We’re back to a full complement of games this weekend, meaning all head-to-head players should be able to field their best 17. Origin teams are again named at the end of the round, but how can you capitalise this week and make moves in your head-to-head and overall leagues?
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.
Dragons v Cowboys - WIN Stadium 7:35pm 14/6/13
St George Illawarra are forced into just one change from the side that took down the Knights last Saturday night. Bronson Harrison ($288,500) will be missing after breaking his hand last week, with Tyson Frizell ($218,300) taking his place starting in the second row. Leeson Ah Mau ($209,300) joins the bench, while Jamie Soward ($268,800) will again play for the Illawarra Cutters in the NSW Cup. Josh Dugan ($355,300) is again at fullback and has really hit some form ahead of Origin Two.
The Cowboys welcome back three experiences players who missed the loss to the Bulldogs, with Johnathan Thurston ($327,800), Ashley Graham ($133,200) and Rory Kostjasyn ($213,200) all back in the side. Thurston replaces Michael Morgan ($211,600) and Graham replaces Kalifa Faifai Loa ($144,500), while Kostjasyn is on an extended bench with Ricky Thorby ($148,400). Blake Leary ($148,700) drops out of the squad.
Sea Eagles v Bulldogs - Brookvale Oval 7:35pm 14/6/13
The Sea Eagles are unchanged from the team which fell to the Warriors in Auckland last week. James Hasson ($101,600) again takes the final bench spot ahead of David Gower ($127,300), while Peta Hiku ($159,600) is at fullback with an enticing break-even of -12. Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans ($456,600) could be a good pick up this week as he fights for a place in the Queensland lineup with a healthy average of 60.04 at Brookvale and 68.40 against the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs are unchanged from the side that downed the Cowboys last Saturday night, with NSW Origin representatives Josh Morris ($204,700) and Josh Reynolds ($306,700) retaining their starting spots at the expense of Joel Romelo ($141,000) and Tim Lafai ($256,800). Mitch Brown ($138,800) is again on the wing, while Tony Williams ($236,900) comes into the starting side and Josh Jackson ($278,600) goes back to the bench. Tom Browne ($116,200) is on an extended bench.
Raiders v Panthers - Canberra Stadium 5:30pm 15/6/13
The Raiders have named an unchanged side following their 30-18 win over the Broncos on Monday night, with Terry Campese ($308,400) and Josh Papalii ($399,700) both cleared by the match review committee to take their place in the starting lineup. Again David Shillington ($194,200) will start from the bench and Glen Buttriss ($245,100) starts at hooker, with Shaun Berrigan ($180,200) missing out after being a late exclusion on Monday night. Anthony Milford ($228,400) will take the utility role on the bench, with Josh McCrone ($187,000) likely to shift to hooker when Milford takes the field.
The Panthers have stuck with the same squad that lost to the Tigers on Sunday, adding Ryan Simpkins ($250,400) to an extended bench and making some positional switches. Josh Mansour ($278,000) will start in the centres after returning from injury last week, with Lewis Brown ($271,500) moving to the second row and Matt Robinson ($281,600) dropping back to the bench. Mose Masoe ($167,100) will start in the front row, while Matt Moylan ($159,700) will miss out due to salary cap restrictions.
Sharks v Eels - Sharks Stadium 7:30pm 15/6/1
Paul Gallen ($409,100) returns for the Sharks after missing the heavy loss to the Storm through suspension. His return pushes Chris Heighington ($355,000) back to the bench alongside Jayson Bukuya ($291,300), who makes way for the return to the starting side of Luke Lewis ($357,400). Tyrone Peachey ($116,100) and Sam Tagataese ($158,500) are again on the extended bench, and look for one of the six bench players to start in the front row and push Andrew Fifita ($533,700) to the interchange, as has been a regular occurrence.
The Eels have again made multiple changes to their side, as Jarryd Hayne ($315,600) misses with a hamstring injury. Jake Mullaney ($292,300) is again in the side, this time at fullback, and Ben Roberts ($163,500) grabs the utility spot on the bench. Jacob Loko ($268,000) has been dropped to NSW Cup, with Cheyse Blair ($182,500) taking his place in the centres. Reni Maitua ($200,800) also returns after missing last week, with Joseph Paulo ($308,400) going back to five-eighth and Luke Kelly ($162,200) omitted.
Rabbitohs v Titans - Barlow Park 2:00pm 16/6/1
The Rabbitohs welcome back their Origin stars after the bye in Round 13, including Greg Inglis ($435,000), Ben Te’o ($302,000) and Chris McQueen ($231,000), as well as Sam Burgess ($434,200) from suspension. Inglis is back to fullback, pushing Nathan Merritt ($151,800) back to the wing, while Te’o and McQueen start in the second row with Burgess at lock, meaning Ben Lowe ($204,800), Nathan Peats ($128,500) and Jeff Lima ($232,800) shift to a seven man bench. Luke Keary ($101,600) and Josh Starling ($127,700) are also on the bench and look set to maintain their spots, while George Burgess ($377,700) is also on the interchange.
The Titans have their three Origin representatives back after they also had the bye in Round 13. Nate Myles ($339,800), Greg Bird ($290,100) and Ashley Harrison ($266,800) are all back, with Myles coming into the front row to push Luke Douglas ($340,200) back to the bench, while Bird and Harrison join Mark Minichiello ($282,400) in the second row, with Dave Taylor ($297,300) and Ryan James ($250,100) on the interchange. Sam Irwin ($119,000) and Ben Ridge ($188,800) join them, while Mark Ioane ($146,300), Jamie Dowling ($127,700) and Shane Gray ($101,600) drop out of the squad.
Storm v Knights - AAMI Park 3:00pm 16/6/13
The Storm are unchanged from the side that dominated the Sharks at home 38-6 last weekend. All of their Origin stars (Billy Slater ($264,600), Cooper Cronk ($400,900), Cameron Smith ($548,100) and Ryan Hoffman ($326,000)) backed up last Sunday, and will be key again this weekend. Tohu Harris ($277,300) will again start from the bench, with Ryan Hinchcliffe ($322,900) at lock, while Jordan McLean ($116,100) also retained his spot.
The Knights are unchanged from the side that fell to the Dragons last Saturday night, with Darius Boyd ($230,100) at fullback despite an ankle injury. David Fa’alogo ($258,300) has also been named on the bench despite a possible knee injury, while Neville Costigan ($179,700) has been added to the bench. New signing Craig Gower ($171,900) has been left out of the squad altogether. Beau Scott ($225,000) also continues his return from injury with another start on the interchange bench.
Roosters v Warriors - Allianz Stadium 6:30pm 16/6/13
The Roosters are once again unchanged, with Isaac Liu ($132,700) retaining his spot on the interchange bench after being a late replacement for Lama Tasi ($197,500) in their last-start victory over the Eels. Sonny Bill Williams ($383,100) has been named after taking the early guilty plea to a high tackle charge, while Boyd Cordner ($262,300) has also been named but will have to beat a grade one striking charge at the judiciary on Wednesday night to take the field.
The Warriors welcome Kevin Locke ($205,400) back at fullback after he missed last Sunday’s win over the Sea Eagles with a hip-flexor injury. His return means Glen Fisiiahi ($139,000) pushes back to the wing, and Ngani Laumape ($152,400) drops back to a seven man bench. Russell Packer ($198,200) also returns starting at prop, replacing Suaia Matagi ($101,600) who is also on the extended bench, alongside Charlie Gubb ($101,600).
Broncos v Tigers - Suncorp Stadium 7:00pm 17/6/13
An unchanged lineup has been named by the Broncos this week following their loss on the road to the Raiders last Monday. Justin Hodges ($337,700), Sam Thaiday ($379,000), Matt Gillett ($344,100) and Corey Parker ($508,900) all backed up from Origin, and have been named to start this Monday night against the Tigers, although with the Queensland side named just prior to kick-off, there may be some distractions for them. Jarrod Wallace ($124,400) retains his spot on the bench with Dunamis Lui ($105,200) added as the extra man.
The Tigers luck with injuries didn’t get much better, with Marika Koroibete ($179,300) dislocating his elbow against the Panthers last Sunday. His exit coincides with the return of Blake Ayshford ($205,200) in the centres, forcing Joel Reddy ($157,600) to the wing. Sean Meaney ($139,000) retains his spot at fullback in an otherwise unchanged lineup, while David Noafoluma ($172,800) has been named despite an ankle injury. Chris Lawrence ($157,900) could also be a late inclusion despite not being named, as he returns from a hamstring strain, while Robbie Farah ($502,100) is unlikely to play club football again prior to Origin Two.
