NRL: Lockyer missing from Broncos side

Injured Broncos captain Darren Lockyer will travel with the side to Auckland for this Friday's clash with the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

Darren Lockyer has not been named in the Broncos side to face the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday night, with coach Ivan Henjak insisting he won't play until his rib injury is fully healed.

Henjak has named youngster Corey Norman at five-eighth, but with Lockyer to travel to Auckland with the Broncos, suspicions that the injured Australian captain could yet play in a match crucial to both sides' finals ambitions are sure to remain.

"In his head, he wants to play," Henjak said. "But it would hurt him and it would hurt the team if he is not right.

"I've told Darren I don't want him to play if he isn't right. I haven't put any pressure on him to play, and I won't.

"There's been suggestions we can't win without him - we don't believe that and we won't be taking any risks with him until we're convinced it won't jeopardise his health."

Livewire back rower Lewis Brown, wing Kevin Locke and prop Jesse Royal have been named to return for the Warriors.

Brown sat out Saturday night's loss to Manly with a shoulder injured but the Cantabrian has been cleared to return for a match in which the Warriors can clinch a finals place with a victory. He returns in place of vice-captain Micheal Luck, who is out with a badly cut leg.

Jacob Lillyman will fill in for Luck at lock, with Royal coming on to the bench. Locke replaces Bill Tupou on the right wing.

With hooker Ian Henderson still recovering from an ankle injury Alehana Mara, who impressed on debut against Manly, retains his place on the bench.

Senior prop Sam Rapira returns to the starting line-up for what will be his 100th first-grade appearance.

Rapira, who has been used off the bench in three matches since returning from a dislocated kneecap, will partner Russell Packer in the front row.

WARRIORS

Mt Smart Stadium, 8pm Friday

Lance Hohaia
Kevin Locke
Brent Tate
Joel Moon
Manu Vatuvei
James Maloney
Brett Seymour
Sam Rapira
Aaron Heremaia
Russell Packer
S. Mannering (c)
Lewis Brown
Jacob Lillyman

BRONCOS

Josh Hoffman
A Winterstein
Alex Glenn
Israel Folau
Jharal Yow Yeh
Corey Norman
Peter Wallace
Shane Tronc
A McCullough
Ben Te'o
Matt Gillett
Sam Thaiday
Corey Parker (c)

Warriors: Alehana Mara, Ben Matulino, Ukuma Ta'ai, Jesse Royal, Sione Lousi (one to be omitted).

Broncos: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson, Nick Kenny (one to be omitted).