The return of Paul Gallen from a doping ban could not have come soon enough for Wayne Bennett.
NRL All Stars mentor Bennett admits his side will not be able to match the attacking flair of what he rated the greatest Indigenous side to date in their February 13 showcase on the Gold Coast.
However, Gallen’s availability has helped Bennett further stack a monster NRL All Stars pack he hopes will counter what he believes is the Indigenous team’s unrivalled strike power.
Gallen will play his first match since serving his ban over the Cronulla supplements saga when he lines up alongside the likes of British brute James Graham and Kiwi enforcers Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Jason Taumalolo next month.
The NSW skipper was on Monday included in Bennett’s hand-picked 20-man squad that also includes big boppers Trent Merrin, Corey Parker, David Taylor and Jeremy Smith on an extended bench.
“I deliberately picked a big pack,” Bennett said.
“Look at David Taylor.
“I picked Nate Myles but he had to pull out (as he recovered from off-season surgery) so I thought (Gold Coast teammate) David would be a wonderful replacement – another 120kg guy running at them.
“You don’t need much to work out what gameplan we will be playing.”
Asked about the Indigenous side highlighted by Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston, Bennett said: “I think it is the best team they have selected.
“If you talk about flair they are going to beat us in that department.”
However, Bennett hoped his backline had a few aces up their sleeve too with Matt Moylan (Penrith) at fullback, Dylan Walker (South Sydney) on the wing and Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers) off the bench.
Then there’s fellow newcomer, Canberra centre Jarrod Croker.
“I think he is an underrated player,” Bennett said of Croker.
“I’ve always liked him. He’s always one of Canberra’s better players every week.
“He’s in that category where he deserves a chance so I gave him one.”
Asked if Croker had to step up much to play representative footy, Bennett said: “He doesn’t – I think he is on the fringe of it now.”
