WINNERS
* Cameron Munster – Named to return from an ankle injury for the Storm.
* Kalyn Ponga – Early-season cheapie earns a backline spot at the Cowboys, with 12 top-grade players currently injured.
* Jarryd Hayne – Lost in all this week’s drama is the fact Hayne is still owned by over 15 per cent. Named but rated “50-50” due to ankle injury.
* Sam Burgess – Named for the Rabbitohs despite an ongoing rib issue. Will play prop, which could mean reduced minutes.
* Joseph Leilua – Cleared of a serious knee injury and named for the Raiders.
LOSERS
* Tohu Harris – Sits out another week due to an ongoing shoulder injury.
* Jayden Brailey – It’s not often we see a returning player relegated to the “losers” list. However, Brailey is still owned by 11 per cent and could stuff up some auto emergencies in the second week of the finals.
Cameron Munster is back from an ankle injury. Picture: Gregg PorteousSource:News Corp Australia
EELS v TITANS
7.50pm Thursday at ANZ Stadium
Eels: 1. Bevan French 2. Semi Radradra 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Kirisome Auva’a 6. Corey Norman 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Siosaia Vave 9. Cameron King 10. Tim Mannah 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Tepai Moeroa 13. Nathan Brown. Interchange: 14. Daniel Alvaro 15. Kenny Edwards 16. Suaia Matagi 17. Peni Terepo 18. David Gower 19. Will Smith 20. Frank Pritchard 21. Josh Hoffman
Team analysis: Bevan French (hamstring) returns. Will Smith drops to reserves.
SuperCoach analysis: Semi Radradra got married in Fiji last week. But he didn’t share the love with SuperCoaches, notching just 16 against the last-placed but in-form Knights. It was a similar story across the board for attacking players at the Eels — in particular Mitchell Moses (33), who flopped as the most purchased player. However, the Newcastle reality check will be good for the Eels as they chase a top four spot and the likes of Radradra, Moses and Corey Norman are worth another crack this week against the scandal-ridden Titans, who have conceded 54 and 42 in their last two games.
Titans: 1. Jarryd Hayne 2. Anthony Don 3. Dale Copley 4. John Olive 5. William Zillman 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ashley Taylor 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Nathan Peats 10. Ryan James 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Joe Greenwood 13. Max King. Interchange: 14. Kane Elgey 15. Nathaniel Peteru 16. Leivaha Pulu 17. Paterika Vaivai 18. Morgan Boyle 19. Ben Nakubuwai 20. Eddy Pettybourne 21. Keegan Hipgrave
Team analysis: Jarryd Hayne is 50/50 to play, while Neil Henry has named Tyrone Roberts at five-eighth and put Kane Elgey on the bench.
SuperCoach analysis: Jarryd Hayne (ankle), Jarrod Wallace (knee), Kane Elgey (sternum) and Ash Taylor (knee) are all in varying degrees of doubt.
RABBITOHS v WARRIORS
6pm Friday at ANZ Stadium
Rabbitohs: 1. Alex Johnston 2. Bryson Goodwin 3. Aaron Gray 4. Tyrell Fuimaono 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. Sam Burgess 11. John Sutton 12. Angus Crichton 13. Cameron Murray. Interchange: 14. Robbie Farah 15. George Burgess 16. Kyle Turner 17. Zane Musgrove 18. Jack Gosiewski 19. Robert Jennings 20. David Tyrrell 21. Luke Kelly
Team analysis: Sam Burgess switches to prop, with Zane Musgrove relegated to the bench and Angus Crichton re-joining the starting side.
SuperCoach analysis: Angus Crichton is back in the starting side after his benching. But as he showed last week with 59 in 57 minutes, including a bombed try assist, he is a must for 17s regardless of whether he starts. Sam Burgess’s move to prop will likely lead to reduced game time, which has been down anyway due to an ongoing rib injury and a sinbinning two weeks ago. He is a risk for 17s after averaging just 46.7 in the last three weeks, but Sangnamstyle will back him for some attacking stats at home against the Warriors, who have lost six in a row and rank 13th for defence. Cody Walker is one of the most unlucky players in SuperCoach this year and a serious contender for 17s this week against a struggling defence.
Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c) 2. David Fusitua 3. Blake Ayshford 4. Solomone Kata 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Kieran Foran 7. Ata Hingano 8. Jacob Lillyman 9. Nathaniel Roache 10. Sam Lisone 11. Bunty Afoa 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Simon Mannering. Interchange: 14. Issac Luke 15. Chris Satae 16. Isaiah Papalii 17. Charlie Gubb 18. Mason Lino 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. James Bell 22. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Team analysis: Ben Matulino has been ruled out after accepting an early guilty plea for a shoulder charge. Sam Lisone will start in his place. Charlie Gubb comes onto the bench. Kieran Foran (shoulder) has also been named to make his comeback. Mason Lino drops back to an extended bench with Ata Hingano to join Foran in the halves.
SuperCoach analysis: The Warriors have hit the skids but their most popular SuperCoach player, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, has held steady. His season, three-game and five-game averages are almost identical at 56.7, 55.7 and 56.2. However, these are not keeper figures and he hasn’t been an automatic top 17 player for a long time. RTS remains the 12th most popular player and SuperCoaches therefore have a serious opportunity to play a POD, like Curtis Scott against the Knights. Simon Mannering returned to the middle last week due to the comeback of Ryan Hoffman and immediately went large with 89. He’s a captaincy option, even so early in the round.
BRONCOS v DRAGONS
7.50pm Friday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: 1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. James Roberts 4. Tautau Moga 5. Jordan Kahu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Korbin Sims 9. Ben Hunt 10. Adam Blair 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. Josh McGuire. Interchange: 14. Sam Thaiday 15. Tevita Pangai Junior 16. Jai Arrow 17. Herman Ese’ese 18. Benji Marshall 19. David Mead 20. Jaydn Su’A 21. Tom Opacic
Team analysis: Wayne Bennett has named an unchanged 17 this week. Ben Hunt suffered an arm injury at training but scans have cleared him of any major issues. Is expected to play.
SuperCoach analysis: Anthony Milford is the most purchased player. He appears unaffected by injury despite requiring season-ending shoulder surgery. Milford is kicking goals, plays two of his last three at Suncorp (where he averages 75.7 across a career 35 games) and his team is on fire. All that, yet owned by under 10 per cent.
Dragons: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Josh Dugan 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Kurt Mann 8. Leeson Ah Mau 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Joel Thompson 13. Jack de Belin. Interchange: 14. Tariq Sims 15. Hame Sele 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Taane Milne 18. Josh McCrone 19. Will Matthews 20. Luciano Leilua 21. Euan Aitken
Team analysis: Unchanged 17. Euan Aitken (shoulder) and Josh McCrone (groin) are included in reserves.
SuperCoach analysis: Gareth Widdop has the highest average of any playmaker this year and fourth highest average of any player. Even so, Sangnamstyle are taking a punt and leaving Widdop out this week. The English international is a Kogarah Oval specialist, averaging 109 at St George’s spiritual home this year. The rollercoaster is due to hit a dip this week against the in-form Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, where Widdop averages just 37.8 over six career games.
SuperCoach: Buy, Hold, Sell2:04
NRL: Fox League’s Breanna Holden and Tom Sangster discuss SuperCoach: Buy, Hold, Sell for Round 24.
KNIGHTS v STORM
3pm Saturday at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: 1. Dane Gagai 2. Ken Sio 3. Joe Wardle 4. Peter Mata’utia 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Brock Lamb 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jamie Buhrer 10. Josh King 11. Sione Mata’utia 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Mitchell Barnett. Interchange: 14. Danny Levi 15. Luke Yates 16. Sam Stone 17. Jacob Saifiti 18. Jack Cogger 19. Mickey Paea 20. Brendan Elliott 21. Chanel Mata’utia
Team analysis: Coach Nathan Brown has named an unchanged line-up after three straight wins.
SuperCoach analysis: The Knights have won three on the trot but remain SuperCoach irrelevant, with no player owned by more than 10 per cent.
Storm: 1. Billy Slater 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Curtis Scott 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith (c) 10. Jordan McLean 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Joe Stimson 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 15. Jahrome Hughes 16. Kenny Bromwich 17. Slade Griffin 18. Tohu Harris 19. Brodie Croft 20. Robbie Rochow 21. Nate Myles
Team analysis: Cameron Munster has been named to return from an ankle injury and will play in the halves alongside Cooper Cronk.
SuperCoach analysis: The likely premiers versus the likely wooden spooners. On paper, it’s a smash up for the Storm. However, Newcastle have won three straight, in the process inconveniencing the finals hopes of the Dragons and top four hopes of the Eels — as well as stuffing up many SuperCoaches. However, SuperCoaches must play the averages here and back Storm players against what remains the second worst defence in the competition. Curtis Scott is a serious POD inclusion in place of RTS, Widdop and the like. Cameron Smith is also a huge captaincy option, currently the most popular skipper at 18 per cent.
ROOSTERS v TIGERS
5.30pm Saturday at Allianz Stadium
Roosters: 1. Michael Gordon 2. Latrell Mitchell 3. Ryan Matterson 4. Mitchell Aubusson 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Luke Keary 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Dylan Napa 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Aidan Guerra 13. Isaac Liu. Interchange: 14. Zane Tetevano 15. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 16. Kane Evans 17. Connor Watson 18. Joseph Manu 19. Victor Radley 20. Chris Smith 21. Mitchell Cornish
Team analysis: Michael Gordon (pectoral) has been named to return early at fullback with Connor Watson moving to the bench and Joseph Manu dropping out.
SuperCoach analysis: Strangely SuperCoach-irrelevant despite sitting third. That will change when Teddy joins next year.
Tigers: 1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Esan Marsters 4. Kevin Naiqama 5. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak 6. Tuimoala Lolohea 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Matt McIlwrick 10. Tim Grant 11. Chris Lawrence 12. Elijah Taylor 13. Matthew Eisenhuth. Interchange: 14. Alex Twal 15. Sauaso Sue 16. Michael Chee-Kam 17. Jack Littlejohn 18. Josh Aloiai 19. JJ Felise 20. Joel Edwards 21. Ava Seumanufagai
Team analysis: Chris Lawrence (pectoral) returns on the edge. Michael Chee-Kam moves to the bench and Josh Aloiai drops out of the 17.
SuperCoach analysis: The Tigers are back. Teddy is back. 137 on weekend. Five-game average 81.4. Three-game average 95.3. He looks motivated to end his time at Tigers on a high. He has a much tougher match this week against the fourth best defence in comp (his future team no less). But that is followed by home farewells at Campbelltown and Leichhardt.
COWBOYS v SHARKS
7.30pm Saturday at 1300SMILES Stadium
Cowboys: 1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Javid Bowen 4. Kane Linnett 5. Kalyn Ponga 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Michael Morgan (c) 8. John Asiata 9. Jake Granville 10. Scott Bolton 11. Coen Hess 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 14. Ben Hampton 15. Patrick Mago 16. Corey Jensen 17. Sam Hoare 18. Braden Uele 19. Kyle Laybutt 20. Enari Tuala 21. Shane Wright
Team analysis: Justin O’Neill (elbow) and Shaun Fensom (knee) are both out for the injury-ravaged Cowboys while Lachlan Coote (ankle) and Te Maire Martin (knee) are racing to prove their fitness for Saturday’s meeting with Cronulla. Kalyn Ponga comes into the team for O’Neill.
SuperCoach analysis: Kalyn Ponga is a must for 17s whenever his name is on the team sheet — even on the wing but especially if he scores the fullback spot in place of Lachlan Coote, who battled through an ankle injury last week. The Cowboys have slipped to eighth, their season is on the line and 12 players are injured — the perfect scenario for Jason Taumalolo as captain.
Sharks: 1. Valentine Holmes 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Kurt Capewell 4. Ricky Leutele 5. Gerard Beale 6. James Maloney 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Fa’amanu Brown 10. Matt Prior 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14. Jayson Bukuya 15. Sam Tagataese 16. Jeremy Latimore 17. James Segeyaro 18. Chris Heighington 19. Joseph Paulo 20. Jayden Brailey 21. Jesse Ramien
Team analysis: No changes to the 17, but Jayden Brailey (broken jaw) is a chance to return after being included on the extended bench.
SuperCoach analysis: The Sharks have slumped to consecutive losses for the first time this year and are massive chances of dropping out of the top four. Further, given the closeness of the competition and tough run home against the Cowboys (with their season on the line), second-placed Roosters and in-form Knights, the Shire team may even drop out of the top eight. Fingers are being pointed in many directions, but SuperCoaches are praying for form reversals from Andrew Fifita (five-game average 57.2) and Paul Gallen (three round average 53.7 and coming off his worst score of year of 39). Jayden Brailey could stuff up some VC loophole plans in this sudden death week.
Kalyn Ponga returns for the Cowboys. Picture: Zak SimmondsSource:News Corp Australia
RAIDERS v PANTHERS
2pm Sunday at GIO Stadium
Raiders: 1. Jack Wighton 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Junior Paulo 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Josh Papalii 12. Joseph Tapine 13. Elliot Whitehead. Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Clay Priest 16. Dave Taylor 17. Luke Bateman 18. Michael Oldfield 19. Jeff Lima 20. Royce Hunt 21. Erin Clark
Team analysis: Joey Leilua has been cleared of a knee injury and will play this Sunday against the Panthers. The Raiders have an unchanged line-up.
SuperCoach analysis: This game is massive. The Panthers can drop out of the eight from sixth. The Raiders can move up to ninth and within one win of the eight. Jarrod Croker has solidified reputation as best SuperCoach CTW of all-time, shaking off a slow start to produce a three-game average 88.7, taking his season average to 58.2. He is a crazy good POD at 11.8 per cent ownership. Elliott Whitehead has averaged 80 minutes and 77 points since moving to the middle a fortnight ago, yet is owned by just 1.7 per cent.
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Waqa Blake 5. Dallin Watene Zelezniak 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Sione Katoa 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Corey Harawira-Naera 12. Isaah Yeo 13. Moses Leota. Interchange: 14. Tyrone May 15. Bryce Cartwright 16. Tim Browne 17. James Fisher-Harris 18. Trent Merrin 19. Dean Whare 20. Viliame Kikau 21. Mitch Rein
Team analysis: Peter Wallace (broken hand) is replaced at hooker by Sione Katoa, with Mitch Rein added to the extended bench. Trent Merrin (knee) has been included in the squad as he aims to return from injury.
SuperCoach analysis: Nathan Cleary is the third most purchased player despite already high ownership. Bryce Cartwright’s season average has dipped below 30 and he will therefore start 2018 almost in cheapie range.
BULLDOGS v SEA EAGLES
4pm Sunday at ANZ Stadium
Bulldogs: 1. William Hopoate 2. Brett Morris 3. Josh Morris 4. Brenko Lee 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Frawley 7. Chase Stanley 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Moses Mbye 10. James Graham 11. Josh Jackson 12. Adam Elliot 13. David Klemmer. Interchange: 14. Francis Tualau 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Danny Fualalo 17. Michael Lichaa 19. Andy Saunders 20. Rhyse Martin 21. Asipeli Fine 23. Kerrod Holland
Team analysis: Josh Reynolds (calf) is replaced in the halves by Matt Frawley. Michael Lichaa joins the bench in place of Sam Kasiano (sternum). Raymond Faitala-Mariner moves back to the bench with Adam Elliot to start in the back row.
SuperCoach analysis: Nothing. Doing.
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Matthew Wright 3. Dylan Walker 4. Brian Kelly 5. Akuila Uate 6. Blake Green 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Brenton Lawrence 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Martin Taupau 11. Frank Winterstein 12. Shaun Lane 13. Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: 14. Lewis Brown 15. Lloyd Perrett 16. Darcy Lussick 17. Addin Fonua-Blake 18. Jarrad Kennedy 19. Cameron Cullen 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Jonathan Wright
Team analysis: Brad Parker (knee) is replaced at centre by Brian Kelly.
SuperCoach analysis: Tom Trbojevic had shocker on weekend, throwing two intercepts as the Sea Eagles slumped to a potentially final-defining loss. However, Turbo rarely has two poor games in a row and is definite captaincy option in the final game of round. Martin Taupau has averaged just 42 minutes over the last four weeks. His PPM is still good but he’s no longer an automatic choice in 17s.
Originally published as SuperCoach teams analysis round 24
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