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NRL

The Brisbane Broncos will look for their second straight win in Round 2 of the NRL 2016 season when they host the visiting New Zealand Warriors on Friday.

The Broncos are coming off a 17-4 victory over the Parramatta Eels in their season-opener at Pirtek Stadium, thanks to impressive performances from Brisbane trio Corey Oates, Jordan Kahu and Anthony Milford. However, the Broncos will go into their next game without Kahu, who will be replaced by centre Jack Reed after suffering a quad injury against the Eels.

Reed participated in a full-contact session with Brisbane on Wednesday and did not show any issues from a shoulder injury that limited the Englishman’s preseason training. Club veteran Sam Thaiday said the Broncos will welcome Reed with open arms as soon as the club’s medical team gives the 27-year-old English player the green light to compete.

“Jack has established himself as a key part of what we do as a group, so if the medical team clear him to come back this week we will welcome him back with open arm,” Thaiday said, reports The Australian. “Defensively he is really strong. Often he is marking the opposition’s most dangerous player and he doesn’t often get beaten.”

Brisbane star signing James Roberts will partner with Reed against the Warriors, but Thaiday said The Jet would still have limited outings due to a nagging calf problem even before his arrival from the Gold Coast Titans, reports the Brisbane Times.

Meanwhile, the Warriors will try to bounce back after falling short of overcoming the Wests Tigers 34-26 at Campbelltown Stadium last weekend. It was New Zealand’s seventh straight season-opener loss, but the worst part was the potential dislocated kneecap suffered by Ben Henry in his first game back from a season-ending ACL injury.

According to Stuff, Warriors head of athletic performance Balin Cupples said the nature of the damage could not be confirmed until an operation was done, but the Warriors are optimistic the 24-year-old Kiwi would still play later this season.

Second-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner replaces Henry in the Warriors’ lineup, which was the only change made by coach Andrew McFadden ahead of their clash with the Broncos. The selection would restore the back-row combination of Bodene Thompson and and skipper Ryan Hoffman in second row.

“We have to be a lot better from the outset this week,” McFadden said, reports the NZ Herald. "While we could see signs of our combinations working it's still going to take a little time for them to really settle."

Brisbane Broncos lineup

Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Jack Reed, James Roberts, Greg Eden, Anthony Milford, Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Andrew McCullough, Adam Blair, Alex Glenn, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker Interchange: Jarrod Wallace, Sam Thaiday, Joe Ofahengaue, Kodi Nikorima, Joseph Boyce Coach: Wayne Bennett

New Zealand Warriors lineup

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Tuimoala Lolohea, Blake Ayshford, Solomone Kata, Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Johnson, Jeff Robson, Jacob Lillyman, Issac Luke, Ben Matulino, Thompson, Ryann Hoffman, Simon Mannering Interchange: Nathaniel Roache, Sam Lisone, James Gavet, Raymond Faitala-Mariner Coach: Andrew McFadden

Live streaming info and play-by-play updates

Watch NRL 2016 season Round 1: Brisbane Broncos vs New Zealand Warriors live via NRL Digital Pass. Play-by-play updates will be available during game time on Fox Sports AU.

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