Qld Teams - Titans prepare for next big scalp

The unchanged Gold Coast Titans are set to host their second consecutive Friday night blockbuster this weekend.

Seven days after handing premiership heavyweights Melbourne Storm their first loss, the Titans will face fellow co-competition leaders, and another title favourite, St George-Illawarra this weekend.

Both sides have dropped just one match this season to share the premiership lead with Melbourne and Wests Tigers after five rounds.

Gold Coast can be even more impressed with their start to the season considering their best player, halfback and captain Scott Prince, has missed the last two games with a broken thumb.

While it is unlikely Prince could make a surprise return against the Dragons, he seems likely to miss only another two matches at the most.

The Titans have had the luxury of naming virtually the same squad for all matches this season.

Coach John Cartwright listed the same 18 man squad that defeated Melbourne 20-16 last week for the Dragons clash.

Meanwhile the NRL has cleared the Titans of salary cup breach allegations lodged against the club.

The Dragons have injury concerns to their forwards stocks meaning the Titans may eventually start the match as favourites.

Cowboys lose stars

The North Queensland Cowboys are still licking the wounds from a brutal clash with Wests Tigers last weekend.

Captain Johnathan Thurston (shoulder, 3 weeks), hooker Aaron Payne (ankle, 6 weeks) and representative lock Luke O’Donnell (suspension, 3 week) are all casualties from the 23-16 loss on the weekend.

Early Saturday night reports suggested Thurston’s season, and possibly his NRL career, were over due to a shoulder injury that saw him leave the match in the 30th minute.

However after scans earlier in the week the Cowboys believe Thurston should only miss a handful of matches.

Grant Rovelli has been recalled after two weeks to play five-eighth against Newcastle this weekend with rookie Ray Thompson moving to halfback to replacing Thurston.

Following what some are calling a “minute of madness” in which he was penalised four times and eventually sin binned, lock forward O’Donnell accepted a three match ban for a high tackle.

James Tamou comes into the starting side for O’Donnell with Carl Webb recalled to a five man bench.

Hooker Payne, who moved to halfback when Thurston was injured against the Tigers, injured his ankle late in the match and faces a longer spell on the sideline.

Utility Anthony Watts will start at hooker with fellow rake Clint Amos named on the bench for his first game of the season.

Outside back Ty Williams has also been recalled to the bench while youngster Will Tupou and the experienced Ash Graham have switched positions to centre and wing respectively.

Newcastle has not won since Round One and has named captain Kurt Gidley to play his first game of the season following an injury in the Indigenous All Stars game.

Broncos Overhauled

The Brisbane Broncos will have five players return for Sunday’s match at Suncorp Stadium with Cronulla Sharks.

Superstar centre Israel Folau, who missed the last two matches with a dislocated finger, returns.
Coach Ivan Henjak, after four consecutive losses, named a completely new look side for this weekend.

Only halves Darren Lockyer and Peter Wallace, hooker Andrew McCullough and back-row duo Sam Thaiday and Lagi Setu have been retained in their named positions from last week.

Winger Jharal Yow Yeh (knee) will play his first game of the season after he was injured in the Indigenous All Stars match.

Prop Nick Kenny is back on the bench after missing last weekend’s brave 34-16 loss to the Dragons with a back injury.

Tardy pair Antonio Winterstein and Ben Te’o, who played Queensland Cup last weekend after being late for Broncos training, will return against the Sharks.

The new look backline includes Matt Gillett to partner Folau in the centres while Josh Hoffman replaces Corey Norman at fullback.

Norman and winger/centre Gerard Beale drop to a six man bench.

After impressive performances last week young props Dunamis Lui and Mitchell Dodds have been rewarded with starting spots against the Sharks while Scott Anderson drops to the bench.

Alex Glenn will start at lock while young playmaker Ben Hunt has been retained on the extended bench.

Broncos skills coach Allan Langer returned to duty today following his hearing yesterday for a drink driving charge.

Langer was fined and disqualified from driving but will resume all duties at the Broncos.

Both Brisbane and Cronulla are desperate for victory with the loser to possibly sit alone at the bottom of the ladder.

All three teams are live on television this weekend starting with the Titans on Channel Nine Friday night.

Fox Sports have the Cowboys live from 5:30pm Saturday and the Broncos live from 2pm Sunday.

Gold Coast Titans vs. Dragons, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live)
William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Mat Rogers, 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, Riley Brown, Will Matthews (one to be omitted).

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Knights, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Shannon Gallant, John Williams, Will Tupou, Willie Tonga, Ashley Graham, Grant Rovelli, Ray Thompson, Matt Scott, Anthony Watts, Antonio Kaufusi, Scott Bolton, Steve Rapira, James Tamou. Interchange: Clint Amos, Ty Williams, Willie Mason, Manase Manuokafoa, Carl Webb (one to be omitted).

Brisbane Broncos vs. Sharks, Sunday 2pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Matt Gillett, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Dunamis Lui, Andrew McCullough, Mitchell Dodds, Lagi Setu, Sam Thaiday, Alex Glenn. Interchange: Gerard Beale, Ben Te’o, Scott Anderson, Nick Kenny, Ben Hunt, Corey Norman (two to be omitted).