The Brisbane Broncos cannot seem to escape a 2010 injury curse with coach Ivan Henjak again forced into changes.
Following the 36-18 loss to the Bulldogs last week, the Broncos have winger Antonio Winterstein (hamstring) out for at least a week and hooker Andrew McCullough (pectoral) for a month.
The McCullough injury is the more serious with an initial two week prognosis re-evaluated to sideline him until at least after the Round 11 bye.
Utility Alex Glenn has been named at hooker for Friday’s match with the Newcastle Knights at Suncorp Stadium.
In more positive injury news Denan Kemp, who suffered a punctured lung as a result of broken ribs against the Warriors in Round Three, could return to replace Winterstein.
Kemp was expected to be sidelined for at least another week but is pencilled in to face the Knights.
He will face a fitness test later in the week with both Corey Norman and Steve Michaels named on the interchange bench.
Former Cowboys prop Shane Tronc arrived back in Australia last Friday after homesickness cut short his contract with English club Wakefield.
Tronc virtually stepped off the plane and on to ANZ Stadium against the Bulldogs last week.
After impressing off the bench, Tronc has been named in the starting side for the Newcastle game.
Dunamis Lui moves to the back-row as part of the injury-enforced reshuffle.
With both sides anchored towards the bottom of the table, the match is vital for the Broncos before their top stars begin the representative season.
Titans Unchanged
After pulling off one of the most remarkable wins in their brief history last night, the Titans named the same squad for their home match with Penrith Saturday evening.
Still without halfback Scott Prince, the Titans managed to snatch a late 24-22 victory over Manly at Brookvale Oval last night.
The win came despite the Sea Eagles dominating all key statistics and looking in control for the majority of the match.
This weekend the Titans are back at Skilled Park to face the in-form Penrith Panthers.
The Panthers and Titans sit second and third respectively on the ladder with both winning five of their first seven games.
Jordan Atkins made a successful return from a knee injury last night when he started off the bench before sharing the right centre position with Joseph Tomane.
On the other side of the field former New Zealand international Clinton Toopi also made a successful NRL return after a four year sabbatical.
Toopi will likely mark Australian Test-hopeful Michael Jennings on Saturday as the Panthers push for five consecutive wins.
Cowboys facing Storm
The North Queensland Cowboys host the most talked about team in the NRL, the Melbourne Storm, on Saturday night.
After a well documented build-up last week the Storm, who cannot claim premiership points and will finish last after the salary cap scandal, obliterated the Warriors on Sunday evening.
Even though the Storm is not playing for competition points, the Dairy Farmers Stadium encounter is still hugely important for the Cowboys.
After a narrow 24-18 loss at home to the Eels, North Queensland are in desperate need to find some winning form and add to their two wins in season 2010.
Johnathan Thurston made a surprise early return from what most thought was a shoulder injury last week.
However reports from Channel Nine during their broadcast claimed Thurston had actually been hampered by a back injury.
Regardless of the injury, the Cowboys captain is the key player for the Cowboys and will go head-to-head with arguably the form halfback of the competition, Cooper Cronk.
Grant Rovelli has again been named at five-eighth with rookie Ray Thompson resting this weekend.
Rovelli has been named in the side for the past few weeks but has not played for the Cowboys in any of their last four matches.
Prop Carl Webb is out with an ankle injury handing James Tamou a starting position in the front row.
Winger John Williams has been omitted with rookie Will Tupou recalled to the centres and Ash Graham moving to the flank.
Antonio Kaufusi has been recalled to a five man bench while Leeson Ah Mau replaces brother Isaak in the 18 man squad.
The match had already pre-sold 13,000 tickets last week with many in the rugby league community now keen to see how well the Storm draw fans in the wake of their salary cap drama.
The Cowboys 7:30pm match will follow the Titans as part of Fox Sports live Super Saturday program.
The Broncos kick-off Round Eight live on Channel Nine from 7:30pm Friday.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Knights, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live)
Josh Hoffman, Denan Kemp, Ben Te’o, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Ben Hunt, Shane Tronc, Alex Glenn, Mitchell Dodds, Dunamis Lui, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Lagi Setu, Scott Anderson, Corey Norman, Steve Michaels.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Panthers, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live)
William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Clinton Toopi, Joseph Tomane, David Mead, Greg Bird, Preston Campbell, Luke Bailey (c), Nathan Friend, Brad Meyers, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Matthew White, Michael Henderson, Sam Tagataese, Jordan Atkins.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Storm, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Shannon Gallant, Ashley Graham, Will Tupou, Willie Tonga, Michael Bani, Grant Rovelli, Johnathan Thurston (c), Matt Scott, Anthony Watts, James Tamou, Scott Bolton, Willie Mason, Steve Rapira. Interchange: Clint Amos, Steve Southern, Leeson Ah Mau, Antonio Kaufusi, Dane Hogan (one to be omitted).
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