NRL teams round 7: Too many cheapies to choose from as SuperCoach gods deliver

It’s a SuperCoach crisis, carnage, chaos! But not of the normal sort. In a first this season, we actually have TOO MANY cheapies to fit in.

On many other weeks, Bronson Xerri would be the most popular purchase in SuperCoach.

But he’s barely rating a mention right now, mainly due to Kayal Iro dominating cheapie conversation (rightly so), while we also have Raiders young gun Chevy Stewart set to be a backline must-have next week.

Xerri has put in two very good showings on return from a doping ban with SuperCoach Plus predicting a rise of almost $50,000.

Teams day was good to the former Shark job security-wise with Xerri not only retaining his centre spot but Blake Taaffe moving to the bench.

This means Connor Tracey, one of Xerri’s main competitors for a spot, stays at fullback and theoretically shouldn’t create any interference.

Xerri’s try assist to Addo-Carr on the weekend was a thing of beauty and while we can’t expect it to happen too often in a poor attacking team like the Dogs, the sight of the two fastest men in rugby league running off each other is enough to get anyone’s juices flowing.

Bronson Xerri is set for a big price rise. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* Kayal Iro CTW/FLB $219,900 – The cheapie of the week and while it’s a long way off, he may well end up being the cheapie of the year. Ticks every box – job security is good (he won his spot ahead of Siosifa Talakai and is there again this week), base is brilliant for a back (he scored 46 without a try on the weekend) and his potential for attacking stats is high (the Sharks are currently top of the table).

* Angus Crichton 2RF $459,200 - Potential $700,000 keeper available for $459,200. Crichton is a former great of SuperCoach but has gone through a tough period on and off the field over the last two seasons. All indications are that this is his time to re-emerge as both an NRL and SuperCoach gun.

* Te Maire Martin FLB/5-8 $363,000 – Brilliant in two games for the Warriors following the serious injury to Luke Metcalf (broken leg), setting up a predicted price rise of a tick under $100,000. He’s no doubt a great buy – he’s the third most purchased player this week – but the positioning of five-eighth and fullback makes him tough to fit in. At five-eighth we already have a great cheapie in Lachlan Galvin so do you dare run two cheapies in the position? It’s a no from me. Meanwhile, fullback is a red-hot position for guns only, meaning there’s no space for TMM at Sangster’s Paradise.

* Kalyn Ponga FLB $934,000 - Named despite a hip flexor injury that saw him limp through the majority of last week. The Knights are confident of “nursing him through” the week, but he’ll clearly play hampered again. Ponga still notched 91 with the injury so there’s no need to worry too much, although he’s unlikely to kick goals and now becomes a risky captaincy option even with the good match-up against the Bulldogs.

* Lachlan Galvin 5/8 $311,800 and Samuela Fainu FRF/2RF $334,700 - Top cheapies return from suspension for the Tigers.

* Joe Chan 2RF $238,900 - I’d basically written Chan off given the emergence of Shawn Blore and return of Nelson Asofa-Solomona. But the early season cheapie has come from the clouds to win a bench spot at the Storm. With a BE of -10, he merely needs to take the field to make cash.

* Blaize Talagi CTW $275,000 - Our cheapie lives! Well, kind of. Talagi has been named as an impact player off the bench and will likely make a bit of cash this week given the BE of 6. But bench utilities are SuperCoach poison so he could even drop in price from there.

LOSERS FROM TEAMS

* Nathan Cleary HFB $883,600 - Misses another week due to a hamstring injury but the club says he should be back next round. Start freeing up that cash.

* Taylan May CTW $414,500 - Named for the Panthers and expected to play despite his ridiculous hooning video. While plenty sold over the last few weeks, May remains extremely popular and has a great match-up against the Tigers this week. Also has the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs in the next month.

* Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow FLB/CTW $695,400 – Great SuperCaoch buy over the opening rounds but now out for a month and therefore a sell.

* Ben Trbojevic CTW/2RF $355,300 - The popular cheapie is out for three weeks with a hamstring injury and a definite sell. Iro and Crichtion are obvious replacements depending on what position who own him in. David Fifita is the POD option and is in for Sangster’s Paradise.

* Zac Hosking 2RF $550,000 – Suffered a shoulder injury on the weekend and will miss anywhere from five weeks to six months depending on whether he requires surgery.

NRL ROUND SEVEN TEAM LISTS

ROOSTERS v STORM

Thursday, 7:50pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Connor Watson 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Nat Butcher 12. Angus Crichton 13. Victor Radley

Bench: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Egan Butcher 17. Terrell May

Reserves: 18. Fetalaiga Pauga 19. Dylan Napa 20. Max McCathie 21. Benaiah Ioelu 22. Sam Walker

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

Bench: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Joe Chan 17. Alec MacDonald

Reserves: 18. Grant Anderson 19. Jack Howarth 20. Kane Bradley 21. Jonah Pezet 22. Chris Lewis

DRAGONS v WARRIORS

Friday, 6pm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Hame Sele 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth

Bench: 14. Jesse Marschke 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Jack de Belin 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila

Reserves: 18. Michael Molo 19. Mathew Feagai 20. Toby Couchman 21. Viliami Fifita 22. Fa’amanu Brown

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris

Bench: 14. Chanel Harris-Tavita 15. Tom Ale 16. Jacob Laban 17. Adam Pompey

Reserves: 18. Zyon Maiu’u 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Ali Leiataua 22. Edward Kosi 23. Paul Roache

EELS v DOLPHINS

Friday, 8pm, TIO Stadium, Darwin

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Morgan Harper 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Dylan Brown 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood

Bench: 14. Luca Moretti 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Blaize Talagi

Reserves: 18. Brendan Hands 19. Kelma Tuilagi 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Makahesi Makatoa 22. Maika Sivo

Dolphins

1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Tesi Niu 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath

Bench: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Sean O’Sullivan 16. Ray Stone 17. Jarrod Wallace

Reserves: 18. Oryn Keeley 19. Edrick Lee 20. Mason Teague 21. Valynce Te Whare 22. Jeremiah Simbiken

PANTHERS v TIGERS

Saturday, 3pm, Carrington Park, Bathurst

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Taylan May 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Brad Schneider 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Bench: 14. Daine Laurie 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner

Reserves: 18. Jack Cole 19. Maverick Geyer 20. Matt Eisenhuth 21. Paul Alamoti 22. Tyrone Peachey

Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 4. Justin Olam 5. Junior Tupou 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole

Bench: 14. Latu Fainu 15. Alex Twal 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Samuela Fainu

Reserves: 18. Justin Matamua 19. Asu Kepaoa 20. Solomon Alaimalo 21. Jake Simpkin 22. Sione Fainu

TITANS v SEA EAGLES

Saturday, 5:30pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. Phillip Sami 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Kieran Foran 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Klese Haas

Bench: 14. Sam Verrills 15. Erin Clark 16. Isaac Liu 17. Josiah Pahulu

Reserves: 18. Joe Stimson 19. Keano Kini 20. Tanah Boyd 21. Tony Francis 22. Jacob Alick-Wiencke

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula. 4. Reuben Garrick. 5. Tommy Talau 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Corey Waddell 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Karl Lawton 15. Ethan Bullemor 16. Aaron Woods 17. Nathan Brown

Reserves: 18. Jake Arthur 19. Dean Matterson 20. Jaxson Paulo 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Aitasi James

BRONCOS v RAIDERS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jock Madden 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Fletcher Baker 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Bench: 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Xavier Willison 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Tristan Sailor

Reserves: 18. Martin Taupau 19. Benjamin Te Kura 20. Jordan Pereira 21. Blake Mozer 22. Josiah Karapani

Raiders

1. Chevy Stewart 2. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Ata Mariota 13. Morgan Smithies

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Trey Mooney 17. Pasami Saulo

Reserves: 18. Kaeo Weekes 19. Emre Guler 20. Zac Woolford 21. Nick Cotric 22. Peter Hola

BULLDOGS v KNIGHTS

Sunday, 2pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Chris Patolo 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Josh Curran 13. Jaeman Salmon

Bench: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Poasa Faamausili 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Blake Taaffe

Reserves: 19. Toby Sexton 20. Liam Knight 21. Jake Turpin 22. Jeral Skelton 23. Harry Hayes

Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Jack Cogger 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker

Reserves: 18. Jed Cartwright 19. Brodie Jones 20. Tyson Gamble 21. David Armstrong 22. Thomas Jenkins

SHARKS v COWBOYS

Sunday, 4:05pm, PointsBet Stadium, Sydney

Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Bench: 14. Jack Williams 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Kade Dykes 21. Billy Burns 22. Mawene Hiroti

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Tomas Chester 5. Semi Valemei 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Jack Gosiewski

Reserves: 18. Jake Clifford 19. Thomas Mikaele 20. Marly Bitungane 21. Jamal Shibasaki 22. Viliami Vailea

TITANS INJURY BLOW

The winless Gold Coast Titans have copped another blow with fullback Jayden Campbell ruled out for a month due to a knee injury.

Campbell suffered a torn PCL in Sunday’s controversial golden point loss to the Raiders in Canberra and is facing about a month on the sidelines.

Campbell failed to finish the game after leaving the field in the 65th minute, watching from the sidelines as the Raiders claimed a 21-20 victory in extra-time.

Jayden Campbell is set to miss the next four games for the Titans after suffering a knee injury. Picture: Getty Images

He will now sit out Saturday night’s clash against Manly at Cbus Super Stadium, with coach Des Hasler weighing up playing former Maroons winger Phil Sami at fullback.

Sami is expected to return from an ankle injury he sustained in a hip drop tackle from the Dolphins’ Max Plath a fortnight ago.

Another fullback option is AJ Brimson, however that would mean Hasler shaking up his halves pairing two weeks in a row after he axed struggling halfback Tanah Boyd last week.

The Titans are still searching for their first win of the year heading into the round 7 clash, having recorded five straight losses in Hasler’s first season in charge.

—Travis Meyn

SHARK’S DEBUT

Rookie Sharks winger Sam Stonestreet will complete a boyhood dream by making his NRL debut against the Cowboys at PointsBet Stadium on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Cronulla local junior has been handed his shot in first grade following an outstanding pre-season and an impressive 19 tries in 26-games in the NSW Cup.

The one-week suspension of try machine Sione Katoa has paved the way for Stonestreet to make his NRL debut at Shark Park, where, as a four-year-old he sat with his family on the hill cheering on Cronulla.

Blessed with speed, size and strength, the 193cm Stonestreet hails from local junior rugby league club De La Salle Caringbah, the same club that helped produce club legends Andrew Ettingshausen, Adam Dykes, Aaron Raper and Dean Treister.

—David Riccio

ORIGIN WINGER HAMSTRUNG

Queensland’s Origin stocks have taken another hit with Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi ruled out of this week’s clash against Cronulla.

Taulagi injured his hamstring in last Saturday’s loss to the Eels and is facing two to three weeks on the sidelines, rubbing the Maroons flyer out of the next two games against Cronulla this Sunday and North Queensland’s round 8 clash with Penrith in Townsville.

Scans confirmed a hamstring tear for Taulagi and while he should be fit in time for Game One against the Blues, the Maroons can ill-afford more injury ructions with the Origin series on the horizon.

In the absence of Taulagi, the Cowboys have called-up hard-running winger Semi Valemei, who scored nine tries from as many games for North Queensland last season.

– Peter Badel and David Riccio

DOLPHINS CALL ON RESERVE GRADER

Wayne Bennett has turned to a reserve grade star to replace Queensland Origin flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as the Dolphins coach battles his own illness concerns.

Hostplus Cup specialist Trai Fuller will make his second NRL appearance in Friday night’s clash with the Eels in Darwin.

The Dolphins’ injury crisis deepened in last week’s loss to the Broncos, with Tabuai-Fidow (hamstring) joining Tom Flegler (shoulder), Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) and Herbie Farnworth (shoulder) on the sidelines.

Tabuai-Fidow will miss about a month of footy, allowing Fuller a second crack at first grade following his NRL debut in last year’s one-point loss to the Tigers.

“He’s come down with the flu and hasn’t been in today or yesterday,” Bromwich said. “We have another few boys out crook too. I think he’ll be on the flight tomorrow.

—Travis Meyn

Coach Wayne Bennett of the Dolphins has been hit by the flu. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

HOSKING COULD MISS SIX MONTHS

Raiders forward Zac Hosking will hold a crucial meeting with medical staff to determine if his season is over.

The ‘buy of the year’ in the eyes of many, Hosking suffered a serious shoulder injury in the Raiders’ golden-point win over the Titans last Sunday.

Hosking dislocated his shoulder and his meeting today with surgeons is to determine if the ligaments were damaged to the point where he needs an operation.

The recovery period following an operation varies between three to six months.

At a minimum, the Raiders have ruled Hosking out for the next five to six weeks, as he awaits a complete diagnosis.

Simi Sasagi is expected to come into the Raiders’ side to face the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

—David Riccio

Originally published as NRL teams round 7: Too many cheapies to choose from as SuperCoach gods deliver