Round 6 DT Team Analysis

It’s now time for Dream Team coaches to put pedal to the metal after round five teams were announced on Tuesday. It’s Heritage Round, and some classic clashes will bring out some interesting Dream Team results.

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 Broncos have made a couple of changes, the most prominent being the return of captain Sam Thaiday ($370,000) from suspension in the front row. Scott Anderson ($173,700) moves back to the bench and Dunamis Lui ($114,500) drops out of the squad altogether. Hooker Andrew McCullough ($372,400) was the standout last week, and should jump back up in price over the next couple of weeks.

Injuries have impacted the Cowboys this week, with Rob Lui ($132,200) out after just one game back. Michael Morgan ($232,100) is back at halfback, with Rory Kostjasyn ($217,100) starting at hooker and Ray Thompson ($231,200) on the bench. Tariq Sims ($147,400) is into the starting side, with Gavin Cooper ($324,700) on the bench. Ashton Sims ($221,00), Clint Greenshields ($171,900) and Joel Riethmuller ($171,500) are all on an extended bench while Anthony Mitchell ($201,900) has been dropped.

The Roosters have made two changes, with Daniel Tupou ($171,300) and Mitch Aubusson ($259,500) back into the starting side and Michael Oldfield ($169,900) and Luke O’Donnell ($253,900) both back to the extended bench alongside Aidan Guerra ($302,700). Sonny Bill Williams ($379,600) will be the man to look out for this week, facing his old club for the first time and in scintillating form, while James Maloney ($411,000) is pushing for a spot in both the Country Origin and NSW Origin sides.

At the Bulldogs, Greg Eastwood ($221,900) returns at lock, with Frank Pritchard ($242,900) dropping to the bench. David Klemmer ($135,100) is also on an extended bench and Harlan Alaalatoa ($116,100) is out after debuting last week. Much like Maloney, Josh Reynolds ($370,600) is pushing for representative football but he doesn’t have a great record against the Roosters (averaging 24). Pritchard is playing his third game, but will probably drop in price after limited game time.

The Knights have made a couple of changes, with Kurt Gidley ($233,500) named at hooker and Danny Buderus ($272,900) returning on the bench. Alex McKinnon ($250,100) is again in the centres while Timana Tahu ($267,500) joins him with Anthony Quinn ($194,600) out. Korbin Sims ($101,600) has dropped off the bench as well, but Adam Cuthbertson ($301,300) is the player on fire, and is expected to jump in price for at least a couple of weeks.

The Panthers stick with the same team that took on the Cowboys last week, with only a jersey change for Clint Newton ($187,600) and Tim Grant ($312,500) on the bench. Blake Austin ($171,100) and Tom Humble ($163,300) again partner in the halves, with Humble experiencing a big price rise this week following his third game of the season. Lewis Brown ($226,300) was the star last Saturday, and is getting more game time with Nathan Smith ($148,100) out of the squad.

The Raiders welcome back a Dream Team legend in captain Terry Campese ($262,000), who has been named 18th man. Joel Thompson ($263,700) is out again with a shoulder injury, replaced by Joel Edwards ($211,500) in the starting lineup. Anthony Milford ($101,600) is again on the bench, although his place could be in jeopardy should Campese return to start, with a high likelihood of Josh McCrone ($267,300) shifting to hooker and Matt McIlwrick ($146,900) back to the bench.

The Warriors have named the same starting 13 that just fell to the Rabbitohs last Sunday, with Jacob Lillyman ($253,600) and Ben Henry ($260,300) joining the bench in place of Sebastine Ikahihifo ($159,300). Russell Packer ($209,800) and Manu Vatuvei ($216,400) both returned to action last week and maintain their starting spots, however it is centres Ngani Laumape ($126,500) and Konrad Hurrell ($277,700) you should look out for. Laumape jumped in price after an impressive first three games and Hurrell has been back to his destructive best of late.

The Rabbitohs are unchanged from last week heading into the top of the table clash. Skipper Michael Crocker ($275,100), Justin Hunt ($194,100) and Jason Clark ($200,300) are all on an extended bench in addition. George Burgess ($256,900) continues to dominate the top level, and will again come off the bench, while brother Sam ($387,400) wasn’t at all impacted by a move to lock last week. Fullback Greg Inglis ($411,400) is still the blue chip stock at Souths, and is a worth investment even with Origin football approaching.

The Storm have named the the same 17 that took down the Tigers on Monday night, with the additions of Lagi Setu ($156,700), Slade Griffin ($118,000) and veteran Brett Finch ($228,900). Rookie Kenny Bromwich ($116,100), who made his debut last week, drops back to the extended bench with Setu in the 17. Sisa Waqa ($268,400) also returned to the side on the wing last week, replacing Matt Duffie ($138,700), who is now missing with a shoulder injury.

The Sea Eagles are unchanged from the team which defeated the Bulldogs last week. Tom Symonds ($216,300) retains his starting spot a lock ahead of Jamie Buhrer ($242,900), and Brenton Lawrence ($345,000) also holds his starting spot ahead of co-captain Jason King ($244,300). Daly Cherry Evans ($480,100) continues to be the Sea Eagles best Dream Team player, however Brett Stewart ($209,400) showed his DT capabilities last week with 40 points.

The Sharks have made a couple of changes to the backline, with Stewart Mills ($147,500) holding his spot in the centres ahead of Jonathan Wright ($150,300) and Chad Townsend ($313,900) again at five-eighth as Todd Carney ($342,600) is again missing through injury. Despite losing last week, fullback Michael Gordon ($321,800) is still one of the money men in the side, averaging 44.4 points per round.

The Tigers have made just one change to the team which took on the Storm, with Liam Fulton ($355,300) returning in the second row, Matt Bell ($202,200) dropping to the bench and Sitaleki Akauola ($101,600) dropped from the squad. Braith Anasta ($236,400) is again at halfback, and while named Benji Marshall ($347,900) is in serious doubt with a toe injury. Should he be missing, either Jacob Miller ($144,200) would make a return at halfback, or a reshuffle would see Tim Moltzen ($178,500) at half and James Tedesco ($141,600) would slot in at the back. There is a slight chance young guns Curtis Sironen ($179,400) or Luke Brooks ($101,600) could play their first game of the season, although it seems unlikely.

St George Illawarra have been forced into a couple of changes through injury, with Gerard Beale ($171,200) sustaining a season-ending ACL injury. Jason Nightingale ($286,900) moves to fullback, a role likely to be shared with Brett Morris ($304,600), and Daniel Vidot ($210,800) is on the wing. The forward pack remains the same, while Michael Henderson ($182,100) and 21-year-old hooker Damien Cook ($101,600) are added to the extended bench, and Josh Drinkwater ($101,600) is dropped.

The Titans have made a number of changes, both forced and unforced, to play the Eels. Steve Michaels ($139,800) is named in the centres with Brad Takairangi ($147,900) out with a hamstring injury, Beau Henry ($134,900) is at five eighth for the injured Aidan Sezer ($346,100), and Beau Falloon ($264,600) is at hooker for Matt Srama ($302,400). Ben Ridge ($188,800) and David Taylor ($340,100) are both out, the former with a pectoral injury, the latter for disciplinary reasons, while Mark Minichiello ($269,500) plays his first game of the year and Anthony Don ($101,600) is named to make his debut. Albert Kelly ($278,200) has been named despite a possible knee injury and Ryan James ($257,400) remains the Dream Team gold from the bench.

The Eels have named the same 17 that defeated the Sharks last week, with cosmetic changes only. Jacob Loko ($186,400) is still missing with illness, as Cheyse Blair ($178,400) takes his place in the centres, while Kelepi Tanginoa ($140,000) and Fuifui Moimoi ($244,600) drop to the bench and Joseph Paulo ($264,500) and Mitchell Allgood ($240,900) come back to the starting side.