Qld Teams Rd 23 - Thurston returns for Broncos Blockbuster

North Queensland halfback Johnathan Thurston has been named to return from a knee injury and face Brisbane at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Friday night.

Thurston, pivotal to the fourth-placed Cowboys chance of a maiden premiership, suffered what many thought was a season-ending knee injury in Origin III on July 6.

However the diagnosis determined it was just a six week injury and Friday will be a day after the five week mark.

The Cowboys had done well to maintain their momentum in his absence by winning three of the five games.

However their attack was poor last week in losing a low quality 6-14 match to the Bulldogs in Sydney.

Thurston will be joined by co-captain and forwards leader Matt Scott, who was a late withdrawal last week with a niggling back injury flaring up.

The Maroons duo are critical components of the North Queensland side and will invariably boost the team and the expected near sold out crowd for what is traditionally the biggest match of the season in Townsville.

Winger Kalifa Faifai Loa has also been named after missing last week with a hamstring injury.

North Queensland escaped with a 16-14 win over Brisbane when they met at Suncorp Stadium in Round One, however the Cowboys have not defeated the Broncos at Dairy Farmers Stadium since Round 20, 2006.

Thurston replaces Ben Jones at halfback while Scott replaces Glenn Hall in the front row.

Hall is part of a strong five man bench which includes Scott Bolton, who successfully returned from a calf injury last week, and Cory Paterson as 18th man.

Victory for the Cowboys will likely see them jump the Broncos into third position on the table however a loss could see them fall to fifth.

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

Lockyer breaks record

Darren Lockyer will become the most capped NRL player in history on Friday night when he runs out for his 350th premiership match.

Lockyer joined Terry Lamb and Steve Menzies by playing in last weekend’s 21-20 win over the Warriors but will take the sole record when entering the Dairy Farmers Stadium playing field on Friday.

After debuting in 1995 as an 18-year-old, Lockyer has been a dominant fullback and five-eighth at all levels of the game.

He has won three premierships, including 2006 as captain, and been instrumental in Queensland’s Origin dynasty.

A serious knee injury, that ended his 2007 season and severely hampered his 2008, did not prevent Lockyer returning to the top of his game.

While not as quick, flashy or dominant as he used to be, Lockyer still possess an aura and match-winning ability to control a game and secure victories at all levels.

Lockyer’s farewell tour is coming to an end but victory on Friday night over the Cowboys will ensure the Broncos are in prime position to secure a vital home final in September.

Brisbane today announced Sam Thaiday would be Lockyer’s successor and lead the Broncos into the 2012 season.

However the Broncos are focussed on finishing the 2011 season as a genuine premiership contender and will need a strong performance to claim a third consecutive win.

Prop Ben Hannant could miss up to three matches with a hip flexor injury suffered against the Warriors.

He has been replaced in the starting side by Josh McGuire with David Hala gaining the vacant spot on the bench.

Winger Jharal Yow Yeh hurt his ankle in the first half but finished the game last week and should be fit to face the Cowboys.

Ben Te’o made a successful return from a broken arm last week while prop Mitchell Dodds has overcome a shoulder injury and should play Queensland Cup again this weekend.

The Broncos could face a hostile environment with this match traditionally the most anticipated by the Cowboys home fans.

Campbell gains swansong

A broken arm to Scott Prince will likely see retiring star Preston Campbell finish his career playing halfback for the Gold Coast Titans.

He will wear the number seven in Saturday night’s huge challenge against Melbourne, who have won 10 games in a row, at Skilled Park.

Campbell announced last week he would retire at the end of the 2011 season despite signing a contract extension with the club.

He should now get the chance to play most of the remaining four games having been taken from the bench to replace Prince.

The Titans captain broke his arm late in the morale boosting 20-16 win over Cronulla last week.

It was just the Titans second win in 14 weeks and gets them within one point of Parramatta as both clubs fight to avoid their first wooden spoon.

Luke Bailey will captain the Titans for the remainder of the year.

Prince had struggled all season to create attacking opportunities having lost hooker Nathan Friend to injury and five-eighth Mat Rogers to retirement for most of the season.

However new pivot Beau Henry has looked promising in his handful of matches while hooker Matt Srama has been the shining light in a disappointing season.

Coach John Cartwright, who himself has been in hospital and missed the last two games, added Greg Bird and Clinton Toopi in the only other changes to the team.

Bird missed the win over Cronulla with a hamstring injury while Toopi has been overlooked in recent weeks for the younger Dominique Peyroux.

The Storm are chasing a club record 11 straight victories and if they achieve it over the Gold Coast, will all but secure the minor premiership.

Saturday’s match will be live on Fox Sports and kicks off at 7:30pm.

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Broncos, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live)
Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Willie Tonga, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ray Thompson, Johnathan Thurston (c), Matt Scott (c), Aaron Payne, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Tariq Sims, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Glenn Hall, Scott Bolton, Ashton Sims, Cory Paterson (one to be omitted).

Brisbane Broncos vs. Cowboys, Friday 7:35pm, (Channel Nine, live)
Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Josh McGuire, Andrew McCullough, Scott Anderson, Alex Glenn, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Matt Gillett, Ben Hunt, Ben Te’o, David Hala.

Gold Coast Titans vs. Storm, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Jordan Rankin, Steve Michaels, William Zillman, Dominique Peyroux, David Mead, Beau Henry, Preston Campbell, Luke Bailey (c), Matt Srama, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Luke O’Dwyer. Interchange: Brenton Lawrence, Will Matthews, Bodene Thompson, Clinton Toopi, Greg Bird (one to be omitted).