Jock Madden wants to be the successor to Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds as the side's long-term halfback, and now he gets his chance to prove he is up to the task.
The 24-year-old has been named at No.7 to play Manly on Friday night after missing last week’s win over Parramatta with a pectoral injury. He replaces Josh Rogers, who did a superb job filling in at half.
The Broncos will be without hooker Billy Walters (wrist), with Tyson Smoothy to start and highly rated 20-year-old Blake Mozer to get his chance on the bench.
Reynolds will miss 12 to 14 weeks with a ruptured biceps and Madden will be tasked with leading the team around the park.
Madden has been in and out of the team due to short-term injuries to Reynolds in the past, but now he can work his way into rhythm and find continuity.
Brisbane prop Corey Jensen said the former Wests Tigers playmaker was ready to step up.
"Jock is very similar to Reyno. He is a great talker out there on the field and gets us around the park really well," Jensen said.
"He knows what he wants to do and has really clear calls for us which helps us out as middles. We know where we have to be and what we have to do. He is a ball of energy, he studies the opposition teams and will be ready to go."
Jensen said the extended run at No.7 would only be good for Madden's confidence and belief.
"He has felt in the past that he might be there for only a game or two until Reyno gets back and now he knows that he has the opportunity to hold that spot and cement his spot and do his job for the team," Jensen said.
"We need him. We won't have Reyno for 12 weeks, so he has to be the halfback to get us around the field and let Walshy (Reece Walsh) and Ezra (Mam) do their stuff off the back of him."
Jensen said the looming loss of Walters was a "huge" blow.
"Hopefully he is not out for too long but Tyson did a great job last week and filled in for 50 or 60 minutes. We know he is up for the challenge and is a really good defender," Jensen added.
"He will be able to hold his own, and Blake off the bench gets a go and he will be great."
