Expert SuperCoach analysis of club team lists and injuries ahead of round 15

SUPERCOACHES can breathe a sigh of relief after two key players were named despite injuries last week — Sam Burgess and Shaun Johnson.

SUPERCOACHES can breathe a sigh of relief ahead of the all-important bye round after two key players were named despite injuries last week — Sam Burgess and Shaun Johnson.

Burgess is the most popular player in SuperCoach, owned by more than half of teams, but he has been cleared of a serious shoulder injury and is expected to take the field for South Sydney against Parramatta on Friday.

Johnson, the most purchased player in the last two weeks, came off as a precaution with a corked thigh in the Warriors’ hammering of the Knights.

He was named by coach Andrew McFadden and is also set to play.

In other SuperCoach news from the round 15 NRL team announcements:

* Parramatta young gun Bevan French retained his spot and is the cheapie of the week after scoring two tries in as many games, although his base stats are an issue. Fellow cheapie Vai Toutai also earned a recall, with Michael Jennings on Origin duty;

* Cameron Munster is the keeper of the week after notching the highest SuperCoach score of all time against the Roosters;

* SuperCoach target Konrad Hurrell (calf) bowed out of contention after being named out of the 17 for the Titans;

* Popular Storm keeper Tohu Harris was again named in the halves despite the return of Blake Green (calf), with Cooper Cronk on Origin duty;

* SuperCoaches should be clearing the decks for the likes of Trent Merrin, James Tedesco and Tyrone Peachey next week. With a lack of quality cheapies, the money may need to be created by bringing in Penrith young gun Nathan Cleary a week early.

Sam Burgess has been named despite a shoulder injury. Picture: Brett Costello

Rabbitohs v Eels

7.50pm Friday at ANZ Stadium

Rabbitohs: 1 Alex Johnston 2 Dane Nielsen 3 Kirisome Auva’a 4 Siosifa Talaki 5 Aaron Gray 6 Cody Walker 7 Luke Keary 8 Tom Burgess 9 Cameron McInnes 10 Dave Tyrell 11 Paul Carter 12 Kyle Turner 13 Sam Burgess. Interchange: 14 Damien Cook 15 Jason Clark 16 Jack Gosiewski 17 Nathan Brown

Ins: Damien Cook, Jack Gosiewski, Luke Keary

Outs: Adam Reynolds, Greg Inglis (Origin), Bryson Goodwin (Broken arm, Round 21)

Other unavailables: John Sutton (Pectoral, Round 18), Zane Musgrove (Wrist, Indefinite), Angus Crichton (Groin, Indefinite), Hymel Hunt (Pectoral, Season), Michael Oldfield (Hamstring, Round 17), Samisoni Langi (ACL, Season), George Burgess (Groin, Round 21)

Comment: Cody Walker and Luke Keary (ankle) come into the halves for Origin-bound Adam Reynolds and Greg Inglis. Alex Johnston shifts to fullback, Aaron Gray is on the wing and Siosifa Talakai comes into the centres. Damien Cook earns himself a bench spot, as does Jack Gosiewski. Sam Burgess has been named despite a shoulder injury and is in a battle with Semi Radradra for vice-captaincy duties. Talaki (BE 2) is the fourth most-purchased player this week after being named in the centres. Sure, SuperCoaches need to create money, but this trade sounds serious alarm bells. Talaki will drop to the bench once Inglis is back and therefore looms as an auto emergency nightmare. Paul Carter and Nathan Brown are decent stop gap options over the byes, but are far from final 17 players and should only be considered by those with plenty of trades. Walker has been a revelation at fullback, averaging 84 since taking the role. The nine per cent who held from the start of the season would be over the moon, but he’s far too expensive to buy at $379,400.

Eels: 1 Michael Gordon 2 Semi Radradra 3 Vai Toutai 4 Clint Gutherson 5 Bevan French 6 Kenny Edwards 7 Corey Norman 8 Daniel Alvaro 9 Isaac De Gois 10 Danny Wicks 11 Manu Ma’u 12 Beau Scott 13 Tepai Moeroa. Interchange: 14 Kaysa Pritchard 15 Peni Terepo 16 David Gower 17 Rory O’Brien

Ins: Vai Toutai

Outs: Michael Jennings (Origin)

Other unavailables: Kieran Foran (Shoulder, Season), Brad Takairangi (Hamstring, Round 17), Anthony Watmough (Knee, Season), Luke Kelly (ACL, Season), Tim Mannah (Shoulder, Round 17), Kepeli Tanginoa (Ankle, Round 22), Bureta Faraimo (Fractured eye socket, Round 17), Mitch Cornish (Knee, Round 20)

Comment: Vai Toutai replaces Michael Jennings (Origin) at centre in the only change. Winger Bevan French retains his spot and is therefore the cheapie of the week. That said, his base stats are poor (he has only scored 19 points in runs in two games). However, with the great keepers on offer this week and next, SuperCoaches are simply forced to take a punt on French’s tryscoring instincts, which are in the ilk of Nathan Blacklock, Anthony Mundine and Preston Campbell. Semi Radradra is a VC option. Michael Gordon finally produced a decent score last week, but may still be on the chopping block for Tedesco next week. Manu Ma’u keeps churning it out, while Kenny Edwards and Corey Norman are decent PODS for those with trades and healthy hearts.

LISTEN TO OUR ROUND 15 PODCAST

Dragons v Storm

7.30pm Saturday at WIN Stadium

Dragons: 1 Jason Nightingale 2 Kalifa Faifai Loa 3 Euan Aitken 4 Tim Lafai 5 Kurt Mann 6 Gareth Widdop (c) 7 Benji Marshall 8 Leeson Ah Mau 9 Mitch Rein 10 Russell Packer 11 Tyson Frizell 12 Joel Thompson 13 Mike Cooper. Interchange: 14 Dunamis Lui 15 Will Matthews 16 Siliva Havili 17 Jake Marketo

Ins: None

Outs: None

Other unavailables: Dylan Farrell (Back, Indefinite), Mose Masoe (ACL, Season), Yaw Kiti Glymin (Hamstring, Indefinite), Ben Creagh (Knee, Indefinite), Josh Dugan (Elbow, Round 16)

Comment: No changes, although Mary McGregor’s side may lose Tyson Frizell to Origin duty if Wade Graham is suspended. Origin-period purchases Mike Cooper, Jake Marketo and Will Matthews are sells after this week’s bye. But Euan Aitken could be worth persisting with.

Storm: 1 Cameron Munster 2 Suliasi Vunivalu 3 Cheyse Blair 4 Ryan Morgan 5 Marika Koroibete 6 Tohu Harris 7 Blake Green 8 Jesse Bromwich 9 Kenny Bromwich 10 Jordan McLean 11 Kevin Proctor 12 Felise Kaufusi 13 Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14 Nelson Asofa-Solomona 15 Tim Glasby 16 Christian Welch 17 Young Tonumaipea 18 Matt White

Ins: Blake Green, Matt White, Young Tonumaipea

Outs: Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk (Origin)

Other unavailables: Billy Slater (Shoulder, Season), Will Chambers (Fractured foot, Round 19), Jeremy Hawkins (Hamstring, Round 16)

Comment: Tohu Harris is the big loser, remaining in the halves due to the unavailability of Origin stars Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith. Harris also has a huge break even (109), but he is a final 17 player and remains a great purchase this week. Cameron Munster produced the best SuperCoach score of all time last week and is an absolute must before he surges out of reach. Jesse Bromwich is also a must-have for the run home and is at his cheapest price since round two.

Shaun Johnson has been named despite a cork.

Warriors v Roosters

4pm Sunday at Mt Smart Stadium

Warriors: 1 Tuimoala Lolohea 2 David Fusitua 3 Blake Ayshford 4 Solomone Kata 5 Ken Maumalo 6 Thomas Leuluai 7 Shaun Johnson 8 Albert Vete 9 Issac Luke 10 Ben Matulino 11 Bodene Thompson 12 Ryan Hoffman 13 Simon Mannering. Interchange: 14 Nathaniel Roache 15 Sam Lisone 16 Toafofoa 17 Charlie Gubb

Ins: Ken Maumalo, Toafofoa Sipley

Outs: Jacob Lillyman (Origin), Manu Vatuvei (Hamstring, Round 17)

Other unavailables: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Knee, Season), Ben Henry (Knee, Indefinite), Sione Lousi (ACL, Season)

Comment: Shaun Johnson has been named despite a corked thigh and is a captaincy option for the risk-takers. Ken Maumalo replaces Manu Vatuvei (hamstring) on the wing. Young gun Sipley Toafofoa comes into the 17 for Jacob Lillyman (Origin). Simon Mannering is back to 80 minutes and a serious buy this week at just $328,700 — a $108,100 discount on his starting price. Tuimoala Lolohea, David Fusitua and Bodene Thompson are strong PODs, but almost impossible to fit in given the keepers on the market this week (Munster, Bromwich, Harris, Mannering etc) and next week (Merrin, Tedesco, Peachey etc).

Roosters: 1 Latrell Mitchell 2 Daniel Tupou 3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall 4 Dale Copley 5 Joseph Manu 6 Ryan Matterson 7 Jackson Hastings 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9 Jake Friend (c) 10 Sam Moa 11 Sio Siua Taukeiaho 12 Mitchell Aubusson 13 Dylan Napa. Interchange: 14 Isaac Liu 15 Kane Evans 16 Connor Watson 17 Chris Smith 18 Mitchell Frei

Ins: Chris Smith, Dylan Napa, Isaac Liu, Joseph Manu, Shaun Kenny-Dowall

Outs: Abraham Papalii, Aidan Guerra, Blake Ferguson, Eloni Vunakece

Other unavailables: Ian Henderson (Broken leg, Indefinite), Boyd Cordner (Foot, Round 17), Mitchell Pearce (Calf, Round 17)

Comment: Joseph Manu has been named to make his NRL debut in place of Blake Ferguson (Origin). As anyone who watched the Nines will attest, this kid is an absolute jet. Keep on the watchlist. The return of Shaun Kenny-Dowall (foot) sees Mitchell Aubusson move into the back row, where he replaces Aidan Guerra (Origin). Dylan Napa (suspension) returns at lock, pushing Kane Evans to the bench. Isaac Liu (ankle) returns from injury on the bench, where he is joined by Chris Smith. Eloni Vunakece and Abraham Papalii drop out. Latrell Mitchell made an unexpected appearance last week despite initially being ruled out by the Roosters. He is a hold for this week, but is on the chopping block next week for Tedesco. Ryan Matterson may also be a reluctant trade for Cleary next round.

Titans v Sea Eagles

7pm Monday at CBus Super Stadium

Titans: 1 William Zillman 2 Anthony Don 3 Josh Hoffman 4 Nathan Davis 5 Nene MacDonald 6 Tyrone Roberts 7 Ashley Taylor 8 Luke Douglas 9 Nathan Friend 10 Ryan James 11 Zeb Taia 12 Chris McQueen 13 Agnatius Paasi. Interchange: 14 Eddy Pettybourne 15 Leivaha Pulu 16 Ryan Simpkins 17 Nathan Peats 18 Konrad Hurrell

Ins: Nathan Davis, Ryan Simpkins

Outs: Greg Bird (Origin)

Other unavailables: Kane Elgey (ACL, Season), Matt Srama (Knee, Season), Daniel Mortimer (Hamstring, Indefinite), John Olive (Broken collarbone, Round 20), David Mead (PCL, Round 19), David Shillington (Pectoral, Round 16)

Comment: Konrad Hurrell (calf) has been named 18th man following an injury last week and is no longer an option. The big SuperCoach winner is early-season cheapie Nathan Davis, who has been recalled to the starting side and will provide a vital extra number for the 13 per cent who held. Ryan James scored a massive $43,000 rise last week, but is now well out of reach compared to the other keepers on offer over the next two weeks. Agnatius Paasi starts in place of Greg Bird (Origin), while Ryan Simpkins comes onto the bench.

Sea Eagles: 1 Brett Stewart 2 Jorge Taufua 3 Tom Trbojevic 4 Brayden Wiliame 5 Matthew Wright 6 Jamie Lyon 7 Apisai Koroisau 8 Darcy Lussick 9 Matt Parcell 10 Martin Taupau 11 Lewis Brown 12 Jamie Buhrer 13 Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: 14 Blake Leary 15 Josh Starling 16 Addin Fonua-Blake 17 Siosaia Vave 18 Liam Knight

Ins: Jamie Lyon, Liam Knight, Martin Taupau

Outs: Dylan Walker (Origin), Nate Myles (Knee, Round 20)

Other unavailables: Dylan Walker (Origin), Nate Myles (Knee, Round 20)

Comment: Martin Taupau (suspension) makes his long-awaited return at prop, replacing Nate Myles (knee). Jamie Lyon (hamstring) returns at five-eighth in place of Dylan Walker (Origin). Liam Knight joins the team as 18th man. Tom Trbojevic is a massive backline POD at a 61.3 average and ownership of just 11 per cent. Likewise, brother Jake Trbojevic has the sixth highest average of any prop, but is owned by just 13 per cent.

Originally published as Expert SuperCoach analysis of club team lists and injuries ahead of round 15