Lone Scout's Fantasy team list analysis: Round 22

After the carnage of the last weekend, Fantasy coaches get some positive news on the team list front, with the idea of leaning towards saving trades a big priority. 

With that in mind we delve in and take a closer look at the team lists as they are announced on Tuesday 

Cowboys v Roosters, Thursday 7.50pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys: The biggest blow to North Queensland was the loss of halfback Tom Dearden before play last Saturday and he is still missing from the team sheet for this encounter. Reed Mahoney is also MIA due to a concussion with Soni Luke taking his place at hooker. Thomas Mikaele will start at prop with Griffin Neame suspended while John Bateman is back from injury via the bench joined by Sam McIntyre and Kaiden Lahrs.

Roosters: The bad luck continues for Roosters outside backs, 300-gamer Daniel Tupou is out with a shoulder injury and Billy Smith is also missing due to illness. Tommy Talau and Hugo Savala replace them in the backline while Reece Foley joins the six-man interchange. 

Dragons v Dolphins, Friday 6.00pm at WIN Stadium

Dragons: No major changes for the Dragons despite the fact the joint venture club went down to the Titans last week. One to watch out for is Lykhan King-Togia who pushed Daniel Atkinson into the centres midway through the second half, he is lurking on the bench. Also back on the pine is Moses Suli who was a late withdrawal on Sunday. 

Dolphins: The Dolphins had a much-needed bye last round and as a result have a few players inside the 22 who have been fighting the injury curse. Isaiya Katoa is the most notable one, he isn’t in the first 19 but could be a late inclusion if he passes the required fitness tests. Jack Bostock is finally back after a head knock suffered in Origin Game 3. He replaces Tevita Naufahu who slips back to the reserves with Selwyn Cobbo moving back to the wing. 

Storm v Bulldogs, Friday 8.00pm at AAMI Park

Storm: As expected no Harry Grant in this one after suffering a low-grade hamstring strain in Melbourne’s loss to the Rabbitohs last Friday night. Trent Toelau remains the starting hooker with youngster Hayden Watson likely to spell him at dummy half during the match. Jack Howarth is another regular missing from the centres after suffering a shoulder injury at training, Manaia Waitere is his replacement. One bit of good news for the home side is the inclusion of Shawn Blore via the bench, his experience is sorely needed for this must-win clash. 

Bulldogs: Kurt Mann is the main adjustment for the in-form Bulldogs line-up as he joins the interchange along with Alekolasimi Jones. Big guns Jacob Preston and Viliame Kikau are solidified as the back-rowers once again and Preston in particular will be a popular trade in purchase for owners who have lost Dylan Lucas through injury. 

Titans v Warriors, Saturday 3.00pm at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: AJ Brimson returns after missing due to concussion protocols last outing. Jaylan De Groot goes all the way back to the reserves with Kurtis Morrin again named on the interchange despite being a late withdrawal the past two matches. Jayden Campbell is the one to watch after his amazing efforts for the Gold Coast in their big win last week. 

Warriors: No Taine Tauapiki for the Warriors after a foot injury ruled him out early last Saturday evening, he is replaced by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad who took over for Tauapiki against the Bulldogs. Coach Andrew Webster is resisting the urge to bring back Luke Metcalf to the starting line-up, sticking with Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin for now, but Metcalf is on the bench and be sure to stay close to NRL.com for team list updates prior to kick-off. Martin may have hit his price ceiling so if you have enough trades, he would be worthy of a trade-out regardless of any lineup adjustments. 

Panthers v Raiders, Saturday 5.30pm at Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee

 

Panthers: Jack Cogger has been promoted to the run on roster at the No.6 which regresses Blaize Talagi to the extended ranks in a major change to Ivan Cleary’s spine. Getting a second crack at fullback, Jaxen Edgar retains his temporary spot and will again keep things moving with Dylan Edwards out after being scratched from the match card in the lead up last week due to a shoulder knock causing concern from the week previous.  

Raiders: Having served his ban, Owen Pattie slots straight back to starting hooker is a welcome green dot for owners coming into this week, and more so for those also owning the injured Harry Grant. Tom Starling shifts to the bench joined by Joe Roddy and keep an eye on Matty Nicholson with Noah Martin unavailable due to a quad strain, Nicholson could be primed for more minutes on the edge once back to full fitness. 

Broncos v Knights, Saturday 7.35pm at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: With the 2026 season on the brink, coach Michael Maguire has to deal with a few more selection headaches as he tries to find an unlikely late run to the Finals series. Gehamat Shibasaki is dealing with a leg issue and has slipped to the reserves with Deine Mariner the new centre and Grant Anderson will run outside him on the wing. Va'a Semu earns his second career run on spot following the end of Preston Riki’s season, having gone under the knife after doing his syndesmosis during the derby against the Cowboys last week. 

Knights: A costly loss last week saw both Dylan Brown and Dylan Lucas cross out the rest of their season in additionto their World Cup hopes. Sandon Smith will remain in the halves after filling in for Fletcher Sharpe last week who was shifted to fullback to cover the injured Kalyn Ponga. Ponga returns after some calf tightness ruled him out late last week while Jermaine McEwen is right to go to join the impressive Francis Manuleleua in the back row. Finally the veteran centre Dane Gagai is another important in to bolster Newcastle who attempt to break their three-week streak of close losses.  

Sharks v Rabbitohs, Sunday 2.00pm at Ocean Protect Stadium

Sharks: Having worked through their niggles that led to the late shuffle of both props, coach Craig Fitzgibbon reverts their main enforcers Addin Fonua-Blake and Tom Hazelton back to their posts as starting front row. The Tongan international had a rare start off the interchange against Manly after working through a pectoral issue the week previous. Hazelton missed the Sea Eagles game after having back stiffness in the lead-up. Hohepu Puru suffered a Category 1 HIA in the win on Sunday so he is missing from the interchange with Jayden Berrell named to replace him, joined by last week’s starters Jesse Colquhoun and Oregon Kaufusi. 

Rabbitohs: Though starting in the middle rotation and then suffering a calf niggle during the match last week, Brandon Smith is slated to front up back at dummy half with no Bronson Garlick named. After initially touted as missing 2-3 weeks due to his own hamstring issues, Tallis Duncan is found amongst the extended reserves. This may simply be due to Souths being short on troops to name, however time will tell and he will be one to look out for during the team list updates. Last week’s rookie try scorer, John Radel has been named to start at prop despite the return of Sean Keppie from a long term injury. As what occurred last week, Keaon Koloamatangi will line up at right edge unless Duncan is able to be a late inclusion. 

Wests Tigers v Eels, Sunday 4.05pm at CommBank Stadium

Wests Tigers: After his highly-publicised withdrawal last week, Adam Doueihi will step back in to run the ship at halfback. Youngster Javon Andrews heads back to the reserves joined by try-scorer Ethan Roberts with Sione Fainu instead named to partner his brother Samuela Fainu in the back row after a week working off the pine. More changes for the Wests Tigers backline with Heamasi Makasini recalled at centre, and in doing so shifting Sunia Turuva to defend the wing. Faaletino Tavana is the man to make way as has both Jared Haywood and Bunty Afoa. The new interchange lineup includes Tristan Hope, Tony Sukkar and Charlie Murray alongside last weekend’s extremely late inclusion Heath Mason. 

Eels: After the close call last week against the top of the table Panthers, the Eels will be itching to run out for yet another battle of CommBank alongside the welcomed return of Junior Paulo. The veteran prop will come off the bench after a required surgical knee clean out saw the prop miss the last 10 weeks of football. Moreover Kelma Tuilagi will claim the No.11 kit with HIA protocols claiming Luca Moretti therefore shifting Jack Williams inside to prop, although expect the versatile hard man to spend time in both positions of middle and edge throughout the game as he has done previously to great aplomb. In the centres Will Penisini retains his spot on the right after being named there just before kickoff last week, this slid Jordan Samrani over to the left and omitted rookie Araz Nanva who can be found among the reserves. 

 

Get your questions into thelonescout@nrl.com.au and check out for my tier list both featured on Thursday’s Q&A article and as always catch your hot off the press news and updates over at the home of footy NRL.com and the official NRL Fantasy Podcast wherever you get your podcasts from.