Wayne Bennett admits he made a tactical error starting Sam Thaiday against Dragons

WAYNE Bennett has made a stunning self-appraisal in which the master coach conceded he made a major stuff-up that cost the Broncos dearly in their Round 1 hiding from the Dragons.

Coach Wayne Bennett talks to his players during the Brisbane Broncos training. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

WAYNE Bennett has admitted he made a tactical blunder by using Sam Thaiday at hooker as key duo Darius Boyd and Matt Gillett were cleared for Friday night’s derby against the Cowboys.

Boyd (hamstring) sealed his selection by completing the captain’s run on Thursday at Red Hill, while Bennett is confident Gillett has overcome a minor neck injury he suffered against the Dragons last week.

But the major talking point to emerge from the Queensland derby build-up is Bennett’s candid self-appraisal in which the master coach revealed he stuffed up by benching Andrew McCullough in the season opener.

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Returning from a seven-month lay-off last week following a knee reconstruction, McCullough sat out the opening exchanges against the Dragons as Bennett called on Thaiday to absorb the early heat.

With Thaiday operating out of dummy half, Brisbane never looked cohesive in a 34-12 rout. McCullough will start in the No. 9 jumper against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium and Bennett admits he should never have imposed such responsibility on Thaiday.

Wayne Bennett talks to his players during Brisbane Broncos training. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“In hindsight it was a mistake, it was just a mistake,” Bennett said of deploying Thaiday at hooker.

“Sam has been pretty good, he had a tough assignment last week and I made a mistake of putting him at hooker.

“But he has been great in pre-season and there’s no reason to suggest that Sam still hasn’t got something to offer the team and I’m sure that’s what he wants to do (against the Cowboys).”

While admitting his flaws, Bennett moved to hose down suggestions he gave Brisbane’s players a spray early this week.

The NRL’s greatest coach was seriously animated at training on Monday, firing up at several Broncos players, including halfback Kodi Nikorima, for not playing-the-ball properly in drills but he denied blasting the group.

“Did I have strong words with them?,” he mused.

When one reporter suggested Broncos players claimed he did, Bennett replied: “Well ... maybe they haven’t been roused on for a while, because they (his words) weren’t that strong.”

Andrew McCullough will start at hooker for the Broncos after missing several months after a knee reconstruction. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

Bennett backed his starting engine room of McCullough, Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai Jr to handle a daunting assignment against Cowboys hulks Matt Scott, Jordan McLean and Jason Taumalolo.

“Andrew is really important,” Bennett said. “It’s good to have him back, it’s been six or seven months out for him.

“We will have to wait and see if he plays the full 80 (minutes), it depends on the intensity of the game, but he’s starting and we will go from there.

“The Cowboys have a quality pack. Tevita has had a couple of years in the system and he is starting to understand it better and understand what NRL is all about. He has deserved his place in the starting side.”

Sam Thaiday lined up as starting hooker against the Dragons. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Brisbane’s forwards were mauled by their Dragons rivals and Bennett urged them to provide a platform for halves Nikorima and Anthony Milford to work their magic.

“You can’t drop eight balls and give away eight penalties and think your halves will play well, it’s never going to happen,” he said.