Webb fancies Knights move
13 July 2004
Brisbane forward Carl Webb will be out to impress Queensland and Newcastle coach Michael Hagan when the Broncos travel to Energy Australia Stadium on Sunday.
Webb is uncommitted for next season and the Broncos have told the ex-Maroons forward he is free to leave.
The 23-year-old said today the Knights appealed as a possible destination.
"I like the look of the Knights and I like their style of football," Webb said.
"And I definitely see myself in a Newcastle jersey."
Webb has shown the sort of bustling form that earned him Queensland selection in 2001 in his return to the Broncos side over the past two matches.
He will be on the bench this weekend with the third-placed Broncos bringing back Queensland forward Dane Carlaw and Test winger Michael De Vere, who both missed last Friday night's win over St George-Illawarra in Wollongong.
Carlaw has recovered from a shoulder injury suffered in Queensland's Origin series loss to NSW in Sydney last week while De Vere is back after two weeks out with a leg injury.
He replaces Stu Kelly, who has been rested after falling heavily in the 28-14 win over the Dragons.
Kelly suffered stiffness in the neck and headaches over the weekend after he was hurt trying to take a cross-field kick.
Queensland lock Tonie Carroll has a week to serve of a three-game suspension for a high shot on Canberra halfback Mark McLinden that cost him his place in Origin III.
Carlaw takes over from Maroons teammate Corey Parker, who's on a six-man bench along with the improving Webb.
The Broncos will move closer to securing Test and Queensland captain Darren Lockyer with a meeting expected this week between Brisbane CEO Bruno Cullen and the star five-eighth's manager George Mimis.
The Broncos want to secure Lockyer to a long term deal to see out his career in Brisbane.
The talks could also shed more light on the future of Broncos skipper Gorden Tallis, a Mimis client who is tipped to retire at season's end due to his ongoing neck problems.
Tallis will most likely leave his decision about 2005 until consulting an orthopaedic specialist at the end of this season.