Reds coach Richard Graham says the time has come to taking risks at the selection table, the first being Karmichael Hunt at outside centre.
Queensland’s boom recruit will return to the side in an unfamiliar role for the side’s clash with the Rebels at Suncorp Stadium.
“We wanted to give him a chance to just get in the team at 15 and learn the game again with a view to then bring him forward,” said Graham.
“I think we’re at a point in the season where you got to start taking some risks and him (Karmichael) coming in at 13 give us a few more options in the outside channel.”
Hunt will partner rising star Samu Kerevi in the centres while captain James Slipper has overcome a groin injury.
It’s been a big week for the skipper with a new face joining the ranks, John Connolly returning to Ballymore as a coaching consultant.
Slipper: “It’s all about basics with Knuckles (Connolly), just dumbing things and working on things that really need to be worked on.
I think throughout the week you could really see those changes come through.”
The Reds’ captain desperate to bounce back against the Rebels after a demoralising 41-point defeat at the hands of the Crusaders last weekend.
“I sat the second half on the bench and that was probably the hardest thing I have ever seen in my career as a player and something I never want to go through again.
It cut really deep and you only had to look at the change room after the game and it was a pretty sad, sobering feeling and we don’t want to be in that position again.”
