-
Peter Wallace of the Brisbane Broncos - Source: Getty
Brisbane have received a late boost for tomorrow night's do or die NRL showdown with Canberra with halfback Peter Wallace to take his place in the Broncos lineup.
Wallace - who is booked in for end-of-season shoulder surgery - has been cleared by Brisbane's medical staff and will partner youngster Ben Hunt in the halves against the Raiders in a game they have to win by at least 15 points to have a chance at making the playoffs.
Wallace, who completed this morning's training session, replaces teenager Corey Norman.
But Brisbane will be without inspirational skipper Darren Lockyer and face a huge task against the big and mobile Raiders who are on a roll, having won seven of their past eight games.
Their giant forwards will target Wallace's suspect shoulder in the opening exchanges of a clash expected to be played in front of a huge Suncorp Stadium crowd.
If Brisbane lose, it will end their run of 18 successive finals appearance and will be the last game of rugby league for young centre Israel Folau before he heads to new AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney.
The Raiders have gone into lockdown with a closed training session scheduled for Brisbane later this afternoon.
Meanwhile, The Gold Coast Titans have suffered a blow ahead of
tomorrow night's NRL clash with the West Tigers after Luke Bailey
was ruled out with a thumb injury.
Bailey underwent surgery earlier this week and hoped to play with a
protective guard but was ruled out today.
Bailey is expected to be replaced in the front row by either Brad
Meyers or Michael Henderson with Luke O'Dwyer tipped to be added to
the bench.
The Titans must win their final regular season match at Skilled
Park to ensure a home final.
Titans coach John Cartwright later confirmed Anthony Laffranchi
would slot into the front row in place of Bailey with interchange
utility Greg Bird moving into the backrow and O'Dwyer added to the
bench.
