NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 6

The key team changes and NRL Fantasy form guide for all 16 clubs heading into the fifth round of the Telstra Premiership season.

All kick-off times in AEST unless otherwise specified.

NRL Fantasy team news

Sharks v Panthers, Thursday at 7:50pm at Pointsbet Stadium

Sharks: Paul Gallen (ribs) is back at lock with Jack Williams benched and Braden Hamlin-Uele out. Andrew Fifita (hamstring) has been named but is no certainty to play on the short turnaround however with Cronulla the first team in action this round you can make a captaincy call once the team is finalised.

Bronson Xerri (21) was twice close to a good score last week against a brilliant defensive side and should have bigger scores to come. You could say the same for Shaun Johnson (35) who is a keeper. Kurt Capewell (63) reignited his price rises last week while back-row partner Briton Nikora (60) is this year's best cash cow and putting in keeper scores.

Panthers: Hooker Wayde Egan returns from injury in the run-on side while Tim Grant gets his first start of the year at prop, with Sione Katoa and Reagan Campbell-Gillard relegated to the bench while Hame Sele and Jarome Luai drop out.

Nathan Cleary still looks a little restricted but produced 52 last week and is a top-tier HLF when fully fit. James Fisher-Harris now has four good scores in five weeks but there is little argument to have any other Panthers in your squad.

Bulldogs v Rabbitohs, Friday at 4:05pm at ANZ Stadium

Bulldogs: Danny Fualalo replaces the suspended Sauaso Sue on the bench. Last week's huge loss to the Dragons was bad news for the Fantasy scores of Kerrod Holland (7), Jayden Okunbor (15), Nick Meaney (25), Aiden Tolman (36) and Lachlan Lewis (38), who all registered season-low scores, though all bar Holland are ideally a hold for now.

Rabbitohs: In the first official game of the post-Greg Inglis era, coach Wayne Bennett has named the same 17 he named last week, with Kyle Turner again at centre and George Burgess again named at prop despite being shuffled to the bench for kick-off last week.

Cody Walker made back most of his price drops with four tries last week while Damien Cook hit top gear. Sam Burgess, Cam Murray and Adam Reynolds all produced their lowest scores of the year last week.

Storm v Roosters, Friday at 7.55pm at AAMI Park

Storm: Suliasi Vunivalu returns from suspension in place of Sandor Earl. Cameron Smith remains a safe captaincy option while Cameron Munster is a top-four half so far this year. Dale Finucane's scoring returned to traditional levels last week. 

Roosters: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been named to return while Isaac Liu is out. Joseph Manu is named pending Tuesday's trip to the judiciary. Victor Radley (HIA) has been named at hooker with Jake Friend (shoulder) still out, but scored just 18 in 63 minutes last week.

Latrell Mitchell's 60 should mean his $100k in price drops have now stopped. Angus Crichton got 35 last week so ideally hold off buying him until he shows some more consistent scoring.

Warriors v Cowboys, Saturday at 5:30pm at Mt Smart Stadium

Warriors: Blake Green (groin) has been named but expect Peta Hiku to again shuffle into the halves if he is out. Issac Luke (HIA) has also been named. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is in sublime form.

This is probably the last week to jump on Chanel Harris-Tavita if you want him. Lachlan Burr has soared past $200k in price rises and while it's too late to pick him up now he still has a negative break-even.

Cowboys: Justin O'Neill replaces Nene Macdonald (ankle) on the wing and Scott Bolton returns from a long suspension to replace Corey Jensen on the bench. Michael Morgan is the only Fantasy-relevant player here. It's time to sell Jordan Kahu.

Dragons v Sea Eagles, Saturday at 7:35pm at WIN Stadium

Dragons: Unchanged after last week's big win, with in-form prop Paul Vaughan (ankle) not in doubt. Jacob Host's painfully slow price rises may have one week to go but he can safely be sold.

Mikaela Ravalawa's value is going slightly better but ideally he is not a top-17 option. Blake Lawrie is relishing the No.13 jersey in Korbin Sims' absence with $213k of rises so far but it's too late to pick him up now. Cameron McInnes has a three-game average of 70 and is now above starting price.

Sea Eagles: Unchanged, pending prop Addin Fonua-Blake's Tuesday night trip to the judiciary. Daly Cherry-Evans has a four-game average of 73. Jake Trbojevic is the model of consistency with five scores between 51 and 63. Reuben Garrick and Corey Waddell are making steady cash.

Titans v Knights, Sunday at 2pm at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: Prop Shannon Boyd (hamstring) is back in place of Jarrod Wallace (suspension). Phillip Sami replaces AJ Brimson (thumb) on the bench. Ash Taylor (knee) has been named.

Ryan James (75) is a Fantasy gun when he gets big minutes at prop, Jai Arrow (59) is a flat-out keeper and Mitch Rein (53, +$80k) has been very good since taking over from Nathan Peats. A penalty try saved Bryce Cartwright (41) last week.

Knights: Herman Ese'ese replaces Aidan Guerra (ankle) on the bench. Kalyn Ponga has two 50-plus scores since returning to fullback. David Klemmer is a shandy behind Andrew Fifita as the year's best FRF so far. Mitch Pearce will be very cheap if or when he rediscovers his form.

Raiders v Broncos, Sunday at 4:05pm at GIO Stadium

Raiders: JJ Collins replaces Joe Tapine (ankle) on the bench. John Bateman is the gift that keeps on giving. One-time Fantasy stud Joey Leilua has a three-game average over 50. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is closing in on $200k in price rises. Josh Papalii scored well last week due to attacking stats but is not a Fantasy option while playing prop.

Broncos: Matt Lodge is out, with Payne Haas moving to prop, David Fifita starting at lock and Gehamat Shibasaki recalled on the bench. James Roberts is again in the reserves with Kotoni Staggs still in the starting side. Haas should score just as well at prop but may get fewer minutes.

Jack Bird's break-even has jumped to 37 after a horror fortnight with two dropped tries and a raft of demerits; he will bounce back at some point and remains a viable CTR option but with so many great options in that position this year many will be looking to sell for one of this week's cheapie options. Thomas Flegler is ideally a hold this week but can be cashed out soon. Matt Gillett is a sell while Andrew McCullough is persistently averaging 49.

Eels v Wests Tigers, Monday at 4pm at Bankwest Stadium

Eels: Blake Ferguson (ribs, nose) has been named. Oregon Kaufusi and Ray Stone replace Kane Evans and David Gower on the bench. Last week's possession-starved and error-riddled loss to Canberra was bad news across the board in Fantasy.

It was only an HIA that stopped Reed Mahoney from consecutive 80-minute games. It's probably worth giving Maika Sivo another week or two but unless he hits another score his price has peaked. 

Wests Tigers: Unchanged, and coming off a huge 11-day turnaround from last Thursday to Easter Monday. David Nofoaluma got through his injury return in Canterbury Cup and is in the reserves but Benji Marshall is not in the 21. Alex Twal played a mammoth 68-minute stint at prop against Brisbane for 69 points.

Robbie Farah is still the top scoring player this year. Luke Garner shrugged off a round four 29 with a welcome 67. Josh Aloiai has quietly racked up $165k in price rises but is not a keeper and it's too late to jump on now.