Qld Teams - Broncos lose stars for Rd 1

The Brisbane Broncos will enter Friday’s NRL season opener against North Queensland minus strike centre Justin Hodges and key prop Ben Hannant.

Both men were expected to be key components in the Broncos 2011 season however early season injuries will sideline them at least for another week.

The traditional Suncorp Stadium blockbuster was to be a home-coming of sorts but local fans will have to wait until Round Four to see the duo back in Brisbane colours.

Hodges missed the entire 2010 season with an Achilles injury suffered in the pre-season however it’s a hamstring issue that will prevent him from playing the Cowboys.

A calf injury will stop Hannant from playing his first game for the Broncos since 2008 however he’s expected to be fit for the second game of the season.

Hannant enjoyed three years at the Broncos, from 2006-2008, before spending the past two years with the Canterbury Bulldogs.

In other team news Coach Anthony Griffin has named rookie’s Jack Reed and Dane Gagai to debut in a fresh backline.

Gagai and father Ray will become the first father-son duo to represent the Broncos.

Sam Thaiday has been named in the front row alongside Scott Anderson with Shane Tronc and Josh McGuire on the bench.

Matt Gillett and Alex Glenn will start in the second row pushing arguably last year’s best Broncos forward, Ben Te’o, to the bench.

The Broncos have not lost to the Cowboys since Round 1, 2007 – a record stretching seven consecutive victories.

Five Cowboys debut

Up to five players could wear the North Queensland colours for the first time Friday night after Coach Neil Henry named a new-look side today.

Former Storm and Queensland workhorse Dallas Johnson and Manly premiership winning back-rower Glenn Hall will make their NRL returns after both spent last year in the English Super League.

Ex-Broncos forwards Ashton and Tariq Sims have been included on a five man bench and for Tariq it will be his NRL debut if selected.

Ben Jones, a Roosters utility with a handful of NRL games, has also been named on the bench where he can cover in the halves, backline, hooker or lock.

Gavin Cooper also returns to the Cowboys having made his debut for the club in 2003 before spending the last four years with the Titans and Panthers.

Rookie Ray Thompson, who also played a handful of games for the Cowboys last season, will partner Johnathan Thurston in the halves.

Thurston this season will share the captaincy with Maroons prop Matt Scott while fullback Matt Bowen will hope to return to his electric best after knee injuries ruined his past two seasons.

Former Broncos Antonio Winterstein (jaw) and Brent Tate (knee) weren’t considered for the match.

Winterstein, who was injured in a trial against Brisbane, hopes to be back in a month while Tate won’t play until midway through the season.

The Cowboys would have finished with the wooden spoon last season had it not been for the Melbourne Storm’s salary cap rorting.

Titans face Premiers

The Gold Coast Titans will face World Club Champions and defending premiers St George-Illawarra at Skilled Park on Saturday night.

Former Rabbitoh Luke Capewell will wear retired Mat Rogers’ five-eighth jersey having held off a push from teenager Jordan Rankin.

Preston Campbell, in his final season, will play off the bench meaning William Zillman will be the first choice fullback.

Campbell is expected to relieve hooker Riley Brown as the Titans wait for regular rake Nathan Friend to return from injury.

Coach John Cartwright has injected some youth into his forwards with Bodene Thompson, Sam Tagaetese and Ryan James named in the squad.

Mark Minichiello is the 18th man however if he proves his fitness from a groin injury by Friday, he will come into the final team.

Anthony Laffranchi is still recovering from wrist surgery and hopes to play within the first month of the competition.

The Titans have won two of their last three games against the Dragons but the visitors hold a daunting 6-2 overall winning record.

A strong crowd is expected Saturday night for a 6:30pm kick-off (local time) and the game will be live on Fox Sports.

The Queensland derby game will be live on Channel Nine from 7:30pm Friday.

Brisbane Broncos vs. Cowboys, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live)
Josh Hoffman, Jharal Yow Yeh, Gerard Beale, Jack Reed, Dane Gagai, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Sam Thaiday, Andrew McCullough, Scott Anderson, Alex Glenn, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker. Interchange: Ben Hunt, Ben Te’o, Josh McGuire, Shane Tronc.

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Broncos, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live)
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Will Tupou, Willie Tonga, Michael Bani, Ray Thompson, Johnathan Thurston (c), Matt Scott (c), Aaron Payne, James Tamou, Scott Bolton, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Ben Jones, Leeson Ah Mau, Gavin Cooper, Ashton Sims, Tariq Sims (one to be omitted).

Gold Coast Titans vs. Dragons, Saturday 6:30pm, (Fox Sports, live)
William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, David Mead, Luke Capewell, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Riley Brown, Matthew White, Greg Bird, Bodene Thompson, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Sam Tagataese, Ryan James, Preston Campbell, Mark Minichiello (one to be omitted).