Lone Scout's Fantasy team list analysis: Round 27

One team rests their squad, another omits two key Fantasy players but many more keep their stars intact as they fight for position inside the top eight or simply want to end the season on a high. 

Let’s go through the final TLT for the regular season and hopefully you find a way to 17 green dots this week. 

Bulldogs v Broncos, Thursday 7.50pm at Accor Stadium

Bulldogs: No changes for the side who went down to Penrith last week and are no longer in contention for Finals this year. Lachlan Galvin, Stephen Crichton and Jacob Preston can be played with confidence but Jacob Kiraz should be looped if at all possible. 

Broncos: Blake Mozer is out with concussion so Thomas Duffy moves up the bench pecking order and Ben Talty slides into the 19. Payne Haas could be a captaincy option in his last game for the Broncos. 

Titans v Dolphins, Friday 6.00pm at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: Oliver Pascoe is out with concussion protocols in a bitter blow for his owners. Luke Sommerton comes into the starting side while Sam Verrills returns on the bench. Beau Fermor is back from an abdominal strain on the edge which pushes Josh Patston to the interchange. Also riding the pine are Klese Haas and Cooper Bai along with debutant Sunny Kama which means Moaeki Fotuaika and Chris Randall go back into starting roles. 

Dolphins: Just the one change for the Dolphins who are now cemented in the top four. Selwyn Cobbo has an ankle injury and will be stood down for this one with Tevita Naufahu his replacement on the wing. Connolly Lemuelu is also named in the extended reserves and could be a chance to return ahead of the finals series. 

Rabbitohs v Roosters, Friday 8.00pm at Accor Stadium

Rabbitohs: Jai Arrow will hit the 100 matches for Souths when he runs out for this game in what will no doubt be an emotional occasion. Latrell Mitchell has been named to start in the centres while Jye Gray is in at fullback ahead of Matt Dufty who heads back to the bench. Dufty is joined by Euan Aitken who has been replaced at left edge by Adam Elliott. 

Roosters: Eleven changes to the starting line-up with James Tedesco the biggest omission. Only Lindsay Collins and Salesi Foketi remain while Nat Butcher is in the 22 but is highly unlikely to play. Connor Watson, Cody Ramsey and Egan Butcher become interesting trade-in targets for those who kept one or two up their sleeve for the team list carnage. 

Warriors v Sea Eagles, Saturday 3.00pm (AEST) at Go Media Stadium

Warriors: With only one point differential between the Warriors and Panthers for the minor premiership, the home side list a host of returning stars for this all-important clash with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad back at fullback after his two-game suspension. Though pulled in the lead-up allowing Jett Cleary his debut last week, Te Maire Martin is rostered to don the No.7 while Chanel Harris-Tavita is cleared to take the field at five-eighth. There are a couple sitting out however in Wayde Egan and Kurt Capewell which sees a promotion to Sam Healey at hooker beside Eddie Ieremia-Toeava getting his first career run-on jersey on the edge. The final switch comes via Luke Laulilii unable to play following the high tackle that saw Jacob Saifiti sent off so Adam Pompey will play wing in his stead. 

Sea Eagles: A straight copy paste for Manly having just missed out on September football as the team endeavour to close out their season with another win. This will simultaneously put pressure on the Warriors looking to stay top of the table. Tom Trbojevic could be considered as a trade-in for those who kept one up their sleeve while Onitoni Large is one to watch for the future if he comes off the bench like he did last week. 

Cowboys v Raiders, Saturday 5.30pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys: North Queensland have announced a week's rest for Jeremiah Nanai as a precaution after picking up a niggling tweaked medial against Wests Tigers. Griffin Neame has been confirmed to have been playing through turf toe and will not take part in Saturday’s clash. John Bateman will line up at edge against his former club while Coen Hess starts at prop. Robert Derby will reprise his Round 12 role on the wing while Zac Laybutt goes through the concussion protocols after failing his HIA last round. 

Raiders: Fresh off a rest for their final hit-out for the season, the Raiders will unveil star NSW Cup halfback Coby Black with Ethan Sanders getting an off-season early mark. Back in a timely fashion from protocols, Morgan Smithies will take up arms on the bench following Corey Horsburgh being required to go under the knife with a shoulder injury. Rookie and Fantasy favourite Noah Martin has big shoes to fill after Zac Hosking was claimed by a hamstring in Round 25 while Malachi Smith makes his debut off the bench. 

Sharks v Storm, Saturday 7.35pm at Ocean Protect Stadium

Sharks: Another two big names in Fantasy who will sit this week out are Nicho Hynes and Blayke Brailey in another huge blow to our dwindling Fantasy squads. In cover Hohepu Puru comes in at hooker while Newtown Jets playmaker Riley Pollard will see his name in lights for the first time in the NRL as Cronulla’s No.6. Further a new-look centre pairing will step up to the plate with Riley Jones and Michael Gabrael relieving Mawene Hiroti (ribs) and KL Iro, who is rested along with Teig Wilton after a busy season.

Storm: Coach Craig Bellamy has waived off the option for any changes to Melbourne’s roster as they approach their last game, signalling the end of an incredible run of 15 consecutive finals appearances since 2010. All Fantasy-relevant players should be expected to poll well with the World Cup around the corner and most of them expected to play a big part in the proceedings. 

Dragons v Eels, Sunday 2.00pm at WIN Stadium

Dragons: A minor shuffle has come down from the office of Dean Young, who has shifted Fantasy darling Ryan Couchman to the interchange to allow Blake Lawrie a recall to the front row in his final game with the club. As a result, Loko Pasifiki Tonga will rotate across to lock forward after his big-minute game last week. Despite the fact Ryan Couchman is off the bench and Hamish Stewart had his lowest output in many weeks last game, you can play both without hesitation in their final match of 2026. 

Eels: Following a big upset in Parramatta’s final home game of the season, it’s just Jordan Samrani as the one amendment to the run-on line-up, slotting back in at centre. This reverts Sean Russell to the six-man bench beside an eager Tyrese Lokeni who prepares for his first run in the top grade. While Jack de Belin is another slated for the interchange after a stint in NSW Cup last week. 

Panthers v Wests Tigers, Sunday 4.05pm at CommBank Stadium

Panthers: After a sizable time in the casualty ward, dummy half Mitch Kenny has gained the all clear and is welcomed back to the fold. While another big name is found on the run sheet with Isaah Yeo named for the first time since a pectoral issue picked up in Round 23 as he looks to return via the reserves. With Izack Tago awaiting scan results with a suspected MCL and Paul Alamoti still working back from a hamstring it is Luke Garner who steps in at centre. The presence of Blaize Talagi on the bench also gives the option of an early shower for Nathan Cleary should the scoreboard allow, so be sure to select your captaincies carefully this week. While an honorary listing has been made to the late prop and club icon John Farragher. He has been named at No.23 as a special tribute to the club’s legend with Penrith to play in a special jersey designed for the occasion. 

Wests Tigers: Sione Fainu is the only addition to the run-on squad after Tony Sukkar left last week’s match against the Cowboys early due to a concussion. No sign of Alex Twal in a blow for his owners who held him through last week in the hope he would return for the final match of the season. On the bench both Latu Fainu and Sunia Turuva look for their injury returns via the pine alongside another potential debutant in front man Vaka Aho. 

 

With the head-to-head season done, it is all about overall this week. Feel free to still get your questions in at thelonescout@nrl.com.au if you wish. Either way we will use Thursday’s column as a way to wrap up the season and look at my own team’s analysis – just as I’ve re-entered the top 1000!

Good luck, everybody.