Lone Scout's Fantasy team list analysis: Round 23

A number of stars returning but a few new names instead are missing. However coaches do get one player named despite only contributing five minutes last week. 

Once again, it is time to take an in-depth look at the team lists as they stand on Tuesday afternoon. 

Titans v Cowboys, Thursday 7.50pm at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: Just the one change for the Titans but it is a big one. Rookie halfback Zane Harrison is out with a hamstring injury and he is replaced by Lachlan Ilias. Coach Josh Hannay resisting the urge for a backline reshuffle that would bring AJ Brimson back into the halves. Adam Christensen is the new bench man. 

Cowboys: North Queensland get back Griffin Neame at prop but lose Jeremiah Nanai in the back row. Kai O’Donnell will play left edge while Tom Mikaele drops back to the interchange. John Bateman can also be found in the 22 after being a late withdrawal last week but only amongst the reserves. 

Warriors v Panthers, Friday 6.00pm (AEST) at Go Media Stadium

Warriors: The same starting side is listed for the victorious Warriors with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad edging out Taine Tuaupiki for the fullback spot. Tuaupiki has been listed in the reserves along with Morgan Gannon who takes Riley Price’s spot on the bench after Price was a late fill-in for the injured Demetric Vaimauga last Saturday. 

Panthers: Casey McLean is out with a fractured hand which could see him sidelined for at least two weeks. The experienced Izack Tago is a ready-made replacement at centre but Blaize Talagi joins the 19 and could also deputise there. Jaxen Edgar is still the fullback with Dylan Edwards still missing due to a shoulder complaint. Casey McLean's brother Jesse has been added to the reserves. 

Roosters v Bulldogs, Friday 8.00pm at Allianz Stadium

Roosters: Finally some good news for the Tricolours as they welcome a couple of key players back and also name a Fantasy superstar that coaches were worried about. That man of course is James Tedesco at fullback although we do see both Cody Ramsey and Rex Bassingthwaighte amongst the squad who both can cover if need be so make sure you check team list cutdowns throughout the week. The two returning players are Billy Smith on the wing and Lindsay Collins via the bench while Salesi Foketi keeps his spot on the left edge after an impressive display there last Thursday. Nat Butcher can be found amongst the interchange and will be part of the middle rotation. 

Bulldogs: Another week and another Bulldogs victory as they surge into the top eight on the back of three straight victories. Sitili Tupouniua is back from a hamstring injury and joins the bench alongside Bronson Xerri and Jake Turpin. They are the only changes for the high-flying Dogs but this could be their toughest test in a while. 

Storm v Sea Eagles, Saturday 3.00pm (AEST) at HBF Park, Perth 

Storm: Cameron Munster returns for Melbourne just as coach Craig Bellamy admits his side can't make the finals. This keeps Tyran Wishart at hooker after Hayden Watson was a late inclusion at halfback last week which pushed Wishart into the dummy half role. Trent Toelau played five-eighth against the Bulldogs but now will simply come off the bench potentially to give Wishart a spell. Jack Howarth is the other mainstay returning while Davy Moale joins the interchange with Alec MacDonald out. 

Sea Eagles: Manly had the bye last week but it wasn’t long enough for either of the Turbo brothers, Tom Trbojevic or Ben Trbojevic, to recover from their respective injuries. Corey Waddell will play left edge while Lehi Hopoate remains at fullback with Tolu Koula shifting back into his regular centre role and Blake Wilson coming in on the wing. Josh Feledy is the man to make way but still remains in the 19. Also sliding out of the starting line-up is youngster Nicholas Lenaz. This is because Brandon Wakeham is back from a long-term injury and slots straight into the No.9, leaving Jake Simpkin on the bench. He is joined there by Jackson Shereb and Simione Laiafi, the big prop switching out with Ethan Bullemor who will start in his stead. 

Dolphins v Broncos, Saturday 5.30pm at Suncorp Stadium

Dolphins: Looking to get a final win to lock in their maiden finals series, there are no changes slated for Kristian Woolf’s initial 1-13 on roster. Isaiya Katoa started in No.22 last Friday but this time he returns to his more familiar No.7 jersey with Brad Schneider listed on the bench. Also on the pine are Felise Kaufusi and Sebastian Su’A with last week’s tryscorer Ray Stone omitted. 

Broncos: Though only making it through five minutes last week thanks to picking up a nasty gash to the knee, Xavier Willison owners are happily greeted with a green dot this afternoon as he will line up in the front row. This motion dismisses Va'a Semu to the interchange joined by the returning Gehamat Shibasaki and Jack Gosiewski. While Cory Paix makes way for Billy Walters to step in at starting hooker and somewhat surprisingly Ben Hunt remains as hooker cover on the bench. This is because Thomas Duffy will run out in the No.7 replacing Adam Reynolds (concussion).

Rabbitohs v Eels, Saturday 7.35pm at Allianz Stadium

Rabbitohs: Fighting to hold their top-eight ranking, the Bunnies welcome skipper Cam Murray back at lock while David Fifita will be back out on his edge and Tallis Duncan returns in the centres. Adam Elliott retains the other second-row gig with no sign of Euan Aitken, after being removed in the 90-minute update last Sunday due to illness. Similarly the tryscoring centre Latrell Siegwalt also drops right out from the 1-22. Finally Keaon Koloamatangi heads back in at prop relieving the rookie forward John Radel to the reserves alongside Liam Le Blanc. 

Eels: Fresh off a win at Commbank Stadium against the Tigers, Parramatta will head up the road to look to carry on from last round. After a painful rib injury sent Kelma Tuilagi for early showers, he instead will play from the bench in this one. This requires the handy dual forward Jack Williams to slide back over in the No.11. Having cleared his 11-day HIA obligations Luca Moretti reoccupies the front line and rookie Saxon Pryke comes onto the interchange. Meanwhile a new name is found on the final seat on the pine as young edge forward Jezaiah Funa-Iuta inches closer to his first run at NRL first grade. 

Raiders v Knights, Sunday 2.00pm at GIO Stadium

Raiders: Good news for Raiders fans and Fantasy coaches alike with top CTR option Simi Sasagi returning from a hamstring strain straight into the side replacing Sebastian Kris. Still no Noah Martin with Matt Nicholson and Joe Roddy on the bench, with one of them expected to get some gametime on the edge after Ata Mariota takes the sting out of the pack first up. 

Knights: Newcastle can all but clinch a finals spot with a win over the Raiders in Canberra, a spot that has been a happy hunting ground for the Knights over the years. No major changes for the visitors with Harrison Graham returning to the bench after being a late withdrawal across the board last weekend. One to note for some coaches, Cody Hopwood has been switched back to the interchange in favour of Tyson Frizell. Cheapie Hopwood received 48 minutes as starting prop against the Broncos but that game time will be hard to replicate from the pine. 

Dragons v Sharks, Sunday 4.05pm at St George Venues Jubilee Stadium

Dragons: Toby Couchman will sit out after suffering a head knock last week so coach Dean Young reinstates Emre Guler to fill Toby’s incredibly important shoes at prop. Lyhkan King-Togia will encore his five-eighth posting again this week with Daniel Atkinson found in the bottom rungs of the 19. Moreover, rookie front-rower Jacob Webster is sighted in the middle of the Red V’s bench and will be searching for his first hit out at the top grade.  

Sharks: The concussion stand down claims a final name this week in KL Iro, which promotes Mawene Hiroti to starting centre. Yet again Addin Fonua-Blake is named to start though note he has shifted to the interchange late in the lead-up for the past two weeks running. In the reverse after two weeks of late update call ups for Jesse Colquhoun, he looks to have earned his stripes and the starting role over Tom Hazelton who is set start later in the piece off the pine alongside the returning Hohepu Puru. 

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