The world's biggest halfback
21.09.2009
By: Dan Koch
HAVING already created the game's heftiest centre, the Broncos are on the verge of fielding the NRL's biggest halfback, with Tonie Carroll likely to start in the No7 jumper vacated by the injured Peter Wallace.
A dispirited Wallace was ruled out of Brisbane's finals campaign after confirmation of a broken ankle came yesterday.
And now Broncos coach Ivan Henjak, having turned giant prop Dave Taylor into a marauding wide runner, is set to transform veteran backrower Carroll into a halfback for his side's preliminary final against Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Carroll played off the bench in Brisbane's emphatic 24-10 win over St George Illawarra on Saturday night, and while Henjak has a variety of other options open to him -- backrower Ben Te'o will come into the squad and could also act as a stop-gap half -- Carroll's big-game experience is set to earn him the nod.
The loss of Wallace shapes as a decisive event for the Broncos in their hunt for a premiership in Henjak's first year in charge.
Whichever way Henjak goes, Darren Lockyer will be forced to substantially lift his involvement in attack without his regular halves partner. A shattered Wallace insisted the disappointment of missing Saturday's preliminary final in Melbourne would inspire him to greater heights next season.
A star in Saturday night's victory over the minor premiers, Wallace missed the post-match celebrations, left instead to drown his sorrows over a ``couple of cold ones'' with friends following confirmation he had broken his ankle in the dying stages of the match at Suncorp Stadium.
Scans revealed a fracture similar to the one that sidelined teammate Israel Folau for eight weeks. While surgery will not be required, Wallace conceded his season was over.
``It is pretty shattering, but what do you do?'' he said. ``I don't really know how to feel. I am really happy for the boys, but it is disappointing to come this far with them and know you won't be there for the biggest game of the year.''
Having made his State of Origin debut last year, Wallace added two more NSW jumpers to his collection before he was dropped for Game III in Brisbane.
He bounced back from that disappointment to play a pivotal role in the Broncos' late-season surge, with his robust defence, organisational skills and pinpoint kicking providing the perfect foil for Lockyer. Never was that more obvious than against the Dragons, when Wallace laid on tries for young winger Jharal Yow Yeh and backrower Lagi Setu in the second half to seal the Broncos' first finals win at Suncorp Stadium in seven games.
``It is a little bit tough to think about today, but I guess there is still a lot I can take out of the year,'' Wallace said.
``I think I have improved in a lot of areas. The whole year -- everything that has happened -- it has been a real learning experience. But it's just a sad way for it all to end.''
Lockyer confirmed after the game that Wallace's departure from the field left Brisbane with just 12 men on the field for the final eight minutes.
``(Trainer Allan Langer) came on and told me that Wallace was off and we were down a man and I asked whether we had any interchanges left,'' Lockyer said.
``He said `yes' and so I looked at him and said `well, put someone on -- we're all stuffed'. Then he said `actually no, we don't have any left'.''
The Broncos' hopes of a grand final appearance hinge on them shaking a poor away record against the Storm, having managed just two victories from 11 starts in Melbourne.
