They could have gone with a more experienced option, but captain Adam Reynolds is confident rookie Blake Taaffe can fill the gulf at fullback created by the season-ending ban to Latrell Mitchell.
Reynolds all but confirmed the 22-year-old four-gamer would get first crack ahead of the likes of winger Alex Johnston and five-eighth Cody Walker, each of whom is in excellent form in their current positions.
Saturday’s game against the Dragons is effectively a free throw at the stumps for Wayne Bennett’s side, which is guaranteed to finish second or third and the result has no influence over whether they face the Panthers or Storm in week one of the finals.
“His effort areas are outstanding, second to none in our team,” Reynolds said.
“He’s an energiser bunny, quick on his feet, he’s not afraid to take the line on and he’s quick too. He’s been training great alongside most of our boys throughout this time we’ve been up here in Queensland and he’s been doing a fantastic job for us.”
Saturday’s game against the Dragons is effectively a free throw at the stumps for Wayne Bennett’s side, which is guaranteed to finish second or third and the result has no influence over whether they face the Panthers or Storm in week one of the finals.
“His effort areas are outstanding, second to none in our team,” Reynolds said.
“He’s an energiser bunny, quick on his feet, he’s not afraid to take the line on and he's quick too. He’s been training great alongside most of our boys throughout this time we’ve been up here in Queensland and he’s been doing a fantastic job for us.”
Reynolds likely won't get a chance to build his own combination with Taaffe ahead of the finals, with the skipper set to rest the knee he jarred against St George Illawarra.
“I just sort of hyper-extended it there. I felt a little something at the back,” he said.
“They weren’t too concerned about it. I went out after half-time just in case anything happened, or we needed to go back on the field. They sort of came back into the game and we thought it would be a good idea to get me back out there.
“My foot sort of slid in the ground then just stopped and my body kept going. It’s probably more of a scare than anything else. It’s a little tender today but I got through training, it’s feeling all OK.”
