Qld Teams - Stars prepare for Rep season

Eight of the best players from the three Queensland-based NRL clubs will hope to back up following Friday night’s start to the representative season.

Broncos captain Darren Lockyer plays his 51st Test when he leads the Kangaroos against New Zealand at Melbourne’s brand new AAMI Park stadium.

Lockyer will be joined by Broncos team mate Sam Thaiday while utility Alex Glenn has been named in the 18-man Kiwi squad for what would be his International debut.

Meanwhile Titans trio Greg Bird, Anthony Laffranchi and Mark Minichiello plus Cowboys pair Willie Mason and Luke O’Donnell will play the annual New South Wales City vs. Country match in Port Macquarie on Friday night.

O’Donnell will play his first game in a month after missing the Cowboys past three games due to suspension.

The clubs will hope the eight stars get through their respective matches unscathed to back up for NRL football across the weekend.

Titans shoot for trifecta

The Gold Coast Titans, for the second time this year, will aim for their third consecutive victory when they face Newcastle on Sunday.

Captain Scott Prince made a successful return from a broken thumb in last weekend’s 38-24 win over Penrith.

He returned at halfback with Preston Campbell pushed to fullback and William Zillman shuffled to the bench.

Coach John Cartwright has retained the same 17 man squad for the away clash with the Knights.

The Titans have lost both clashes at Energy Australia Stadium and will aim to maintain their position towards the top of the 2010 ladder with a maiden win.

Newcastle is coming off an impressive come-from-behind 30-22 win over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium last weekend.

Kenny returns

Broncos prop Nick Kenny is named to return from a calf injury in Sunday’s match against Melbourne.

Kenny suffered a back injury a month ago leading up to the Round 5 match with the Dragons before blowing his calf muscle on the eve of the Broncos Round 6 match with Cronulla.

He has been named on a five man bench for the Melbourne Storm’s opening match at their new home AAMI Park.

Coach Ivan Henjak has shuffled his forwards around to face the red-hot Melbourne Storm.

Youngsters Mitchell Dodds and Dunamis Lui join Kenny on the bench with Scott Anderson and Lagi Setu named to start the match.

Corey Norman and the returning Gerard Beale make up the remainder of the interchange troops.

Ben Te’o returns to the centres with Steve Michaels NRL homecoming cut short after just the one appearance.

The Broncos have lost their last two matches and, desperately needing a win to stay in touch with the top eight, could not face the Storm at a worse time.

Since effectively being kicked out of the competition for mass salary cap breaches, Melbourne has hammered the Warriors (40-6) and Cowboys (34-6) in consecutive weeks.

The Storm has won eight of the last 10 matches between the two clubs with the only blemishes coming early last season and in the 2006 Grand Final.

Cowboys call up cavalry

Aaron Payne and Luke O’Donnell have both been named to return from three week sabbaticals in the Cowboys’ Monday night match with the Roosters in Sydney.

O’Donnell will represent City on Friday night after serving his three match suspension while Payne has been sidelined for the same period with an ankle injury.

However their returns have been offset by the news Johnathan Thurston will miss at least three weeks with a new shoulder problem.

The injury is unrelated to the shoulder and back damage that saw him sidelined earlier in the season.

His place at halfback for the Roosters match has been taken by under 20’s captain Michael Morgan, who will make his NRL debut.

John Williams returns to first grade on the wing with Ashley Graham replacing Will Tupou in the centres.

Anthony Watts and new Warriors 2011 signing Steve Rapira move back to a seven man bench.

Steve Southern (leg) and Ray Thompson (shoulder) have joined a growing injury ward; one still housing Matt Bowen (knee) for another few weeks.

The Cowboys won both matches with the Roosters in 2009 and will hope to recapture some of that winning formula this weekend.

That match will be live on Fox Sports from 7pm Monday night.

Sunday sees the Titans live on Fox Sports from 2pm while the Broncos match with the Storm will be on a one hour delay from 4pm on Channel Nine.

Gold Coast Titans vs. Knights, Sunday 2pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Clinton Toopi, Joseph Tomane, David Mead, Greg Bird, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Brad Meyers, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Matthew White, Michael Henderson, Sam Tagataese, William Zillman.

Brisbane Broncos vs. Storm, Sunday 3pm, (Channel Nine, delayed 4pm)
Josh Hoffman, Denan Kemp, Ben Te’o, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Ben Hunt, Shane Tronc, Alex Glenn, Scott Anderson, Lagi Setu, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Corey Norman, Nick Kenny, Mitchell Dodds, Dunamis Lui, Gerard Beale (one to be omitted).

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Roosters, Monday 7pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Shannon Gallant, John Williams, Ashley Graham, Willie Tonga, Michael Bani, Grant Rovelli, Michael Morgan, Matt Scott, Aaron Payne, James Tamou, Scott Bolton, Willie Mason, Luke O’Donnell. Interchange: Anthony Watts, Steve Rapira, Leeson Ah Mau, Antonio Kaufusi, Clint Amos, Manase Manuokafoa, Dane Hogan (three to be omitted).

Authors Note – League commentator Mark Geyer is this week asking for rugby league fans to fill out the annual Rugby League Week players’ poll. He is interested comparing what the players think with what the fans are saying. If you would like to take part in the quick survey please email me, andrew.keyte@gmail.com, and I will pass on the details.