Oates urged to stick with role on wing
BRONCOS legend Steve Renouf has urged Corey Oates to forget about his forward flirtation and re-sign with Brisbane as a winger.
Oates’ foray into the Brisbane back row is all but over with the winger destined to stay where he is if he wants to remain at Red Hill.
The former Maroons winger spent the pre-season training with Brisbane’s forwards before being sent back to his original spot by coach Wayne Bennett for round one.
Oates has been one of Brisbane’s best players in a poor start to the season, scoring two tries and averaging 119m on the left wing with his pressure-easing carries.
The 23-year-old is off-contract at season’s end and has tested his value on the open market, but 183-game Broncos flier Renouf urged Oates to commit to Brisbane.
“You want him to stay on the wing. There was talk of him going into the second row but we prefer him on the wing,” Renouf said. “He’s played Origin on the wing and can do some really good things.”
At 192cm and 105kg, Oates possesses the frame to flourish in the forward pack, but injuries have been cruel to his young body.
Bennett has named young gun Jaydn Su’a in the back row for tomorrow’s clash against the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium.
Lock Josh McGuire will shift to hooker to replace injured No. 9 Andrew McCullough, and Anthony Milford and Jack Bird will start in the halves.