'In agony': Broncos and Queensland suffer new injury disaster

Brisbane are reeling after hooker Andrew McCullough went down with a knee injury at training ahead of Friday’s NRL Magic Round clash with Manly.

The rake landed awkwardly in a tackle and was helped off the field nursing his right knee in a major blow to the battling Broncos.

Channel 7 reporter Chris Garry said McCullough looked like he was ‘in agony’.

Scans on Tuesday will determine the full extent of the injury but Jake Turpin looks set to take over at hooker.

“Obviously he is going to miss a few games but we are just not sure how long it is going to be yet,” back-rower Matt Gillett said.

“It’s not ideal. But I know Macca is a pretty good healer so no doubt he will be working hard to get back out there as soon as he can.

“And it gives Jake Turpin an opportunity to come in and fill his role.”

Maroons’ headache

Queensland coach Kevin Walters has ruled out sending an SOS to Cameron Smith despite his incumbent McCullough going down.

Walters said North Queensland rake Jake Granville was now in the mix for a State of Origin debut next month.

Former Queensland skipper Smith seemed to keep the door open on an Origin comeback, telling Fox Sports on Sunday night that he would consider a return if asked and to “never say never”.

But Walters said he would not be asking Smith to extend his record 42-game Origin career, despite reeling from the news that McCullough had joined the Maroons’ growing injury list.

“There’s nothing happening there. Cameron has shown his intentions and where he sits with things, we will just leave it at that,” Walters told AAP.

“Cameron has repeatedly said he feels his time in Origin is finished.

“It’s time for another young Queenslander to step into the role and make that jersey their own.

“I am not sure where all the rumours started from but I won’t be picking him (Smith).”

Walters said Cowboys No.9 Granville now topped his wish list after McCullough joined Sydney Roosters’ Jake Friend (biceps) on the sidelines.

“There were a couple we were thinking about (as Queensland hooker), Macca was one and Jake Friend was another but he’s fallen,” he said.

“Jake Granville is another who is still playing and seems to be on the way up – we will just have to look at our options.”

Broncos set to shake things up

A backline shake-up also looms for Brisbane who have slumped to a 2-6 record following their last round 38-6 thumping from South Sydney.

Centre James Roberts and winger Jamayne Isaako look set to be dropped for the Sea Eagles clash after training with the reserves on Monday.

Kotoni Staggs was training in the centres with Gehamat Shibasaki on the wing in their places.

Gillett was confident the Broncos could bounce back against Manly no matter who ran out on Friday at Suncorp Stadium.

“We have been poor on the road this year but we always show up at Suncorp,” Gillett said.

“As a group we have to stick together and things will turn.

“We have shown patches this season that we can play some pretty good footy and be dominant, it’s about doing that for a whole game and doing it week to week.”

with AAP