Brisbane can crush Parramatta’s season with victory at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night but they will be without Darren Lockyer.
The Broncos 332 game veteran is likely to miss two weeks with a rib cartilage injury suffered in the 34-26 win over the Cowboys on the weekend.
Lockyer was hit in a hard, front-on tackle by North Queensland enforcer Luke O’Donnell in the 60th minute and left the field clutching his ribs moments later.
While the injury is not overly serious, Lockyer has been advised to rest for two weeks as the Broncos edge closer to their 19th consecutive Finals campaign.
A win over a desperate Parramatta this weekend will consolidate the Broncos position in the top eight while effectively ending the Eels hopes.
Sitting two wins outside the top eight and with an awful points differential (-70), Parramatta probably need to win all four remaining matches to qualify for the finals.
The Broncos sit in 7th but could slip out of the top eight if they lose to Parramatta and South Sydney defeat Melbourne on Sunday.
Rookie Corey Norman, as was the case for the two games without Origin players, will deputise for Lockyer alongside Peter Wallace in the halves with Corey Parker captaining the side.
Winger Antonio Winterstein missed the Cowboys match with a knee injury but has been named to take on the Eels.
Ben Te’o made a remarkable comeback from two fractured bones in his foot and played the entire 80 minutes against North Queensland.
Te’o returned just 10 days after an initial diagnose had him missing at least 4-6 weeks.
In a bit of a surprise move coach Ivan Henjak today named Te’o in the front row in place of the injured Nick Kenny for the Eels match.
Meanwhile the Broncos announced superstar Greg Inglis would join the club from next season.
Inglis, who should partner Justin Hodges in the centres next year, should be a wonderful replacement for the departing Israel Folau.
Friday’s match is expected to produce another stellar Suncorp Stadium crowd and will be live on Channel Nine from 7:30pm.
Bird flies back in
Greg Bird has missed the Titans last three impressive wins but has overcome a hamstring injury in time for Saturday night’s home match with the Cowboys.
Coach John Cartwright today retained Mat Rogers at five-eighth and included Bird on a five man bench.
His inclusion is the only addition to the in-form Titans squad chasing their fourth consecutive victory.
Gold Coast are firmly entrenched in the top eight as one of four teams on 28 points – two wins behind the ladder-leading Dragons.
In Round Four the Titans were soundly beaten 32-18 by the Cowboys in Townsville but with the finals just around the corner, Gold Coast should have more than revenge on their mind this weekend.
Thurston’s NRL season over
Johnathan Thurston will not play for the Cowboys again in 2010 but hopes to be part of Australia’s Four Nation squad in October.
Thurston lasted just 18 minutes against the Broncos on Friday night before suffering a medial ligament tear in his right ankle.
The Australian halfback has been playing with nerve damage in his feet and will use the enforced layoff to have surgery.
However the initial prognosis has Thurston recovering within 6-8 weeks making him available for Kangaroo selection.
His place for Saturday night’s ‘other local derby’ with the Titans at Skilled Park has been taken by Grant Rovelli.
Interchange forward James Tamou accepted a two match ban for punching Brisbane forward Josh McGuire in the back of the head during last week’s 32nd minute melee.
Ben Harris and Isaak Ah Mau are the new faces on a five man bench.
Luke O’Donnell struggled through the Broncos match with a leg injury but has been named to tackle the Titans.
The game will be live on Fox Sports with kick-off just after 5:30pm Saturday.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Eels, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Israel Folau, Jharal Yow Yeh, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Shane Tronc, Andrew McCullough, Ben Te’o, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker (c). Interchange: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Cowboys, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, William Zillman, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Greg Bird, Bodene Thompson, Ben Ridge (one to be omitted).
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Titans, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live).
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Ty Williams, Willie Tonga, Will Tupou, Arana Taumata, Grant Rovelli, Matt Scott, Aaron Payne (c), Willie Mason, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau, Luke O’Donnell. Interchange: Anthony Watts, Dane Hogan, Carl Webb, Ben Harris, Isaak Ah Mau (one to be omitted).
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