Qld Teams - Reunion in Melbourne

Nine members of the successful Queensland Origin team will share AAMI Park on Friday night when the Broncos travel to face the Storm.

The Broncos are almost at full strength for what has been a grudge match since Brisbane defeated Melbourne in the 2006 Grand Final.

Darren Lockyer is expected to overcome the flu in time to join Origin team mates Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday, Ben Hannant, Jharal Yow Yeh and Corey Parker for Friday’s game.

They will square off against fellow Queenslanders Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk as the Broncos seek to avenge a 22-29 loss earlier in the year.

That match was played barely 24 hours after the Test Match and Broncos coach Anthony Griffin took innovative injury precautions by refusing to play Lockyer, Hodges, Hannant and Thaiday.

Melbourne are currently leading the competition while the Broncos are two wins behind them in 4th spot.

The Broncos have regained starting prop Scott Anderson for this weekend’s return match after the former Melbourne player missed last week’s 30-10 win over the Titans with a bout of asthma.

His inclusion is the only change to the side and pushes young forward Dunamis Lui to the 18th man role.

However Lui may be battling a rib injury following a training accident this morning and would be in some doubt for the Storm game.

Former Australian forward Dane Carlaw made his return from a knee injury in the Queensland Cup last week.

That just leaves Ben Te’o on the injured list as he tries to overcome his second fractured arm of the season.

Friday’s match is live into Queensland from 7:30pm on Channel Nine.

Henry debuts

After waiting nearly a month, the Gold Coast Titans will reveal their new five-eighth Beau Henry in Saturday’s match against the Cowboys at Skilled Park.

Signed from Newcastle in June, Henry spent time training with the Titans before a back injury slowed his preparation.

After playing Queensland Cup last week Henry will finally have a chance to add to his six NRL games this season – all while playing for the Knights.

The Titans have struggled to create attacking opportunities all season with no one able to lock down a position alongside Scott Prince in the halves.

Coach John Cartwright has tried Luke Capewell, William Zillman, Preston Campbell, Greg Bird and even called Mat Rogers from retirement to fill the five-eighth jersey.

Henry now seems the front-runner to establish himself for 2012 in the final seven games of what has been a wretched season for Gold Coast.

The Titans are in last position, have lost four in a row and hold the worst points differential in the league meaning they cannot even mathematically make the 2011 Finals.

Henry’s debut sees Zillman move to the centres with Bodene Thompson into the back row replacing the injured Ashley Harrison.

The Queensland lock hurt his elbow against the Broncos and despite fears his season was over, Harrison is hopeful of returning in the last few weeks of the year.

Brenton Lawrence returns to the bench with Michael Henderson sidelined after breaking a finger.

Saturday will see the Titans play their second consecutive derby game and will be live on Fox Sports from 5:30pm.

Jones to halfback

Former Sydney Rooster and Indigenous All Star player Ben Jones will be given the lofty task of deputising for Johnathan Thurston on Saturday night.

Jones replaces Michael Morgan in the halfback jersey for the Cowboys match on the Gold Coast against the bottom-placed Titans.

After playing a handful of games in the centres and off the bench, Jones gets his chance this week alongside Ray Thompson in the halves while Morgan plays Queensland Cup.

Fullback Matt Bowen took over most of the organising in last weekend’s 18-38 loss to Wests Tigers and is expected to again be the attacking general against the Titans.

Captain Matt Scott will have to prove his fitness after a back injury saw him drop out of the side with Leeson Ah Mau called in to face the Tigers.

Ashton and Tariq Sims have been retained in the starting side with James Tamou joining Glenn Hall on a six man bench.

Joel Riethmuller, along with Scott and Jones, is the other new face in the 19 man squad.

Last week Brent Tate made a successful return from a serious knee injury and showed enough signs to suggest he will be a major asset as the Cowboys strive to return to Finals football.

North Queensland is in 5th position and while Thurston remains on track for a six week recovery from a knee injury, the Cowboys will hope to maintain some momentum and winning form while they wait.

They were badly beaten 18-37 in the corresponding match last year but comfortably defeated the Titans 22-12 at Dairy Farmers Stadium earlier this year.

Brisbane Broncos vs. Storm, 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, Dunamis Lui (one to be omitted).

Gold Coast Titans vs. Cowboys, Saturday 5:30pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Luke Capewell, Steve Michaels, 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.

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Titans, Saturday 5:30pm, (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, Joel Riethmuller, Leeson Ah Mau (two to be omitted).