X MARKS THE SPOT
Coates the latest Bronco in sights of the Titans
GOLD Coast culture boss Mal Meninga is eyeing off Broncos sensation Xavier Coates as a host of other NRL clubs circle Brisbane’s version of Greg Inglis ahead of tonight’s derby against the Titans.
Coates (right) will run on to Suncorp Stadium as the most sought-after winger in the NRL with more than seven clubs having expressed interest in the Brisbane rookie.
Having missed out on Broncos teenage fullback Tesi Niu, the Titans have turned their attention to Coates as Meninga looks to deliver a one-two poaching punch involving Broncos gun David Fifita.
A Gold Coast product, Coates attended Burleigh’s Marymount College and played junior footy for Currumbin Eagles. Now Meninga is ready to bring the 19-year-old back home.
Coates is off contract at the end of next season, meaning he can field formal offers from November
1 this year.
Coates’ value will continue to climb if he rattles the Titans tonight but Broncos coach Anthony Seibold has issued a hands-off edict, insisting he has no plans to lose the 194cm, 103kg backline gun.
“Xavier is a player I want to keep here,” Seibold said.
“He has 18 months to go on his contract and I’m really excited about what he can achieve at our club.”
Coates, who plays his sixth NRL game in his maiden Queensland derby, has piqued the interest of scouts with his stunning 95m intercept try against the Knights last round.
As he streaked away, Coates clocked a top speed of 36.9km/h, eclipsing Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr as the fastest man in the NRL.
With Melbourne set to lose Addo-Carr at season’s end, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is watching Coates closely.
Meninga also believes Coates’ links with the Coast can lure him to the Titans but Broncos legend Darren Lockyer is confident Brisbane will win the retention battle – just as it has with Niu.
“Xavier has a great attitude, he ticks a lot of boxes and we would love to be able to keep him,” said Lockyer, a member of Brisbane’s recruitment and retention panel.
BRONCOS dynamo Tom Dearden will be thrust into the hooker role for his first NRL appearance in 384 days but coach Anthony Seibold says the teenager’s elevation isn’t a ploy to spark Anthony Milford and Brodie Croft.
Dearden will come off the bench for the Broncos in Saturday night’s cellar-dweller derby against the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium.
With bench utility Cory Paix suffering a pectoral injury at training during the week, Dearden will be called upon to provide relief for starting No.9 Issac Luke in an unfamiliar position.
At 80kg, 19-year-old Dearden is not used to defending in the middle but Seibold is hoping an uncomplicated role will help the young talent in his sixth NRL appearance.
“Tommy is there to cover Issac Luke,” Seibold said. “I don’t think Issac is ready to play 80 minutes yet so we’ve got Tom there as cover.
“He is a really smart footy player. He is very good with his passing and kicking and is a tough kid defensively.
“He doesn’t have to make many decisions in the middle.
“His lack of game time would have put him under pressure (in the halves).”
Milford has been on the end of savage criticism since the reboot of the NRL season a month ago.
Immortal Andrew Johns called for the Broncos’ $1 million-a-season five-eighth to be dropped after last week’s 27-6 loss to Newcastle. Having resisted the urge to axe Milford, Seibold rejected suggestions Dearden’s selection was a move to spark a form reversal in the halves.
“His presence on the bench isn’t to try to get Milly and Crofty concerned about their positions,” Seibold said.
“He is there to cover Issac Luke, who’s only been here a week and played 50 minutes against the Knights.
“I don’t think we need
Issac playing the full 80 minutes. Tommy will cover for the halves if they pick up a bump, but his role this week is purely out of dummy-half. We believe and he believes he can do a good job there.”
The chief criticism of Milford has been around his reluctance to take responsibility for the team.
His running game has been almost non-existent and his playmaking options poor.
Croft has not set the world on fire either during the Broncos’ four-game losing streak but Seibold says that could change with a swing of possession against the Titans.
“When we get some footy, Milf can get into the game,“he said.
“We haven’t adapted or adjusted to the new (rule) interpretations in any way, shape or form. We’ve been heavily penalised through ruck infringements and we haven’t adapted to that.
“We’ve been unable to stop momentum and it’s really hard for your halves if you don’t have field position or the footy.
“Milf and Crofty have had to defend for seven out of the eight halves we’ve played.
“Milly will get better, I haven’t lost belief in him or Crofty. I know if we get an even share of footy Milly and Crofty can do their thing.”