NRL.com's Lone Scout analyses this week's big ins and outs for Holden NRL Fantasy.
- Official Round 14 team lists
- Injury list: The Round 14 casualty ward
- Suspensions: Latest from the NRL judiciary
Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers, Friday night at ANZ Stadium
Rabbitohs: Origin stars Greg Inglis, Chris McQueen and Ben Te'o are out, while in-form centre Dylan Walker will miss about six weeks with a broken thumb. Cash cow winger Alex Johnston has been named on the wing – as he has in recent weeks – and should make his return from a quad injury. Souths secured their gutsiest win of the season against the Warriors in Perth last week, coming from behind to win after losing several players to injury – including Inglis, whose price should take a tumble in future weeks following his 13-point score. Sam Burgess ($436,373) continued a superb run of form with 76, while Adam Reynolds ($383,433) and George Burgess ($403,338) also showed again why they're great buys for the Origin period. The Burgess brothers are among the better options if you want to replace Corey Parker this week, with the Broncos workhorse ruled out of Origin II and presumably a few weeks of NRL with a fractured eye socket.
Tigers: Joel Luani and Martin Taupau come into the starting side in place of NSW reps Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods, while Curtis Sironen starts for Liam Fulton who is out following another concussion. Ava Seumanufagai looks set to grab the final bench spot. James Tedesco ($291,101) was back with a bang last week, grabbing a try and eight tackle breaks for 65 Fantasy points, while Pat Richards ($201,914) and Chris Lawrence both passed 50 and Blues brothers Woods ($364,924, 65 points) and Farah ($520,882, 84 points) went big. Luke Brooks played well but only managed 28 Fantasy points, so he remains a player to upgrade down the track.
Panthers v Dragons, Saturday afternoon at Sportingbet Stadium
Panthers: David Simmons is out with a knee injury and Adam Docker will be rested this week, with the in-form Tyrone Peachey ($270,219) moving back into the starting side after averaging close to 60 over the past three weeks while cheapie Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ($123,829) returns on the wing. Bryce Cartwright ($105,971) is back on the bench. Kevin Kingston has been left out of the side again, suggesting James Segeyaro ($362,410) will get another 80-minute run at hooker where he starred against the Titans with 87 points last week. Jamie Soward ($318,619) is averaging in the 50s over the past five rounds – a big lift from the start of the season – while Josh Mansour ($374,632) wasn't directly involved with any tries on the weekend but still managed to score 49 from the wing. Isaah Yeo ($167,930, break even of 1) continues to impress in Jamal Idris's absence.
Dragons: With Josh Dugan joining Trent Merrin in the NSW side, Charly Runciman is in at centre while Bronson Harrison returns on the bench, and Mitch Rein is back from suspension at hooker – although fellow dummy-halves Shane Pumipi and Craig Garvey are on an extended bench. Dugan ($341,946) played his way into the Blues side with a hat-trick (and 69 Fantasy points) against the Sharks last week, while Benji Marshall ($220,910) wound back the clock with three try assists in his score of 58.
Roosters v Knights, Saturday night at Allianz Stadium
Roosters: Cheapies Nene McDonald ($107,000) and Willis Meehan ($107,000) both get a run this week while the Roosters' Origin trio are out of action, with Mitchell Aubusson moving to the centres and Dylan Napa starting in the back row. The Tricolours dusted up an under-strength Storm side last week and will probably do the same to Newcastle, with Jake Friend ($383,502, 78 points), Sonny Bill Williams ($349,629, 74 points), James Maloney ($334,194, 68 points) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ($250,539) doing most of the damage. Remi Casty ($172,161) has a break even of 10 this week while Daniel Mortimer ($85,429) is a chance of getting a few minutes off the bench after being named 18th man.
Knights: The Knights are up against it without Origin duo Darius Boyd and Beau Scott, injured centre Joey Leilua and suspended prop Kade Snowden, with young guns Jake Mamo and Josh Mantellato into the backline and Joseph Tapine and Clint Newton moving onto the bench. Akuila Uate ($237,463) bagged a hat-trick and 74 points last week but must be long odds of repeating the trick against the premiers, while Jarrod Mullen ($343,623) has dipped down to a mid-40s scorer after making a big impact earlier on this season.
Bulldogs v Eels, Saturday afternoon at ANZ Stadium
Bulldogs: Damien Cook ($107,000) and Reni Maitua are in the halves in place of NSW duo Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson, with Moses Mbye out for another month with a foot injury. Aidan Tolman will miss this week with a hamstring injury while Chase Stanley is out for four weeks with a knee injury, meaning popular bye round option Josh Jackson ($333,775) shifts to centre. Jackson had a monster of a game against the Sea Eagles with 47 tackles and 143 run metres for 81 points, and while he won't match those numbers from centre he's a hold for now. The Bulldogs have named winger/fullback Corey Thompson on the bench who might shift Krisnan Inu to centre, meaning Jackson would still play the bulk of the game in the pack. James Graham ($333,216) is hitting regular 50s and should only get through more work with partner in crime Tolman on the sidelines.
Eels: Isaac De Gois ($137,659) switched clubs from Cronulla to Parramatta while you weren't looking during the week, and he's now a genuine potential cash cow after grabbing the starting hooker spot at the Eels with Nathan Peats out for the season. He's on track to play big minutes with no dummy half named on Parramatta's bench, although youngster Kaysa Pritchard is due back from a shoulder injury next week. Ken Sio is at fullback and Ryan Morgan and Vai Toutai come into the backline with Jarryd Hayne and Will Hopoate on Origin duty, with Willie Tonga named despite being on standby for Queensland.
Titans v Storm, Monday night at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Paul Carter and Luke Bailey are into the starting side to replace Origin pair Greg Bird and Nate Myles, while Beau Falloon starts at hooker and James Roberts, Celeb Binge and Mark Ioane round out an extended bench. William Zillman ($101,969) is a very cheap option at fullback and will play both the remaining main bye rounds, although his top score for the season so far was last week's modest 27. Dave Taylor's price ($244,517) is on the rise after back-to-back 50+ efforts, but he's averaging less than 32 for the season.
Storm: Queensland squad player Will Chambers joins Origin regulars Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Ryan Hoffman in being left out of Melbourne's side this week, with Cameron Munster back at fullback, Kurt Mann returning to the centres and Ben Roberts starting in the halves alongside Ben Hampton and Tohu Harris in the back row. They have named a bumper eight-man bench as well. The most interesting news to come out for the Storm this surrounds somebody who isn't in action at all – after being switched to the halves before kickoff last week Cameron Smith will be given dual position status in Fantasy, opening up a lot of trading opportunities if he's in your side.
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