Another game, another injury for Brisbane.
However, Broncos coach Wayne Bennett is not reaching for the panic button just yet.
Brisbane snapped their three game losing run by downing Canberra 26-18 at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night – at a price.
Backrower Alex Glenn (shoulder) and utility back Jordan Kahu (pectoral) may be sidelined for up to a month after being added to Brisbane’s worrying injury list.
Kahu had slotted into the centres against Canberra for England international Jack Reed, who is out indefinitely with his own shoulder drama.
Hooker Andrew McCullough (thumb) is also unavailable.
More injuries is the last thing Bennett needs as he juggles players through yet another demanding State of Origin period.
He is expected to lose six players again for June 22’s Origin II clash in Brisbane.
Yet Bennett hardly seemed fazed by the latest casualties.
“Worse case scenario they (Glenn, Kahu) might miss a couple of weeks, maybe a month with byes,” Bennett said.
“(But) depth’s okay. It is just during the game where it makes a difference.
“Forwards we have covered (during a game), outside backs we don’t.
“It just puts us under a bit more pressure during the game.”
Bennett had a ready-made replacement on the bench for Glenn – Queensland backrower Sam Thaiday.
Thaiday had been named in the starting front row but began the match on the bench with Kiwi enforcer Adam Blair.
In the end the pair made the difference coming off the interchange and injecting new life into Brisbane as Canberra rallied late.
“Blair was back to being himself again,” Bennett said of the New Zealand forward.
“And Sam was fresh to go into that position (for Glenn) – it worked out okay.”
Hat-trick hero Darius Boyd was most pleased Brisbane finally got their confidence back after a rough trot.
“We had been a bit low. The place hadn’t been as fun as it had been the last few weeks,” he said.
The win celebrated Brisbane captain Corey Parker’s 336th game, moving to joint fourth with Brad Fittler on the NRL all-time matches list.
“You take it personally when things aren’t going quite well,” Parker said.
“Us senior guys spoke about a few things.
“For us it was important we got out there and showed each other we know how to play footy and get the job done.”
