Tony - My Defence is Good

Brisbane Bronco's new boy, Motu Tony was hired to boost the Broncos' attack but he says he's ready to have his defensive skills examined.

There was a question mark over Tony's defence when he was signed from the Warriors but that doesn't worry the 22-year-old Kiwi, who is to debut for Brisbane at five-eighth against his former club at Suncorp Stadium on March 14.

"I'm not too fussed what people say, the only people I have to please are my teammates," said Tony.

"I'm new to the club and I just want to show the boys I can play football and that I can turn up every week."

With Ben Ikin's forced retirement, Tony's creativity appealed to the Broncos.

"I've been brought here to hopefully add something new to the attacking capabilities of the Broncos," he said.

"Whenever the Broncos have won the competition, their attack has been one of the best and so has their defence.

"We've been working hard at getting those two themes working together and hopefully we'll have a good year."

There's been speculation Tony could interchange positions in attack and defence with fullback Darren Lockyer at various stages during games but Tony isn't giving much away if that's the case.

"I'm not to sure where I'm playing but it will be either six (five-eighth) or one (fullback)," Tony said.

"That suits me to a tee because I enjoy playing both positions.

"We've got a great forward pack here and when they dominate they open spaces for myself, Darren Lockyer and Brett Seymour."

Brisbane's squad to play a trial against Melbourne in Toowoomba on Saturday night was announced on Wednesday and there are a few interesting selections.

There's hot competition for the centres and also the wing and few young rookies may be given an early chance to impress by coach Wayne Bennett.

Darren Lockyer will tackle the biggest challenge of his rugby league career by shifting from fullback to five-eighth this season in a bold positional move designed to re-ignite Brisbane's attack.

The world's number one player, who has played all his 195 first grade games for the Broncos at fullback, declared the move was not an experiment but a permanent career shift.

"It's long term, and I want to make it long term," declared Lockyer, who has known about the tactic for some time.

"It's unchartered waters but I'm looking for a new challenge and I'm willing to take it on and make it work."

Brisbane's attack dried up so much last season that coach Wayne Bennett has been forced into a rare selection back flip with his champion fullback moving in closer to the action.

"Our attack fell away last year but with young Brett Seymour at halfback, me at five-eighth, Shaun Berrigan in the centres and Motu Tony at fullback, I think we look better."

The move will mean a heavier defensive workload for Lockyer certain to be targeted even more by coaches keen to tire him out in his new role by running bigger players at him all day.

Neither extra responsibility flustered Lockyer who handled the pressures of taking on the Kangaroo Tour captaincy with a squad missing more than 13 test players.

"It's a new challenge for me," said Lockyer, after being named in the No.6 jumper for Saturday night's trial against Melbourne Storm in Toowoomba.

"I'll be playing the traditional No.6 role.

"Defensively I'll have to do a little bit more work in the past but that's the new challenge I'm ready to take on."

"I won't have to bring the ball back on the first tackle and get bashed by 13 blokes running at me.

Bennett has opposed calls in the past to move Lockyer from fullback into five-eighth to take move advantage of his playmaking talents.

In a weekly Brisbane newspaper column during last year's Origin series Bennett wrote: "I can't believe the number of people who have jumped on the Darren Lockyer (five-eighth) bandwagon".

"But I can tell you this, he won't be moving."

On Wednesday he was singing a different tune.

"Of course it's a big challenge for him, but his training has been the best it's been for four or five years," said Bennett.

"He's been exceptional since he's been back (training) and the reason is he wants to make a go of this new position."

Bennett dismissed the defensive workload as a problem for Lockyer, not physically built like a traditional No.6.

"He's dealt with that kind of stuff all his life, I don't see it as being an issue," said Bennett.

Bennett conceded last year's results led to the positional change.

"It was either a case of making some decisions with a bit of a risk factor involved or just shuffling the chairs on the Titanic again.

"We needed an injection in that area and Motu Tony is a part of that, so is Casey Maguire.

"But you still needed that crucial player in that crucial position to be able to dominate a bit."

Several players, Shane Webcke (facial injury), Dane Carlaw (knee), Brent Tate (shoulder), Michael DeVere (shoulder) and Craig Frawley (calf) were not considered for Saturday's trial.