NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 20
It's the final round of the NRL Fantasy season, with the overall points race and head-to-head league finals to be decided this weekend.
It's yet another week with some big names sidelined, with some clubs bound for finals football resting a the bulk of their usual starting line-ups. Those with a trade or two up their sleeves will again take an advantage into round 20.
Round 20 teams news
Broncos v Cowboys, Thursday 7.50pm at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: Fantasy gun David Fifita (ankle) is out while Kotoni Staggs is switched to five-eighth in an interesting move for his owners, with Xavier Coates and Jesse Arthars joining the backline and Corey Oates moving to the bench.
Payne Haas is back and probably the safest captaincy option for round 20, while rookie Jordan Riki gets a start in the back row.
Cowboys: Josh McGuire returns at prop and Jason Taumalolo is back in the starting side, with Corey Jensen and Francis Molo benched and Ben Condon out of the 17.
Reuben Cotter scored a season-high 64 points at hooker last week and has been an excellent late-season buy, and looms as an undervalued bench option at $485k if you've got a trade to spare.
Titans v Knights, Friday 6pm at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Brian Kelly's return bumps Corey Thompson out of the 17 in the Gold Coast's only change.
AJ Brimson (51) and Jamal Fogarty (54) were both excellent again in last week's win over Manly and are capable of engineering a surprise win over Newcastle.
Knights: Lachlan Fitzgibbon (leg), Star Toa and Gehamat Shibasaki drop out of the 17, with Kurt Mann, Bradman Best and Edrick Lee returning to the starting side.
Mann's return at hooker means Chris Randall goes to the bench, while Sione Mata'utia is promoted to the starting side for Fitzgibbon and Brodie Jones joins the interchange.
Rabbitohs v Roosters, Friday 7.55pm at ANZ Stadium
Rabbitohs: Dane Gagai replaces Steven Marsters at centre with Jed Cartwright starting in the pack for Jaydn Su'A and Pat Mago onto the bench.
Campbell Graham (60) has been in great late-season form for the Bunnies while Damien Cook's mid-season slump is well and truly over with his 73 last round boosting his three-game average to nearly 70.
Roosters: With several big names already rested in recent weeks the Roosters aren't messing around here, with James Tedesco, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend returning to a star-studded line-up with Joey Manu, Isaac Liu and Lindsay Collins taking their turn for a break.
Angus Crichton shifts to lock and could be among several big scorers as the Tricolours look to hit top gear against their old rivals.
Bulldogs v Panthers, Saturday 3pm at ANZ Stadium
Bulldogs: The Bulldogs are unchanged, although Tim Lafai was set to face the judiciary on Tuesday night.
Jake Averillo has been a handy low-price scorer since his switch to five-eighth while Raymond Faitala-Mariner (74) and Aiden Tolman (62) are capable of big scores this week.
Panthers: With the minor premiership in the bag Ivan Cleary has opted to rest several players but crucially Nathan Cleary is named to play, along with in-form halves partner Jarome Luai. Apisai Koroisau is back in the side.
Stephen Crichton is probably the most Fantasy-relevant player to drop out of the 17 along with Dylan Edwards, Viliame Kikau, Tyrone May and Jack Hetherington.
Playmaker Matt Burton could get some minutes from the bench, which could be worth keeping in mind if you're considering Cleary as captain.
Tamou's left-field suggestion for next Panthers captain
Sharks v Raiders, Saturday 5.30pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Sharks: Cronulla have been hit with injuries to Shaun Johnson (ruptured achilles), Josh Dugan (knee) and Sione Katoa, with Wade Graham returning to the side in his old role of five-eighth.
Nene Macdonald and Mawene Hiroti are the other new starters in the backline while Teig Wilton joins the bench.
Raiders: Ricky Stuart is resting a bunch of players here with John Bateman (elbow), George Williams (head knock), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jarrod Croker, Jordan Rapana, Jack Wighton, Josh Papalii, Elliott Whitehead and Joseph Tapine all out.
The good news for Fantasy coaches is Tom Starling, Hudson Young and Siliva Havili will all start.
Wests Tigers v Eels, Saturday 7.35pm at Bankwest Stadium
Wests Tigers: In a massive boost for his owners Alex Twal is back, along with Tommy Talau and Luke Brooks.
Joey Leilua, Josh Reynolds, bench hooker Jacob Liddle and injured forwards Josh Aloiai and Sam McIntyre drop out, with Zane Musgrove at prop and Elijah Taylor, Shawn Blore and Michael Chee-Kam on the bench.
Eels: Parramatta have named the same 17 that downed the Broncos last week, with Junior Paulo and Shaun Lane named to start and Andrew Davey and Kane Evans to come of the bench.
Mitchell Moses (74) outscored all the usual captaincy candidates last week and could be a smokey if you feel you really need a left-field option.
Warriors v Sea Eagles, Sunday 2pm at Central Coast Stadium
Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is out with a hamstring injury, with Peta Hiku starting at fullback and Patrick Herbert into the side on the wing.
Eliesa Katoa returns in the back row, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown is back on the interchange, Jack Murchie goes to the bench and Tom Ale and Josh Curran drop out. Jazz Tevaga is named to play despite failing an HIA last week.
Sea Eagles: Tom Tbrojevic (shoulder) is out, with Tevita Funa at fullback and Abbas Miski on the wing, while Reuben Garrick's return means Albert Hopoate goes to the bench (and Daly Cherry-Evans probably won't kick goals). Haumole Olakau'atu joins the interchange.
Hard Earned Highlights - Round 19
Dragons v Storm, Sunday 4pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Dragons: The big news here is Ben Hunt is out with a thigh strain, meaning Cameron McInnes starts at hooker, although the Dragons have made several other changes.
Jayden Sullivan and Eddie Blacker debut with Max Feagai replacing Jordan Pereira on the wing, Sullivan replacing Corey Norman at five-eighth, Adam Clune returns at halfback, Blake Lawrie and Jacob Host start in the pack and Tyrell Fuimaono drops out of the 17.
Zac Lomax (87) was probably the difference in a few head-to-head finals in the past two weeks, bombing out for a season-low score a fortnight ago before topping all scorers in round 19 with two tackle-busting tries.
Storm: Ryan Papenhuyzen is back but Cameron Smith and Cameron Munster are sitting this one out along with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (calf), Suliasi Vunivalu (hamstring) Kenny Bromwich (concussion), Felise Kaufusi (knee), Brenko Lee, Justin Olam, Josh Addo-Carr, Jesse Bromwich and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Brandon Smith, Christian Welch and Tom Eisenhuth are among a host of new starters, and while Papenhuyzen should be a more crucial focal point in the Storm's inexperienced attack. However with Cooper Johns and Ryley Jacks pulling the strings in the halves he may not get the usual opportunities he gets running off the likes of Cameron Smith and Munster.
