INJURY OPENS DOOR TO NEW TALENT
TOWNSVILLE Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf has urged his young forwards to make the most of their opportunity with Brenden Santi set for an extended stint on the sidelines.
Santi has had surgery on the hand injury he suffered in last weekend’s season opener in Mackay which will see the Italian international ruled out for up to four months.
His injury means Rod Griffin has been promoted to starting prop against his former club the Ipswich Jets this afternoon, with Jordan Kenworthy added to the bench.
It’s a bitter blow for Santi, who lasted just 14 minutes in his Blackhawks homecoming after spending last season with the Sydney Roosters, but Woolf was confident the likes of Ken- worthy, Temone Power, and Ross Bella could rise to the challenge.
The Blackhawks were in a similar predicament in 2016 when captain Dan Beasley ruptured his ACL in the preseason and then 22- year- old Corey Jensen stepped up to fill the void, also earning himself an NRL contract with the Cowboys in the process.
“Unfortunately Brenden’s had to have surgery so he’s going to be out for somewhere between three and four months which is obviously a big loss,” Woolf said.
“He’s been terrific from what he’s done for us through the preseason. He’s a real leader for us and he certainly started the game really well the other night as well.
“We’re going to miss him, but the positive is that he’ll be back to finish the year and we’ve certainly been in this position before.
“It can be the rise of somebody else and give them a real opportunity to step in and fill that void.
“We’ve got some younger guys there like Jordan Kenworthy, Temone Power, and Ross Bella who have a fair bit of experience at this level now.
“They’re going to get a real opportunity to not only play some minutes for the team, but have a really big impact in terms of their role.
“It’s up to them what they do with it.”
The Blackhawks made a blistering start to their Queensland Cup campaign with a 56- 12 win over the Cutters, but the Jets have proved tricky opponents over the years with their unorthodox style.
The two sides have built up a strong rivalry since Ipswich stunned the highly fancied Blackhawks in the 2015 grand final and neither team has been able to win consecutive games against each other.
The Jets are expected to be bolstered by the return of livewire winger Marmin Barba, who will play his first game since 2016 when he suffered a horror ankle injury, while hooker Kierran Moseley will have a point to prove after leaving Townsville during the off- season. Former Kirwan State High School flyer Julian Christian will also start at five- eighth for Ipswich, with the former Townsville Blackhawks under- 18 player enjoying a stellar rise in the Queensland Cup.
Christian went through the Blackhawks’ system while attending Kirwan, and won the 2015 GIO Schoolboys Cup with Kirwan’s open rugby league team.
He also won the nationwide competition’s player of the tournament.
It sets up an intriguing clash at North Ipswich Reserve this afternoon, but Woolf insisted the Blackhawks were only focused on their own performances.
“It’s a tough place to go and play. They certainly play a different style of footy and they get up and play their best footy against us,” he said.
“What we need to make sure is that we play our best footy and I’ve got no doubt that we win if we’re able to do that.”