Barnes to cover in Reds’ halfback injury crisis

Barnes to cover in Reds’ halfback injury crisis

7th May 2008, 15:15 WST Barnes to cover in Reds’ halfback injury crisis : thewest.com.au


Berrick Barnes will be Queensland’s back-up halfback against the Crusaders on Saturday night after Will Genia was today ruled out of the rest of the Super 14.

Genia was to undergo exploratory surgery on a lingering ankle problem after injuring it a fortnight ago in the 32-20 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton.

With veteran halfback Sam Cordingley (calf) also sidelined and in doubt of returning this season, Reds coach Phil Mooney said inside centre Barnes would also cover the specialist position at Suncorp Stadium.

Impressive youngster Ben Lucas, who started the year as a five-eighth in the Queensland academy, is the only fit halfback in the Reds squad and will aim to play out the match against the Crusaders.

Former Brisbane Broncos utility Barnes has never played halfback in rugby before but his younger brother Jock is a No.9 for Brisbane club Wests and has trained in the position this year.

“He’s trained there and the one thing that stands him in good stead is that he was a dummy-half in rugby league and they are similar roles,” Mooney said.

“And he loves it. I wouldn’t have a problem playing Berrick at halfback.”

Speedster Brando Va’aulu, originally dropped after Wallabies fullback Chris Latham was named to start, has rejoined the bench.

Latham is one of four changes to the Reds squad after overcoming a knee ligament strain that has sidelined him for the last four weeks.

Goalkicker Clinton Schifcofske moves to the wing to make room for Latham, forcing the tackle-busting Digby Ioane back to the bench.

With former skipper John Roe out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, versatile back-rower Tasi Luafutu has replaced Scott Higginbotham at blindside flanker.

Teenage prop Ben Daley, the son of former Kangaroos and Manly rugby league front-rower Phil Daley, is set to make his Super 14 debut off the bench following the one-week suspension of Rodney Blake.

Blake was last night found guilty of a dangerous tackle on Blues flanker Daniel Braid in last Friday’s 35-22 loss in Brisbane.

Queensland: Chris Latham, Clinton Schifcofske, Morgan Turinui, Berrick Barnes, Peter Hynes, Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas; Leroy Houston, David Croft, Poutasi Luafutu, James Horwill (capt), Van Humphries, Dayna Edwards, Stephen Moore, Ben Coutts. Res: Sean Hardman, Ben Daley, Ed O’Donoghue, Scott Higginbotham, Brando Va’aulu, Charlie Fetoai, Digby Ioane.

AAP

is Barnes the new Giteau?

That Phil Mooney is a bloody idiot.
He's AJ Gilbert there who is converted flanker from half back.
He wants to use Barnes out of position and try and steal Pocock, what clown!

poor Ben Lucas, 12 months ago he was a 5/8, now he is the only half-back in the Reds squad available for selection.

Long time AJ played Scrumhalf or even with the backs though 8.

Genia has certainly copped the second year blues on the injury front too :S

the Reds have him listed as a backrower, so he probably hasnt trained at halfback all season. I know he played one game last year as a reserve half-back, but that was because the Reds had a halfback shortage last year as well.

the way mooney keeps changing his players and positions, "IF" they get pocock we might see bam bam playing on the wing... hehehhehe

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Originally Posted by benny

the way mooney keeps changing his players and positions, "IF" they get pocock we might see bam bam playing on the wing... hehehhehe

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Ben Lucas got converted to half back from 5/8 at the start of the season, and Barnes is going to be covering half-back in case of injury, other then that i dont think there has being many other changes.

I do believe that Staniforth was playing flanker a few weeks ago, was he not?

Spanner would be playing prop this week if it weren't for his dodgy knee.....as Kearnsey says he's the most underrated player in world rugby.

yeah i dont actually think there is anything wrong with it, i was just pointing out that every team does it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by no.8

That Phil Mooney is a bloody idiot.
He's AJ Gilbert there who is converted flanker from half back.
He wants to use Barnes out of position and try and steal Pocock, what clown!

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Barnes played halfback in rugby league - he will have no problem adjusting as its only a temporary situation.

And if you think Phil Mooney is a bloody idiot, you clearly know very little about him. He is a future Wallaby coach for sure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KenyaQuin

Former Brisbane Broncos utility Barnes has never played halfback in rugby before but his younger brother Jock is a No.9 for Brisbane club Wests

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Now there's a bit of logical journalism. :confused:

Hence my contention many years ago that since my brother was a gifted outside centre, I should not have had to spend all those years with my head stuck in the scrum or caught at the bottom of a ruck with some meathead tap dancing up my back.