Young Reds get their chance

[Burgs]

Young Reds get their chance

January 17, 2008 - 10:48am
Story by: Sportal

Queensland coach Phil Mooney has gifted a number of young guns the chance to impress when the Reds' take on the Waratahs in Sydney on Australia Day.

Mooney has decided to rest his World Cup Wallabies for his side's first trial of the campaign with the exception of veteran halfback Sam Cordingley who will travel to Campbelltown Stadium for the January 26 clash.

Reds Academy player Ben Lucas has also been drafted into the squad at scrumhalf following a hand injury to Will Genia, while Academy prop and former Sydney player Dayna Edwards returns home in enemy colours.

Mooney said the match will be a good test for the talented Lucas, who will go head-to-head with former Wallabies Brett Sheehan and Josh Valentine during the encounter.

"It's a great opportunity for Ben and the other guys to see where they sit in terms of their development, being up against some experienced opponents," Mooney said.

Up front promising rookies Josh Afu and giant lock Rob Simmons, are also both expected to see action for the first time in 2008.

Skipper John Roe will add experience to the 24-man squad as will 2007 Test newcomer James Horwill and veteran duo Lloyd Johansson and Andrew Walker.

Queensland Reds squad:

Forwards:

Geoff Abram, Josh Afu (QR Reds rookie), Ole Avei, Ben Coutts, Ben Daley, Dayna Edwards (Reds Academy), AJ Gilbert, James Horwill, Leroy Houston, Herman Hunt, Ed O’Donoghue, John Roe (captain), Rob Simmons (QR Reds rookie).

Backs:

Caleb Brown, Quade Cooper, Sam Cordingley, Charlie Fetoai, Peter Hynes, Lloyd Johansson, Ben Lucas (Reds Academy), Chris Siale, Brando Va'aulu, Henari Veratau, Andrew Walker

[Burgs]

Heard a lot of good press about Lucas in the Qld Club scene last season.

Lucas entrusted with halfback role

By Jim Morton
January 15, 2008

REDS rookie Ben Lucas knows a thing or two about shocks after finding himself on the cusp of becoming the biggest World Cup bolter in Wallabies history last season.
So the unheralded five-eighth is excited but still circumspect about his selection at halfback in Queensland's opening Super 14 trial against NSW, lining up against two Waratah Test No.9s.

Lucas, 20, will play the bulk of the Australia Day match at the scrum-base against competing Waratahs Josh Valentine and Brett Sheehan at Campbelltown Stadium.

New coach Phil Mooney has named him in a youthful 24-man Queensland squad which only includes benched veteran halfback Sam Cordingley among their eight World Cup Wallabies.

Despite being in the mix to travel to France as Stephen Larkham's understudy before Wallabies selectors punted on Berrick Barnes, Lucas started 2008 as the Reds third-string No.9.

But when fellow youngster Will Genia broke his hand moving a fridge in Papua New Guinea, the part-time commerce student was thrown straight into an unexpected No.9 baptism on January 26.

"It's definitely exciting, I've been waiting for an opportunity for a while," said Lucas, who has only played halfback twice as a fill-in on the Australian Schoolboys 2005 tour of the UK.

"The fact it's nine is interesting but it's all good."

Lucas is still unsure how he came to World Cup selection prominence last year but it was through a starring performance for Sunnybank in a Brisbane club semi-final against Barnes who had a shocker for Wests.

"I didn't really come to grips with it too much," he said.

"I thought it might have been bumped up a bit in the press but it was good to get a mention from the Australian coach."

The Waratahs have yet to decide whether to start with Valentine or Sheehan who will continue their two-season battle for a starting berth in the match.

"Either way Ben will be playing against a Wallaby so it will be a good trial for him," said Mooney.

Skipper John Roe will be among the few old heads in the Reds squad along with Cordingley and winger Andrew Walker, while centre Lloyd Johansson and lock James Horwill have Test experience.

Former Waratahs back-rower Leroy Houston will make his Queensland debut against his old team as will rising centre Chris Siale.

Morgan Turinui will miss the clash with his wife due to give birth to their second child but will return, along with other World Cup tourists, for Queensland's second trial against the Blues at Ballymore on January 31.

AAP