NRL SuperCoach teams analysis Round 20

SUPERSTAR Kalyn Ponga is back, a Penrith gun is firing and there is some good news for the best halfback in the game. Updated teams analysis here …

SUPERSTAR Kalyn Ponga is back, a Penrith gun is firing and there is some good news for the best halfback in the game.

Read all the SuperCoach NRL — presented by hipages — analysis of the team lists for round 20 of the NRL season below:

WINNERS AND LOSERS

Winners:

— Jamayne Isaako retains the fullback role which is a win for him, as is Darius Boyd staying at centre a win for Corey Oates owners due to the Broncos’ captain’s superior passing game

— Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga (hamstring) is expected to return from injury but see Losers below

— Newcastle co-captain Sione Mata’utia (eye socket) returns at centre

— Raiders boosted by return of Joseph Tapine (suspension) and move stud Nick Cotric to the centres

— Penrith get a boost with return of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (hamstring) but in surprise move have named Tyrone Peachey at fullback

— Scott Sorensen would be the major beneficiary of Wade Graham’s withdrawal (see below)

Losers:

— UPDATE: Cronulla co-captain Wade Graham (groin) has been named to start on Thursday night against the Broncos but is now in doubt for the game

— UPDATE: Dragon Tyson Frizell (hamstring) was named to return after being rested but did not train with the main group on Wednesday and must be considered doubtful again

— Kalyn Ponga’s hamstring injury may have healed but the young star rolled his ankle at training on Tuesday and while he is expected to be named he must be in some doubt for Friday night with Nick Meaney retained in the reserves as cover

— Newcastle’s Connor Watson (ankle) did not train Tuesday and despite him being named to play there must be some doubt about his availability for Friday, Jack Cogger is in the reserves as cover for Watson

— Big boppers Jordan McLean and Matt Scott were expected to play for the Cowboys after training on Tuesday but were only named in the reserves

— Wests Tigers, Robbie Farah, David Nofoaluma and Luke Garner will have to pass HIA protocols this week though have been named to start in this week’s game against the Bulldogs

— St George winger Nene MacDonald (foot) misses selection

BRONCOS V SHARKS

Thursday 26 July, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm

Broncos: 1. Jamayne Isaako, 2 Corey Oates, 3 James Roberts, 4 Darius Boyd (c), 5 Jordan Kahu, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Kodi Nikorima, 8 Matthew Lodge, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Sam Thaiday, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Tevita Pangai jnr, 13 Josh McGuire

Interchange: 14 Kotoni Stags, 15 Joe Ofahengaue, 16 Korbin Sims, 17 David Fifita

Reserves: 18 Gehamat Shibasaki, 19 Patrick Mago, 20 Sam Tagataese, 21 Troy Dargan

Team news: Matt Lodge starts in the only change to last week’s team pushing Joe Ofahengaue to the interchange bench. Tevita Pangai Jnr has been named despite concerns over his hamstring.

SuperCoach analysis: Brisbane give young gun Jamayne Isaako ($482,200) another run at fullback, his status as a keeper will depend on whether he regains the kicking duties — stay tuned. Darius Boyd’s impressive passing game can only be a boost for Corey Oates ($455,100) owners. The bullocking Broncos winger has scores of 73 (Sharks), 59 (Bulldogs), 54 (Cowboys) and 96 (Souths) already this season against his next four opponents. Tevita Pangai Jr ($454,000) was immense in very limited time last week, the Sharks have significantly improved their defence as against backrowers over the past five rounds and they’ll need to be good to keep Pangai quiet.

Sharks: 1 Valentine Holmes, 2 Sione Katoa, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Edrick Lee, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Wade Graham (c), 13 Paul Gallen (c)

Interchange: 14 Scott Sorensen, 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Aaron Woods, 17 Jayson Bukuya

Reserves: 18 Joseph Paulo, 19 Ava Seumanufagai, 20 Sosaia Feki, 21 Aaron Gray

Team news: Luke Lewis (calf) returns in the second row, pushing Scott Sorensen to the bench and Joseph Paulo to the reserves.

SuperCoach analysis: Andrew Fifita ($524,300) scored 89 points in 59 minutes last week though that included a try and linebreak and the big man scored just 43 in base stats. The Broncos restricted Fifita to 42 points in 52 minutes when they last met, and have held the big man to a career average of just 47.3PPG so I am expecting a low (ish) score for Fifita to open the round. Valentine Holmes ($620,300) currently has the best 5RA (77.6) of any CTW eligible player and is clearly loving life at fullback for the Sharks with four tries and three try assists over that span. Currently the fourth most traded in player in the game, there is plenty to like about Holmes — the price is getting steep for mine though.

In case you missed it: Kalyn Ponga is back for the Knights. Picture: AAP Image

COWBOYS V KNIGHTS

Friday 27 July, 1300SMILES Stadium, 6pm

Cowboys: 1 Te Maire Martin, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Enari Tuala, 4 Kane Linnett, 5 Justin O’Neill, 6 Jake Clifford, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 John Asiata, 9 Jake Granville, 10 Scott Bolton, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Coen Hess, 13 Jason Taumalolo

Interchange: 14 Ben Hampton, 15 Shaun Fensom, 16 Mitchell Dunn, 17 Corey Jensen

Reserves: 18 Matthew Scott, 19 Ethan Lowe, 20 Francis Molo, 21 Jordan McLean

Team news: The Cowboys are unchanged. Te Maire Martin gets another game at fullback and impressive youngster Jake Clifford another game in the halves alongside his boyhood idol Johnathan Thurston.

SuperCoach analysis: Not much to say about the Cowboys from a SuperCoach perspective really. Jason Taumalolo ($604,900) played 73 minutes last week for a subdued, for him, 63 points. In my ‘Rob’s Shock Stat’ of the week the Knights have held the Tongan wrecking ball to a stunningly low career average of 34.6 over eight games with a highest score of 61. I’m chucking the stat book out the window here and backing the big fella to hit 70+.

Knights: 1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Ken Sio, 3 Sione Mata’utia, 4 Nathan Ross, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 Connor Watson, 7 Mitchell Pearce (c), 8 Jacob Lillyman, 9 Danny Levi, 10 Daniel Saifiti, 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12 Mitch Barnett, 13 Aidan Guerra

Interchange: 14 Jamie Buhrer (c), 15 Chris Heighington, 16 Josh King, 17 Herman Ese’ese

Reserves: 18 Nick Meaney, 19 Cory Denniss, 20 Jack Cogger, 21 JJ Felise

Team news: Kalyn Ponga returns from injury but remain in some doubt after suffering an ankle injury at training on Tuesday. Sione Mata’utia returns at centre with Corey Denniss dropping out. Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Nathan Ross swap centre and wing roles. Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Aidan Guerra swap between lock and second row.

SuperCoach analysis: Young star Kalyn Ponga ($598,100) is back! The star fullback combines massive upside (he’s surpassed 80 points in five games already this year) along with reliability (having exceeded 60 points in an incredible 69% of games played this year — for reference Tom Trbojevic and James Tedesco have ‘only’ done that in 63% of games). If you own him, Ponga is a must start — though watch for late mail following that ankle tweak on Tuesday — but not sure I’d be selling Turbo Tom or Teddy to bring him in. Second rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon ($513,900) came back from suspension and banged out a lazy 105 points (51 in base stats) and he’ll only get better with the return of Ponga as he feasts on the space that his fullback can create. A super-POD with just three per cent ownership Fitzy can put in the odd quiet game though so he’s strictly for the brave. One other player worth noting is, five-eighth Connor Watson ($568,900) who is just quietly rocking a 3RA of 84.3 and serves as POD for those looking to differentiate themselves from the field - though Watson did fail to train Tuesday due to an ankle injury so again watch late mail with care.

BULLDOGS V WESTS TIGERS

Friday 27 July, ANZ Stadium, 7.55pm

Bulldogs: 1 Will Hopoate, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Kerrod Holland, 5 Reimis Smith, 6 Lachlan Lewis, 7 Jeremy Marshall-King, 8 Aiden Tolman, 9 Michael Lichaa, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Josh Jackson (c), 12 Rhyse Martin, 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14 Fa’amanu Brown, 15 Greg Eastwood, 16 Ofahiki Ogden, 17 Danny Fualalo

Reserves: 18 Chris Smith, 19 Matthew Frawley, 20 Francis Tualau, 21 John Olive

Team news: Ofahiki Ogden replaces Clay Priest on the bench in the only change.

SuperCoach analysis: The God 2.0 hype train hit a hurdle last week when Rhyse Martin ($631,600) was held to 53 points by the Eels. Martin actually recorded his equal-most tackles (35) in the game but his runs (nine) were down and as a result so were his attacking stats. The Eels are a bit of a bogey team for Martin (if one can have such a thing in so brief a career) having held him to just 51 points when they met in round 10. The Wests Tigers are the most generous team in the league when it comes to 2RF though so I think it’s fair to assume Martin will bounce back this week. That stat also favours POD Dog Josh Jackson ($512,300) who has a 5RA of 64.2 but he’s not really in the elite category at this stage of the season. Will Hopoate ($498,400) flopped back to earth last week scoring 33 points and serves as yet another entry to the “Thou Shalt Not Chase Last Week’s Points” shame file.

Wests Tigers: 1 Moses Mbye, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Kevin Naiqama, 5 Corey Thompson, 6 Benji Marshall, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer (c), 9 Robbie Farah, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Michael Chee Kam, 12 Luke Garner, 13 Elijah Taylor

Interchange: 14 Alex Twal, 15 Sauaso Sue, 16 Robbie Rochow, 17 Matt Eisenhuth

Reserves: 18 Jacob Liddle, 19 Chris McQueen, 20 Pita Godinet, 21 Malakai Watene-Zelezniak

Team news: After impressing last week, rookie Luke Garner moves into the starting second row for Josh Aloiai (broken hand) with Robbie Rochow recalled on the bench.

SuperCoach analysis: Two Wests Tigers outside backs appeal here namely Esan Marsters ($517,000) and David Nofoaluma ($467,100). Marsters is pretty much a must-start every week and has been consistent at a very inconsistent position, exceeding 50 points in all but one of his past eight games exceeding 30 points in base each time. Nofoaluma, oddly for a player who built his reputation as a base stat beast, has been a bit less reliable but has a 3RA of 59.0 and 5RA of 56.3 PPG. With the Bulldogs and Knights on the horizon I can see plenty of merit in playing both in your side.

Nathan Cleary kicks goals worth $90,000 on DoSomething Day. Pictures: Penrith Panthers

SEA EAGLES V PANTHERS

Saturday 28 July, Lottoland, 3pm

Sea Eagles: 1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jorge Taufua, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Brian Kelly, 5 Brad Parker, 6 Dylan Walker, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Manase Fainu, 10 Martin Taupau, 11 Joel Thompson, 12 Shaun Lane, 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14 Trent Hodkinson, 15 Kelepi Tanginoa, 16 Frank Winterstein, 17 Taniela Paseka

Reserves: 18 Matthew Wright, 20 Tevita Funa, 21 Toafofoa Sipley, 22 Lloyd Perrett

Team news: Dylan Walker returns at five-eighth and Jorge Taufua on the wing. Both Wrights, Tom and Matt have been left out of the 17. Shaun Lane is back in the run-on side. Kelepi Tanginoa replaces Toafofoa Sipley on the bench. and is joined by Frank Winterstein.

SuperCoach analysis: Hands up if you failed to play Tom Trbojevic ($546,100) last week due to his tough matchup against the Roosters (edit: visual gags don’t work in print). I did that and I’m not going to make that mistake again. Not against the Panthers despite them being the 10th toughest opponent for fullbacks, not even against the Sharks who have been the toughest on fullbacks. Now watch Trbojevic punish my loyalty just like Becky Goldberg did back in year 11. Speaking of tough defenders, Jake Trbojevic ($592,600) is averaging just shy of 70 PPG and is safe as houses thanks to his prodigious workrate. If you own him you play him but with an ownership rate of 45 per cent I’d look elsewhere for a POD 2RF if I were in the market. The only other Manly player worth owning at the moment is FRF Martin Taupau ($566,200) a man who makes up for slightly lower base stats than his competitors with a reliable offload game. Yet to score a try all season, no doubt Marty will be keen to avoid a nudie run by season’s end and I for one plan to profit when he does.

Panthers: 1 Tyrone Peachey, 2 Josh Mansour, 3 Waqa Blake, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 6 James Maloney (c), 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Sione Katoa, 10 James Tamou, 11 Viliame Kikau, 12 Corey Harawira-Naera, 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14 Tyrone May, 15 Trent Merrin, 16 Jack Hetherington, 17 Moses Leota

Reserves: 18 Kaide Ellis, 19 Wayde Egan, 20 Christian Crichton, 21 Liam Martin

Team news: In a surprise move Tyrone Peachey has been named at fullback in place of the injured Jarome Luai (ankle). As expected Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returns from injury but it is on the wing, in place of Christian Crichton who has been dropped to the reserves. In good news for Viliame Kikau owners, Tyrone May comes on to the interchange. There’s been shuffling in the forwards with Trent Merrin dropped to the interchange, James Fisher-Harris starts at prop, Corey Harawira-Naera moves in to the starting side at 12 and Isaah Yeo moves to lock.

SuperCoach analysis: Penrith’s Viliame Kikau ($562,300) has played three consecutive 80-minute games for scores of 101, 94 and 69. The big man may average just a bit over 40 PPG in base but makes up for it with his attacking stats. A must-start every week, especially this week against a team that has given up decent points to opposition 2RF over the past five rounds. Nathan Cleary ($446,400) resumed kicking duties last week and promptly scored 80 points for a team that was badly beaten. The Panthers have a great four weeks coming up (Manly, Canberra, Gold Coast and Newcastle) and Cleary averages over 75 points against three of those four teams with the Titans (57.5PPG) incongruously being the outlier there. Grab Cleary now as protection against Shaun Johnson going down with injury. The last Panther worth a thought is a CTW POD in Waqa Blake ($427,300). Blake has a 3RA of 74.3 PPG, including a 91-point effort on the miserly Sharks defence, and is averaging almost eight broken tackles a game. Definitely a left-field name to throw up when assembling your final team.

Don’t worry Jarryd, Rob Sutherland still has faith in the Hayne Plane. Picture: Getty Images

RABBITOHS V EELS

Saturday 28 July, ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm

Rabbitohs: 1 Alex Johnston, 2 Campbell Graham, Hymel Hunt, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Robert Jennings, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Tom Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Sam Burgess (c)

Interchange: 14 Adam Doueihi, 15 Cameron Murray, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Tevita Tatola

Reserves: 18 Mark Nicholls, 19 Kyle Turner, 20 Dean Britt, 21 Braidon Burns

Team news: 1-17 as per last week

SuperCoach analysis: There’s genuinely eight Rabbitohs capable of cracking a century against the lowly Eels. Alex Johnston ($538,000) has flopped in the past three weeks with a 3RA of 46.3PPG. Stick strong, he’s been a within a whisker of going 70+ in all three matches and isn’t far off a three-figure score. This game has Cody Walker’s ($564,500) name all over it and is a left-field skipper option. Robert Jennings ($560,600) has a 5RA of 73PPG and is a strong POD, but is he worth his current value? Damien Cook, Angus Crichton and Sam Burgess will all be hoping for a decent attacking stat to lift their already solid base numbers.

Eels: 1 Clint Gutherson (c), 2 Bevan French, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Brad Takairangi, 5 Jarryd Hayne, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Kaysa Pritchard, 10 Siosaia Vave, 11 Marata Niukore, 12 Tepai Moeroa, 13 Nathan Brown

Interchange: 14 Reed Mahoney, 15 Tim Mannah (c), 16 David Gower, 17 Peni Terepo

Reserves: 18 Kane Evans, 19 Greg Leleisiuao, 20, Jaeman Salmon, 21 Suaia Matagi

Team news: David Gower returns on the bench replacing George Jennings in the 17, with Tepai Moeroa starting in the second row, Brad Takairangi moving from the bench to centre and Jarryd Hayne from centre to wing.

SuperCoach analysis: Very little to be said in Parramatta land with Nathan Brown ($530,700) gaining some relevance with a monster 80-minute performance against the Bulldogs. Brown had 36 tackles and 22 runs in one of the great base stat performances, but with a lower ceiling than his 2RF counterparts he’s not a trade-in option at this time of year. Rob Sutherland ($164,600) is convinced Jarryd Hayne ($499,800) can emulate Will Hopoate’s effort against South Sydney a fortnight ago. He’s deluded.

STORM V RAIDERS

Saturday 28 July, AAMI Park, 7.35pm

Storm: 1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Jahrome Hughes, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 13 Dale Finucane

Interchange: 14 Kenny Bromwich, 15 Tim Glasby, 16 Christian Welch, 17 Joe Stimson

Reserves: 18 Tui Kamikamica, 19 Brodie Croft, 20 Cheyse Blair, 21 Albert Vete

Team news: Dale Finucane returns to the starting team with Kenny Bromwich shifting to the bench.

SuperCoach analysis: Jahrome Hughes ($502,700) has just one per cent ownership and has attracted interest as a POD following a 3RA of 79.3PPG. There is upside but surely it’s too big a risk for a player with such a small sample size playing out of position in the halves. Cameron Munster ($556,300) has a break-even of 137 and is a decent option at 5/8 when he bottoms out in a few weeks. Coming off a poor week Cameron Smith ($661,100)is a safe skipper option against the struggling Canberra defensive unit

Raiders: 1 Brad Abbey, 2 Michael Oldfield, 3 Nick Cotric, 4 Joseph Leilua, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Blake Austin, 7 Sam Williams, 8 Dunamis Lui, 9 Josh Hodgson (c), 10 Junior Paulo, 11 Joseph Tapine, 12 Elliott Whitehead, 13 Josh Papalii

Interchange: 14 Liam Knight, 15 Luke Bateman, 16 Siliva Havili, 17 Iosia Soliola

Reserves: 18 Jack Murchie, 19 Makahesi Makatoa, 20 Royce Hunt, 21 Emre Guler

Team news: Joe Tapine returns from suspension with Sia Soliola moving to the bench. Nick Cotric moves to centre with Michael Oldfield shifting to the wing.

SuperCoach analysis: Nick Cotric’s ($483,000) move to centre is likely bad news for his SuperCoach credentials and is no longer a POD option. Jordan Rapana ($508,500) had a strong 78-point game in his second outing since returning from injury. At nine per cent ownership he remains a great POD, however the Raiders’ brutal run home is enough to keep me away from options at the club.

Blake Green’s return for the Warriors should free up Shaun Johnson to shine against the Titans. Picture: AAP Image

TITANS V WARRIORS

Sunday 29 July, Cbus Super Stadium, 2pm

Titans: 1 Michael Gordon, 2 Anthony Don, 3 Konrad Hurrell, 4 Brenko Lee, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 AJ Brimson, 7 Ashley Taylor, 8 Jarrod Wallace, 9 Nathan Peats, 10 Ryan James (c), 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Keegan Hipgrave, 13 Jai Arrow

Interchange: 14 Mitch Rein, 15 Moeaki Fotuaika, 16 Jack Stockwell, 17 Will Matthews.

Reserves: 18 Leilani Latu, 19 Brendan Elliot, 20 Morgan Boyle, 21 Kane Elgey

Team news: Will Matthews replaces Leilani Latu on the bench in the only change.

SuperCoach analysis: Jai Arrow ($607,200) is a definite hold. At the time of writing the Titans forward was somehow the sixth most-traded player based on one below-par injury-impacted week. He’s not a lock for starting 17s in a stacked 2RF position while injured, but as soon as the issue passes he’ll again become an elite SuperCoach player. Ryan James ($616,400) as expected came back to earth with a 3RA of 55PPG since the tryscoring run dried up. With a massive break-even and hefty price he looms as a sell for a player you’d lock into 17s, but he’s a reliable hold if trades are at a minimum.

Warriors: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 David Fusitu’a, 3 Gerard Beale, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 James Gavet, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Simon Mannering

Interchange: 14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Sam Lisone, 16 Joseph Vuna, 17 Bunty Afoa

Reserves: 18 Peta Hiku, 20 Karl Lawton, 21 Leivaha Pulu, 22 Mason Lino

Team news: Blake Green returns at five-eighth for Mason Lino. Tohu Harris is back in the second row; Simon Mannering moves to lock with Adam Blair suspended. Sam Lisone replaces Tevita Satae on the bench.

SuperCoach analysis: Quite remarkably Shaun Johnson ($436,300) could be available for below $400k within a fortnight. Johnson has been the only reliable half this season, but a 5RA of 39.2PPG has brought him back to the rest of the pack. Regardless, he’s a hold with upside having scores of 97, 147 and 110 in his past three outings against the Titans. Tohu Harris ($534,500) is a massive inclusion for those who held despite uncertainty surrounding his injury. Tohu is a strong option for 17s for the run home and will hopefully lift the SuperCoach output of the struggling Johnson.

ROOSTERS V DRAGONS

Sunday 29 July, Allianz Stadium, 4.10pm

Roosters: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Joseph Manu, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Ryan Matterson, 13 Victor Radley.

Interchange: 14 Isaac Liu, 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Mitchell Aubusson, 17 Kurt Baptiste

Reserves: 18 Nat Butcher, 20 Matthew Ikuvalu, 21 Dylan Napa, 22 Lindsay Collins

Team news: Isaac Liu and Mitchell Aubusson return on the bench for Lindsay Collins and Nat Butcher.

SuperCoach analysis: There’s stacks of SuperCoach relevance at the Roosters with the entire backline having a strong upside apart from Joseph Manu. Ryan Matterson ($499,600) played 80 minutes on the Roosters edge last week and looms as a must-have CTW next round. With a break-even of 88 and a tough match-up the trade can wait, with the inclusions of Mitchell Aubusson and Isaac Liu on the bench posing a major threat to his minutes. Matterson could revert back to a 50-55 minute player as per the early season rotation, but if he maintains the game time he’ll become a premium option once again. Latrell Mitchell ($531,900) and Blake Ferguson ($565,500) are both excellent option with a huge ceiling, while James Tedesco ($562,400) is simply a must have for the 64 per cent of coaches who don’t already own him.

Dragons: 1 Matt Dufty, 2 Jordan Pereira, 3 Euan Aitken, 4 Tim Lafai, 5 Jason Nightingale, 6 Gareth Widdop (c), 7 Ben Hunt, 8 James Graham, 9 Cameron McInnes, 10 Paul Vaughan, 11 Tyson Frizell, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Jack De Belin

Interchange: 14 Jeremy Latimore, 15 Kurt Mann, 16 Leeson Ah Mau, 17 Luciano Leilua

Reserves: 18 Patrick Herbert, 19 Blake Lawrie, 20 Jai Field, 21 Zachary Lomax

Team news: Tyson Frizell returns, with Luciano Leilua dropping to the bench and Blake Lawrie to the reserves.

SuperCoach analysis: Euan Aitken ($452,900) and Tim Lafai ($428,600) remain excellent CTW options at bargain prices, however neither are locks for 17s each week. Tread cautiously with this game which could be a defensive slog between two strong outfits. Backs from both sides could have a tough time accumulating attacking stats, with Gareth Widdop ($474,900) a prime example of a player who can miss 17s due to the expected nature of the game. Kurt Mann ($310,800) made owners $135,000 and provided crucial bye round points but it’s time to move on before he begins haemorrhaging cash.