Berrigan back to base
by Chris Cox
Tuesday May 11, 2004

Test utility Shaun Berrigan is a surprise inclusion at halfback in the Broncos' team to take on Newcastle this Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.  Berrigan was last week ruled out for up to a month with a hamstring tear but has been chosen in the 17 for Friday's blockbuster just a week after sustaining the injury at training.

Even more surprising is his choice at halfback.  Although he played in the position for the majority of the 2003 season, including three State of Origin games for Queensland, Berrigan was moved to the centres this season and has been a revelation, his form so good that he earnt his debut Test jumper against New Zealand last month.

However, a season ending knee injury to halfback Brett Seymour, and five-eighth Darren Lockyer still a month away with a cracked rib has forced coach Wayne Bennett to shift Berrigan in field.

The only other options in the 19-man squad chosen for Friday night to fill the number 7 should Berrigan fail to be fit in time are Ben Ikin and Motu Tony, neither of whom are in the first 17.  Ikin played the last 25 minutes of last Sunday's gritty 34-20 win over Canberra at halfback after Seymour left the field, while Tony has been a surprise omission from the 17 for the past fortnight after returning from a knee injury against Penrith three weeks ago.

A former New Zealand international, Tony has experience at both halfback and five-eighth for his previous club side the Warriors, and is a class act in attack.  For some reason he appears out of favour at Red Hill.

Test prop Shane Webcke returns to the side, with Dane Carlaw moving back to the second row. Carl Webb retains his spot on the bench with three other forwards, Darren Mapp, Sam Thaiday and Neville Costigan, who all impressed in Canberra at the weekend.

Newcastle have their own injury problems, already with captain Andrew Johns out for the season with a ruptured cruciate knee ligament, the same injury that struck down 19-year-old Seymour as he was making the Broncos number 7 jersey his own. Fellow internationals Ben Kennedy and Timana Tahu also struggling with injuries, Steve Simpson out for an extended period with stress fractures, and Country representative back rower Daniel Abraham is out for an extended period with a broken ankle.

TEAM:
1: Karmichael Hunt
2: Stu Kelly
3: Brent Tate
4: Michael DeVere
5: Craig Frawley
6: Casey McGuire
7: Shaun Berrigan
8: Shane Webcke
9: Michael Ryan
10: Corey Parker
11: Gorden Tallis (c)
12: Dane Carlaw
13: Tonie Carroll

INTERCHANGE:
14: Sam Thaiday
15: Carl Webb
16: Darren Mapp
17: Neville Costigan

Motu Tony, Ben Ikin (two to be omitted)