Team Lists Review – Round 18
A. Twal is back (again) and injuries in the halves present two potential cash cows.
Before reviewing the team lists, you can catch the highs and lows of Round 17 here:
Panthers v Rabbitohs, Friday 8.00pm
Panthers
With I. Yeo, N. Cleary and L. Martin out with Origin duty this week, L. Smith fills in at lock, J. Cogger at halfback, and L. Garner at second row.
I. Papali’i being out with a concussion also sees S. Sorensen start at second row.
B. To’o was not named for the Blues, so keeps his starting spot for the Panthers.
D. Edwards, T. Jenkins, and F. Lussick, are all somewhat Fantasy relevant and retain their starting positions.
M. Kenny’s return date is unclear, with the hooker expected back this week. C. McLean also remains with an undetermined return date.
Rabbitohs
J. Wighton returns to the centres after an extended stint on the sidelines. This means that T. Duncan returns to the starting second row, and E. Aitken to the bench. L. Siegwalt retains his spot in the centres with J. Wighton.
B. Smith, K. Koloamatangi, and D. Fifita remain owned by around 5% of teams and keep their starting spots.
C. Graham is expected back in Round 19 and is expected to take a wing spot. A. Johnston is out with a calf injury, with a return ETA for Round 21. This sees D. Jennings fill in on the wing.
Dragons v Wests Tigers, Saturday 5.30pm
Dragons
The Dragons are unaffected by Origin and have posted the same team as last week. In turn, T. Couchman, R. Couchman, H. Stewart, D. Cook, S. Tu, and D. Egan all retain their starting spots.
K. Reed still isn’t due back until around Round 20.
M. Suli was out last week with a hip injury and has been named in the reserves.
Tigers
A. Twal is back from injury! (again?)
While A. Seyfarth owners were lucky last week with a late change, as expected he has been named on the bench again.
J. Luai is out with a concussion, so J. Madden is named at halfback.
H. Makasini is the beneficiary of Taylan May re-dislocating his shoulder, and has been named to start at centre. Maybe this will be the week he breaks out (which is what I assume the 19% of coaches who own him are thinking).
T. Sukkar, A. Doueihi, T. May and A. Koroisau are all Fantasy relevant and retain their starting spots.
There is still no firm return date for K. Pearce-Paul.
Broncos v Sharks, Saturday 7.35pm
Broncos
R. Walsh, P. Carrigan, and P. Haas are out with Origin duty. H. Perham fills in at fullback, and V. Semu at prop.
X. Willison is again named at lock, but there is some doubt around whether he will play as the Broncos are currently seeking (but have not yet been approved) an exemption to the 11-day concussion stand down rule.
T. Duffy and B. Hunt remain the halves pairing with A. Reynolds still out with a hamstring injury (eta unknown).
J. Karapani is suspended for one week for an off-field issue. This sees D. Mariner start on the wing, together with G. Anderson, who is moved from the centres as a result of the return of G. Shibasaki. J. Arthars lingers in some teams, but is pushed to the bench.
K. Staggs is owned by 6% of teams and is named in the centres, having been snubbed for Origin.
Sharks
With A. Fonua-Blake, B. Brailey, and B. Nikora named for their respective states, T. Hazelton is promoted to start at prop, B. Burns takes the vacant second row position, and J. Berrell is named at hooker.
J. Colquhoun, N. Hynes, C. McInnes, and K. Iro all have varying Fantasy relevance and retain their starting spots.
T. Rudolf is the only Shark on the sidelines with an injury (knee), and is expected back in Round 21.
Eels v Sea Eagles, Sunday 2.00pm
Eels
M. Moses is again out with Origin duty, which sees J. Pezet start at halfback following his return from a hamstring injury. J. Papalii remains on the bench.
I. Iongi and J. Williams are owned by some teams and keep their starting spots.
Sea Eagles
L. Brooks going down with an ACL injury means J. Walsh starts at halfback. It is likely J. Walsh’s spot to lose. He is cheap, has a -3 BE, and has an average of 48 from two starts at halfback this year.
R. Garrick (centre) and K. Hetherington (prop) return from their concussions this week, which sees J. Feledy and E. Bellemor join the bench.
With B. Wakeham still sidelined with a calf injury, J. Simpkin keeps his starting spot.
C. Faulalo takes the starting centre spot from T. Koula, who is named on the extended bench for the Blues. H. Olakau’atu is also named for the Blues, and is replaced in the back row by C. Waddell.
T. Trbojevic and J. Fogarty are both Fantasy relevant (or have potential to be) and retain their starting spots.
Knights v Dolphins, Sunday 4.05pm
Knights
K. Ponga and B. Best are both out with Origin duties, which sees F. Sharpe cover at fullback, and F. Hunt in the centres. S. Smith fills in at 5/8.
D. Lucas, T. Mooney, D. Brown, and G. Marzhew are all Fantasy relevant and retain their starting positions.
Dolphins
I. Katoa being out for 4 – 8 weeks with a dislocated wrist sees B. Schneider start at halfback. He is a potential cash cow.
A number of other Fantasy-relevant players are off the board this week as a result of Origin, with H. Tabuai-Fidow, S. Cobbo, J. Bostock, T. Flegler, and M. Plath in Origin camp. They are replaced by T. Fuller (fullback), T. Naufahu (wing), J. Averillo (centre), and F. Kaufusi (prop).
K. Finefeuiaki did not make the Queensland side, so retains his starting second-row spot next to C. Lemuelu.
J. Marshall-King starts at hooker and has a last three average of 60.7.