Brisbane salvaged something from the injury wreckage of the weekend but the faltering six-time premiers still face the grim prospect of missing the NRL finals for only the second time in the past 20 years.
The Broncos’ injury crisis threatens to dump them from the top eight in a torrid run home against ladder-leading Canterbury (away), Melbourne (home), Manly (away) and Penrith (home).
Initial reports out of Canberra suggesting serious injuries to Australia and Queensland forward Corey Parker (shoulder) and New Zealand international Alex Glenn (hamstring) were played down by the club on Monday.
Parker’s scans showed no major structural damage to his shoulder joint and he could be back in two weeks.
Glenn will be out for three to four weeks with a minor hamstring tear.
“We were a bit worried about Cozza’s (Parker) shoulder long term but it’s a bit of ligament damage and nothing that requires surgery,” coach Anthony Griffin told AAP.
The injuries to both continue a horror run for Brisbane which started early in the year when forward Dave Hala and then young representative winger Jharal Yow Yeh were ruled out for the season.
“Jordan Kahu, Hala, Yow Yeh, (Justin) Hodges, Dale Copley, Jack Reed, Parker and Glenn, there’s been a few,” said Griffin, confident he’d still come up with a strong side to tackle the in-form Bulldogs who are rolling on a 10-game winning streak.
“Blokes like Dunamis Lui will get an opportunity this week, we’ll be right.”
Brisbane should welcome back representative centre Justin Hodges for the Bulldogs clash provided he gets through the rest of the week.
“He ran again this morning and is raring to go,” said Griffin.
“The medical staff and physio are confident he’s recovered from his hamstring and ankle injuries and we just have to check him later in the week and be smart about it.”
Bookmakers have doubled Brisbane’s premiership odds to $15 in the wake of three successive losses and the toughest run home of all the sides vying for top eight positions.
“They were travelling like Black Caviar earlier in the season but they’re going more like a Clydesdale at the moment,” said TattsBet’s Gerard Daffy.
The Broncos lost five games in a row on the way to the 2006 finals before upsetting Melbourne Storm 15-8 in their most recent premiership win.
