Brisbane's NRL finals hopes have suffered a huge blow with Maroons winger Selwyn Cobbo to miss the vital home clash against Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium.
The 20-year-old has scored 15 tries in 17 games this year but the heavy workload of his first full season in the top grade has taken its toll and he'll sit out Thursday night's contest.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters said Cobbo had approached him earlier in the week to say he was fatigued and not right to play.
Walters said there was no disciplinary issue with Cobbo and that his absence was not related to the concussion he suffered in the State of Origin decider which led to him missing several games.
"He is a young fella who has had a big season here at the Broncos and with Origin. He is just a bit tired," Walters said.
"It just shows how honest Selwyn is with himself and the club. It is a big call, but those calls have got to be made."
Jordan Pereira will replace Cobbo, who trained with the reserves on Wednesday and had a mixed night in the 60-12 loss to Melbourne last week, on the right wing.
"He is a young guy who has had [24] games in the NRL and it is tough going on the wing. They get us much punishment as anyone," Walters said.
"We will give him a spell and get him right for the Dragons."
Back-rower Kurt Capewell got through the captain's run and has recovered from a leg niggle that had him in doubt earlier in the week.
Veteran prop Ryan James broke a finger against the Storm and has been replaced by Keenan Palasia while rookie forward Zac Hosking replaces Rhys Kennedy on the bench to give Brisbane more punch on the edge.
The Broncos, in eighth position on 28 points, have won just one of their last four games and could miss the finals if they lose both remaining fixtures to the Eels and St George Illawarra, and Canberra (26 points) win both of their remaining matches.
The Storm exposed Brisbane's defensive deficiencies last week but Walters said the side had "thrown last week's game in the bin ... where it belonged."
"I have got a lot of confidence we can bounce back," he said.
"The big thing is our defence. We know how Parramatta play. They come through the front door with their big middles. We've got to fix that (defensive) area up. We didn't last week and the Storm made us pay a price."
