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http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,16960857-32463,00.html
Trent will play any position
By Dean Ritchie
October 19, 2005
AUSTRALIA player Trent Barrett said yesterday he would be prepared to play in any one of five positions during Friday night's Test match - but coach Wayne Bennett is not considering him as a five-eighth.
Barrett, a specialist five-eighth, was named on the bench in place of Craig Gower with Mark O'Meley replacing interchange player Andrew Ryan for Friday night's return Test in Auckland.
The third change for the Kangaroos was Matt Cooper being named at centre with Brent Tate switching to wing for injured Timana Tahu.
Barrett, whose last Test was against New Zealand in 2002, said he would be prepared to play centre, five-eighth, halfback, lock or hooker against New Zealand.
Asked was hooker a serious option, Barrett said: "I'm happy to play there, it doesn't worry me.
"I have played there in patches before in Origin.
"I'll put my hand up if Danny Buderus is tired.
"I'm happy to play anywhere he [coach Wayne Bennett] puts me.
"I'm not sure what my role will be - that could depend on injury.
"I just want to be in the 17.
"I'll play centre, halfback, lock."
Bennett remains sceptical about shifting Darren Lockyer from five-eighth to fullback to accommodate Barrett.
Asked would Barrett be considered as a five-eighth, Bennett said: "Not at the moment.
"Trent can fill in in a number of positions. We'll see what happens on the day. I said last week that it wasn't a closed shop.
"Barrett is a class player and I thought Craig Gower's performance was really good.
"But we wanted to give Trent a chance."
O'Meley said he was ready to rip in against the Kiwis at Ericsson Stadium. "I'll roll my sleeves up - that's how I play my football," he said.
"Wayne wanted to rotate his bench and I am lucky enough to get a game.
"The opportunity has come early because I haven't played much this season, but I feel fresh.
"The boys' heads are on and we want to get out there and play for each other."
Barrett, meanwhile, was critical of the decision to exonerate Nigel Vagana for a dangerous throw on Australia's Trent Waterhouse in the opening Test.
"It looked a bit ordinary," Barrett said. "Had it been a comp game it would have been a hefty suspension. "It looked ordinary. It's just lucky Trent wasn't hurt."
The Daily Telegraph
Interesting, looks like Benny is just adopting the old under 6's mentality of giving everyone a run, but he wont let his best boy Lockyer move out of 5/8th.
Trent will play any position
By Dean Ritchie
October 19, 2005
AUSTRALIA player Trent Barrett said yesterday he would be prepared to play in any one of five positions during Friday night's Test match - but coach Wayne Bennett is not considering him as a five-eighth.
Barrett, a specialist five-eighth, was named on the bench in place of Craig Gower with Mark O'Meley replacing interchange player Andrew Ryan for Friday night's return Test in Auckland.
The third change for the Kangaroos was Matt Cooper being named at centre with Brent Tate switching to wing for injured Timana Tahu.
Barrett, whose last Test was against New Zealand in 2002, said he would be prepared to play centre, five-eighth, halfback, lock or hooker against New Zealand.
Asked was hooker a serious option, Barrett said: "I'm happy to play there, it doesn't worry me.
"I have played there in patches before in Origin.
"I'll put my hand up if Danny Buderus is tired.
"I'm happy to play anywhere he [coach Wayne Bennett] puts me.
"I'm not sure what my role will be - that could depend on injury.
"I just want to be in the 17.
"I'll play centre, halfback, lock."
Bennett remains sceptical about shifting Darren Lockyer from five-eighth to fullback to accommodate Barrett.
Asked would Barrett be considered as a five-eighth, Bennett said: "Not at the moment.
"Trent can fill in in a number of positions. We'll see what happens on the day. I said last week that it wasn't a closed shop.
"Barrett is a class player and I thought Craig Gower's performance was really good.
"But we wanted to give Trent a chance."
O'Meley said he was ready to rip in against the Kiwis at Ericsson Stadium. "I'll roll my sleeves up - that's how I play my football," he said.
"Wayne wanted to rotate his bench and I am lucky enough to get a game.
"The opportunity has come early because I haven't played much this season, but I feel fresh.
"The boys' heads are on and we want to get out there and play for each other."
Barrett, meanwhile, was critical of the decision to exonerate Nigel Vagana for a dangerous throw on Australia's Trent Waterhouse in the opening Test.
"It looked a bit ordinary," Barrett said. "Had it been a comp game it would have been a hefty suspension. "It looked ordinary. It's just lucky Trent wasn't hurt."
The Daily Telegraph
Interesting, looks like Benny is just adopting the old under 6's mentality of giving everyone a run, but he wont let his best boy Lockyer move out of 5/8th.
