Round 10 DT Team Analysis

It’s now time for Dream Team coaches to start thinking strategically with the Origin period looming around the corner. There are a couple of key changes this week, but what will it mean for your team?

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 are forced into a couple of key changes, with Scott Prince ($264,600) and Ben Hannant ($402,900) out with hamstring and calf injuries respectively. Ben Hunt ($169,600) moves to five-eighth aside Peter Wallace ($235,800), while Josh McGuire ($260,800) takes Hannant’s spot at prop. Scott Anderson ($188,300), Jarrod Wallace ($132,200) and Mitchell Dodds ($151,100) have all been added to the bench, while Justin Hodges ($362,200) has been named despite a minor hip complaint on Saturday night.

The Titans welcome Matt Srama ($285,800) back from a hand injury this week, named on a six man bench. Beau Falloon ($316,400) retains the starting hooker role, whilst Ashley Harrison’s ($309,400) return last week at lock sees Nate Myles ($348,600) move to the front row. Luke Douglas ($324,400) has been named on the bench, however a decision on whether he will play will be left up to the last minute for him to make after the passing of his mother this week. Mark Ioane ($127,700) and Sam Irwin ($123,400) are both on the extended bench.

The Rabbitohs have made one change to the side that defeated North Queensland last Friday night, with Andrew Everingham ($102,200) accepting a two week suspension for a shoulder charge. Justin Hunt ($194,100) takes his place on the wing, with the remainder of the side intact. Again Jeff Lima ($205,300) is part of an extended bench where he is joined by Dylan Farrell ($175,500).

The Tigers have made some big name changes this week, with Benji Marshall ($286,200) dropped to the bench. Curtis Sironen ($201,000) will now partner Liam Fulton ($368,400) in the halves, with the latter likely to take a hit to his scores with a reduced defensive workload. Bodene Thompson ($140,500) will start in the second row, with Ava Seumanufagai ($103,300) joining the bench and Ben Murdoch-Masila ($171,200) 18th man. Suaso Sue ($167,900) also retains his starting spot at prop.

St George Illawarra welcome new signing Josh Dugan ($365,000) into the team at fullback, replacing rookie Adam Quinlan ($101,600) who made his debut last week. With a break-even of 100 this week, stay clear of Dugan for now. Matt Cooper ($284,200) has also been named after missing last week, with Matt Prior ($247,000) back on the bench with Jack Stockwell ($222,300) who last week lost his starting spot to Michael Weyman ($281,200). Cameron King ($126,300) has also been named on the extended bench, but would be expected to drop out barring injury.

The Eels have made one change to the side that took down Brisbane on Saturday night, with 19-year-old Junior Paulo ($101,600) named to make his debut from the bench. He replaces Darcy Lussick ($172,900) who accepted the early guilty plea for a contrary conduct charge and will miss two weeks. Api Pewhairangi ($101,600) has been named in the centres after his debut last week, with Ryan Morgan ($281,500) missing through injury, while Kaysa Pritchard ($101,600) is also on the bench despite not taking the field last Saturday.

The Panthers have named an unchanged squad from the side that toppled the Storm on Sunday night, with Issac John ($148,600) again partnering Luke Walsh ($376,100) in the halves. Matt Moylan ($122,800) has his fourth game at fullback, and probably has a couple of price rises in him yet, while Adam Docker ($182,900) and Dean Whare ($192,500) are both set for more price rises after good performances last Sunday.

The Warriors have Sam Rapira ($201,700) returning in the front row after he was ruled out late last week, named in the starting side with Ben Matulino ($262,700) dropping back to the bench. Carlos Tuimavave ($163,600) is in the centres after playing last week, with Konrad Hurrell ($298,100) dropped late last week. If you hadn’t got rid of Hurrell yet, it is definitely time. Rapira’s return sees Suaia Matagi ($101,600) move to 18th man.

The Cowboys have named an unchanged squad from the side that fell to the Rabbitohs last Friday night, with Jason Taumalolo ($254,000) named on an extended bench. Ray Thompson ($192,400) is at halfback, with Michael Morgan ($236,300) out of the side, while Scott Moore ($176,500) retains his spot on the bench. Tariq Sims ($247,800) is starting to play more minutes, and with low breakevens still has some price rises in him.

The Roosters have named an unchanged side after taking down Manly at Brookvale for the first time since 2004, although there is one change expected before kick-off. Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves ($365,300) has been named in the starting lineup, although it’s expected he will miss the game through suspension after being charged with a grade 1 reckless high tackle, with a possible penalty of between 5-7 weeks. Frank-Paul Nuuausala ($199,200) has retained his spot on the bench after returning last week.

The Sharks have named the same 17 that defeated the Tigers on Friday night, with Paul Gallen ($409,100) still missing with his knee injury. Chris Heighington ($320,800) is again named at lock, with Andrew Fifita ($448,300) switching places with Sam Tagataese ($164,400) between the bench and starting prop. Sosaia Feki ($101,600) has also been kept on the wing after an impressive start to his NRL career, and Mark Taufua ($167,400) is again 18th man.

The Raiders have also kept the same 17 that won handsomely last Sunday, with David Shillington ($202,300) and Josh Papalii ($362,400) both named to start after making returns from injury last weekend. Shillington takes the place of Dane Tilse ($256,000), who drops back to the bench, while Papalii swaps with Joe Picker ($127,000). Shaun Berrigan ($185,600) is again 18th man, but it is Blake Ferguson ($308,200) who is the man of the moment, in terrific form and with a break-even of -26. 

The Knights have made two significant changes to their side after a heavy loss to the Raiders last week, welcoming back Jarrod Mullen ($387,800) and Neville Costigan ($192,300) from injury. Mullen’s return sees Kurt Gidley ($272,800) move back to hooker and Travis Waddell ($181,700) to the bench, while Adam Clydesdale ($101,600) drops out of the squad. Costigan is again on the bench, while David Fa’alogo ($252,300) starts at lock, with Chris Houston ($331,900) dropped. Timana Tahu ($252,600) has also been dropped, replaced by Joseph Leilua ($250,900) in the centres.

The Bulldogs have made just one change to their side after coming from behind to defeat the Warriors in Wellington, with Krisnan Inu ($289,400) returning from suspension in the centres. He replaces Tim Lafai ($258,500), who is dropped back to NSW Cup, while again Martin Taupau ($181,700) and Tim Browne ($129,200) have been named on an extended bench. Trent Hodkinson ($216,700) is named at halfback, and could be a good pickup as a starting halfback with a break even of -13.

The Storm are unchanged again despite back-to-back losses to Canberra and Penrith, with only the addition of Lagi Setu ($163,800) to an extended bench. Slade Griffin ($128,400) and Maurice Blair ($143,400) are also on the bench, retaining their spots while Brett Finch ($228,900) drops out of the squad. Despite the loss, the big three of Cameron Smith ($533,700), Cooper Cronk ($401,000) and Billy Slater ($294,800) all had price increases and have achievable break even scores.

The Sea Eagles have named Peter Hiku ($101,600) at fullback for their clash with Melbourne after his second NRL game on Monday night. With Brett Stewart ($237,500) out for a month with a knee injury, Hiku takes his place at the back, with Jorge Taufua ($270,300) and David Williams ($176,200) on the wings. Tom Symonds ($237,700) joins the bench with James Hasson ($101,600) after the former was a late scratching on Monday and the latter didn’t get on the field. George Rose ($149,000) has also been named despite copping a high shot from Rooster Jared Waerea-Hargreaves ($365,300).