NRL: Hunt out of Warriors clash

Brisbane fullback Karmichael Hunt has failed to recover from an ankle injury. Photo / Getty Images

BRISBANE - Brisbane will be without fullback Karmichael Hunt for Friday night's NRL showdown with the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.

Hunt withdrew at training this morning, succumbing to an ankle injury he suffered against Parramatta last Sunday.

While scans on Monday cleared him of any bone damage, Hunt's ankle sprain was not considered to have recovered sufficiently for him to play against the Warriors.

His place will be taken by promising youngster Josh Hoffman, who played a handful of NRL games last season.

The highlight of Friday's game will be the comeback of former defensive enforcer Tonie Carroll, who is set to play his first game for the Broncos since hanging up the boots last September.

Representative centre Justin Hodges also makes a welcome return from injury, with the Broncos desperate to snap a four-game losing streak which has seen the six-time premiers slip out of the top eight.

Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak says Carroll's return this week has already injected some added enthusiasm into the team.

Henjak says Carroll's ability to organise and communicate in the defensive line will be a big bonus against a physical side like the Warriors.

Henjak said he hoped to get about 30 minutes of playing time out of the 33-year-old Carroll who had his training second run with the team on Thursday morning.

- AAP