Bronco hearts skipped a beat when Darren Lockyer left the Storm game late last week complaining of a hamstring twinge – but those concerns have been nullified.
In what was a precautionary measure, Lockyer called it a night with his side trailing the league leaders comfortably and watched the final eight minutes with ice on the hamstring.
However the retiring veteran has trained in both sessions this week and looks to be in no doubt to face Cronulla at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
In the only other change to the side that played better than the 6-26 scoreboard against Melbourne might suggest, hulking prop David Hala comes onto the bench with Mitchell Dodds (shoulder) ruled out.
Hala exploded onto the NRL scene during the representative period before being forced into the Queensland Cup due to Origin and injury returns.
In off-field news, the Broncos today announced Petero Civoniceva will return to the club for one final season in 2012.
Civoniceva played 215 games for the Broncos before spending the past four seasons captaining the Penrith Panthers.
Gold Coast Titan fullback Luke Capewell has also signed a one year deal with the Broncos for next season.
Having initially signed with the Titans as a five-eighth option, Capewell will compete with Ben Hunt and Corey Norman to fill Lockyer’s void next year.
Friday’s match with the Sharks kicks-off at 7:35pm and will be live into Queensland on Channel Nine.
Cronulla could have captain Paul Gallen back from a calf injury in what shapes as a must win game if they are to push for the top eight.
Cowboys unchanged
Despite having Johnathan Thurston sidelined, the North Queensland Cowboys have maintained their good form to sit in fourth position on the table.
They have won two of the three games without the pivotal Thurston and take an unchanged team into Saturday night’s home clash with Penrith.
Leeson Ah Mau has been added to the bench but coach Neil Henry is likely to stick with the same team that fought hard for a 28-20 win over the Titans last week.
Centre Brent Tate scored one of the Cowboys five tries against Gold Coast and looked impressive as he eased his way into another comeback.
Halfback Ben Jones admirably filled the halfback jersey and has at least three more games before Thurston is slated to return.
The injury-depleted Panthers need a victory on Saturday to be a chance at skipping into the top eight.
North Queensland will have Scott Bolton and Michael Bani available for selection next week with the duo to play Queensland Cup on Saturday.
Bolton has been troubled by a calf injury all season while Bani is returning from an ankle problem.
Saturday’s NRL match with the Panthers will be live on Fox Sports Two from 7:30pm.
Laffranchi notches 200
Foundation Titan Anthony Laffranchi will register his 200th NRL game Sunday against the Knights in Newcastle.
Laffranchi has been a key squad member since the Titans debuted in 2007 but is leaving the NRL at the end of this season to play in the English Super League.
Coach John Cartwright has made two changes to the side that lost 20-28 to the Cowboys last week.
With a view to the future, teenage fullback Jordan Rankin has been recalled while winger Dominique Peyroux will make his NRL debut.
After impressing in the Under 20’s, Rankin replaces the Broncos-bound Luke Capewell for the Knights game.
Peyroux represented Cook Islands in 2009 and the 22 year-old winger has impressed for the Titans undefeated Queensland Cup feeder team Tweed Heads.
He replaces Steve Michaels who was heavily concussed in the North Queensland match.
Five-eighth Beau Henry was solid in his Titans debut after playing just over an hour last week.
He returns this week to Newcastle where he played six games earlier in the season before linking with the Gold Coast.
Sunday’s match is live on Fox Sports Two and kicks off at 2pm.
Brisbane Broncos vs. Sharks, 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, David Hala, Josh McGuire.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Panthers, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Willie Tonga, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ray Thompson, Ben Jones, Matt Scott (c), Aaron Payne, Ashton Sims, Gavin Cooper, Tariq Sims, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Glenn Hall, Cory Paterson, James Tamou, Leeson Ah Mau (one to be omitted).
Gold Coast Titans vs. Knights, Sunday 2pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Jordan Rankin, Dominique Peyroux, William Zillman, Clinton Toopi, David Mead, Beau Henry, Scott Prince (c), Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Anthony Laffranchi, Bodene Thompson, Mark Minichiello, Greg Bird. Interchange: Matthew White, Brenton Lawrence, Luke O’Dwyer, Preston Campbell.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment