Greg Inglis has overcome injury and Dave Taylor is back in favour as Queensland aim to wrap up their sixth consecutive Origin series in Sydney next week.
The inclusions of the Rabbitohs duo are the only changes to the side that opened the series with a 16-12 win at Suncorp Stadium two weeks ago.
Inglis will take his customary left centre position after Willie Tonga suffered a shoulder injury in Origin I.
After bravely battling through the game, scans later revealed Tonga faced a minimum six weeks on the sideline, ruling him out of the remainder of the series.
Inglis’ timely return last weekend from a hip injury was perfect for Queensland with the star an automatic selection based on his superb Origin record.
Teammate Taylor faced a different battle with three barnstorming displays for the Rabbitohs forcing his way into the Queensland team at the expense of Jacob Lillyman.
After being named 18th man for Origin I despite playing all games last year, a determined Taylor starred for South Sydney in matches against the Warriors, Panthers and Storm.
While performing well in Origin I, Lillyman now finds himself 18th man for Origin II with the explosive Taylor providing a better attacking weapon.
For the first time in recent memory Queensland will have to combat a near sold out Homebush crowd with just over 1,000 tickets remaining earlier today.
The Maroons will head into camp on the Sunshine Coast before flying down to Sydney early next week to complete preparations.
Laffranchi returns
Former representative forward Anthony Laffranchi returns from a long injury spell to try and lift the Gold Coast Titans from the doldrums.
The Titans were awful at times in their 10-23 loss to Penrith last week with their fourth straight defeat leaving them anchored near the bottom of the table.
Coach John Cartwright yesterday withdrew from his assistants’ role with the NSW team to focus on his club side.
Laffranchi, a foundation Titan approaching 200 NRL games, has been a key component of their success in previous seasons and has been named in the starting side to face the depleted Dragons on Friday night.
In his final year at the club before heading overseas, Laffranchi has been hampered by injury and been restricted to just three games in 2011.
He has been named to return from an ankle injury alongside regular back-row partner Mark Minichiello – who brings up 100 NRL games for the Titans this weekend.
Minichiello joins injured hooker Nathan Friend as the only players to reach that milestone for the club.
Laffranchi replaces Greg Bird while Luke O’Dwyer moves to lock to cover Ashley Harrison with both players away on Origin duty.
In other changes Clinton Toopi and Joseph Tomane form a new look centre pairing while William Zillman returns to fullback with Preston Campbell named at five-eighth.
Bodene Thompson drops back to the bench, Sam Tagaetese has been omitted and Esi Tonga will play Queensland Cup.
Brenton Lawrence, a 26-year-old forward, has been named 18th man for what could be his NRL debut following a strong season with the undefeated Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Queensland Cup.
The Titans face a must win match against the ladder-leading Dragons in Sydney with their opponents minus six Origin stars and the injured Matt Cooper.
Friday’s match is live on Channel Nine into Queensland from 7:30pm.
Cowboys name young guns
Rookie halfback Michael Morgan faces the monumental task of wearing Johnathan Thurston’s halfback jersey in Saturday night’s match against Manly at Brookvale Oval.
Morgan played four NRL matches last season but has spent most of 2011 in the Under 20’s competition.
However he replaced James Segeyaro on the bench in last Sunday’s 40-24 victory over the Raiders in Canberra.
Fellow rookie Segeyaro returns to the interchange bench alongside Roosters recruit Ben Jones.
After playing the opening two games of the season in a utility role, Jones dropped back to the Queensland Cup to bide his time.
He has been named on the bench to face the in-form Sea Eagles but has the ability to cover anywhere in the backline or hooker.
It is possible Jones could replace Gavin Cooper in the centres with Cooper moving into his preferred back-row position.
Ashton Sims gets a start in the front row with Matt Scott away on Maroons duty while hooker Aaron Payne or fullback Matt Bowen is likely to captain the side.
With both sides missing key representative stars the battle between 3rd and 4th on the ladder will be a watered-down affair.
However the Cowboys will be aiming to extend their three game winning streak and complete a 2011 double over Manly following a 22-20 win in Round Eight.
The match is live on Fox Sports from 7:30pm Saturday.
Glenn captains Broncos
Alex Glenn will lead a young Broncos side, minus five Origin stars plus a host of others to injuries, in Sunday’s match against Canberra at Suncorp Stadium.
Glenn captained the Brisbane 2008 Under 20’s side, also coached by Anthony Griffin, to a Grand Final loss to the Raiders.
Griffin has named Glenn to lead a side almost unrecognisable from that which easily defeated Cronulla 34-16 in Sydney last weekend.
Dane Gagai and Shea Moylan come onto the wings with Dale Copley moving into the centres.
Moylan has been named twice for his NRL debut this season as cover for Jharal Yow Yeh following the Test Match and Origin I.
However on both occasions Moylan has had to step aside on game day with Yow Yeah backing up for the Broncos.
Moylan will play this weekend while Corey Norman also returns to the NRL to partner Peter Wallace in the halves.
Potential rookie of the year Jack Reed moves from the centres to lock forward with injuries to Ben Te’o and Matt Gillett forcing Griffin into the change.
Reed has spent time in the forwards during his time with Brisbane Norths in the Queensland Cup and will also have the experienced Dane Carlaw in the starting pack.
Nick Kenny returns from a shoulder injury and should start at prop while Dunamis Lui is set to play his second NRL game of the season off the bench.
Fullback Josh Hoffman made a successful return from injury last week but props Shane Tronc (neck) and Josh McGuire (eye) are still sidelined.
Gillett (foot), Justin Hodges (hamstring) and Ben Hunt (finger) could return in the next few weeks but Te’o (arm) is still a month away.
Brisbane sits alone in 5th position while the Raiders occupy last spot, with their Round 2 loss to the Broncos sparking an eight match losing streak.
The match is live on Fox Sports from 2pm Sunday.
Queensland vs. NSW, Origin II, Wednesday June 15th, 8pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm), Darius Boyd (St George-Illawarra Dragons), Dane Nielsen (Melbourne Storm), Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jharal Yow Yeh (Brisbane Broncos), Darren Lockyer (c) (Brisbane Broncos), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys), Matt Scott (North Queensland Cowboys), Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm), Petero Civoniceva (Penrith Panthers), Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos), Ashley Harrison (Gold Coast Titans) Interchange: Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm), Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos), Dave Taylor (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Ben Hannant (Brisbane Broncos). 18th Man – Jacob Lillyman, Coach – Mal Meninga.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Dragons, Friday 7:45pm, (Channel Nine, live)
William Zillman, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, Joseph Tomane, David Mead, Preston Campbell, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Michael Henderson, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Luke O’Dwyer. Interchange: Matthew White, Ryan James, Bodene Thompson Ben Ridge, Brenton Lawrence (one to be omitted).
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Manly, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Antonio Winterstein, Gavin Cooper, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ray Thompson, Michael Morgan, Ashton Sims, Aaron Payne (c), James Tamou, Tariq Sims, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Ben Jones, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Canberra, Sunday 2pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Josh Hoffman, Dane Gagai, Dale Copley, Gerard Beale, Shea Moylan, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Nick Kenny, Andrew McCullough, Scott Anderson, Alex Glenn (c), Dane Carlaw, Jack Reed. Interchange: Kurt Baptiste, Dunamis Lui, Mitchell Dodds, David Hala.
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