Lakey’s Teams Analysis – Round 13

We’ve now pushed past three months of the NRL season and are about to enter the torrid waters of the Origin period. This week, we have a condensed write-up thanks to the first bye weekend. Which obviously means all of the Broncos, Dragons, Eels, Knights, Rabbitohs, Sharks, Storm and Tigers (plus Origin players obviously) are all out of commission for SuperCoach this week. I hope you’ve planned accordingly.

GOLD COAST TITANS v Nth QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

Thursday, 7.50pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Gold Coast Titans

1. Jayden Campbell 2. Corey Thompson 3. Brian Kelly 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. AJ Brimson 7. Toby Sexton 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Erin Clark 10. Jarrod Wallace 11. Sam McIntyre 12. Beau Fermor 13. Isaac Liu

Bench: 14. Tanah Boyd 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Esan Marsters 17. Sam Lisone

Reserves: 18. Aaron Booth 19. Herman Ese’ese 20. Greg Marzhew 21. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 22. Sosefo Fifita

Changes: Moeaki Foutaika, Patrick Herbert in
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita out

Winner: Beau Fermor ($536k / 37 pts / BE 86) reportedly suffered an oblique strain and was in danger of missing this round. I’d wager that he still is but he’s currently named and that’s a win for me. Keep an eye on final teams though as his loss would be a huge one for the Titans and for any SuperCoaches, like me, who’ve held him in order to play the first bye weekend.

Loser: Esan Marsters ($342k / 10 pts / BE 21) has been named despite picking up an ankle injury last weekend. He’ll be questionable heading towards Thursday’s kick-off, but regardless, he’s been relegated to a bench role.

SuperCoach Talk: Big David Fifita ($635k / 70 pts / BE 119) just can’t catch a break at the moment. He’s just come back from missing three weeks with a knee injury and has reaggravated it in the loss to the Broncos. Out three weeks, in for one, out for three again. What was it I said about Luke Thompson last season?

The Titans are largely unaffected by Origin but Tino Fa’asuamaleaui ($541k / 72 pts / BE 51) is their one addition to the mid-season competition, making it two of their three first choice second row out this week. And possibly all three.

For the ‘ins’, Moeaki Fotuaika ($496k / BE 55) is the big one. His leadership will be sorely needed. Patrick Herbert ($305k / BE 32) is the other in and he moves Marsters to the bench.

Nth Queensland Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Brendan Elliot 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Ben Hampton 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Tom Gilbert 12. Heilum Luki 13. Jason Taumalolo

Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame

Reserves: 18. Ben Condon 19. Kane Bradley 20. Brendan Frei 22. Riley Price 23. Jake Bourke

Changes: Jason Taumalolo, Brendan Elliot, Connelly Lemuelu, Ben Hampton in
Reuben Cotter, Valentine Holmes, Jeremiah Nanai, Tom Dearden out

Winner: Thank the SuperCoach Gods for the naming of Jason Taumalolo ($489k / BE 125). We’ve already had too many unexpected outs. It’s nice to see a win for a change.

Loser: The writing was on the wall with the way he’s been playing, but I know that I was banking on Reuben Cotter ($599k / 72 pts / BE 70) playing as my hooker this week. Such is life. Go kill it in the maroon now.

SuperCoach Talk: The Cowboys superb form has been justly rewarded with four men in the squad of 18, and another two in the reserves. However, that means their team is severely depleted for the Queensland derby even with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow ($258k / 22 pts / BE 53) and Murray Tuilagi ($527k / 48 pts / BE 82) named for this week.

In covering the Origin losses, Payten has played some Tetris with the team list. Heilum Luki ($396k / 34 pts / BE 66) come into the starting side on an edge. Ben Hampton ($283k) joins the halves, Brendan Elliot ($258k) in the backline and Connelly Lemuelu ($305k) on the bench all for their first games of the year.

Meanwhile, Jake Granville ($176k / 14 pts / BE 41) remains on the bench. Reece Robson ($589k / 50 pts / BE 60) still played 80 minutes last weekend, but he had his worst showing since round 7, the previous game Granville featured in. Maybe it’s a coincidence; maybe it was the Panthers instead. Still, something to consider.

PENRITH PANTHERS v CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

Friday, 7.55pm, BlueBet Stadium, Penrith

Penrith Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Taylan May 3. Izack Tago 4. Robert Jennings 5. Charlie Staines 6. Kurt Falls 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Moses Leota 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Chris Smith 13. Matt Eisenhuth

Bench: 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon

Reserves: 18. Soni Luke 19. J’maine Hopgood 20. Lindsay Smith 21. Sunia Turuva 22. Preston Riki

Changes: Sean O’Sullivan, Kurt Falls, Charlie Staines, Robert Jennings, Chris Smith, Matt Eisenhuth in
Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin out

Winner: If internationals were able to play State of Origin, there’s a good chance that Viliame Kikau ($584k / 36 pts / BE 112) would have also been picked for NSW. But that’s not the case and Coaches with Kikau rostered will reap the benefits. He’s one of the few remaining regular first graders running out on Friday.

Loser: Young gun hooker Soni Luke ($175k / BE 14) is just waiting to be named for his third game of the season, but Apisai Koroisau ($530k / 81 pts / BE 25) was only named in the NSW extended reserves. It seems likely that the State of Origin reserves will be released back to club duties so Luke goes on waiting.

SuperCoach Talk: What a crazy side this is. The Panthers have just edged out the Cowboys for the number of players selected to represent their state, with seven picked in the extended squad, six of which are in the starting 17. Incredible.

Charlie Staines ($329k / BE 67) and Robert Jennings ($229k / BE 26) are the coverage pieces in the back five. Sean O’Sullivan ($431k / BE 71) gets a recall to the halves along with debutant Kurt Falls ($175k).

In the forwards, Chris Smith ($327k / BE 51) and Matt Eisenhuth ($382k / BE 41) come into the starting side at edge and lock respectively.

Canterbury Bulldogs

1. Matt Dufty 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Jake Averillo 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Luke Thompson 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Jackson 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Max King

Bench: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Corey Waddell 16. Chris Patolo 17. Ava Seumanufagai

Reserves: 19. Jackson Topine 20. Bailey Biondi-Odo 21. Joe Stimson 22. Corey Allan 25. Kurtis Morrin

Changes: Ava Seumanufagai in
Joe Stimson out

Winner: It might be a bit of a stretch to have him in the ‘winners’ but young Jake Averillo ($245k / 79 pts / BE -14) just beat his previous best score of the season by a whopping 52 points.

Loser: I won’t sit here and say that Daniel Tupou doesn’t deserve a NSW jersey, but Josh Addo-Carr ($496k / 52 pts / BE 70) will feel extremely disrespected by his omission. Anyone who has watched a Dogs game this year will know that this man has been doing what he can to drag this club over the line. Their awful record has little to do with Fox’s performances. He’s been very hard done by.

SuperCoach Talk: If there was ever a time that the Dogs could upset the Panthers it’s this week. The Dogs have exactly zero Origin representatives compared to their opponents six, and it was this time last season that the Tigers ambushed the depleted Penrith side in similar circumstances.

Their only change is a minor one; Ava Seumanufagai ($206k / BE 37) onto the bench for Joe Stimson ($259k / 7 pts / BE 31). That means Tevita Pangai Jnr ($544k / BE 80) remains out after being a late withdrawal last weekend.

And also, how good is it that Raymond Faitala-Mariner ($412k / 19 pts / BE 97) is back in the starting side?

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES v THE WARRIORS

Saturday, 7.35pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Morgan Harper 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Kieran Foran 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Andrew Davey 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Karl Lawton 16. Martin Taupau 17. Sean Keppie

Reserves: 18. Taniela Paseka 19. Ethan Bullemor 20. Kurt De Luis 21. Kaeo Weekes 22. Jorge Taufua

Changes: Martin Taupau, Jason Saab, Karl Lawton in
Daly Cherry-Evans, Jorge Taufua, Kurt De Luis out

Winner: It’s still Reuben Garrick ($628k / 67 pts / BE 45) in the winners circle. I’ve been sceptical of him with the Sea Eagles tougher run but he put up 100 on the Eels and then 67 on Melbourne. He’s still getting it done. Get him in if you haven’t already.

Loser: Jorge Taufua ($244k / 63 pts) finally makes it back only to get dumped the week after for Jason Saab ($237k / BE 24)? C’mon man.

SuperCoach Talk: Like the Titans, Manly only have the one Origin omission in Daly Cherry-Evans ($608k / 29 pts / BE 119). Kieran Foran ($398k / 41 pts / BE 41) goes to #7 and is joined in the halves by his future usurper Josh Schuster ($477k / 20 pts / BE 113). Karl Lawton ($299k / BE 62) returns from suspension to take up the spot on the bench. Martin Taupau ($363k / BE 29) is back too.

Dylan Walker ($323k / 33 pts / BE 24) has been named but failed to finish last week with a knee injury. Des Hasler has said that he’s “not real good” so it wouldn’t surprise me to see his withdrawal.

The Warriors

1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Ben Murdoch-Masila 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jazz Tevaga 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tohu Harris 13. Jack Murchie

Bench: 14. Taniela Otukolo 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Aaron Pene 17. Bailey Sironen

Reserves: 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Dunamis Lui 21. Eliesa Katoa 22. Daejarn Asi 23. Jesse Arthars

Changes: Wayde Egan, Rocco Berry, Bailey Sironen in
Freddy Lussick, Viliami Vailea, Dunamis Lui out

Winner: Last years Origin debutant Reece Walsh ($502k / 56 pts / BE 63) has been left out of the side for round one. It’s a loss for him but a win for SuperCoaches looking for that solid replacement fullback.

Loser: Josh Curran ($588k / BE 107) was slated to return this week, but hasn’t been named so is most likely to come back next weekend instead.

SuperCoach Talk: Due to their locality and subsequent international allegiances of many of the players, the Warriors have been untouched by Origin in game one. As such, they’re only changes have come from troops returning from injury.

Wayde Egan ($425k / BE 50) and Bailey Sironen ($342k / BE 55) are back at starting hooker and on the bench respectively. As is Rocco Berry ($285k / BE 38) who knocks Viliami Vailea ($281k / 55 pts / BE -20) out of the squad entirely. Just awful timing on that last one.

I could have just as easily had Tohu Harris ($558k / 50 pts / BE 82) in the winners column this week again. He played 80 minutes for the first time last weekend and looked very good doing so. I love seeing him play and will love seeing him back in my side. He’s been named on an edge again, but is likely to swap with Jack Murchie ($311k / 29 pts / BE 33) as per last week.

CANBERRA RAIDERS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Sunday, 4.05pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Canberra Raiders

1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Matt Frawley 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Corey Harawira-Naera 17. Trey Mooney

Reserves: 18. James Schiller 19. Harry Rushton 20. Adrian Trevilyan 21. Brad Schneider 22. Emre Guler

Changes: Corey Harawira-Naera, Trey Mooney, Matt Frawley in
Jack Wighton, Josh Papali’i, James Schiller out

Winner: Late last week, Xavier Savage ($226k / 34 pts / BE -8) was taken from the field under the HIA protocols. It appears that he’s passed that as he’s been named in the starting fullback spot this week but all current managers need to keep an eye on this one. Especially in the last game of the round.

Loser: Jack Wighton ($435k / 49 pts / BE 60) gets pulled into Origin and still Brad Schneider ($362k / BE 42) can’t even get a spot for the week. What a waste of a hold that was.

SuperCoach Talk: Corey Horsburgh ($416k / 58 pts / BE 20) gets the start at prop with Josh Papali’i ($596k / 75 pts / BE 46) out for Origin. Corey Harawira-Naera ($458k / BE 48) earns a reprieve bench spot as does Trey Mooney ($175k) for his debut game.

With Tom Starling ($470k / 28 pts / BE 57) continuing to get pushed to a bench role, there’s not much SuperCoach relevance here.

Sydney Roosters

1. Joseph Manu 2. Billy Smith 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Kevin Naiqama 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Sam Walker 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Drew Hutchison 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Nat Butcher

Bench: 14. Connor Watson 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Egan Butcher 17. Terrell May

Reserves: 18. Lachlan Lam 19. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 20. Adam Keighran 21. Tom Carr 22. Ben Marschke

Changes: Billy Smith, Kevin Naiqama, Egan Butcher in
James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou, Lindsay Collins out

Winner: Not just for the Roosters, but in all of SuperCoach, the winner for us in undoubtedly Angus Crichton ($553k / 84 pts / BE 29). He’s missed Origin selection and is now likely to be the most bought man in round 13.

Loser: It’s a small one, but it would have been nice for Joseph Suaalii ($449k / 20 pts / BE 106) to be named at fullback this week to get more involved. But at least we have him right?

SuperCoach Talk: The Chooks are releasing two players to New South Wales duties and one to Queensland, plus Suaalii is in camp. He should be released in my opinion, but for now Adam Keighran ($320k / BE 52) is on standby.

Joseph Manu ($607k / 77 pts / BE 85) has been moved to fullback with Billy Smith ($294k / BE 21) coming onto the wing and Kevin Naiqama ($334k / BE 36) in the centres.

SioSiua Takeiaho ($524k / 57 pts / BE 58) moves into the prop rotation with Egan Butcher ($312k / BE 56) coming onto the bench.