Justin Hodges is ‘certain’ to play while Corey Parker and Matt Gillett should return to face South Sydney at Perth’s nib Stadium on Friday night.
It will be the Broncos first trip to Western Australia in more than 10 years and their media department have guaranteed Hodges will start at right centre.
He was a late withdrawal from last week’s 21-14 victory over the Dragons but if Hodges gets through the Rabbitohs match, he will likely force his way into the Maroons side for Origin III.
Hodges will mark up against Queensland star Greg Inglis in what should be a perfect audition for the Origin Decider.
The Broncos will also welcome back Parker, who picked up a minor groin injury in Origin II, while Gillett could play his first match in 10 weeks.
Gillett has been named on the bench following a foot injury and will hope to rediscover the form that saw him being talked about as a Queensland contender for this year’s Origin series.
Hooker Andrew McCullough and utility Ben Hunt, who was scheduled to return from a finger injury, will play Queensland Cup after the club suspended them following a public nuisance charge last weekend.
Their omission sees Kurt Baptiste get his first start after a handful of impressive matches from the bench while Corey Norman has been retained in the utility role.
Gerard Beale has moved to the left wing to accommodate Hodges, forcing Dale Copley into the 18th man role.
Props Mitchell Dodds and Nick Kenny were not considered due to shoulder injuries.
The Perth trip is a South Sydney initiative and is likely to draw close to the 20,000 capacity crowd for the Rabbitohs ‘home’ match.
Friday’s match kicks off at 9pm Queensland time and will be shown on delay from 9:30pm on Channel Nine.
Titans resist changes
Despite languishing at the bottom of the ladder with Finals aspirations all but gone, Titans coach John Cartwright has stuck largely with the same squad for this weekend’s match with Cronulla.
NSW back-rower Greg Bird is the only change to the side following last week’s ordinary 8-31 loss to the Rabbitohs.
Bird failed to back up from Origin II and replaces young prop Ryan James in the side.
James, one of the few bright sparks for the Titans 2011 season, faces eight months recovery and rehabilitation for a serious knee injury.
Like the rest of the team, James will shift his focus to the start of the 2012 season with Gold Coast likely needing to win an absolute minimum eight of their remaining 12 games to be any chance this year.
That run would have to start against Cronulla at Skilled Park on Saturday with the Titans second bye to follow next week.
Anthony Laffranchi will start at prop with Michael Henderson dropping back to a six man bench.
Brenton Lawrence has been named in the expanded squad for a possible NRL debut while Luke O’Dwyer could also return.
Five-eighth recruit Beau Henry has not been included for the Sharks match.
The Titans are undefeated at home against Cronulla and will likely formally recognise Scott Prince registering his 250th match last weekend.
Saturday’s match kicks-off at 5:30pm and will be live on Fox Sports.
Cowboys fight judiciary
North Queensland and Maroons halfback Johnathan Thurston will front the NRL judiciary tomorrow night in an attempt to overturn a two game suspension that will see him miss Origin III.
Thurston was charged yesterday for making contact with referee Matt Cecchin in last week’s 30-10 win over the Warriors.
The incident occurred as Warriors halfback James Maloney broke the line and scored a try in the 23rd minute.
While the collision was a heavy one, vision seems to suggest Thurston had eyes for the player and the contact was accidental.
Thurston apologised to a smiling Cecchin immediately after the incident and his charge came as a shock to most in both Queensland and New South Wales.
His hearing will start at 6pm tomorrow and if cleared, Thurston will play for the Cowboys against Penrith on Sunday.
Thurston will be joined at the judiciary by team mate Tariq Sims who hopes to beat a one match ban for a high tackle.
Sims is seeking a downgrade which would make him free to play the Panthers.
North Queensland will have Glenn Hall back from a one game suspension for the away clash which sees Gavin Cooper back in the centres and Will Tupou omitted.
Prop James Tamou missed the Warriors game with a shoulder injury but has been named in the side to return.
The Cowboys will be forced to re-shuffle their side if either Thurston or Sims are suspended at the judiciary.
Michael Morgan and Isaak Ah Mau will come into the mix but that decision likely will not be made until later in the week.
Sunday’s match is live from Penrith on Fox Sports with kick-off listed at 2pm.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Rabbitohs, Friday 9pm, (Channel Nine, delayed 9:30pm)
Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Kurt Baptiste, Scott Anderson, Alex Glenn, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Corey Norman, Matt Gillett, Dunamis Lui, Dave Hala, Dale Copley, (one to be omitted).
Gold Coast Titans vs. Sharks, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live)
William Zillman, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, Joseph Tomane, David Mead, Preston Campbell, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Anthony Laffranchi, Greg Bird, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Matthew White, Michael Henderson, Bodene Thompson Ben Ridge, Brenton Lawrence, Luke O’Dwyer (two to be omitted).
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Panthers, Sunday 2pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Ben Jones, Gavin Cooper, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ray Thompson, Johnathan Thurston (c), Matt Scott (c), Aaron Payne, James Tamou, Tariq Sims, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Joel Riethmuller, Aston Sims, Leeson Ah Mau.
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