Broncos play safe with McCullough

THE Broncos have wrapped Andrew McCullough in cotton wool for the finals after his sickening head clash with Roosters prop Dylan Napa last Saturday night.

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett will name a temporary hooker for the clash with Manly on Sunday after McCullough’s failure to train at Red Hill yesterday morning.

The Queensland Origin rake was knocked senseless by Maroons teammate Napa, who on Monday accepted a threematch ban. His season is over unless the Roosters qualify for the grand final.

The upside for the Broncos is McCullough will enjoy a week’s rest before returning for the opening week of the playoffs, with Bennett to decide between Alex Glenn, Josh McGuire and Sam Thaiday for hooking duties against the Sea Eagles.

Thaiday refused to be too critical of Napa yesterday but admitted the Roosters hitman needed to address his tackling style after he floored a Broncos player for the second time this season – a head clash in round 11 broke Korbin Sims’ jaw.

“It’s just tackle technique – he was apologetic after that with Macca. It’s a technical issue that he (Napa) has to work on,” Thaiday said.

Asked if Napa’s ban was sufficient, Thaiday said: “I’m unsure. I don’t know the judicial rules so I will stay away from that.” Thaiday will play his final regular-season game at Suncorp on Sunday and the retiring warhorse admits it will be an emotional day in his quest to go out with a premiership. “Hopefully we can put in a good performance,” he said. “There are a few different scenarios for me, we could still finish fifth or sixth and get a home semi-final (next week). “It’s still going to be a fantastic occasion. There is nothing better than playing Sunday afternoon footy at Suncorp. “Mum and Dad get down during the week and they will be hanging around for a few days. I also have a younger brother flying back from Germany.

“I will get pretty emotional when I walk down the tunnel with my daughters.”

Asked if he was keen to play hooker, Thaiday joked: “Wayne has never let me wear the No.9 jumper, I will have a chat to him.

“He did all right with a thirdchoice hooker earlier this year in Alex Glenn. I’m the No.1 behind Andrew McCullough, then it’s Josh McGuire and Alex, so you never know, we’ll see what happens.”

“We will definitely miss Macca ... but it’s a blessing in disguise. It gives him a rest leading into the finals. He has a few niggles that he can look after this week.”