Petero Civoniceva will play his first NRL game for Brisbane in five seasons from off the bench against North Queensland on Friday night.

Civoniceva missed the round-one clash with Parramatta due to suspension, and big performances against the Eels from Ben Hannant and Sam Thaiday made the decision easier for Broncos coach Anthony Griffin.

Griffin is keen to also ease Civoniceva back following the pectoral muscle he tore playing for Penrith last year in addition to just half-an-hour of game time in the trials.

“We’re just bringing him off the bench and hopefully he’ll have some impact for us there,” Griffin said.

The Cowboys – reeling from a woeful display last weekend against Gold Coast, labelled as the worst in the club’s history by skipper Johnathan Thurston – have named Brent Tate in an extended 19-man squad.

The representative centre is battling a rib injury but under pressure to play following an inept display of handling against the Titans in which the Cowboys recorded the worst completion rate since the NRL began keeping such stats.

However, Henry was cautious of reports Tate might have painkilling injections in a bid to play.

“I’m not a doctor but I don’t know if you can inject around the ribs with the lungs being there,” Henry said.

“Structurally it’s fine, he can pad it up but it’s the pain tolerance.”

Henry has also dispatched halfback Robert Lui, who made his Cowboys debut last weekend as an interchange option, to the Queensland Cup to play for the Northern Pride to gain some match fitness.

Manly coach Geoff Toovey has named Glenn Stewart and Kieran Foran in his line-up for Friday’s clash with Wests Tigers in Gosford.

Stewart is awaiting the results of a scan on a dislocated finger sustained in the win over the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday.

Foran is struggling with knee and ankle injuries but Toovey insists the Kiwi five-eighth will be fit to play.

However, centre Steve Matai will be out for up to six weeks with a broken thumb and is replaced by Dean Whare.

“Stevie looks like he’s going to be out between four to six weeks which is disappointing as he’s a big player for us,” Toovey said.

“We have a few other bumps and bruises and are now waiting on the results of a scan on Glenn.

“We’re hoping he’ll be right but we can’t decide until he’s spoken to the specialist.

“Kieran should be fine. It’s just a bump and a bruise and he’ll be off his feet for a few days and we’ll rest him up until the game,” he said.

Wests Tigers’ NSW prop Keith Galloway has been ruled out of action for two months after injuring his foot in Sunday’s thriller against Cronulla.

Galloway joins Lote Tuqiri (thumb) and James Tedesco (knee) on the sidelines with Tom Humble selected at fullback for the encounter with the premiers at Gosford.

Parramatta will again be without star fullback Jarryd Hayne and hamstring injury victim Willie Tonga.

Hayne has failed to recover from a knee injury and will miss Monday’s match against the Warriors.

Sandor Earl and Etu Uaisele replace the injured David Simmons and Michael Gordon respectively for Penrith’s meeting with Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

Skipper Braith Anasta returns for the home side after missing the win over South Sydney on Monday due to a back injury.