Qld Teams Rd 19 - Stars return for Rivalry Round

The eight Origin representatives from last week’s Decider will all play in Friday’s south-east Queensland blockbuster between the Broncos and Titans at Suncorp Stadium.

After some time off, Brisbane captain Darren Lockyer along with Sam Thaiday, Justin Hodges, Corey Parker, Ben Hannant and Jharal Yow Yeh have all been named in the starting side for this weekend’s match.

Gold Coast have been boosted themselves by naming Greg Bird and Ashley Harrison in their forward pack for the clash.

Despite their opposite positions on the table, any time the Broncos play the Titans the competition is fierce.

However the Broncos have won the last four contests, including a gritty 14-8 win in Round Three this season despite having little more than 40 per cent of possession.

They have lost to the Titans just three times in eight games at Suncorp Stadium and were last beaten by the Gold Coast in 2009.

Origin returns have allowed coach Anthony Griffin to name a near full-strength team closely resembling the side that won seven games in a row from Round Two.

Only Ben Te’o (fractured arm) and Dane Carlaw (knee) remain in the casualty ward but both could return as early as next week.

This weekend Gerard Beale has edged out Dale Copley for the left wing position leaving Copley to join Dane Gagai and Corey Norman in the Under 20’s.

Props Nick Kenny and David Hala will play Queensland Cup with Mitchell Dodds and Josh McGuire preferred on the bench.

Hooker Kurt Baptiste and forward Dunamis Lui are the likely duo to drop off a six man interchange.

After a huge week at Suncorp Stadium which saw over 100,000 people attending Origin III and the Super Rugby Final, at least another 30,000 fans are expected Friday night.

Brisbane sit comfortably in fifth position on the table, three wins clear of their nearest rival, and can push strongly for at least a top four finish.

The south-east Queensland derby match will be broadcast live into the state on Channel Nine from 7:30pm.

Rogers re-retires

Titans veteran Mat Rogers was a late inclusion last week but that appearance will most definitely be his last after breaking his foot.

Rogers suffered the injury during the first half of Gold Coast’s 6-22 loss to the Warriors in New Zealand but bravely played out his 200th NRL game.

Having initially rejoined the Titans for the rest of this season only, the 35-year-old Dual International had surgery today and while he will remain with the club, Rogers’ playing days are over.

Coach John Cartwright has called on Preston Campbell, back from a wrist injury, to replace Rogers on the bench while a refreshed Bird will start in the back row.

That sees Anthony Laffranchi in the front row with Michael Henderson on a five man bench alongside impressive forward Brenton Lawrence, who was named 18th man.

Luke Capewell has been recalled at fullback following blistering form in the Queensland Cup, including 15 tries for the year, to replace the omitted Jordan Rankin.

While still a mathematical chance of making the finals, realistically the bottom-placed Titans are playing for pride and the role of spoiler for the remainder of the season.

With just four wins for the year and the worst points differential (-147) in the league, Gold Coast would have to win all eight remaining games to be any chance of scraping through.

However the Titans will be eying off the Broncos as a possible start to salvaging something from a difficult 2011 season.

Cowboys name Tate

Australian, Queensland and Premiership winner Brent Tate has been named to make his Cowboys debut and play his first game of the season this weekend.

Tate suffered a horror knee injury, requiring a third reconstruction for his career, playing for Australia in the Four Nations Final last October.

Having signed a three year deal with the Cowboys in June last year, Tate will hopefully finally wear the jersey for the first time on Saturday night against Wests Tigers.

He has been named in the centres along with Willie Tonga, who successfully returned from a shoulder injury in last night’s gutsy 22-12 win over Newcastle.

However Tonga received an accidental knee to the chest before leaving the game with a corked thigh and is in some doubt to play the Tigers.

Centre Will Tupou has been named on the bench as cover for Tate and Tonga while boom youngster Tariq Sims returns from a two game suspension.

Hooker Aaron Payne is expected back from a fractured finger while it is hoped Johnathan Thurston’s knee injury from Origin III will only keep him sidelined for no more than six weeks.

Michael Morgan has been named at halfback, where he played last night, but Thurston’s scans indicate he should return in time for the Finals.

While a home final beckoned prior to Thurston’s injury, the Cowboys will now adapt their game around the new halves combination of Morgan and Ray Thompson to stay in touch with the Premiership contenders.

North Queensland has won their last seven matches at Dairy Farmers Stadium and sit in fourth position.

The Cowboys host 2005 Grand Final opponents Wests Tigers on Saturday night with the visitors holding a 12-11 career winning record, including six of the last seven matches.

The match is live on Fox Sports Viewers Choice and kicks off at 7:30pm.

Brisbane Broncos vs. Titans, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live)
Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Scott Anderson, Alex Glenn (c), Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Matt Gillett, Ben Hunt, Mitchell Dodds, Josh McGuire, Kurt Baptiste, Dunamis Lui (two to be omitted).

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

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Tigers, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Willie Tonga, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ray Thompson, Michael Morgan, Matt Scott (c), Aaron Payne, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Joel Riethmuller, Ashton Sims, Tariq Sims, Cory Paterson, Will Tupou, Leeson Ah Mau (three to be omitted).