Qld Teams Rd 18 - Teams arrive for grandest stage

Queensland and New South Wales have spent the day making their final preparations for what has been built as the biggest Origin match ever.

The Maroons arrived in Brisbane this morning after spending the build-up at their traditional Sunshine Coast base while the Blues flew into town yesterday.

Hype surrounding Darren Lockyer’s final Origin and New South Wales best chance in five years to win the series has ensured this match has been talked up by all within the rugby league community.

A sold out crowd at Suncorp Stadium and an expected massive Australian and international television audience could make this match the most watched game of rugby league in recent memory, if not ever.

Queensland centre Justin Hodges has overcome a minor hamstring twinge suffered on Friday and will play his first Origin match in two years.

His inclusion sends Dane Nielsen to the 18th man role while Jacob Lillyman replaces the suspended David Taylor.

The Maroons hold a positive 8-4 winning record in Deciders (two draws) and will start slight favourites despite a confident Blues taking momentum into the game.

New South Wales have a 19 man squad in Brisbane with coach Ricky Stuart reluctant to publicly name his final team until just before kick-off.

Tomorrow night’s match kicks off soon after 8pm and will be broadcast live to the east coast by Channel Nine.

Rogers Resisted

Titans coach John Cartwright has opted not to include returning veteran Mat Rogers for Friday night’s tough trip to face the Warriors in New Zealand.

Rogers, who finished his career with 199 NRL games, announced last week he would return to help the side for the remainder of the season.

However he said yesterday at this stage his best use could be on the training field but Rogers is still likely to travel with the squad later in the week.

Cartwright has largely stuck by the side humbled 12-36 by Cronulla before last weekend’s bye.

Jordan Rankin retains the fullback position with William Zillman at five-eighth while former New Zealand international Clinton Toopi will register his 150th NRL game ironically against the club, and at the ground, he spent the majority of his career.

Representative players Ashley Harrison and Greg Bird have been named but will be assessed following Origin III before the team leaves for New Zealand.

Luke Bailey and Bodene Thompson return after missing the Sharks game with Ben Ridge omitted and Luke O’Dwyer named 18th man.

Friday’s match starts at 6:30pm Queensland time and will be shown delayed on Channel Nine from 7:30pm.

Tonga returns

Maroons Origin I centre Willie Tonga will come back from a shoulder injury against the Knights in Newcastle on Monday night.

Tonga bravely battled on with the injury for an hour in the Origin opener only to be ruled out for the next five North Queensland matches.

However his timely injection should give the 4th-placed Cowboys an attacking boost as they look to make a strong return to Finals football.

Representative team-mate Brent Tate could return next week from a serious knee injury to play his first match of the season.

Tonga’s return sees Ben Jones drop back to the Queensland Cup with Will Tupou preferred for the Knights game.

Gavin Cooper returns to the back-row while former Knight Cory Paterson has been named on an extended bench for what would be his Cowboys debut.

Paterson signed with the club mid-season from Newcastle and after overcoming a minor knee injury, found his feet in the Queensland Cup and is now poised for an NRL return.

Potential rookie of the year Tariq Sims will serve the second and final game of a suspension resulting from the Round 15 match against the Warriors.

Hooker Aaron Payne remains in doubt with a fractured finger and a decision may not be made until game day.

Second-rower Scott Bolton is close to recovering from a calf injury and could possibly return against the Knights.

The Cowboys have co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott representing the Maroons tomorrow night while NRL rookie forward Joel Riethmuller will play for the Queensland Residents in the curtain-raiser.

All three will be assessed but given the long turnaround from the games will likely play if they get through unscathed.

Newcastle are the only side to have defeated the Cowboys in Townsville this season following a comprehensive 34-22 victory in Round Two.

Monday’s match is live on Fox Sports with kick-off scheduled for 7pm.

Broncos rest

The Brisbane Broncos enter their second bye of the season comfortably in 5th position and poised for a tilt at the Premiership.

They have dropped just five matches this season, including two without Hodges (injury), Lockyer and Sam Thaiday following representative matches, to announce themselves as real contenders.

Success has followed the club off the field with The Sunday Mail revealing all current squad members apart from the retiring Lockyer and veteran forward Dane Carlaw were signed with the club for at least the next year.

Carlaw is still battling a knee injury and, along with Ben Te’o (fractured arm), will be sidelined at least another fortnight.

Last season’s rookie of the year Matt Gillett and Broncos player of the year Josh Hoffman showed some of their best form in last week’s 16-12 win, minus Origin stars, over Parramatta.

The Broncos next game is against Gold Coast at Suncorp Stadium a week from Friday.

Queensland vs. NSW, Origin III, Wednesday June July 6th, 8pm, (Channel Nine, live).
Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Justin Hodges, Greg Inglis, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Nate Myles, Sam Thaiday, Ashley Harrison Interchange: Cooper Cronk, Corey Parker, Jacob Lillyman, Ben Hannant. 18th Man – Dane Nielsen, Coach – Mal Meninga.

Gold Coast Titans vs. Warriors, Friday 6:30pm, (Channel Nine delayed, 7:35pm)
Jordan Rankin, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, Esi Tonga, David Mead, William Zillman, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Michael Henderson, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Matthew White, Brenton Lawrence, Greg Bird, Bodene Thompson, Luke O’Dwyer (one to be omitted).

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Knights, Monday 7pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Will Tupou, Willie Tonga, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ray Thompson, Johnathan Thurston (c), Matt Scott (c), Aaron Payne, James Tamou, gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Joel Riethmuller, Ashton Sims, Leeson Ah Mau, Cory Paterson (one to be omitted).