NRLFF 2006 Fantasy thread - Round 25+26 - Championship time

I originally got in Fitz, Parker and a cashout.

But for the POD H2H, I traded out too-pop players Hindy, Hayne and CS9 and bought in... Josh Córdoba, Charlie Tonga, and Craig Trindall.

I went:
Smith - GOAT
Morris - in form and to cover potential match ups in H2H in case he kills it. Never rated him particularly in fantasy, but learnt my lesson last week with missing a good cover trade.

Payne - POD. Great scores the last couple of weeks, good base and capable of big scores (has a hundy already this season). A bit of a risk playing in the halves R25, but back to HOK for R26 and no HOK cover on the bench for a change. If I'm lucky enough to edge WL in R25, then could be a nice POD

That's got to be one of the worst penalties I've ever seen. Burns must have been livid.

easytiger wrote:I went:
Smith - GOAT
Morris - in form and to cover potential match ups in H2H in case he kills it. Never rated him particularly in fantasy, but learnt my lesson last week with missing a good cover trade.

Payne - POD. Great scores the last couple of weeks, good base and capable of big scores (has a hundy already this season). A bit of a risk playing in the halves R25, but back to HOK for R26 and no HOK cover on the bench for a change. If I'm lucky enough to edge WL in R25, then could be a nice POD

I looked at Payne hard mate almost pulled trigger over Dallas. Was between him and Young

Welshy wrote:

Dallas run of recent scores pushed me towards him, worried about the Bellamy effect with Smith and Inglis also but worth the risk

I got Ryan because Clack had him and used the trade as a potential big score blocker. I did have to sell Gasnier to fund the 3 trades because i was well short, so that could really fuck me

Which way did you go mate?

Fair call on Ryan. It's tough keeping an eye on R26 potential match ups, but you can't ignore R25 as Clack and WL are good enough to spoil.

Fingers crossed, I'd like to finish this thing with a final 1v2 overall match up. Hope it's not like the RWC and for 3rd place honours!

easytiger wrote:I went:
Smith - GOAT
Morris - in form and to cover potential match ups in H2H in case he kills it. Never rated him particularly in fantasy, but learnt my lesson last week with missing a good cover trade.

Payne - POD. Great scores the last couple of weeks, good base and capable of big scores (has a hundy already this season). A bit of a risk playing in the halves R25, but back to HOK for R26 and no HOK cover on the bench for a change. If I'm lucky enough to edge WL in R25, then could be a nice POD

I had a look at Aaron Payne but he's playing halfback in round 25 and due to a significantly lower tackle count, he averages 22 at halfback as opposed to 48 when he's starting hooker.

Welshy wrote:

I looked at Payne hard mate almost pulled trigger over Dallas. Was between him and Young

Nice. I always thought Dallas would come good. I'd certainly rather him then a few others in my team (SBW back at CTR, Hoffmans 29's etc).
Young would've been in my team a while back if it weren't for Gorrell. Think he wasn't named for R26, otherwise probably would've gone for him.

Melbourne 22 (R. Hoffman, G. Inglis, D. Johnson, M. King tries; C. Smith 3 goals) defeated Canberra 18 (A. Tongue 2, L. Withers tries; C. Schifcofske 3 goals)

easytiger wrote:

Fair call on Ryan. It's tough keeping an eye on R26 potential match ups, but you can't ignore R25 as Clack and WL are good enough to spoil.

Fingers crossed, I'd like to finish this thing with a final 1v2 overall match up.  Hope it's not like the RWC and for 3rd place honours!

Rarely works out as a 1v2 in these sorts of fromats mate, 4 good teams left, anyone can take it out!

St George Illawarra 18 (M. Cooper, B. Morris, D. Young tries; W. Naiqama 2, A. Gorrell goals) defeated Cronulla 4 (P. Gallen try)

Milchcow wrote:
Melbourne 22 (R. Hoffman, G. Inglis, D. Johnson, M. King tries; C. Smith 3 goals) defeated Canberra 18 (A. Tongue 2, L. Withers tries; C. Schifcofske 3 goals)

Iiiittttsss Tiiiimmmeeee

Tongue been my favourite player in this game

Fucking hero

Warriors 42 (J. Ropati 4, P. Ah Van 2, E. Lauaki, R. Wiki tries; L. Hohaia 5 goals) defeated Sydney 16 (S. Perrett, A. Roberts, I. Soliola tries; C. Fitzgibbon 2 goals)

Burns defence reminding me why I loved watching him play so much.

For those who haven't been around the Sportal/NRLFF world too long or don't remember, there was a guy on here known as Boston Rob who LOVED his betting. One weekend he had a multi ending in Penrith winning 1-12. Every other leg had got up.

Panthers were ahead by 12 as the siren went and he was ecstatic. However it turned out the Panthers had got a penalty about 40m out near the sideline. 99% of teams/players would've just kicked it out and ended the game but Travis Burns stepped up and absolutely drilled it.

Needless to say Boston lost his shit and forever hated Burns after that. It was hilarious

North Queensland 34 (J. Smith 2, M. Bowen, D. Faiumu, L. O'Donnell, A. Payne tries; A. Graham 5 goals) defeated South Sydney 12 (P. Mellor, N. Merritt tries; J. Williams 2 goals)

Brisbane 23 (J. Hodges, S. Michaels, C. Parker, B. Thorn tries; D. Lockyer 2, C. Parker goals; D. Lockyer field goal) defeated Parramatta 0

filthridden wrote:

I had a look at Aaron Payne but he's playing halfback in round 25 and due to a significantly lower tackle count, he averages 22 at halfback as opposed to 48 when he's starting hooker.

Yeah, his tackle count was down by half, but seemed particularly low (like teens). I wonder if he was getting spelled with bench cover, whereas all forwards for R25.
R25 I'm hoping he scrapes a decent 30 something, and R26 he goes big.
I deliberately kept Johns so as to only play one HLF, and play a 5 man bench, so 6 2RF' and 3 HOKs all up.
The other HOK I seriously considered was Gatis, but with Fien on bench in R25 felt more risky than Payne at HLF.
No Fien for R26 though, but Payne I have some memory of, whereas I don't recall Gatis as a player

Newcastle vs Penrith

Available on youtube for those who want to watch it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2JNiwm7A6g

Spoiler:

reserved for manly vs dogs results - at full time of the game

Welshy wrote:

Iiiittttsss Tiiiimmmeeee

Tongue been my favourite player in this game

Fucking hero

I expected the tackles but the tries! This must be his best attacking season.