Injuries and a try-saving tackle boost Henry's hopes of filling the void
Robert Dillon
May 30, 2011
A bit rusty ... Knights playmaker Beau Henry.
Photo: Darren Pateman
ROOKIE playmaker Beau Henry is determined to prove he can be Newcastle's go-to man during the indefinite absence of Jarrod Mullen - and for the long haul as well.
Injuries to Mullen (torn pectoral muscle), Ben Rogers (shoulder reconstruction) and teenager Tyrone Roberts (knee) have left Henry and skipper Kurt Gidley as Newcastle's last available recognised halves for next Monday's clash with Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.
In his second game back from an ankle injury - and just the fifth of his fledgling NRL career - Henry had a mixed night in the 8-6 win against Parramatta on Saturday, making some elementary errors. But he also produced one of the most crucial plays of the match, in the 77th minute, when he impeded Chris Walker from grounding a Jarryd Hayne grubber kick, thereby preventing what would have been a match-turning try.
Henry said his two performances since overcoming his ankle injury ''haven't been my best games'' but added he was ready to take on more responsibility in Mullen's absence.
''We're definitely going to miss 'Mullo','' Henry said. ''He's a key bloke in our side, and he's been playing well for 10 weeks. It's time now for me and 'Gids' to step up and try and take over Mullo's job. I'm not going to be Jarrod Mullen
I'm just going to play my own game and build on it.''
There was speculation last week that Henry, who joined Newcastle this season from St George Illawarra, was on the outer with incoming coach Wayne Bennett. But the 21-year-old said he had paid those reports little attention.
''That was the first I'd heard of it, the other day,'' he said. ''I signed here for three years, and I know I'm here for three years. That's my goal at the moment, to try and stay in this team.''
Knights coach Rick Stone said Henry had been ''a little bit rusty'' in the past two games but, like any L-plater, he was still a work in progress. ''He's had a bit of time out of the game, and he was a little bit short of a gallop last week,'' Stone said. ''He was a little bit better this week but his decision-making was not where it needs to be, and he'd be the first to admit that.
''He's been a little bit rusty in his skills and his control of the game, and he's got plenty of room for improvement, but he's still in a learning stage of his career.''
Stone said his advice to Henry last week was to focus on football, and let his manager ''take care'' of any off-field issues.
Henry attributed his try-saving play to pre-match video analysis. ''We spoke about that during the week,'' he said. ''They tend to lose a bit of shape, and he [Walker] comes in looking for that kick. So we knew it was on, and if that had been a try, it would have been on my head, so I was pretty happy I stopped it.''
