Round 16 DT Team Analysis

Head-to-head action is back, but with two teams having the bye and up to 32 players possibly backing up from State of Origin duties, how teams line up could be crucial to getting the two points in your Dream Team league this week.

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.

The Rabbitohs have named their full complement of Origin representatives, with Greg Inglis ($431,500), Nathan Merritt ($151,900), Ben Te’o ($297,500) and Chris McQueen ($226,200) all returning to the starting lineup. Inglis’ and Merritt’s returns see Justin Hunt ($194,100) and Dylan Farrell ($161,600) drop to an extended eight man bench, alongside Luke Keary ($101,600) and Josh Starling ($128,400). Te’o and McQueen are starting in the second row, with Ben Lowe ($216,400) and Nathan Peats ($162,900) back on the bench. Thomas Burgess ($101,600) is also on the bench for his second NRL game.

The Raiders make two changes to the side which fell to the Tigers last Saturday night, with Brett White ($228,900) ruled out with an eye-socket injury. David Shillington ($176,900) comes into the starting lineup in the front row, with Sam Mataora ($184,400) set to play his first NRL game of the season from the bench. Josh Papalii ($398,400) also makes his return to the side from Origin duty in the second row, pushing Joel Edwards ($221,500) to the bench. Jarrad Kennedy ($127,700) also retains his spot on an extended bench, while Sami Sauiluma ($116,100) will play his second NRL game on the wing.

Returning Origin players have forced a reshuffle at the Tigers, with Aaron Woods ($417,800) and Robbie Farah ($502,100) back from NSW Origin duties, and James Tedesco ($201,800) being named at fullback after being a late exclusion last Saturday. Tedesco’s return means Sean Meaney ($139,000) drops out of the side, while Farah returns at hooker in place of the injured Masada Iosefa ($274,700). Joel Reddy ($181,600) will start in the second row, with Ava Seumanufagai ($146,600) and Bodene Thompson ($139,000) back on the bench.

The Storm have named their four State of Origin representatives for this weekend’s trip to Leichhardt. Billy Slater ($269,800), Cooper Cronk ($400,900), Cameron Smith ($559,500) and Ryan Hoffman ($350,200) are all in the starting lineup, with Brett Finch ($209,000) moving to five-eighth in place of Gareth Widdop ($262,600), who will miss the remainder of the season with a dislocated hip. Ben Hampton ($101,600), Tohu Harris ($264,200) and Jason Ryles ($226,900) all drop back to an extended bench, which also includes Siosaia Vave ($197,600), Junior Moors ($178,400) and Slade Griffin ($135,300). Ryan Hinchcliffe ($319,000) also moves back to lock.

 

The Panthers have made a number of changes, with injuries forcing Sika Manu ($234,100) and Josh Mansour ($236,300) out of the side. James Roberts ($127,700) returns on the wing, with Travis Robinson ($177,100) dropping back to NSW Cup, while Brad Tighe ($210,800) replaces Mansour in the centres. Tim Grant ($362,300) makes his return from injury in the front row, pushing Mose Masoe ($179,500) back to the bench and Matt Robinson ($285,600) replaces Manu in the second row.

It is a settled line up at St George Illawarra following the bye in Round 15, with the same 17 that fell to the Cowboys in Round 14 to back up against Penrith. Josh Dugan ($367,400), Brett Morris ($188,000) and Trent Merrin ($393,000) have all been named to back up from Origin Two, and surprisingly no shadow players have been named. Jack Stockwell ($238,400) will again start in the front row, with Michael Weyman ($259,800) on the bench, although don’t rule out a switch between these two before kick-off.

The Knights welcome back Danny Buderus ($272,900) at hooker for their home clash with the Titans, with Craig Gower ($171,900) maintaining his place on the bench and Travis Waddell ($192,000) dropped from the squad. Akuila Uate ($207,300) maintains his spot after returning from injury in Round 14, while Zane Tetevano ($133,700) and Neville Costigan ($179,700) have earned spots on the bench, leaving Adam Cuthbertson ($287,700) and Korbin Sims ($143,900) out of the squad.

The Titans welcome back three players this week, with Nate Myles ($324,800) and Greg Bird ($284,100) returning on an extended bench, and David Mead ($191,200) named in the centres to replace Brad Takairangi ($152,800), who is out with rib cartilage damage. Aside from Mead, the squad remains the same to that which took down the Storm last Monday, with Sam Irwin ($107,600) again grabbing a spot on the seven man bench. Expect Myles and Bird to come into the starting side (should they get through Origin), and two of Luke Douglas ($323,900), Mark Minichiello ($293,900) and Dave Taylor ($287,800) to drop to the bench.

The Warriors have named Glen Fisiiahi ($159,900) at fullback for their home clash with the Broncos, with Kevin Locke ($205,400) on an extended bench after missing the past two weeks with a hip-flexor injury. Ngani Laumape ($160,200) has been named on the weekend again, while Ben Matulino ($297,200) moves from the bench to the starting lineup, swapping places with Russell Packer ($187,000). Suaia Matagi ($101,600) has also been named alongside Locke on the extended bench, and would be in for a minor price rise playing his third game, should he get on the field.

An unchanged lineup has been named by the Broncos again this week following the bye in Round 15, however Justin Hodges ($337,700), Sam Thaiday ($379,000), Matt Gillett ($344,100) and Corey Parker ($508,900) are all backing up from Origin Two. Hodges in particular would be doubtful, with niggling injuries regularly ruling him out from Origin back-up. Ben Hannant ($387,200) also starts in the front row, with Josh McGuire ($279,000) on the bench, while Jarrod Wallace ($116,600) and Dunamis Lui ($105,200) are named as 18th and 19th men.

Front rower James Tamou ($310,500) returns from suspension for the Cowboys this Sunday, and has been named alongside the club’s three State of Origin representatives. Johnathan Thurston ($327,000), Matt Scott ($288,300) and Brent Tate ($170,600) are all in the starting lineup, while Ashton Sims ($193,200) pushes back to the bench for Tamou’s return. Gavin Cooper ($268,500) also returns on the bench, with Ricky Thorby ($148,400), Ethan Lowe ($101,600) and Jason Taumalolo ($220,300) all on the extended bench.

The Sharks welcome Michael Gordon ($265,900) back for their trip to Townsville, and have named Paul Gallen ($413,100), Andrew Fifita ($526,800) and Luke Lewis ($357,400), who will all be backing up from Origin. Sam Tagataese ($150,400) finds a starting spot at prop, with Ben Ross ($217,500) on an extended bench with Bryce Gibbs ($283,600), who is looking to play his first NRL game of the year. Again expect Fifita to start from the bench, with Chris Heighington ($350,400) at lock and Gallen in the front row.

The Roosters welcome back Origin stars Michael Jennings ($306,100), James Maloney ($341,300) and Mitchell Pearce ($287,800), as well as prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves ($365,300) from suspension. All four have been named in the starting line up, with Sonny Bill Williams ($377,800) moving back to the second row after auditioning for the role of largest halfback in history last Friday night. Martin Kennedy ($291,000) is out for 12 weeks with a knee injury, while Daniel Mortimer ($123,200), Frank-Paul Nuuausala ($198,400), Aidan Guerra ($173,800) and Sam Moa ($209,900) all drop back to the bench with Isaac Liu ($159,000). Nafe Seluini ($132,000) and Dylan Napa ($101,600) have both been dropped.

The Sea Eagles are unchanged again after the bye in Round 15, with Daly Cherry-Evans ($448,300) and Anthony Watmough ($393,300) named to back-up from Origin. Peta Hiku ($180,300) is again at fullback with Brett Stewart ($237,500) still missing, and with a break-even of 1 could be a handy buy this week, as could Steve Matai ($137,400) who’s break-even of -20 presents great value for a big game player.