Round 3 Team Analysis

It’s now time for Dream Team coaches to put pedal to the metal after round three teams were announced on Tuesday. Round three is the money round, with players prices adjusted if they’ve played each week so far, but how will the teams impact your money making abilities?

Each Wednesday, we’ll take a look at the teams named and give you the rundown on what this means for the wonderful world of Dream Team.

At the Storm, Justin O’Neill ($192,700) is out with a fractured jaw, replaced by Junior Sa’u ($193,700). Sa’u could be a good pick up considering his previous average (24.6) and ability to break tackles. Maurice Blair ($143,400) is on an extended bench but isn’t expected to play. Tohu Harris ($116,100) showed his talents last week and is in for a significant price rise after Rd 3, while Cameron Smith ($533,200) and Cooper Cronk ($442,600) will probably drop in price after failing to reach their break-even levels in the opening weeks.

At the Bulldogs, Steve Turner’s ($209,500) retirement opens the door for Mitch Brown ($127,700) who scored 24 with a try last week. It is an unchanged squad from last Thursday, and David Klemmer ($101,600) and Martin Taupau ($136,400) are both in line for price rises after opportunities early in the year.

The Tigers are forced into a couple of changes, with Keith Galloway ($285,800) out for an extended period with a pectoral injury.  Aaron Woods ($383,500) and Jack Buchanan ($101,600) have both started the year well, while Ava Seumanufagai ($101,600) will make his debut from the bench. Eddy Pettybourne ($186,800) will also get more game time, particularly up front and could be a good addition. Skipper Robbie Farah ($436,100) has a good record against the Eels, and at his beloved Leichhardt Oval, so could be a good alternative at hooker.

At the Eels, Reni Maitua ($218,000) is out, replaced by Ken Edwards ($101,600) in the second row. Joseph Paulo ($267,800) drops back to the bench with Ben Roberts ($244,700) at five-eighth. Jacob Loko ($127,700) is set to jump in price after a good start to the year, however Chris Sandow ($286,600) and Jarryd Hayne ($412,400) are the two to look out for with price rises and big scores on their side.

The Titans are again unchanged but have some great money making options. Halves Albert Kelly ($156,300) and Aidan Sezer ($292,800) have started very well and are due for a bump up in price, while Ryan James ($161,500) is a great dual position option with a low break-even score this week. Ashley Harrison ($342,500) is playing his 200th first grade game.

The Sea Eagles are unchanged from the 17 that took on the Knights, with Tom Symonds ($157,000) again on the bench. Anthony Watmough ($340,900) was outstanding last week with 78 points, and Daly Cherry Evans ($451,400) continued his form. Steve Matai ($193,900) and Brenton Lawrence ($252,600) are in for price rises, but the former is under an injury cloud this week. Jorge Taufua ($239,000) also stormed into form last week with a hat-trick and 52 Dream Team points.

The Roosters are unchanged after Boyd Cordner ($269,900) made his return last weekend. Mitch Aubusson ($258,300) managed to top their scoring off the bench with 56, and will jump in price this week, as will young prop Sam Moa ($171,900). Sonny Bill Williams ($322,500) is again starting, this time on the edge, but halves Mitchell Pearce ($375,100) and James Maloney ($365,800) should probably be avoided for the time being with high break-even scores.

The Broncos only changes come on the bench, with Justin Hodges ($339,700) named despite a hamstring worry. Matt Gillett ($257,500) has been the standout so far and will surely go up in price after this weekend. The likes of Scott Anderson ($143,200), Dunamis Lui ($127,700) and Mitchell Dodds ($166,000) are all on an extended bench at cheap prices.

The Sharks lost Isaac De Gois ($228,200) late last week and he is missing again, with John Morris ($209,500) a valuable back up coming off 44 and with a price rise on its way. Again Michael Gordon ($285,500) with goal-kicking in addition to plenty of attacking points making him a very good selection. Luke Lewis ($343,700) has been named but is under an injury cloud, so may be avoided.

At the Warriors are still without a win this year but enter this game unchanged. Jacob Lillyman ($198,600) has started very well and will jump in price. Todd Lowrie ($270,100) and Shaun Johnson ($335,800) are two more who performed well last week and should expect a price jump with good performances here, while Bill Tupou ($128,800) has some value on the wing.

For the Panthers, Tom Humble ($132,200) gets the first shot at the vacant five-eighth spot after the pectoral injury to Lachlan Coote ($272,400). As a cheap dual position (HLF/WFB) player, Humble is a very good pick-up long term after some impressive performances last year with Wests Tigers. Nathan Smith ($130,600) was disappointing last week, but James Segeyaro ($257,700) is really relishing the dual hooking role with Kevin Kingston ($414,500) after another week above 50.

The Rabbitohs welcome back Sam Burgess ($378,900) from suspension but his brother George Burgess ($136,900) is the one creating Dream Team waves with a big price-rise on its way. Ben Te’o ($290,700) was very impressive against Cronulla and is a handy dual position player, while Greg Inglis ($399,600) will have happy memories of Centrebet Stadium after he tore Penrith to shreds there last year in his return to fullback.

For Canberra, Blake Ferguson ($280,100) remains in NSW Cup, but that does present big opportunities to Jack Wighton ($215,400), Edrick Lee ($157,800) and Reece Robinson ($272,900) in the backline. Robinson scored 85 in the hoodoo game last year, so will be one to look out for again. Glen Buttriss ($253,200) returns at hooker, Matt McIllwrick ($127,700) is the man to look at if you want to make some money.

The winless St George Illawarra will enter this game unchanged after falling to Brisbane last Friday, with Trent Merrin ($385,500) the main man in Dream Team with 53 points. Bronson Harrison ($259,600) again started at lock after being named on the bench, and got his offload on to score 51 points. Expect him and Leeson Ah Mau ($212,400) to start for Michael Weyman ($289,500) and either Merrin or Tyson Frizell ($258,800), the latter looking at a large price drop.

There were a number of changes at the Knights, with Dane Gagai ($343,500) and Willie Mason ($224,500) both out with injury. Timana Tahu ($267,500) returns in the centres while David Fa’alogo ($171,900) has been named to start in the second row. Kurt Gidley ($231,300) is one to look at for a price jump, while Matt Hilder ($217,100) will play his second game after a surprise return last weekend to score 42 points. Hilder’s return may mean it’s time to jump off Travis Waddell ($194,800), although you could wait a week and get the cash grab coming from the young hooker.

The Cowboys have made a few changes in key positions, with Michael Morgan ($232,100) returning early from a broken jaw at halfback, and Anthony Mitchell ($201,900) joining the bench. He will share the dummy half duties with Scott Moore ($171,900) who will jump in price following this week after registering a negative break-even score. Tariq Sims ($161,800) loses his place on the bench and may be one to drop, however Jason Taumalolo ($232,900) could be good value if he gets time on the park.