Injury has claimed Brisbane stars Darren Lockyer, Sam Thaiday and Ben Hannant - but Queensland Origin fans can breathe easy.

Broncos coach Anthony Griffin has once again chosen not to pick the bulk of his representative stars for Friday night's NRL clash with Manly at Suncorp Stadium.

However, the Broncos on Tuesday claimed they were not activating their controversial resting policy - insisting rather that Lockyer, Hannant and Thaiday were all injured.

But the big three will still run out 48 hours earlier for Queensland in what is expected to be a bruising State of Origin opener in Brisbane on Wednesday night.

Griffin caused a stir when he did not name any of his Test players for round nine's NRL showdown with Melbourne - played barely 24 hours after the trans-Tasman clash.

In the end, Australian winger Jharal Yow Yeh and Kiwi squad member Gerard Beale ran out in the gutsy 29-22 loss to the Storm.

Griffin again raised eyebrows on Tuesday when Lockyer, Thaiday and Hannant were missing from an 18-strong squad for the Sea Eagles clash.

But the Broncos insisted niggling complaints to Lockyer (thigh-back), Thaiday (groin) and Hannant (calf) had ensured their omission.

Queensland stars Corey Parker and Yow Yeh were both named on an extended Broncos bench.

Wynnum winger Shea Moylan has been named as cover for Yow Yeh while Dane Carlaw may make way for Parker if passed fit.

Corey Norman will don Lockyer's No.6 jersey, Mitchell Dodds gets a start at prop for Hannant and Dunamis Lui has been named in the second-row for Thaiday.

The Sea Eagles have named fullback Brett Stewart to return from injury to replace Michael Robertson, who will miss his first NRL game since making his Manly debut in 2006 due to an infected knee.

Canterbury coach Kevin Moore has reacted to his side's three-game losing streak by shifting skipper Andrew Ryan to the front row for Friday night's clash against Gold Coast.

Ryan will cover for injured workhorse Aiden Tolman, with Jake Foster joining Frank Pritchard in a dynamic back row pairing.

Parramatta coach Stephen Kearney has stuck with the same side which trounced Cronulla on Monday night, with no room for young playmaker Daniel Mortimer for Saturday's trip to Newcastle.

Sydney Roosters star Todd Carney reverts to five-eighth following the return of NSW Origin halfback Mitchell Pearce - who will square off against Queensland No.7 Johnathan Thurston for the second time in four days when North Queensland host the Roosters on Saturday night.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy named Origin stars Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk for Sunday's meeting with Cronulla, the Sharks hoping the return of skipper Paul Gallen and prop Kade Snowden from representative duty will help shore up a leaky defence.

St George Illawarra will be sweating on their Origin contingent surviving Wednesday night's clash with all seven representatives named to take on Wests Tigers - who have no members in either the NSW or Queensland squads.

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