Capewell's treble brings debut call
BECAUSE he was in transit from New Zealand, Anthony Griffin did not see Luke Capewell score three tries for Redcliffe last Sunday, but the news was enough to reaffirm what the Broncos coach already knew.
"The kid has been in really good form - he deserves his chance," Griffin said when explaining why he had selected a specialist half on the bench for Friday night's blockbuster against the Sea Eagles, not a hooker.
Capewell will make his Broncos debut in the No.14 jersey worn for the majority of the season by Ben Hunt, who has been called up to cover for injured halfback Peter Wallace.
The Broncos-Sea Eagles clash, with a 7pm kick-off, is the first of a Suncorp Stadium double-header with the Bulldogs and Titans to clash at 8.45pm.
Deputy hooker Kurt Baptiste was expected to fill the vacant bench spot, but Capewell's form, according to the coach, was too good to ignore.
"Luke is in better form at the moment, and he gives us a little more variety," Griffin said of the 23-year-old who played fullback, wing and in the halves during his 35-game NRL career with the Rabbitohs and Titans.
Hunt, who has made the majority of his 50 NRL appearances from the bench, was outstanding at halfback when he again deputised for Wallace against the Raiders in round seven.
The Sea Eagles have again overlooked Keiran Foran, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since round five. In an otherwise unchanged side, David Williams returns on the wing.
The Titans have also overlooked skipper Scott Prince for the second game of the double-header. After he trained strongly on Monday, coach John Cartwright speculated Prince may be right to return from a bicep tear, but the veteran halfback has not been named.
Will Zillman is back at fullback after missing last week's golden-point loss to the Tigers and Jordan Rankin and Aiden Sezer have swapped places in the halves.
