NRL $5,000+ Eels v Bulldogs Line-Up

Thursday night starts off the round with a contest between the 8th placed Eels and 13th placed Bulldogs. The Eels have been red-hot lately and have won three of their last four games, but the Bulldogs have enough star power to spring an upset.

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Here is a team you may consider for the NRL $5,000+ Eels v Bulldogs competition

Front Row Forward

Nathan Brown ($12,250)

Brown is more than just a dirty player these days, he’s now become one of the most effective forwards in the competition. Since moving into the starting lineup in round five, Brown has averaged 56 Draftstars points (excluding his injured round 11 score). This has largely come from his dominant ball-running – which has seen him clock up as many as 200 metres in a given week – and his ability to offload the ball and keep the possession alive. He is currently fourth in the league in offloads amongst forwards and against a Dogs team that is missing James Graham, Brown will be tough to stop.

David Klemmer ($10,850)

Klemmer was dominant in Origin II, managing to run 174 metres from his 16 runs and giving the Blues some much needed thrust in attack. He’ll be asked to play the same role for the Dogs and will have some added responsibility over the next few weeks after news that James Graham will be out a month. This should give Klemmer a couple of extra runs per game to clock up those metres and break the occasional tackle. Defensively, he’s always fairly solid and usually makes around 25 tackles per game. Combine this with his ability to eat massive metres and he is an absolute bargain at under $11k.

Hooker

Cameron King ($6,400)

With Isaac De Gois still sidelined and Kaysa Pritchard now out for the season, Cameron King will be asked to make his long awaited return to first grade. King has struggled with multiple injuries that has led to a stop-start NRL career, but despite his last starting opportunity coming in 2013 at the Dragons, he will be ready to play a key role immediately. This is because he’s been playing consistently well in reserve grade for the last year or so, and he is experienced enough to step straight into the line-up. His ball playing ability is probably slightly better than Pritchard’s, which might add another element to their attack.

Second Row Forward

Josh Jackson ($12,900)

After controversially winning man of the match in Origin II, Jackson returned to the NRL against the Warriors last week full of confidence and played well against the Warriors. He missed ten minutes due to being sin-binned, but still managed to make 39 tackles on defence while running 102 metres and throwing three offloads. He’s one of the most reliable back-rowers in the competition and he will be required to do even more with Graham and Greg Eastwood out. He will eat-metres, make tackles, break tackles and offload the ball and considering he’s only the fourth most expensive second-rower in this contest, he’s a great choice.

Adam Elliott ($11,000)

Elliott has flown under the radar for the Bulldogs this season, but has been good for them in the back-row this season. He never leaves anything in the tank and does a lot of the dirty work for the Dogs, including making repeat efforts on defence. He has started eight games in the second-row since his first start in round seven and has averaged 42.9 Draftstars points in that time thanks largely to some heavy minute performances. With Greg Eastwood out, he will be asked to play big minutes again and should end up with a great score.

Centre

Chase Stanley ($8,450)

It’s great to see Stanley back in the NRL after an injury interrupted eleven years and his first two games back have been solid. Last week he ended up with a line break assist, three tackle breaks and an offload in a decent attacking return, while in his first game he ran 82 metres and made 14 tackles without missing any. The Eels have conceded the fourth most points in the league this season and have been vulnerable out wide. Stanley has the ability to take advantage.

Half

Corey Norman ($13,900)

Norman will be looking to prove himself as a viable replacement for Jonathan Thurston on Thursday night in his last opportunity to do so before Kevin Walters names the Queensland team. There’s nothing Norman loves more than making slow players look silly and given the Dogs aren’t exactly the quickest team going around, he is every chance to have a field day on Thursday. His ability to create attacking opportunities through both his running and kicking game is impressive, while he has the speed and footwork to go himself as well. He’s the best half available in this contest and if the Eels win, he will play a massive role.

Wing/Fullback

Clinton Gutherson ($14,400)

Gutherson has turned himself into one of the most phenomenal attacking players in the competition this season. He’s been so good that he’s forced Bevan French – the equal-third leading try-scorer in the competition last season – out of his favoured fullback position and on to a wing. Gutherson currently sits second in the league in points scored and line breaks, which shows just how damaging his running game is. Last round he ended up with two tries, six tackle breaks and a line break, so he’s clearly in brilliant form as well.

Marcelo Montoya ($8,400)

The Eels have struggled to defend out wide this season, especially the right edge of Montoya, which is defended by Semi Radradra. Montoya has been great for the Dogs both in the air and on the ground and has gained confidence in the last couple of weeks. He’s been asked to do some more ball running and has handled it with aplomb, making 293 metres and nine tackle breaks in the last two weeks combined. He’s a big chance to find himself on the end of a pass after an Eels’ defensive breakdown and find the line in this contest.

The Line Up

FR-F: Nathan Brown ($12,250)

FR-F: David Klemmer ($10,850)

HOOK: Cameron King ($6,400)

2R-F: Josh Jackson ($12,900)

2R-F: Adam Elliott ($11,000)

C: Chase Stanley ($8,450)

HALF: Corey Norman ($13,900)

W/FB: Clinton Gutherson ($14,400)

W/FB: Marcelo Montoya ($8,400)

Salary Remaining: $1,450