field so that will go a long way towards getting him through."
Unheralded Bulldogs prop Nick Kouparitsas, who has played just three first-grade games, will be culled from the squad.
The Bulldogs will seek to overturn a 30-0 thumping against the Broncos and qualify for their fourth grand final in 10 years.
"We haven't even mentioned the last game, so that's not in their thinking at the moment," Folkes said.
"Whatever happened in rounds one to 26 doesn't count for much in semi-finals.
"Semi-finals are what you train for and you play football to play at this time of the year, so we are really pumped up for it as Brisbane will be.
"Semi-finals are a mental game, we're fresh, everyone's fit and I think we'll be better for having the bye last week."
The Bulldogs paid the heaviest possible price the last time they met the Broncos in round 24, losing prop Asotasi and centre Willie Tonga with season-ending injuries.
But Dally M prop of the year Asotasi has since made a surprise return, getting a green light to line up for possibly his last appearance in a Bulldogs jumper after passing a final fitness test at Belmore yesterday.
Fellow Bulldogs enforcer Mark O'Meley said the Bulldogs were prepared for the Origin IV onslaught Brisbane are expected to direct at them.
"The last gam, I still think the scoreboard didn't indicate how tough the game was," O'Meley said.
The Bulldogs were given further motivation for tonight's match after former Queensland captain Trevor Gillmeister declared the Broncos had a blueprint to "bash" their way into the grand final.
Daily Telegraph
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I had a feeling this would happen. Sorry Koups, you were on fire two weeks ago but we need the strikepower of someone like Roberts... and have SBW and Roy off the bench is such a good thing for us...
I'm EXCITED!!!! Just 8 hours of work then I'm on my way. Good luck Brisbane, this will be one of the best finals clashes in a LONG time IMO. Come on Doggies! You can do this!
:crazy:
crazy
