NRL teams round 23: SuperCoach analysis, Eliesa Katoa injury adds to woes

The first week of head-to-head finals was already looking dicey on the injury front and it just got even worse. Full SuperCoach analysis of round 23 teams

The first week of head-to-head finals was already looking dicey on the injury front and it just got even worse.

Storm forward Eliesa Katoa, owned by 31 per cent of SuperCoaches, has been ruled out due to a knee injury.

There is no word yet on the severity of Katoa’s injury.

It’s yet another blow for SuperCoaches given the following players are already confirmed out – Payne Hass (foot), James Tedesco, Angus Crichton (bye) and Dom Young (bye and hamstring injury).

Jamayne Isaako (ankle) and Cody Walker (calf) have been named but are in doubt.

Eliesa Katoa is out with a knee injury. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

WINNERS

* Jamayne Isaako - Suffered an ankle injury on the weekend and failed to finish but has been named by the Dolphins. We are chasing for Late Mail given Isaako is owned by a quarter of SuperCoaches.

* Reuben Garrick - Back from the bye and named for the Sea Eagles despite a string on concussions.

* Cody Walker - Named for the Rabbitohs despite a calf injury that ruled him out of last week’s clash. Must make it through captain’s run on Wednesday to play.

* Josh Curran - Named for the Bulldogs despite an AC joint injury to his shoulder on the weekend. He suffered a knee issue the week before. He’s banged up and surely gets a rest before the finals. But when?

* Ethan Strange – Returns to the starting five-eighth spot after being demoted to 18th man last week. The Raiders have confirmed Strange was rested.

* Reuben Cotter – Popular SuperCoach player is named to return from concussion for the Cowboys.

LOSERS

* Eliesa Katoa - A shock omission for the Storm due to a knee injury in a huge blow for 31 per cent of SuperCoaches.

* Payne Haas - Was the most purchased player last week and is now injured. Has to go. Best replacements below.

* Dom Young - Young failed to finish last week and the Roosters are on a bye this week. If I was head-to-head I would sell. But if I was an overall player I would hold on as the final four weeks – Eels/Titans/Raiders/Rabbitohs – scream big points for the big winger. An injury update from the Roosters on Tuesday was quite vague: “Dom Young sustained a low grade hamstring strain to his right leg.” We are chasing for Late Mail.

* James Tedesco - On the bye this week. Those short on trades should hold given Teddy has the most points of any SuperCoach player this year. But it’s sudden death for many head-to-head SuperCoaches this week and a move is on to Kalyn Ponga or Tom Trbojevic (more below) for those with trades, even if you bring Teddy back in next week.

* Angus Crichton - On the bye but hard to sell on recent form.

POPULAR TRADE ANALYSIS

* Joe Tapine - The colder it gets the hotter Tapine is. If I could have any prop in my team then it would be the next guy on this list as I think he has better upside, but Tapine at $650K is a good way out of the Haas regrets many are feeling this week.

* Mitch Barnett - From his past seven games Barnett has scored under 80 points just once, and even then his ‘bad’ score was a 60. His $826K price tag is a stretch but the dual position eligibility is very helpful. One thing to keep in mind for overall players is the Warriors do not play Round 27 (bye) but head-to-head players don’t care about that.

* Kalyn Ponga - I panned Ponga as a buy last week and while he was not ‘bad’ – a score of 56 points against the Panthers is like an 80 against any other team – I’m taking the sub-60 score as a win. Newcastle’s draw is enticing from here though with Tigers/Sharks/Rabbitohs/Titans/Dolphins to close the season. Personally I prefer a Teddy/Turbo duo at the position but if I had plenty of trades and a head-to-head final to win I’d be doing the Teddy (bye) to Ponga trade this week.

* Val Holmes - The Cowboys had a field day against the Tigers last round and Holmes was in the middle of it with a try, two assists, a million goals and 130+ points. Holmes has scored consecutive 100s so this may sound a little strange but – I’m not so sure he’s a great buy this week. The Cowboys do play their next three games at home which is a win. And they play the Broncos (Round 23) then Raiders (Round 24) which looks like a win. But after being humbled last week I feel the Broncos will be much improved this week plus the Cowboys have the bye in Round 25.

* Cam Munster - Melbourne lost the game, but Munster still scored 63 points with just the one try assist. I’m expecting Melbourne to put a massive score on the Rabbitohs this week and Munster has to be a good chance of hitting triple figures. Just keep in mind that the Storm play Penrith in round 24 and that’s going to be a tough one for Munster. And he’s also a prime resting candidate over the closing games.

* Zac Lomax - The Dragons are on the up and Lomax is at a great price. The Dogs are a tough defensive unit this week so anyone buying Lomax should not have massive expectations this week but from there the draw – Titans/Sharks/Eels/Raiders – looks productive.

* Tom Trbojevic - Manly are pushing for a top-four finish and have a pretty sweet draw – Raiders/Warriors/Tigers/Bulldogs/Sharks – and it’s very possible that ‘Turbo’ averages 100+ over that span.

WALSH SWITCH ON HOLD

Broncos coach Kevin Walters resisted the urge to move Reece Walsh to five-eighth in a last-ditch bid to save Brisbane’s season.

Walters has been forced to make key changes to his side ahead of Saturday’s must-win Queensland derby against the Cowboys in Townsville.

Prop Payne Haas (foot) has been replaced in the starting line up by Xavier Willison while five-eighth Ezra Mam (ankle) has been replaced by Josh Rodgers.

Walsh trained at fullback and five-eighth on Tuesday morning and could find himself spending more time in the front line in the Cowboys match, which the Broncos must win to keep their faint finals hopes alive.

–Travis Meyn

Reece Walsh (R) chats to halfback Adam Reynolds at training. Picture: Liam Kidston

ROUND 23 TEAMS

RABBITOHS v STORM

Thursday, 7:50pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Fletcher Myers 3. Taane Milne 4. Richard Kennar 5. Jacob Gagai 6. Jack Wighton 7. Cody Walker 8. Davvy Moale 9. Damien Cook 10. Sean Keppie 11. Cameron Murray 12. Michael Chee Kam 13. Keaon Koloamatangi

Bench: 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Thomas Burgess 17. Shaquai Mitchell

Interchange: 18. Dean Hawkins 19. Liam Le Blanc 20. Brock Gray 21. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 22. Leon Te Hau

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Grant Anderson 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Trent Loiero 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Bench: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Lazarus Vaalepu 16. Chris Lewis 17. Alec MacDonald Interchange: 18. Kane Bradley 19. Sualauvi Faalogo 20. Tepai Moeroa 21. Dean Ieremia 22. Tristan Powell

TITANS v SHARKS

Friday, 6pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Kieran Foran 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Erin Clark 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Chris Randall

Bench: 14. Isaac Liu 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Josiah Pahulu 17. Keenan Palasia

Interchange: 18. AJ Brimson 19. Tanah Boyd 20. Joe Stimson 21. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 22. Tony Francis

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Blayke Brailey 8. Royce Hunt 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jack Williams

Bench: 14. Jayden Berrell 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Thomas Hazelton

Interchange: 18. Niwhai Puru 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Billy Burns 21. Mawene Hiroti 22. Liam Ison

EELS v PANTHERS

Friday, 8pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Jake Tago 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Blaize Talagi 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Wiremu Greig 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Ryan Matterson

Interchange: 14. Joey Lussick 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Matt Doorey 17. Dan Keir

Reserves: 18. Ethan Sanders 19. Kelma Tuilagi 20. Isaac Lumelume 21. Morgan Harper 22. Makahesi Makatoa

Panthers

1. Daine Laurie 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Trent Toelau 15. Matt Eisenhuth 16. Liam Henry 17. Mavrik Geyer

Reserves: 18. Luron Patea 19. Jack Cole 20. Isaiah Iongi 21. Asu Kepaoa 22. Luke Sommerton

RAIDERS v SEA EAGLES

Saturday, 3pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies

Interchange: 14. Adam Cook 15. Trey Mooney 16. Ata Mariota 17. Simi Sasagi

Reserves: 18. Albert Hopoate 19. Danny Levi 20. Corey Horsburgh 21. Zac Woolford 22. Emre Guler

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tommy Talau 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Nathan Brown 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves: 18. Corey Waddell 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Jamie Humphreys 21. Jake Simpkin 22. Dean Matterson

COWBOYS v BRONCOS

Saturday, 5:30pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. Heilum Luki 24. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame

Reserves: 18. Jaxon Purdue 19. Jake Clifford 20. Tomas Chester 21. Semi Valemei 22. Marly Bitungane

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Joshua Rogers 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Xavier Willison 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Interchange: 14. Blake Mozer 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Tristan Sailor 17. Martin Taupau

Reserves: 18. Cory Paix 19. Benjamin Te Kura 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Corey Oates 22. Vaa Semu

DRAGONS V BULLDOGS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Netsrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth

Interchange: 14. Hame Sele 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Ryan Couchman 17. Blake Lawrie

Reserves: 18. Mathew Feagai 19. Michael Molo 20. Lyhkan King-Togia 21. Jack Bird 22. Connor Muhleisen

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Josh Curran 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann

Interchange: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Lipoi Hopoi 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Harry Hayes

Reserves: 19. Jeral Skelton 20. Jack Underhill 21. Blake Wilson 22. Poasa Faamausili 23. Drew Hutchison

DOLPHINS v WARRIORS

Sunday, 2pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Max Plath 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich

Interchange: 14. Oryn Keeley 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Sean O’Sullivan

Reserves: 18. Lachlan Hubner 19. Tesi Niu 20. Anthony Milford 21. Mason Teague 22. Trai Fuller

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Dylan Walker

Interchange: 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Tom Ale 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Leka Halasima

Reserves: 18. Te Maire Martin 20. Demitric Sifakula 21. Taine Tuaupiki 22. Moala Graham-Taufa 23. Bunty Afoa

KNIGHTS v TIGERS

Sunday, 4:05pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Dylan Lucas 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Jack Cogger 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Thomas Cant 19. Sebastian Su’a 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Will Pryce 22. Krystian Mapapalangi

Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Solomon Alaimalo 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Reuben Porter 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Isaiah Papali’i

Interchange: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Fonua Pole 17. Alex Twal

Reserves: 18. Heath Mason 19. Tim Johannssen 20. Josh Feledy 21. Declan Casey 22. Tony Sukkar

Originally published as NRL teams round 23: SuperCoach analysis, Eliesa Katoa injury adds to woes