Origin footy is underway for 2013, but Dream Team coaches will be watching Wednesday night closely as they make their selections for Round 13. Head-to-head players are back into competition this week, but with the Titans and Rabbitohs having the bye, will need to configure their team to get maximum points possibly without some stars.
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.
Eels v Roosters - Parramatta Stadium 7:45pm 7/6/13
The Eels have made a number of changes to their side after the Round 11 drubbing by the Titans. Ryan Morgan ($281,500) returns from injury, Darcy Lussick ($172,900) from suspension, and Brayden Wiliame ($101,600), Jake Mullaney ($292,300), Pat O’Hanlon ($145,200) and Kenny Edwards ($101,600) have all been called into the side. Api Pewhairangi ($121,400) and Kaysa Pritchard ($101,600) are both missing through injury, while Luke Kelly ($177,300), Junior Paulo ($101,600) and Vai Toutai ($160,300) have been dropped. Joseph Paulo ($310,100) will start at five-eighth, however Mullaney’s selection on the bench hints at a move to five-eighth at some point for co-captain Jarryd Hayne ($315,600), who will be backing up from State of Origin One.
The Roosters have again named an unchanged side after having the week off. The side is set to be confirmed on game day, with Michael Jennings ($343,100), James Maloney ($374,100) and Mitchell Pearce ($324,300) all backing up from Origin. Luke O’Donnell ($247,800) will again starts at prop with Lama Tasi ($197,500) retaining his spot on the bench.
Knights v Dragons - Hunter Stadium 5:30pm 8/6/13
The Knights welcome three players back for their return home to Hunter Stadium, with Queensland Origin player Darius Boyd ($244,600), second rower Chris Houston ($331,900) and hooker Adam Clydsdale ($101,600) named in an 18 man squad. Boyd is at fullback, replacing Kevin Naiqama ($296,000), who shifts to the wing pushing Josh Mantellato ($101,600) out of the side. Houston replaces the injured Alex McKinnon ($229,600) in the second row, while Clydsdale is on the bench with Neville Costigan ($179,700), replacing Matt Hilder ($217,100) who has a hamstring injury.
St George Illawarra dropped the biggest selection bombshell of the week, with Jamie Soward ($268,800) dropped to the NSW Cup. This has forced a backline re-shuffle, with Chase Stanley ($191,000) moving to five-eighth and Nathan Green ($203,900) to the centres. Brett Morris ($214,400) and Trent Merrin ($402,300) return from NSW duties (injury permitting), with Tyson Frizell ($219,900) and Daniel Vidot ($233,400) back on an extended bench, although Vidot is likely to only be cover for Morris. Dan Hunt ($281,400) returns from injury in the front row, pushing Jack Stockwell ($237,200) to the bench and Will Matthews ($192,400) out of the side.
Cowboys v Bulldogs - 1300SMILES Stadium 7:30pm 8/6/13
The Cowboys welcome back their Origin stars for their clash with the Bulldogs, but do provide plenty of cover on an eight man bench. Johnathan Thurston ($327,800), Brent Tate ($187,500), James Tamou ($324,400) and Matt Scott ($309,300) are all back in the starting side, with Kalifa Faifai Loa ($163,000), Michael Morgan ($224,800), Scott Bolton ($235,600) and Ashton Sims ($176,100) all pushed back to the bench. Ethan Lowe ($101,600) retains a spot on the extended bench, however Neil Henry is likely to leave it until Saturday evening to finalise his team (which isn’t much help to us Dream Team coaches!).
The Bulldogs make just one change to the side that defeated the Dragons last week, with Krisnan Inu ($277,900) returning from suspension in the centres. Mitch Brown ($123,800) is pushed to the wing, and Drury Low ($114,700) is out of the side. NSW Origin representatives Josh Morris ($230,400) and Josh Reynolds ($314,000) have not been named, with coach Des Hasler to make a decision on their fitness prior to the game. This means Joel Romelo ($141,000) is again at five-eighth, where me managed 33 points last week.
Panthers v Tigers - Centrebet Stadium 3:00pm 9/6/13
The Panthers are unchanged from the team that took down the Dragons 19-0 in Round 11, with James Roberts ($127,700) retaining his spot on the bench. Again, Isaac John ($187,800) and Matt Moylan ($159,700) have negative breakevens, as does second rower Matt Robinson ($249,600), with Penrith looking to win their fourth game in a row.
The injury problems at the Tigers continue, with James Tedesco ($209,400), Liam Fulton ($369,100) and Bodene Thompson ($137,700) all missing for this clash. Sean Meaney ($139,000) will take on the fullback role, while Eddy Pettybourne ($158,900) and Ben Murdoch-Masila ($153,600) start in the second row. Jared Farlow ($101,600) will make his debut from the bench, while Masada Iosefa ($317,300) has been named as cover for NSW Origin hooker Robbie Farah ($502,100). Benji Marshall ($187,600) is at his lowest price in some time, while David Noafoluma ($101,600) plays his third game with a break even of -45.
Warriors v Sea Eagles - Mt Smart Stadium 4:00pm 9/6/13
Unsurprisingly, the Warriors have named an unchanged lineup after blitzing the Broncos last Monday night. Suaia Matagi ($101,600) has been added to the extended bench, while Konrad Hurrell ($293,300) retains his spot in the centres. Dominique Peyroux ($180,900) made his Warriors debut off the bench last week, and is there again, while Kevin Locke ($205,400), Manu Vatuvei ($258,200), Feleti Mateo ($269,600) and Elijah Taylor ($265,300) all have negative breakevens after big scores in Round 12.
The Sea Eagles have made just one change from the team that defeated Canberra two weeks ago. James Hasson ($101,600) has been named on the bench, pushing David Gower ($127,300) to 18th man. They wait on the fitness of just one man, Anthony Watmough ($444,100), who is on the bench for NSW. Peta Hiku ($130,100) is still at fullback, with Brett Stewart ($237,500) not expected back for some time.
Storm v Sharks - AAMI Park 6:30pm 9/6/13
The Storm are unchanged from the side that defeated the Roosters in Round 11, although their side definitely won’t be confirmed until the last minute with Billy Slater ($261,500), Cooper Cronk ($413,300), Cameron Smith ($556,400), Ryan Hoffman ($299,000) and possibly Justin O’Neill ($177,200) backing up from State of Origin. Ryan Hinchcliffe ($339,400) is again at lock, but as a dual position player is very valuable at this time of year, while Brett Finch ($228,900), Tim Glasby ($101,600) and Kenneath Bromwich ($116,100) are on an extended bench as cover,
Michael Gordon ($286,000), Luke Lewis ($351,100) and Paul Gallen ($409,100) are back for the Sharks, assuming the latter two make it through Origin duties on Wednesday night. Andrew Fifita ($504,500), who is also playing Origin, has been named to start but will probably start from the bench again. Tyrone Peachey ($116,100) and Sam Tagataese ($167,900) have both been named on an extended bench.
Raiders v Broncos - Canberra Stadium 7:00pm 10/6/13
The Raiders have named an unchanged side following the bye in Round 12, with Blake Ferguson ($355,500) and David Shillington ($194,400) backing up from Origin duty. Jarrod Croker ($275,400) is back in the centres after returning against the Sea Eagles two weeks ago, pushing Jack Wighton ($218,200) to the wing. Shaun Berrigan ($180,200) will start at hooker again, with Anthony Milford ($209,900) posing a threat from the bench.
A number of Origin stars are welcomed back by the Broncos this week following their heavy lost last Monday. Sam Thaiday ($377,700), Matt Gillett ($349,700) and Corey Parker ($509,500) have all been named to back-up from Origin, while Justin Hodges ($362,200) has not been named and is likely to be rested. Andrew McCullough is at hooker ($345,800) and Peter Wallace ($217,500) returns to halfback, pushing Ben Hunt ($161,000) to an extended bench. Jarrod Wallace ($124,400), Nick Slyney ($132,800) and Dunamis Lui ($105,200) are the extra men on the bench.
