Double blow for Broncos

RUGBY LEAGUE

BRISBANE have suffered a big blow before tonight’s NRL blockbuster clash with South Sydney, losing test centre Justin Hodges and forward Josh McGuire to injury.

Neither player took part in the Broncos’ final training session at Red Hill yesterday morning.

The losses are a serious blow to sixthplaced Brisbane’s chances of beating second-placed South Sydney who go to Brisbane at full strength and at the top of their game with a 5-1 record.

Hodges, with a groin injury, and McGuire who returned from a calf injury against West Tigers last weekend, were ruled out after failing late medical tests.

Youngster Jordan Kahu, who has played a handful of NRL games, comes into the centres for Hodges, while Jarrod Wallace replaces McGuire on the bench.

Brisbane have rescued their slow start to the season with a hat-trick of wins against Gold Coast, North Queensland and the Tigers in recent weeks and their clash with South Sydney looms as an acid test of their improvement.

South Sydney are expected to be at full strength with star fullback Greg Inglis cleared to play despite being on the wrong end of multiple spear tackles 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

P Storm 7 Rabbitohs 7 Roosters 7 Sea Eagles 7 Knights 7 Broncos 7 Titans 7 Cowboys 7 Dragons 7 Raiders 7 Panthers 7 Sharks 7 Bulldogs 7 Tigers 7 Eels 7 W 7 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L 0 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 PF 187 157 178 151 158 126 136 128 100 108 152 96 92 103

111 PA 104 117 76 74 91 100 120 122 156 181 160 115 145 163 193 Pts 14 12 10 10 10 8 8 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 with his team-mates yesterday morning.

After the completion of the session, the New Zealand playmaker tweeted that he had been cleared to face the Bulldogs.

‘‘Passed a fitness test today so pumped to be back playing with the weststigers boys tomorrow night,’’ Marshall wrote.

The Tigers are without seven of their senior players with Chris Lawrence, Blake Ayshford and Tim Moltzen joining Keith Galloway, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Bell and Braith Anasta in the treatment room last weekend.

Moltzen is out for the season after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament against Brisbane, with Ayshford breaking his leg in the same game and Lawrence tearing a hamstring.

Coach Mick Potter had named rookies Curtis Sironen and Jacob Miller in the halves and was cautious about rushing Marshall back.

The Tigers have lost their past four games and face a Canterbury side boosted by the return of England international James Graham — a player Potter coached at St Helens in England.

‘‘I rate James as one of the best props in the game,’’ Potter said. ‘‘It’s good to see him back, but unfortunately it’s against us. He adds a different dimension to their game, has a good pass and draws in defenders.’’