Team Talk with Marcho: Rd 6
Welcome to team talk for Round 6.
Round 5 saw plenty of injuries, upsets and its fair share of controversy, but I would like to start with a proposition for next season.
A Triple Workhorse
Where a forward would need 70 or 75 involvements and receive 10 points. Elijah Taylor only got four points on the weekend and made a phenomenal 67 tackles!
Maybe scrap the metres once a players makes 70?
Shaun Fensom managed a double workhorse with 75 involvements, why not reward these freakish performances with more points I say.
Brisbane v Sydney Roosters
Moving on now to the first Friday night game with the Broncos at home taking on the Roosters. Sam Thaiday has been moved to prop, which would excite all who own him as he is only listed in the backrow this year. Jarrod Wallace is back onto the bench. Justin Hodges could be a late inclusion.
The Roosters have lost Aidan Guerra for 6 weeks and have a ready made replacement in Mitch Aubusson, if he is still available pick him up! Matt Mcllwrick may have also just become fantasy relevant, as he could see more minutes this week at hooker. But if Jake Friend returns early then his season is probably over.
Newcastle v Cronulla
The Sharks team is largely the same as the one that beat the Roosters last weekend. Andrew Fifita returns to the starting lineup, while Matt Prior drops back. I will be interested to see where Ben Barba plays when he gets on the field as he has gone back to the bench. Tinirau Arona is the 18th man.
The Knights will be happy just to get on the scoreboard after being held to zero last week. I do see this game producing many a workhorse, so if you have Knights or Sharks forwards put them straight into your start team. Beau Scott has been sidelined with an ankle injury for the next two weeks. Korbin Sims returns from suspension. The last time Chris Houston started in the backrow he just missed out on a double WH, I expect he could go close again this weekend.
Parramatta v Gold Coast
Reece Robinson returns for the eels, pushing Manu Ma’u back into the forwards. David Gower is back to the bench and Peni Terepo is again 18th man. It’s always worth starting your Eels back when they at Pirtek Stadium.
The Titans take the same 17 down to Sydney for this clash. Dave Taylor is back into the starting side with Eddy Pettybourne on the bench.
New Zealand v West Tigers
I still don’t know how Jonathan Wright keeps getting selected, on his day he can be average, but that’s as good as it gets! Tuimoala Lolohea needs one more game to gain a fullback spot. But the biggest news on Wednesday was the Warriors signing of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for 2015. Sam Tomkins was looking good in the NRL but this is a major concern for Tomkins owners, will his mind still be on the job at task? This news means the Warriors won’t be making the finals.
The Tigers remain unchanged from round 5. Keith Galloway has been allergic to WH’s for most of his career but this year he has already notched 2 and is averaging 40 involvements for the season, worth a punt If you need a prop. Curtis Sironen looked great with ball in hand, even managing a rare WH as well.
Penrith v Manly
It is even worth running through the changes Ivan Cleary makes each week? He loves tinkering with his lineup, and it hasn’t been working! Dean Whare is out with a hamstring injury, Jamal Idris moves back to centre. Waqa Blake is the next big thing, he is being compared to Greg Inglis or Israel Folou and I’m jumping on the bandwagon! Sika Manu slots in to the backrow and Apasai Koroisau has been named at 5/8 but as I said before I have my doubts over what Ivan Cleary will name on Saturday night.
After being belted by the Raiders, the Sea Eagles need some than just Willie Mason to make more than 100 metres if they want to compete this weekend! Both Trbojevic brothers have looked good so far this year. Surely Steve Matai or Jamie Lyon will play this weekend.
Melbourne v Canberra
Jordan Rapana is serving a one match ban, so in comes Jeremy Hawkins to the wing. Which is the only change to the Raiders team. Shuan Fensom will again be looking to make 50+ tackles against an always direct storm forward pack.
Billy Slater has been named but scans have shown he has a shoulder problem, meaning he will miss a month of action. Cameron Munster and Ben Hampton seem the most likely options to fill in at the back. However that is a guess and Craig Bellamy could bring in Matt Duffie or Young Tonumaipea. Mahe Fonua looks to have locked down a wing spot after a great performance against the Warriors last weekend.
St George Illawarra v Canterbury
The Dragons deserve to be favorites in this game having conceded only four points in their past two games! Meaning Dragons forwards are becoming very valuable. Skipper Ben Creagh is only a week or two from coming back to further strengthen a small yet mobile forward pack. Paul McGregor is making the most of what he has got so far this year.
Despite losing James Graham, Sam Kasiano and David Klemmer the dogs still have a good forward pack. Tim Browne is the new starting prop. Lloyd Perrett and Antonio Kaufusi join the bench. Brett Morris and Tim Lafai are both expected to miss 2-3 months. Moses Mbye finds himself playing centre and Corey Thompson in the new winger with Sam Perrett moving to fullback.
South Sydney v North Queensland
The Cowboys are starting to look like the team we all thought they were capable of being. Are they good enough to take down the reigning champs, the Rabbitohs?
The entire Cowboys pack could even score a WH in this game if the Rabbitohs pack run riot.
Will Marchinton
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souths vs cowboys… way to write heaps of useful information there mate…
Sorry Marcho but disagree with the 3xWH at 70 involvements without consideration of metres UNLESS there is a greater consideration of metres for forwards who are incredibly destructive in gaining metres but not tackling as much (think Jason Taumololo)…. He has been outstanding this year but has 0 points in CEO so far. He ran 240-odd metres the other day!
P.S. Here’s hoping Houston does get a DWH!