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From the SMH,
Dragons gamble on Head for final role
Greg Prichard
September 7, 2006
ST GEORGE Illawarra coach Nathan Brown has made a stunning turnaround and brought Mathew Head back into the frame as an option to fill the key halfback role for the Dragons against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
Brown originally left Head in premier league when he named his team on Tuesday for the second qualifying final but after a rethink has decided to include him in the squad.
Head had been the automatic choice at halfback until problems with the knee he had reconstructed last year forced him to miss a game recently. He then asked to come back via premier league to regain confidence.
Despite the Dragons winning three games in succession to end the regular season, Brown was expected to recall Head to the side for the Broncos game. He didn't at first, but now has given himself that option because, as Brown says, Head looks ready.
"There is a chance 'Heady' will play," Brown said last night. "He's gone from being no chance to a genuine possibility. We're going to Brisbane on Friday and he'll come up with us as the 19th man.
"No decision has been made yet on whether he'll play or whether we'll run with the nominated team. Myself and the rest of the coaching staff will keep watching him and the rest of the team, and later in the week we'll make a decision.
"There are a couple of reasons things have changed. One is that Heady received a really good report on his knee when he saw the club doctor this week, and the other is that his own confidence has shot up.
"Heady is a cheeky little bugger when he's at his best and he's being a cheeky little bugger now. He looks way sharp at training. He wanted to be back in first grade two weeks ago but I didn't think it was time.
"Now we've brought him back as an option and we're going to weigh it all up when we get closer to the game. Heady trains at halfback with us, the same as Ben [Hornby, the nominated halfback] does, so we're prepared for all the options."
Prop Michael Henderson was named as the 18th man, and will travel in case of injury to any other player before the game.
Head's return would presumably see fullback Clint Greenshields losing his place in the squad and Hornby switching to fullback, although Brown refused to comment on that until he decided on playing Head.
Brisbane finished third and St George Illawarra sixth, so if the Dragons lose and either seventh-placed Canberra or eighth-placed Parramatta win on the weekend, Brown's men will be eliminated.
Dragons gamble on Head for final role
Greg Prichard
September 7, 2006
ST GEORGE Illawarra coach Nathan Brown has made a stunning turnaround and brought Mathew Head back into the frame as an option to fill the key halfback role for the Dragons against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
Brown originally left Head in premier league when he named his team on Tuesday for the second qualifying final but after a rethink has decided to include him in the squad.
Head had been the automatic choice at halfback until problems with the knee he had reconstructed last year forced him to miss a game recently. He then asked to come back via premier league to regain confidence.
Despite the Dragons winning three games in succession to end the regular season, Brown was expected to recall Head to the side for the Broncos game. He didn't at first, but now has given himself that option because, as Brown says, Head looks ready.
"There is a chance 'Heady' will play," Brown said last night. "He's gone from being no chance to a genuine possibility. We're going to Brisbane on Friday and he'll come up with us as the 19th man.
"No decision has been made yet on whether he'll play or whether we'll run with the nominated team. Myself and the rest of the coaching staff will keep watching him and the rest of the team, and later in the week we'll make a decision.
"There are a couple of reasons things have changed. One is that Heady received a really good report on his knee when he saw the club doctor this week, and the other is that his own confidence has shot up.
"Heady is a cheeky little bugger when he's at his best and he's being a cheeky little bugger now. He looks way sharp at training. He wanted to be back in first grade two weeks ago but I didn't think it was time.
"Now we've brought him back as an option and we're going to weigh it all up when we get closer to the game. Heady trains at halfback with us, the same as Ben [Hornby, the nominated halfback] does, so we're prepared for all the options."
Prop Michael Henderson was named as the 18th man, and will travel in case of injury to any other player before the game.
Head's return would presumably see fullback Clint Greenshields losing his place in the squad and Hornby switching to fullback, although Brown refused to comment on that until he decided on playing Head.
Brisbane finished third and St George Illawarra sixth, so if the Dragons lose and either seventh-placed Canberra or eighth-placed Parramatta win on the weekend, Brown's men will be eliminated.
