Indigenous All Star coach Neil Henry has managed to find a positive out of NRL All Star fullback Billy Slater being replaced by one of world's most feared attacking players in Jarryd Hayne.
Both sides have lost players to injury in the past 48 hours, Slater dropping out of Wayne Bennett's NRL All Stars side on Thursday and hooker PJ Marsh ruled out of the Indigenous side on Wednesday with a back injury.
Bennett obviously didn't want to gamble on taking a less than 100 per cent Slater in the game and despite reports a decision on the champion No.1 could be delayed until match day, he was replaced on Thursday by his Storm teammate Brett Finch who will come off the bench.
Red-headed Roosters teenager Ben Jones, who replaced utility PJ Marsh (back injury) had his first run with the Indigenous side at Runaway Bay on Thursday afternoon.
Normally when a side loses a gun player like Slater, a rival coach is privately relieved.
But when his replacement is a player regarded as the game's most exciting, it's hardly reason to celebrate.
Henry draws positive from change
However Henry, a key member of Queensland's record breaking Origin coaching staff, was able draw a positive from the late change after Slater officially succumbed to an ankle injury suffered on Monday, ending his hopes of being part of the history-making Skilled Park sell-out on Saturday night.
"They've got an abundance of riches there with Hayne, (Kurt) Gidley and Slater, haven't they?," said Henry after learning of Slater's misfortune.
"I don't think they lose too much at all with Jarryd Hayne there although something they do lose is that dangerous combination between Cameron Smith and Slater around the ruck.
"Hopefully there's not enough time for Smith and Hayne to strike up the same lethal partnership."
Smith and Slater were deadly last season, combining to help Queensland to a record fourth Origin series, Australia to an inaugural Four Nations title and Melbourne to another premiership.
Henry was pleased with how quickly 19 year-old utility Jones, an Arthur Beetson discovery from Orange in country NSW, fitted in at training.
"He was good, he just had to get up to speed with some of our ruck plays but the boys made it easy for him," said Henry after a 90 minute session on the Gold Coast.
"He's good around the ruck, clean and sharp.
"He's a good kid, a Redcliffe junior and he is one the boys who came through out indigenous junior program which Jamal (Idris) also came through."
Henry will try and give everyone 40 minutes playing time with the game in four quarters under an unlimited interchange.
"I think we can do that, rotate our three halves, three centres, three wingers, Nathan Merritt can have a run at fullback," he said.
"I've told the players we're not about giving anyone 80 minutes, we want to share it around so they all enjoy the experience."
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