Broncos sweat on Parker for NRL finals

For the second straight day Brisbane have been forced to play down an injury concern after Test forward Corey Parker threw a scare into the Broncos camp on Wednesday.

Back-rower Parker left training with a hamstring complaint in what appeared to be a major headache for coach Wayne Bennett ahead of Saturday night’s NRL qualifying final against North Queensland.

However, Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday later backed Parker to take on the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, saying the veteran left the training field as a precautionary measure.

“I am sure he will be fine. It will take a lot more than that to stop Corey going out there on the field,” Thaiday said of the 321-game veteran.

“It’s been a long year for him so he’s just being smart about it.”

Thaiday did not believe Parker would be tempted to rest up for the Cowboys clash considering the second-placed Broncos have earned a finals double chance.

“He will want to get out there for sure,” he said.

“But I can play lock (if Parker is out). I have covered a few positions.

“If need be we can cover him. We are not stressing too much.”

There was also good news for forward Alex Glenn after a foot problem forced his early departure from Tuesday’s session.

Glenn – back from a one game suspension – trained strongly on Wednesday and dismissed any remaining fitness fears.

“I got rested in my first run back. It was just precautionary, we didn’t want to over do it,” Glenn said.

He expected Parker to join him on the field this weekend.

“Cozza is good. He is icing up at the moment,” he said.

“His hamstring felt a bit funny yesterday so he knows his body well.

“He has gone in for some treatment and should be okay for our final run on Friday.”

Glenn admitted his one-week ban was a blessing in disguise as he nursed his foot strain.

“No one wants to miss games but … it worked in my favour,” he said.

“I have no carry over points going into the finals and my foot has healed up perfectly.”

Broncos high performance manager Jeremy Hickmans said Glenn was on track.

“He did a lot of work last week,” Hickmans told the Broncos website.

“We are just making sure we look after him this week and we have no concerns about him not being able to take the field.”

Glenn will provide welcome defensive cover for rookie pivot Anthony Milford who was heavily targeted by Melbourne in last round’s 15-8 NRL loss.

Brisbane have a 0-3 NRL finals record against arch-rivals North Queensland, but all previous games were held in Townsville.

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