Queensland players Ben Hannant and Matt Gillett will back up for Brisbane in Friday night’s NRL clash with North Queensland in Townsville.
Broncos coach Anthony Griffin has injected Brendon Gibb into the 17 for Corey Parker who suffered a nasty leg gash in the Maroons’ Origin II loss to NSW in Sydney on Wednesday night.
“We will figure out our starting line-up when we get up there,” he said.
Parker underwent surgery after the game and was due to return to Brisbane on Thursday, but Griffin said the jury was out on when the backrower would play his next NRL game.
“I’m not really sure to tell you the truth,” he said.
Gibb made his NRL debut in last round’s win over the Sydney Roosters.
Their remaining Origin players Petero Civoniceva and Justin Hodges will be rested for the Cowboys clash.
Griffin has resisted the temptation to inject Broncos skipper Sam Thaiday into the Cowboys game, instead opting to unleash the hulking backrower against South Sydney next Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.