Qld Teams Rd 17 - Maroons name Hodges as Taylor suspended

After two years Justin Hodges will finally wear the Queensland jersey again having been named to replace centre Dane Nielsen for the Origin Decider.

Hodges was the Blues public enemy number one when a series of brawls erupted in the final minutes of the third game in 2009 – a match won by NSW after Queensland had already secured the series.

Having missed the entire 2010 season with an Achilles injury, Hodges returned to the Australian side in May before tearing his hamstring just days before Queensland named their Origin I side.

Rookie Nielsen impressed in his two matches but was forced to make way for the proven Hodges while centre partner Greg Inglis looks set for a huge match next week.

Nielsen has been retained on a five man bench with the 18th man to be confirmed in the next few days.

In the only other change Jacob Lillyman has been recalled after David Taylor accepted a dangerous throw charge.

Taylor will risk a 5 match suspension and contest the grading but no matter the result, his poor record ensures Taylor will miss Origin III on July 6.

Lillyman was solid without being spectacular in Origin I and was replaced by the more explosive Taylor for the return game in Sydney.

The match is being built as one of the biggest in Origin history with Queensland celebrating Darren Lockyer’s final Origin match while a rejuvenated Blues hope to end the longest Origin drought in history and halt five years of series losses and misery.

The Maroons are in camp on the Sunshine Coast and will head to Brisbane early next week.

Suncorp Stadium will be sold out and the Origin Decider kicks-off live on Channel Nine at 8pm Wednesday week.

Battered Broncos

Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin has been forced to name hooker Andrew McCullough and utility Ben Hunt on the bench as a heavy injury and representative toll strikes the side.

Normally just one would be included on a four man bench, but Griffin told the club’s website they were down to bare minimum players for Friday’s match with Parramatta.

McCullough and Hunt were suspended by the club for an off-field public nuisance charge two weeks ago and played Queensland Cup while the Broncos lost 12-14 to the Rabbitohs in Perth last weekend.

Kurt Baptiste has retained the starting hooker position forcing McCullough to the bench while Hunt, who has played hooker this year but prefers the halves, will return from a finger injury.

That leaves Mitchell Dodds and Dave Hala as the only recognised forward rotations for the Eels match in Sydney.

Dodds and starting prop Nick Kenny are returning from shoulder injuries while Ben Te’o (fractured arm) and Dane Carlaw (knee) could play in Round 19 following a bye next week.

Shane Tronc (neck) and Josh McGuire (eye) are still sidelined indefinitely but the Broncos did receive a boost with Scott Anderson announcing today he had re-signed with the club for a further two years.

Centre Jack Reed could spend some time in a back-row this week that includes Matt Gillett, who played 38 minutes against Souths in his first game back from a foot injury, and the impressive Dunamis Lui.

Dane Gagai returns to the wing while Corey Norman starts at five-eighth after spending last weekend’s match unused on the bench.
Alex Glenn again captains the Broncos and will hope to stay unbeaten after leading the side to a 25-24 golden point win over Canberra in his captaincy debut.

With a bye to follow, victory over the Eels could see Brisbane leap into the top four by the time their next game rolls around.

The Broncos are currently in fifth position while the Eels are languishing in 14th, two wins outside the top eight.

Friday’s match with Parramatta is live on Channel Nine with kick-off at 7:45pm.

Payne’s Break

Cowboys hooker Aaron Payne hopes this weekend’s bye followed by a Monday night match will ensure he misses no more than two NRL games after breaking his hand.

Payne suffered the injury early in North Queensland’s 20-30 loss to Penrith on the weekend and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks.

Former Knight Cory Paterson made his debut for the club on the weekend playing Queensland Cup for feeder team Northern Pride.

He will be available for NRL selection against his former club Newcastle in Round 18 as could the injured Scott Bolton (calf).

Star centres Willie Tonga and Brent Tate will also be close to full fitness come the July 11 fixture as the Cowboys strive for a top four finish.

Tonga injured his shoulder in Origin I while Tate is yet to debut for North Queensland after suffering a serious knee injury representing Australia last October.

Given Tate’s history of serious knee and neck injuries, it is thought he may ease his way back through the Queensland Cup competition.

Queensland representatives Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott will be given a break before the Cowboys launch a massive assault at the Finals.

Bye, bye Titans?

Gold Coast are guaranteed two points this weekend with their second bye to possibly lift them off the foot of the ladder.

However not even those gift points seem likely to push the Gold Coast towards the top eight with their inept performance last weekend summing up their year.

The Titans have had their worse season in their short history which hit rock bottom on the weekend with a record 12-36 loss at Skilled Park to Cronulla.

The Sharks have struggled to score points in recent seasons but easily racked up six tries to hand the Titans their worst loss at Skilled Park.

In some positive news young protégé Jordan Rankin played his first NRL match in three years since debuting as a 16 year old.

He impressed at fullback and should push for NRL selection for the remainder of the season.

Forward Brenton Lawrence, 26, realised his dream with a strong debut performance against the Sharks.

Former Newcastle five-eighth Beau Henry has yet to be sighted at NRL level for the Titans despite switching to the club a number of weeks ago.

Centre Joseph Tomane has announced he will join rugby union team ACT Brumbies from next season with the Titans already locking in Jamal Idris and Beau Champion to play in the centres next year.

The Titans next fixture is against the Warriors in New Zealand on Friday week.

Queensland vs. NSW, Origin III, Wednesday June July 6th, 8pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm), Darius Boyd (St George-Illawarra Dragons), Justin Hodges (Brisbane Broncos), 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), Jacob Lillyman (Warriors), Ben Hannant (Brisbane Broncos), Dane Nielsen (Melbourne Storm) – One to be omitted. Coach – Mal Meninga.

Brisbane Broncos vs. Eels, Friday 7:45pm, (Channel Nine, live)
Josh Hoffman, Dale Copley, Jack Reed, Gerard Beale, Dane Gagai, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Nick Kenny, Kurt Baptiste, Scott Anderson, Alex Glenn (c), Dunamis Lui, Matt Gillett. Interchange: Andrew McCullough, Ben Hunt, Mitchell Dodds, David Hala.