NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 14

After last week's chaos we've been handed a calmer set of team lists this week, as NRL Fantasy coaches aim to finalise their squad for the crucial run home.

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• Round 14 NRL team lists

Round 14 team news

Roosters v Storm, Thursday 7.50pm at Sydney Cricket Ground

Roosters: Kyle Flanagan remains out of the 17 with Josh Morris returning in the centres, Mitch Aubusson moving to the back row, Nat Butcher going to the bench and Max Bailey dropping out. Flanagan is in the reserves so could potentially be a late inclusion.

James Tedesco (20) is coming off his worst game of the year and Siosiua Taukeiaho (80) his best, while a try helped Aubusson (46) to a good score in his 300th NRL game.

Storm: Ryan Papenhuyzen returns in welcome news for one in four Fantasy coaches after being rested last round, while Ryley Jacks replaces the injured Cameron Munster at five-eighth. Dale Finucane returns at lock with Nicho Hynes and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui moving to the bench and Chris Lewis out of the 17.

Munster is expected to miss 2-3 weeks so could be a hold if you're low on trades and look on track to make your head-to-head finals. Fa'asuamaleaui (42) has jumped in value by $344k this season so far.

Warriors v Panthers, Friday 6pm at Central Coast Stadium

Warriors: Prop Jack Hetherington's suspension opens the door for Lachlan Burr to move from the bench into the starting side. Isaiah Papali'i is the new man on the interchange.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (43) remains a solid back three option while Jazz Tevaga (61) is getting the job done with regular 60+ scores at lock.

Panthers: Unchanged. Nathan Cleary (78) continues what has been easily his best season in the top grade (and in Fantasy), while Api Koroisau (58) and Isaah Yeo (55) are as solid as ever. Looks like it's time to upgrade Jarome Luai (34) with his break even now matching his season average of 39.

Eels v Dragons, Friday 7.55pm at Bankwest Stadium

Eels: Ryan Matterson (concussion) returns in the second row, Marata Niukore goes to the bench and Andrew Davey drops out.

Mitchell Moses (57) is still very well priced at $644k but is likely to start climbing again soon, while a try and nine tackle breaks helped Dylan Brown (87) to his best score of the season against the Sharks in the wet.

Dragons: Corey Norman returns at five-eighth, shifting Ben Hunt to hooker and Cameron McInnes to lock. Tariq Sims (shoulder) is replaced by Tyrell Fuimaono in the second row, Jackson Ford (suspension) and Trent Merrin drop out of the 17 with Korbin Sims and Jacob Host added to the bench.

Zac Lomax (75) bounced back from his only poor score of the year with a two-try performance against the Roosters, while Cameron McInnes (82) again proved he's one of the elite Fantasy scorers in 2020. It was also a good week for Ben Hunt (54) and under-the-radar star Tyson Frizell (55).

Sharks v Titans, Saturday 3pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

Sharks: Jack Williams replaces Teig Wilton on the bench. Shaun Johnson (66) is still only in about 5% of Fantasy teams and could be a handy point-of-difference option in the run home.

Titans: Unchanged. AJ Brimson (74) was brilliant against the Cowboys with two tries, a try assist, a try save and 200 run metres, and at $469k looks a handy option as a winger/fullback who also covers the halves. Beware he won't play struggling teams every week, although the Titans do have match-ups with cellar dwellers the Bulldogs and Broncos coming up.

Jamal Fogarty (68) is also in terrific form and is in no rush to be traded out if you've got him, while Tyrone Peachey (48) continues to be a solid option to use in the centres.

Cowboys v Rabbitohs, Saturday 5.30pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys: Scott Drinkwater is back in the side but at fullback, bumping Hamiso Tabaui-Fidow to the wing and Justin O'Neill out of the side. John Asiata replaces Tom Gilbert on the bench.

With Jake Granville back on the interchange Reece Robson (16) played just 26 minutes against the Gold Coast – a season low for him – and with a break even close to 80 it could be time to pull the trigger if you can make the move to an established keeper.

Otherwise there's not much new here, with Jason Taumalolo (66) still a standout performer in a struggling team, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (24) still an erratic Fantasy scorer and starting five-eighth Ben Hampton (20) still as cheap as it gets at $212k.

Rabbitohs: Jaydn Su'A returns in the second row with Liam Knight benched and Jack Johns shifting to the reserves.

Latrell Mitchell (53) had one of his better games against the Broncos with a try assist, a line break and 200 run metres, while Damien Cook (51) is coming off a couple of good-but-not-great scores after last week's 49. Bailey Sironen (26) still has money to make after playing just 56 minutes in the second row last week but isn't looking like a safe keeper option for a bench spot.

Raiders v Broncos, Saturday 7.35pm at GIO Stadium

Raiders: Siliva Havili (35) is named to start in an unchanged team despite suffering a triceps injury last week. Tom Starling (22) curiously played just 33 minutes off the bench last week – and even then only after Havili went off injured – after impressing with 55-minute stints in the previous two games. I expect his game time to go up again but it's something to keep an eye on. Josh Papalii (56) remains a rock solid option up front.

Broncos: Ben Te'o starts in place of Tevita Pangai jnr, who has been stood down for two weeks over a breach of COVID-19 restrictions. Cory Paix and rookie Jordan Riki join the bench with Issac Luke demoted to the reserves.

David Fifita (65) is one of the buys of the week after crashing over for a try against Souths in his return game after a lengthy layoff. His base stats (20 tackles and 118 run metres) weren't that high so you'd be banking on more of his attacking numbers to post regular big scores.

Payne Haas (78) is holding on to his crown as the king of Fantasy despite a serious challenge from Nathan Cleary, while Kotoni Staggs (26) is still going to be inconsistent in games when he doesn't cross the tryline.

Knights v Sea Eagles, Sunday 2pm at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: Daniel Saifiti returns, pushing brother Jacob to the bench and Brodie Jones out of the 17. Kalyn Ponga (103) was the star in last week's big win over the Tigers, with two tries, three line breaks, two try assists and six goals.

Kurt Mann (44) scored well despite being moved from hooker to the centres late in the game while Mitchell Pearce (36) still got through his usual kick metres despite the presence of Blake Green, but did have a season-low 17 tackles and a season-high seven missed tackles.

Sea Eagles: Brad Parker replaces Tevita Funa at centre, Taniela Paseka replaces the injured Addin Fonua-Blake and Joel Thompson and Curtis Sironen return in the second row. Corey Waddell and Haumole Olakau'atu move to the bench with Morgan Boyle dropping out of the 17.

The usual suspects scored well again last week – Daly Chery-Evans (57), Martin Taupau (59) and Jake Trbojevic (63) – but newcomer Haumole Olakau'atu (78) outdid them all with a massive performance including a try and eight busts in 75 minutes.

Wests Tigers v Bulldogs, Sunday 4.05pm at Bankwest Stadium

Wests Tigers: Still no sign of Alex Twal. Jacob Liddle starts at hooker, pushing Moses Mbye back to centre and Tommy Talau to the wing. Luke Garner starts in the second row, Chris Lawrence goes to the bench and Shaun Blore drops out, while Josh Reynolds replaces Billy Walters (knee) on the interchange.

Luciano Leilua (81) has been on a sensational try-scoring run in the second half of the season. A switch to centre helped Tommy Talau (38) notch some rare base stats, with 21 tackles to go with 99 run metres and a handful of tackle breaks.

Bulldogs: Jack Cogger replaces the suspended Lachlan Lewis at halfback and Kerrod Holland replaces Jake Averillo (hip) at centre.

Luke Thompson (27) produced easily his worst score of the season after back-to-back 53s, with just 47 run metres and -8 in demerits.