The decision to axe Corey Oates for Brisbane’s qualifying final was “enormous” but the call came down to mobility, says Broncos legend and director Darren Lockyer.
The Broncos picked Jesse Arthars on the left wing at the expense of Oates for their clash with the Storm at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, snubbing the big-framed winger only a couple of weeks after he played his 200th NRL game for the club.
“It would have been enormous given what Corey’s done for the club,” Lockyer said on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER.
LIVE UPDATES: All the scores and action from the US Open day nine
READ MORE: ‘Sad’ Schumacher reality a decade on from ski crash
READ MORE: ‘Senior figures’ plot to oust ‘under siege’ Tigers boss
“Remember, he’s just come back, he hasn’t had a lot of luck with injuries this year, so he hasn’t really had a lot of continuous football,” Lockyer added, referring to the knee injuries that have hampered Oates’ season.
“I think what it comes down to is mobility. Corey brings the ball back well, but (the Storm have) got a couple of big, mobile wingers … and maybe in the last couple of weeks there would have been a few moments where they thought Jesse was just a bit more nimble or quicker to the situation, quicker to defuse the situation.”
Will Warbrick, the rugby league convert who won a silver medal with New Zealand’s rugby sevens team at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will line up against Arthars, having been named for Melbourne on the right wing.
Former Broncos flyer Xavier Coates will take up his usual spot on the left wing, opposing Brisbane young gun Selwyn Cobbo.
“Unfortunately for Corey, it is what it is. But, look, all he’s got to do is just focus on having a good attitude because you never know when the next opportunity comes,” Lockyer said.
Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now
“I think Kevvie’s (Broncos coach Kevin Walters) mentality is not about what happens in attack; it’s more about what happens defensively. Like I said, there’s a couple of big, quick wingers there at the Storm and maybe Kev just thinks there’s a bit more mobility with Jesse.”
The Broncos and Storm are set to square off in consecutive games, a week after Melbourne defeated Brisbane 32-22 at Suncorp Stadium as both sides rested a huge number of stars.
The Storm have won their last 14 games against the Broncos, as well as 24 of their last 26 meetings.
The Broncos are set for their first finals appearance since 2019.