Dobson to face childhood hero
David Jean
Raiders rookie Michael Dobson is preparing to go face-to-face with childhood hero Andrew Johns for the first time after Newcastle named its captain at halfback for Monday's round-three clash at Canberra Stadium. Johns missed last Friday's win over St George Illawarra with concussion but is almost certain to play against the Raiders after returning to training over the past two days.
The final makeup of the Raiders' team is less clear, coach Neil Henry yesterday naming an extended six-man bench as the club's injury woes worsened.
Johns's likely return presents Dobson with the biggest challenge of his fledgling career, after already facing established stars Cooper Cronk and Matt Orford in the past two weeks.
Monday night's game will be just his third in the NRL. Former Australian and NSW State of Origin captain Johns has played 246.
The 32-year-old is widely regarded as the best halfback the game has produced, while Dobson's name is barely known outside Canberra.
But despite the gaping chasm in experience, Dobson said he would not be intimidated. "He's the best halfback in the world and one of the best players to have played the game so it's going to be very tough," Dobson said of Johns.
"But I'm looking forward to it especially because he was someone I looked up to when I was little and I wanted to be like.
"I wouldn't say it's intimidating.
"I'm more looking forward to testing myself against a player of his ability.
"You've got to play him eventually so I'm looking forward to it more than worrying about it."
While the return of their captain will greatly boost the Knights, Raiders skipper Alan Tongue remains in doubt for the game.
Tongue will not return to full training until Friday at the earliest after aggravating a groin injury during Saturday's 16-point loss to the Melbourne Storm.
Back-rowers Ben Jones (neck) and Glen Turner (hamstring) are also in doubt, sorely testing the depth of a forward pack already missing Troy Thompson, Michael Weyman, Matt Bickerstaff, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and utility Andrew Dunemann.
Henry yesterday drafted Trevor Thurling and Terry Campese into his squad to cover for Turner and Jones, while Craig Frawley is in line for selection after centre David Howell accepted a one-week ban for striking Melbourne's Greg Inglis.
Back-rower Neville Costigan will return to the squad after serving a one-week suspension.
Tongue said he was confident he would be ready to play on Monday despite a disrupted week on the training paddock. "It's something that gave me a bit of trouble after the Manly game and ... we've got a bit of a longer week so it's a good chance to get it pretty much 100 per cent before the [game]," Tongue said.
"There's no doubt it was worse this time last week and I still played."
Henry said playing on the Monday meant his players had plenty of time to recover from any niggles they were carrying.
"We have got a fair way to the game, so no running really until the proposed session on Friday," Henry said. "Then we've got Saturday off and then two sessions on Sunday so we've got a fair bit of time to do it.
"I expect that all three are going to be right to play."
The Raiders are still searching for their first win under new coach Henry after losing their opening two games of the season.
The Knights are undefeated after beating St George Illawarra last Friday despite being without star pair Johns and hooker Danny Buderus.
Dobson said he was confident Canberra was poised for a breakthrough win.
He said he was eager to prove that he could match it with the top halfbacks in the competition on a weekly basis.
"We've still got a lot of improvement to do but I was finding my feet a bit more.
"Orford and Cronk are up there as the better halfbacks in the game so I've had a pretty tough run of it of late."
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