Three consecutive losses have made a top four finish difficult but not impossible for the North Queensland Cowboys.
Last week’s golden point defeat to the Rabbitohs, combined with wins for the Warriors and Tigers, meant the Cowboys slipped to fifth on the ladder.
They are now in a four way battle with the Warriors, Tigers and Dragons for fourth position and a vital Week One Finals match at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
The Cowboys host Cronulla on Saturday night before flying to New Zealand in what could be a showdown for the right to host that opening Final.
Forward Scott Bolton has been added to the bench after making way last week for Jason Taumalolo to play his second NRL game.
North Queensland face a Cronulla side playing only for pride with both the top eight and wooden spoon virtually out of reach.
Earlier in the year the Cowboys recorded a comfortable 30-12 win over the Sharks and will be aiming for a similar performance this weekend.
It could be centre Willie Tonga’s final home match for the Cowboys with the Queensland star to join Parramatta from season 2012.
Halfback Johnathan Thurston requires just five points to break the 1,000 NRL career point barrier.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 7:30pm and will be available live on Fox Sports.
Hodges Hamstrung
Broncos centre Justin Hodges is facing his third stint on the injury list after leaving last night’s 26-6 win over Newcastle with a hamstring injury.
The Queensland centre missed six weeks in the middle of the season and was also hampered by hamstring issues in the opening weeks.
This all after Hodges missed the entire 2010 season with a ruptured Achilles.
While initial reactions seemed to indicate his NRL year was finished, it now appears Hodges could miss only this weekend’s match against the Rabbitohs.
More scans will be taken later in the week but any Hodges return before or during the finals will boost the Broncos.
Coach Anthony Griffin named the versatile Ben Te’o to replace Hodges this weekend.
Te’o has battled a fractured arm for most of the season but after three games back in the NRL from the bench and spending time in the centres last year, he should play a full match.
The loss of Hodges has been offset by the return of Queensland prop Ben Hannant from a hip flexor injury.
Hannant has missed wins over the Cowboys and Knights but replaces Te’o on the bench in the only other change to the side.
Winger Jharal Yow Yeh showed no ill effects of an ankle injury last night while sprinting for a 90 metre intercept try that swung the game back to the Broncos.
Yow Yeh was a late inclusion for the Knights game with Dale Copley scoring a try in his return to the Under 20’s side.
Both the Broncos and their opponents this weekend, South Sydney, are on four game winning streaks.
While the Broncos have secured a home final and can finish no lower than third, the Rabbitohs need to keep winning to force their way into the Finals.
A loss this weekend could end Souths season while Brisbane know a win for them keeps them in the mix to finish second and avoid elimination in the first weekend of Finals.
Sunday’s match kicks off at 3pm and will be shown delayed on Channel Nine from 4pm.
Bailey Boost
A depleted Gold Coast Titans will welcome back prop Luke Bailey for Monday night’s match with Wests Tigers at Campbelltown.
Bailey was a late withdrawal, due to a neck injury, from the side that defeated Canberra 26-18 last week.
While he will be monitored during the week, it is expected the extra time before a Monday night game should allow him to play.
The Titans moved out of last position with the win over Canberra but sit just one point ahead of the bottom-placed Eels.
With a match against Parramatta to finish the season, the game against Wests Tigers could be vital for Gold Coast to avoid the wooden spoon.
Impressive young centre Dominic Peyroux has likely played his last game of the season after suspicions he broke his hand against Canberra.
Coach John Cartwright has named Clinton Toopi to replace Peyroux for the Tigers game.
Such was the Titans injury crisis, the club was forced to name Toopi on the bench last week despite him being virtually no chance of playing.
Toopi was experiencing symptoms of vertigo but the club had no other fit players to choose from for the Raiders match.
Even though he was medically cleared to play, Cartwright has since revealed he was only going to use Toopi if it was absolutely necessary.
However the former New Zealand international will be fully prepared for a full match against the Tigers on Monday night.
The final Monday night game of the season kicks off at 7pm and will be live on Fox Sports.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Sharks, Saturday 7:30pm, (Fox Sports, 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, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Tariq Sims, Jason Taumalolo, Ashton Sims, Scott Bolton (one to be omitted).
Brisbane Broncos vs. Rabbitohs, Sunday 3pm, (Channel Nine delayed, 4pm)
Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jack Reed, Ben Te’o, 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 Hannant, David Hala.
Gold Coast Titans vs. Tigers, Monday 7pm, (Fox Sports, live)
Jordan Rankin, Steve Michaels, Esi Tonga, Clinton Toopi, David Mead, William Zillman, Preston Campbell (c), Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Greg Bird. Interchange: Brenton Lawrence, Will Matthews, Bodene Thompson, Luke O’Dwyer.
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