Lone Scout's Fantasy team list analysis: Round 20

As expected, many big names return for Round 20 but a few shock non-starters will have coaches scrambling to rework those all-important eight extra trades. 

We are back to 17 starting for your team so let’s get to the analysis of this week’s team lists. 

Round 20 Analysis

Panthers v Broncos, Thursday 7.50pm at CommBank Stadium

Panthers: Full steam ahead for the Panthers with Origin completed and their final bye out of the way. Origin heroes Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin come into the starting side along with Casey McLean and Isaiah Papali’i who both return from injury. 

Broncos: Brisbane also have a number of key players back in this very important encounter. Payne Haas is in at prop and the best pick-up of the round at a surprisingly low price. Pat Carrigan is also in at lock with Xavier Willison retaining at starting middle rotation spot. Reece Walsh and Josiah Karapani take their usual positions in the backline as do halves Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds with Ben Hunt, Preston Riki, Grant Anderson, Va’a Semu and Hayze Perham all shifting to the interchange. Billy Walters is named in the reserves as a potential comeback from an ACL suffered late last year. 

Sharks v Knights, Friday 6.00pm at Ocean Protect Stadium

Sharks: A brilliant win by the Sharks last week and now Briton Nikora is back from Origin duties, joined in the starting line-up by Addin Fonua-Blake who came off the pine last week in a big boost for the home side. Billy Burns and Oregon Kaufusi move to the interchange with Jayden Berrell sliding into the reserves. All eyes on Nicho Hynes who many coaches will be trying to get into their line-ups after he cracked the century mark last start. 

Knights: Bradman Best returns at centre after missing last week with Fletcher Sharpe heading to his more familiar five-eighth role and Sandon Smith found on the bench. Cheapie Cody Hopwood is unfortunately unavailable due to a calf injury so Tyson Frizell is the new prop while Francis Manuleleua comes on the edge with Thomas Cant shifting to the interchange and Jermaine McEwen still out with a hamstring complaint. 

Roosters v Storm, Friday 8.00pm at Allianz Stadium

Roosters: Sam Walker and Reece Robson come back into the side after getting a rest-up post Origin last Saturday. This time Robert Toia will likely take a week off after only being named in the reserves, while James Tedesco is still stood down due to HIA protocols with Cody Ramsey again deputising in the No.1 jersey. Nat Butcher is the other returning Rooster, taking the edge spot of Salesi Foketi who goes to the bench along with Connor Watson. 

Storm: Two huge blows for the Storm with halves Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster out for this critical clash with the Roosters. Tyran Wishart and Trent Toelau will share the halves duties while Harry Grant is straight back into the starting side at No.9. Moses Leo also is in after missing an extra week with concussion protocols while Oryn Keeley is the new edge and Gabriel Satrick and Stanley Huen join the six-man interchange. 

Raiders v Rabbitohs, Saturday 3.00pm at GIO Stadium

Raiders: Shuffling back to their regular desks, Ethan Strange and Hudson Young line back up at five-eighth and on the edge. Plenty of NRL Fantasy coaches will have Simi Sasagi in their sights and watching for his return to top form as his price continues to plummet for that difficult to fill CTR position. Noah Martin again is found at second row has already attracted many buyers after his impressive first game back. Beside him is Zac Hosking, who will play lock forward after starting left edge last week and scoring an incredible hat-trick. 

Rabbitohs: With his suspension now served, Cody Walker is back to his post at five-eighth, and just in time with Jayden Sullivan out with a head knock. Euan Aitken is in the clear after a virus caused an irregular heartbeat and some breathing concerns which cut short his afternoon last week. Aitken is due to start in the second row, leaving Tallis Duncan at centre. This further impacts Latrell Siegwalt who is only on the bench so any holders will need to look to move on the rookie outside back. Matt Dufty again holds on at fullback, leaving Jye Gray as the utility bench offering while Latrell Mitchell is still unavailable.  

Warriors v Dragons, Saturday 5.30pm (AEST) at Go Media Stadium

Warriors: Blues prop Mitch Barnett is welcomed back to his starting role with his Origin opponent Kurt Capewell also back on deck in the run-on side. With Jacob Laban hitting his strides it is Leka Halasima who reverts to the pine along with Tanner Stowers-Smith. In somewhat of a surprise it is Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad who goes to the reserves upon the return of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who slots straight back in at right wing. 

Dragons: Minimal changes for coach Dean Young off the back of the bye after their second season win against the Wests Tigers the round previous. This includes Tyrell Sloan after hamstring concerns cut his game short last start although Moses Suli is lurking in the 19 and could be a late inclusion.  

Bulldogs v Wests Tigers, Saturday 7.35pm at Accor Stadium

Bulldogs: Though still playing the lion’s share of minutes last week from the interchange, Jacob Preston throws on his regular run on jersey on the edge. Cleared to play, Enari Tuala steps straight back into the centres with Bronson Xerri making way. Though found in the extended reserves, Stephen Crichton’s concerning injury last week earns Sean O'Sullivan a promotion to the No.6. Found alongside Crichton in the reserve roster is Viliame Kikau who is nearing his way back to match fitness after a ruptured pectoral has had him sidelined since Round 8. 

Wests Tigers: With a one week suspension handed out to Bunty Afoa, it is Fonua Pole who will step in to pick up the slack. Captain Api Koroisau is amongst the reserves for the visitors following a strained pectoral muscle picked up two weeks ago. Those who are thinking of jumping on young HOK Jared Haywood will need to keep their eyes peeled on in the roster updates ahead of kick-off, however even if Haywood does start as named, he doesn’t have the corridor for success necessary to risk trading him in. Slated to play after scans came back all clear, Samuela Fainu is right to play following a suspected groin injury finished his game early last round. This firms Alex Seyfarth as a trade-out, even after gaining increased minutes due to Fainu’s injury, Seyfarth was unable to capitalise in Fantasy points. Meanwhile hopes are well and truly dashed for Tony Sukkar holders, given he wasn’t able to get on the pitch last week and is not listed this week, requiring the young EDG to be added to the sell list. 

Titans v Sea Eagles, Sunday 2.00pm at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: Hooker Lachlan Ilias is back on the bench as the sole change to Gold Coast’s line up that just fell short of taking down the Storm last week. Sam Verrills is also still in the 19 so for those holding Oliver Pascoe, he may not get a repeated 80 minute stint this week, so plan accordingly. Though most have moved on, Cooper Bai is still slated amongst the pine, even after having scans on his shoulder after an injury picked up just four minutes after running out last Friday night. 

Sea Eagles: Just the one change to Manly’s starting 13 which is due to a HIA stand-down meaning Ben Trbojevic will play no part in this one. This gives Ethan Bullemor a shot at a run-on jersey in the second row with Jackson Shereb likely backing him up on the bench. With still no Brandon Wakeham in sight, it is mid-season transfer Nicholas Lenaz who finds himself inside the 19. He actually was a late inclusion last week but didn’t make it on the field after other injuries changed coach Kieran Foran’s rotation. This resulted in Jake Simpkin receiving sizable minutes and his coaches will again be hoping for a similar opportunity in this game.   

Dolphins v Cowboys, Sunday 4.05pm at Suncorp Stadium

Dolphins: With their Origin stocks now all back to fold, Trai Fuller reverts to the extended reserves and will need to be traded with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow jumping straight back in at fullback. A rib injury to Jake Averillo makes Jack Bostock’s return to the centres an easy decision for coach Kristian Woolf this round and firms Bostock as a hold. While Selwyn Cobbo being back on the wing bounces Tevita Naufahu to the interchange. The multi-talented Max Plath is also penned in to play from the bench after scans cleared him with just an ankle sprain. He will need to pass the regular fitness assessments in the lead up but his return does put a dampener on hooker Jeremy Marshall-King who can now be moved on from after covering us during the Origin period. 

Cowboys: After a gusty golden point win last week, a game-changing return could be on the cards for North Queensland with playmaker Tom Dearden finally appearing amongst the reserves after working back from a syndesmosis injury picked up in Round 10. If Dearden can take part, it will seriously upgrade the prospects of Tom Chester who as been losing cash of late. With Tom Mikaele in the HIA protocols, enforcer Griffin Neame will now run out at starting prop and Kai O’Donnell and Kaiden Lahrs join the bench with John Bateman also missing due to a hamstring complaint. 

 

With those fresh new trades comes new line-up dilemmas that could help or hinder your squad for the final stretch so for any questions or advice shoot them through to thelonescout@nrl.com.au. Don’t forget to check in for all your footy and Fantasy news including those all-important team list updates at NRL.com.