Bennett Adds Grunt to Interchange
Bench

Coach Wayne Bennett has added forward trio Dane Carlaw, Neville Costigan and Tom Learoyd to the Broncos squad for this Sunday's clash with arch rivals the Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium.

Bennett has named the same line-up which defeated the New Zealand Warriors 28-20 last weekend, with Brad Meyers (cork thigh) the only minor casualty from the match. Meyers' injury, which happened in the first tackle of the game, is not expected to see him miss any training.

Fellow backrower Carlaw has been recalled after overcoming a knee injury, sustained in a sand run during the pre-season trip to Moreton Island.

The 23-year-old international still has some discomfort, but expects to be fully fit by Sunday afternoon.

Costigan and Learoyd come into the squad after impressive performances for the Clydesdales last weekend. Learoyd, in particular, was devastating in his debut for the Brisbane feeder squad, breaking the first tackle almost every time he hit the ball up.

Sporting a new clean shaven haircut the 116kg giant, who set a forwards' club record in the 40m sprint last week, terrorised the Tweed Seagulls on the fringes and stamped himself as a first grade contender this season.

Costigan, who made his first grade debut toward the end of last season, was also firing for the Clydesdales last weekend and the 2003 Colt-of-the-year is another pushing for a spot in the top 17.

The duo look to be in a battle with fellow teenager Sam Thaiday for a place on the bench, with Bennett making it clear he is hesitant to bring too much youth through at one time.

"We had a 17 (Karmichael Hunt), 18 (Thaiday) and 19-year-old (Brett Seymour) out there against the Warriors and you can't really afford to bring any more teenagers into the side," Bennett said after last week's match.

Hunt has been named on the bench with Motu Tony listed as starting fullback, as they were last weekend before a late switch was announced.

2004 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP - Round Two v Parramatta Eels

VENUE: Suncorp Stadium DATE: Sunday March 21, 2004 TIME: 2.00pm COACH: Wayne Bennett

TEAM: 1: Motu Tony 2: Michael DeVere 3: Tonie Carroll 4: Shaun Berrigan 5: Stuart Kelly 6: Darren Lockyer 7: Brett Seymour 8: Shane Webcke 9: Barry Berrigan 10: Petero Civoniceva 11: Gorden Tallis (c) 12: Brad Meyers 13: Casey McGuire

INTERCHANGE: 14: Corey Parker 15: Karmichael Hunt 16: Sam Thaiday 17: Darren Mapp 18: Dane Carlaw 19: Neville Costigan 20: Tom Learoyd