Broncos widen halfback search
Steve Ricketts
May 01, 2007
BRISBANE is prepared to go to the open market in search of a new halfback after conceding the lack of an established number seven is the struggling premier's biggest headache.
Although Brisbane has several outstanding young guns on its books, it may not be prepared to wait for their graduation because of concerns about skipper Darren Lockyer's heavy workload.
Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said yesterday the club could sign a halfback for a short-term fix if there were funds available at the end of the year.
The Broncos have so far tried Lockyer, Karmichael Hunt, Shaun Berrigan and Shane Perry at halfback with limited success this year.
Cullen denied he had lost faith in 2006 grand final halfback Perry, who was relegated to Queensland Cup last weekend.
"If anything we missed Shane against Melbourne on Friday, particularly his kicking game," Cullen said.
"We won a premiership with him at halfback, so signing him has been anything but a disaster.
"But halfback is our problem. It's obviously a concern, particularly with Darren Lockyer having to fill in there and do so much. We have good young blokes coming through but they're probably a year or two away.
"If the money is available we would not say no to a quality halfback who might come on the market.
"But if we keep the players we want to keep it's unlikely we will have money to spend."
Cullen said if international stars Brent Tate and Shaun Berrigan went elsewhere funds could be available.
The best of the young halfbacks coming through the Broncos system are Jacob Fauid, Andrew McCullough, Matt Smith and Ben Hunt.
Fauid and McCullough play for feeder team Aspley. Smith has played two Queensland Cup games for Wynnum-Manly, while Hunt, no relation to Karmichael Hunt, is a student at St Brendan's, Yeppoon.
The Broncos also are keeping an eye on Redcliffe's Matt Seamark who played Jersey Flegg for St George-Illawarra in 2006.
The Broncos have former Australian Schoolboys halfback Ben Green on their books, along with Brent McConnell, who was signed from North Queensland.
McConnell is nursing an ankle injury and is at long odds to play any grade this weekend.
Hunt, who has also been used at halfback this season, yesterday conceded Lockyer had been left high and dry in last Friday's 28-18 loss to Melbourne and vowed to take some of the pressure off him against Souths at Suncorp on Friday.
"Locky was under pressure all night from their chasers," Hunt said. "This week we'll hopefully work on sharing the workload a bit better."
The final make-up of the Broncos team is up in the air with 10 players ill or injured. Tate (hip), Perry (toe), Dane Carlaw, Sam Thaiday, Brad Thorn (virus), Justin Hodges (knee), David Stagg (ankle), Ben Hannant (bruised ribs) and Tonie Carroll (knee) are racing the clock to be fit while Corey Parker (wrist) is still one week away from a comeback.
Cullen will meet the managers of outside backs Steve Michaels and Rodney Davies this week.
Gold Coast has expressed an interest in Michaels and rugby union's Queensland Reds are keen on Davies.
Broncos centre Darius Boyd will accept an early guilty plea for a dangerous throw in the Melbourne match and will not miss a game.
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