Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has officially ruled Alex Glenn out of Friday night's clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium.
The Brisbane second-row forward has failed to recover from a hip flexor injury, meaning 21-year-old Herman Ese'ese will make his Broncos debut coming off the bench and experienced forward Sam Thaiday will move into the starting line-up.
Bennett was filthy on Saturday night after Glenn copped a knee to the hip from Newcastle Knights centre Sione Mata'utia, with the normally 80-minute man needing urgent treatment – spending 24 minutes off the field in the hands of the Broncos' trainers.
Bennett's mood hadn't improved at training on Thursday morning, with the coach stating his plans to contact the NRL in regards to the incident that left Glenn badly bruised. Glenn will not only miss the ANZAC Round clash on Friday but he is also in doubt for Sunday week's match against the Cronulla Sharks.
"I haven't spoken to the NRL yet, I have just been waiting to see if they will do anything about it," Bennett said.
"I'll make a phone call today because that's the third incident to do with knees that we've had this season. Players need to take more responsibility for their actions when they are out there.
"They need to look at what they are doing to other players in regards to risk and injury.
"Everybody knows that the two hardest parts on our bodies are our elbows and our knees.
"I didn't like the look of any of these incidents and that one on Saturday night was certainly in that category."
Glenn's loss is Ese'ese's gain, with the former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs prop champing at the bit to unleash against an out-of-form Rabbitohs side.
A product of Brisbane rugby league nursery Wavell High, Ese'ese played one game for the Bulldogs before joining Brisbane at the end of the 2015 season.
He will be an unknown threat for South Sydney, with the prop forward impressing so far for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Intrust Super Cup.
"I'm not sure how long Alex will be out, he has a huge bruise running from his ribs right down to his lower leg," Bennett said.
"Herman's form has been good in the Intrust Super Cup throughout the last few weeks. I've keeping an eye on that. He started slow but he's been really good the last couple of weeks."
In-form winger Corey Oates (knee) has been cleared to play after completing today's training session.
