Henry aims higher

 

IT is inevitable that Jody Henry will get raised eyes when he introduces himself this season.

The New Zealand import has already been reminded a couple of times about his Australian swimming counterpart Jodie Henry.

 

Not that the unassuming Kiwi is worried about being confused with the gold medal-winning Olympian.

 

"I have heard about her but that's about it," Henry said.

 

"My manager arranged for me to join up with the Dolphins in January and it's been good so far.

 

"I knew a bit about the Queensland Cup but not a whole lot about the Aussie teams."

 

Henry spent more than five years in the New Zealand Warriors system, eventually playing 26 games for their under 20 side over the past two seasons.

 

However a string of injuries saw him leave his homeland for future opportunities.

 

Henry has been greeted by welcome arms at Dolphin Oval as Redcliffe attempt to right the ship under new coach John Dixon.

 

Henry said he would be using the Dolphins, and their connection with the Broncos, in an attempt to break back into the NRL system.

 

Ironically former Parramatta half Tim Smith is using the same formula with Brisbane Easts.

 

Henry, 20, comes to the Peninsula with a solid pedigree as a New Zealand under 16 representative in 2005, a Junior Kiwi the following year and a New Zealand under 18 mainstay in 2007.

 

He sees himself as a half or five-eighth, positions that were subject to a tussle between a number of Redcliffe players last season.

 

The halves were a concern for then coach Gary O'Brien, who started out with Tim Yee and Dane Campbell as halves before Palmer Wapau slotted in as the competition's biggest pivot.

 

Always in the wings was utility Craig Priestly, as adept at halfback and hooker but also tried at five-eighth, as well as usual centre Chris Fox.

 

Late in the season North Queenslander Ryan Ghietti made No. 6 his own.

 

The departure of Campbell for the Noosa Pirates in the off-season opens the door for a new half with veteran Michael Roberts well in the running.

 

Roberts played hooker with the Dolphins before heading to France, however the presence of busy Peter Leis Medal winner Tommy Butterfield at No. 9 means time at hooker for any other player will be limited.

 

The future of a still growing Yee is as either a blockbusting centre or backrower, meaning a five-eighth role is up for grabs.

 

Henry says the shoulder injury that curtailed last season with the Warriors is behind him, evidenced by his work with Geoff McInnes of Redpine Paving.

 

Henry joins a star-studded line-up of Dolphins, including James Hinchey, Josh Hoffman, Chris Torrington, Danny Green, Val Fa'amoe and Chris Fox, who have worked for Geoff over the years since he established his business in 1993.

 

Originally from Waitakere near Auckland, Henry played in the national youth competition with the likes of Thomas Ah Van, Kevin Locke, who made his NRL debut last year with the Warriors, and Steve Rapira, named the NQ Cowboys Rookie of the Year last season.

 

A bonus that comes with Henry's arrival is his goal kicking, both around the corner and the more conventional style depending where on the field his attempt is from.

 

Henry is living at Clontarf, but is not feeling homesick as in his words "I have heaps of family around the area".

 

By Myles McIvor - March 4, 2010

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