It’s now time for Dream Team coaches to put pedal to the metal after round seven teams were announced on Tuesday. The run towards Origin football starts this week, and for Dream Team coaches that means starting to cash in on your big earners and preparing for the potential loss of representative 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.
Roosters v Dragons - Allianz Stadium 4:00pm 25/4/13
The Roosters have named an unchanged side from the team that decimated the Bulldogs 38-0 at Allianz Stadium in Round 6. Sonny Bill Williams ($404,800) has been named to start in the second row despite a knee injury that saw him miss the ANZAC Test against Australia, while Mitchell Pearce ($376,500) is also there after missing the Country v City Origin clash through injury. Pearce has a very good recent record against the Dragons, and has performed well on ANZAC Day before, so don’t be surprised to see him have a big one here.
St George Illawarra are unchanged from the side that pipped the Tigers 13-12 at the SCG two weeks ago, with just the addition of barnstorming prop Michael Weyman ($279,000) to an extended bench. Emerging cash cow Jack Stockwell ($166,200) has retained his starting spot, and young hooker Damien Cook ($101,600) is again on the bench. Brett Morris ($315,000) shone on the wing last week, trading places with Jason Nightingale ($289,900) at times, and scoring 54 points.
Storm v Warriors - AAMI Park 7:00pm 25/4/13
The Storm have made just one change to the starting side who took down the Rabbitohs, with Ryan Hinchcliffe ($331,600) out injured, replaced by Tohu Harris ($251,100) at lock and Kevin Proctor ($245,400) comes into the second row. They’ve named an extended bench which includes Junior Moors ($141,000), Lagi Setu ($165,700), Slade Griffin ($118,000), Kenneath Bromwich ($116,100) and Justin O’Neill ($192,700). If fit, expect O’Neill to take his place somewhere in the side, possibly at the expense of Mahe Fonua ($176,200) or Sisa Waqa ($268,400).
The Warriors have plenty of changes from the side that fell to the Raiders two weeks ago. Captain Simon Mannering ($331,000) is out with a calf injury, meaning Ben Henry ($255,400), who is a dual position (CTR/2RF) player, gets a start in the second row. Glen Fisiiahi ($127,700), Jacob Lillyman ($253,600), Elijah Taylor ($271,700), Pita Godinet ($211,500) and Jerome Ropati ($150,500) all return to the side, with Manu Vatuvei ($192,900), Dane Neilsen ($206,300) and Sebastine Ikahihifo ($153,100) all out of the squad. Fisiiahi replaces Vatuvei on the wing, while Lillyman, Taylor, Godinet and Ropati join Ben Manulino ($288,400) on the bench.
Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs - Brookvale Oval 7:35pm 26/4/13
The Sea Eagles make two changes to the side that defeated Cronulla at Brookvale last start, with Joe Galuvao ($151,300) out for the season with an Achilles injury and David Williams ($184,900) returning after missing the last game. David Gower ($129,000) returns to the side on the bench to replace Galuvao, while rookie Peta Hiku ($101,600) loses his spot on the wing for Williams’ return. Again Brenton Lawrence ($346,000) holds his starting spot ahead of co-captain Jason King ($238,800) while Glenn Stewart ($305,100) still isn’t ready to return from a knee injury.
The Rabbitohs are again unchanged, with Beau Champion ($171,300) retaining his starting spot in the centres. They have an extended bench which again includes skipper Michael Crocker ($275,100), Justin Hunt ($194,100) and Jason Clark ($200,300), while Nathan Peats ($212,500) is also on the bench after not getting on the field against the Storm. There were concerns about Greg Inglis ($406,400), who left the field before fulltime in the ANZAC Test, however he has overcome a hip injury and will play at fullback, as has John Sutton ($391,200) who missed the Country v City game.
Cowboys v Raiders - 1300SMILES Stadium 5:30pm 27/4/13
The Cowboys welcome back some big names this week, with Matt Bowen ($246,300) returning at fullback, replacing Clint Greenshields ($171,900). Jason Taumalolo ($263,000) also returns to the side on the bench, while Dallas Johnson ($330,300) replaces Joel Riethmuller ($171,500) at lock. Tariq Sims ($154,800) retains his starting spot, leaving Gavin Cooper ($297,200) on the bench.
The Raiders have made two forced changes, with Jake Foster ($127,700) replacing Josh Papalii ($350,300) in the second row, and Paul Vaughan ($116,100) joining the bench as David Shillington ($224,500) drops out with a rib injury. Terry Campese ($262,000) is again on the bench as halves pairing Josh McCrone ($247,500) and Sam Williams ($310,900) are retained. The most likely strategy will see McCrone move to dummy half when Matt McIlwrick ($151,100) has a break and Campese move into five-eighth, making the Country representative a very enticing option in the coming weeks.
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Tigers v Broncos - Campbelltown Sports Stadium 7:30pm 27/4/13
The Tigers have made several positional changes as injuries ravage the squad, but it sees some very good Dream Team prospects emerge. James Tedesco ($156,300) moves to fullback, with Matt Utai ($277,300) returning on the wing with a massive break-even score. Curtis Sironen ($179,400) and Tim Moltzen ($192,600) partner each other in the halves as Braith Anasta ($234,800) is out. Liam Fulton ($355,300) is named on the bench with Matt Bell ($213,700) at lock and Adam Blair ($205,700) in the second row. Rookies Shaun Spence ($101,600), Suaso Sue ($101,600) and Ava Seumanufagai ($103,300) are all on an extended bench.
The Broncos are unchanged from the team that defeated the Cowboys, with only Josh McGuire ($333,200) returning on the bench. Nick Slyney ($139,000) is also on the extended bench alongside David Hala ($148,700), with both players playing their third match with achievable break-evens. Lachlan Maranta ($122,800), Ben Hunt ($138,800) and Scott Anderson ($185,100) are all looking at price rises as well this week, and could be good bench options.
Titans v Knights - Skilled Park 2:00pm 28/4/13
The Titans have made a number of changes again to their side, with Aidan Sezer ($346,100), Matt Srama ($302,400) and Beau Falloon ($264,600) all returning to the side alongside David Taylor ($340,100). Anthony Don ($101,600) retains his spot on the wing, with Luke O’Dwyer ($204,202) starting in the centres and Steve Michaels ($138,600) moves back to the bench. Mark Minichiello ($269,500) starts in the second-row, with Sezer at five-eighth, Srama at hooker and Falloon on the bench with Taylor. Jamal Idris ($247,700) also returns to the centres after starting in the second-row last week.
The Knights welcome back centre Dane Gagai ($343,500) in place of Joseph Leilua ($250,900), while Jeremy Smith’s ($294,900) suspension opens up a spot for Alex McKinnon ($239,900) to start in the back row with Chris Houston ($362,800) at lock. Korbin Sims ($101,600) is the 18th man in the squad, with Neville Costigan ($192,300) also returning to the side on the bench.
Sharks v Bulldogs - Bluetongue Stadium 3:00pm 28/4/13
The Sharks welcome back superstar Todd Carney ($342,600) from injury, meaning Chad Townsend ($313,900) drops back to NSW Cup with Stewart Mills ($147,500), who is replaced by Jonathan Wright ($150,300). Chris Heighington ($338,100) switches with Wade Graham ($321,400) back to the bench after starting against Manly, and Sam Tagataese ($128,300) is added to the bench. Anthony Tupou ($264,200), selected on the bench, enters the game in top form following a score of 47 in just 34 minutes from the bench.
At the Bulldogs Des Hasler has stuck with the side that were outgunned 38-0 by the Roosters two weeks ago. Trent Hodkinson ($142,900) retains the halfback spot with Kris Keating ($297,300) still missing, while after a massive display in the U20s Origin match, David Klemmer ($135,100) reclaims a spot on the extended bench. Aiden Tolman ($316,400) is again starting at prop, and could be a valuable long term investment following a big display in the Country v City match.
Panthers v Eels - Centrebet Stadium 7:00pm 29/4/13
The Panthers have made plenty of changes to their lineup, many forced through injury. Matt Moylan ($101,600) is set to make his NRL debut at fullback, with Dean Whare ($161,600) into the centres to replace the injury Wes Naiqama. Travis Robinson ($184,500) is on the wing replacing Josh Mansour ($294,500) who is also injured, while Lewis Brown ($243,000) is in the centres. Luke Walsh ($277,700) is at halfback, while Tim Grant ($332,100) is named to start at prop and Matt Robinson ($232,700) is in the second row. Nathan Smith ($148,100) also returns replacing Cameron Ciraldo ($281,900) on the bench.
The Eels make just one chance from the team that fell to the Titans, with Fuifui Moimoi ($241,000) suspended for a week. Mitchell Allgood ($248,700) starts in his place, with Matt Ryan ($290,500) returning on the bench. Kelepi Tanginoa ($161,000) is making himself a handy cash cow, retaining his starting spot after dominating for NSW in the U20s Origin match, and Jacob Loko ($203,100) is in the centres after returning from illness last round. Joseph Paulo ($242,800) has dropped back to the bench, and is probably one to get rid of if possible.
