Brisbane reward 'emerging leader' Carrigan with captaincy

Rising forward Patrick Carrigan will captain the Broncos in the trial clash with the Titans on Saturday night in the absence of the injured Alex Glenn.

The 22-year-old has also all but claimed the starting No.13 jersey for the round one clash with the Cowboys after a stellar pre-season and trial performances.

Carrigan has been elevated into the Broncos leadership group and is viewed as a future captain of the club.

He gets his chance to skipper the side at Redcliffe and coach Anthony Seibold said he had earned it.

"Patty Carrigan will captain the side this week. It's a good reward for him as an emerging leader of our team," Seibold said.

"He has been a leader in his age group for many years and is a great leader around the current group.

"We don't have too many older players in our squad. We  only have three over 30 and a couple aren't playing this week.

"It doesn't matter how old you are, you can be a leader in any walk of life, so he has done a really good job in pre-season."

With prop Matt Lodge on the injured list there is an opportunity for a new starting middle forward and Carrigan has seized his chance.

It doesn't matter how old you are, you can be a leader in any walk of life

Broncos coach Anthony Seibold

"I think he has done a tremendous job. He  has been outstanding on the training paddock and is ready for the next step in his career to start and I want to give him that opportunity," Seibold said.

"I want him to lead the team this week at 13 so I am showing my hand there. I am really big on the non-talent areas required in this game and he is exceptional in those. I'm sure he will keep the 13 jersey."

Seibold said Glenn was in rehab and on track for round one but the Broncos won't risk him if he is not at full fitness.

The Redcliffe trial also marks the return of Maroons winger Corey Oates who has recovered from a staph infection that led to him spending nine days in hospital on a drip after Christmas.

Outside backs Herbie Farnworth, Xavier Coates and Jesse Arthars have all impressed in their trials but Seibold said Oates was on track to keep his spot in round one based on his "deposits in the bank"

"He has been back training for three or four weeks and he will play 40 minutes on the weekend on the left wing and it's a good opportunity for Oatesy to put down a marker for the year," Seibold said.

"I am a big believer that over time in your career you put a lot of deposits in the bank and build a bit of trust in doing that, and he has been a high performer at this level for a long period of time.

"Last year he had a few ‘withdrawals’ where he wasn’t at his best at different times but he’s still got plenty of money in the bank.”

Seibold also addressed the future of off-contract forward David Fifita in the wake of Titans culture and performance chief Mal Meninga declaring his club’s interest in securing the Maroons and Kangaroos back-rower.

"We are really confident with where we are at in the negotiations. David wants to let his football do the talking and I admire that and respect that," Seibold said.

"As a club we want to provide an environment for David to feel comfortable and play his best footy and I think we do that. He’s got a lot of his mates around him.

"Without making any further comments with regards to where [the negotiations are] at, we are very comfortable.

"There has been so much comment around David since last September/October. He’s a 19-year-old kid so let’s ease up on  him and let him play his footy."