Brisbane sweat on fitness of Matt Lodge as injury strikes Broncos forwards

A PAINFUL rib injury could sideline Broncos prop Matt Lodge and further deplete Brisbane’s forward stocks.

Matt Lodge. The Brisbane Broncos training at Red Hill. Pic Peter Wallis

BRONCOS prop Matt Lodge is in doubt for Friday’s clash with the Storm, after scans confirmed a rib cartilage injury.

Lodge did not train on the field on Tuesday morning, with the forward understood to be in discomfort.

The Broncos are hopeful Lodge will play on Friday but it will be determined by how he can manage the pain.

It is the best case scenario however, with Brisbane originally concerned he may have fractured his ribs.

“He will not be able to train much this week, so we will manage him through some sessions and just see how it goes,” Brisbane’s high performance manager Jeremy Hickmans said.

“If he can handle the discomfort, he is a good chance of playing against the Storm.”

Meanwhile, Kodi Nikorima (corked thigh) was eased back in to training on Tuesday, with Jack Bird and Anthony Milford running as the halves for the majority of the session.

Nikorima chimed in more towards the end of training, but there is a push for Bird to retain his spot at five-eighth.

Lodge has fats become a key forward for Brisbane.

After last week losing Queensland and Australian forward Matt Gillett to a fractured neck, the Broncos will be desperate to keep Lodge in their starting 17, particularly as they prepare to face a resurgent Melbourne side on Friday.

Brisbane had copped criticism for their 2-3 start to the season, but managed to rebound on Saturday against the previously undefeated Warriors and will now be keen to notch up back-to-back wins.

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Former Sharks prop Sam Tagataese made his Broncos debut over the weekend following the loss of Gillett and could be retained, especially if Lodge does not prove his fitness in time.

Promising teenage forward Payne Haas was also in Brisbane’s 21-man squad last week and, despite his young age, could be the next prop called upon if the Broncos need more size.

Nikorima’s availability also gives coach Wayne Bennett the option to use him or Tom Opacic as a bench utility.

“Kodi will train tomorrow with a view to making a return to play this week,” Hickmans said of the playmaker.

There is pressure on Bennett to move Nikorima back to the bench, following the performance of Anthony Milford and stand-in half Jack Bird against the Warriors.