They may have won six games in a row, but the Brisbane Broncos will face statistically their most challenging opponent of the season in the Canterbury Bulldogs on Friday.
After losing to fellow top four sitters North Queensland in the opening round, the Broncos have gone on to defeat Canberra, Gold Coast, Penrith, Newcastle, Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers to sit pretty on top of the table.
However of those sides, only the Tigers sat in the top eight leaving some critics to question just how good this 2011 Brisbane side is.
That question could be answered at Suncorp Stadium when Brisbane host the sixth-placed Bulldogs (five wins, two losses) in what will be an ideal yardstick for both sides.
With medium-term injuries to back row duo Ben Te’o (arm, Round 12) and Matt Gillett (foot, Round 15), coach Anthony Griffin has re-jigged his forward pack.
Sam Thaiday will start in the back row with veteran Dane Carlaw at prop, while impressive youngster Josh McGuire has been included on the bench.
The side named today is the same as the one that eventually took the field in Brisbane’s 31-18 win over the Tigers on Good Friday.
Regular fullback Josh Hoffman continues to battle a leg injury and is no chance of earning his maiden New Zealand cap for the May 7 Test Match with Australia.
Meanwhile the Queensland selectors will name a 22-man squad on Thursday for the 2011 Origin series.
Players not named in the initial squad could still force their way into the team for Origin I on May 25.
Broncos pair Justin Hodges and Jharal Yow Yeh will go close to winning a spot in the backline while Sam Thaiday and captain Darren Lockyer are certainties, barring injury.
At this stage Friday night’s match with the Bulldogs will not be broadcast live with Channel Nine preferring to show the Royal Wedding until 8:30pm, where a delayed telecast from Suncorp Stadium will then begin.
No Campbell, for now
Gold Coast coach John Cartwright has stuck with the same team that suffered a last-gasp loss to the Eels for Saturday evening’s clash with the Roosters at Skilled Park.
However there is speculation Preston Campbell may overcome a knee injury in time for the match.
Campbell has missed three matches and would be a welcome inclusion to a side who was labelled ‘inept’ and ‘arrogant’ by their coach following Sunday’s match – a match the Titans should have won until the Eels snatched victory in the dying seconds.
The veteran Campbell could return at fullback, five-eighth or off the bench if he passes a fitness test later in the week.
Sam Tagataese played Queensland Cup last weekend and has again been omitted from the NRL squad for Saturday’s match with the Roosters.
The two sides last met in last years’ Preliminary Final where the Titans were smashed 32-6 at Suncorp Stadium.
Gold Coast hold a 4-3 winning advantage however the Roosters were successful at Skilled Park last season too.
Saturday’s match will be live on Fox Sports from 5:30pm.
Cowboys Rising
The North Queensland Cowboys will aim to continue their NRL resurgence with a fourth consecutive victory on Saturday night.
After spending the last few seasons languishing at the foot of the table, the Cowboys are comfortably in the top eight and face a potential blockbuster showdown with Manly at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
Both sides have five wins to their credit and the winner will likely secure their place in the top four.
The Cowboys are also chasing four straight home wins after accounting for the Storm, Titans and Raiders in the last six weeks.
Coach Neil Henry has included hooker James Segeyaro on the interchange bench after the rookie dropped back to the Queensland Cup last week.
Segeyaro is the only addition to the side that easily accounted for Cronulla (30-12) in Sydney last weekend.
Cowboys back-rower Glenn Hall will come up against his former club for the first time with the Manly side containing a number of his Premiership winning team-mates.
The match will be available live as part of Fox Sports Super Saturday viewer’s choice broadcast with kick-off at 7:30pm.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Bulldogs, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, delayed 8:30pm)
Gerard Beale, Dale Copley, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Dane Carlaw, Alex Glenn, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Mitchell Dodds, Josh McGuire, Nick Kenny, Ben Hunt.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Roosters, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Luke Capewell, Steve Michaels, Esi Tonga, Bodene Thompson, David Mead, William Zillman, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Greg Bird, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Ryan James, Ben Ridge, Luke O’Dwyer.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Manly, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Antonio Winterstein, Willie Tonga, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ray Thompson, Johnathan Thurston (c), Matt Scott (c), Aaron Payne, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau, Tariq Sims, Ashton Sims, James Segeyaro (one to be omitted).
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