NRL Fantasy 2020 Part 90 - Tumbleweed edition

Teddy re-signed with the Rorters til end of 2024, 1.1mil a season I think was reported.

mattnz wrote:Brandon Smith is open to offers https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/12/07/storm-let-brandon-smith-explore-options-for-2022/

Would love to see him end up at the Warriors.

Matt Manukia (TVNZ) tweeted:
I was told Brandon had this conversation with Craig Bellamy last week. I’m told he won’t be looking at the Warriors and that the Titans, Tigers, Bulldogs and Manly could be likely destinations.


As previously stated, the Warriors have a full 30 squad already this year - and with their recent signings, it seems unlikely.

Possibly one of the great cap workarounds (from yesterday);
Tigers assistant coach Brett Hodgson had earlier left to take up the Head Coach job at Hull FC, and has now delivered Tigers fans an early Christmas present by signing Josh Reynolds from 2021. Reported to free up $500K in cap space.

Channel 9 now reports the Tigers may snap up Gareth Widdop, who wants to move back to Australia.
Widdop played with the Storm and Dragons before heading overseas two years ago, and recent reports suggest he is willing to accept only $300,000 to get another NRL contract.

PNG Hunters also report that fullback Edene Gabbie has signed a development contract with NRL club West Tigers for 2021.

easytiger wrote:

Matt Manukia (TVNZ) tweeted:
I was told Brandon had this conversation with Craig Bellamy last week. I’m told he won’t be looking at the Warriors and that the Titans, Tigers, Bulldogs and Manly could be likely destinations.


As previously stated, the Warriors have a full 30 squad already this year - and with their recent signings, it seems unlikely.

He isn't available until 2022, not for this coming season

Indigenous vs Maori All-Star game in Townsville next year. This will be great for the community as we have a very large population of each culture in this city and it'll be amazing to see what the community does leading up to the event. I haven't been to the new stadium yet so I will definitely be there!

Kurt Capewell has been involved in a gay porn video that was taken 7 years ago. Someone tried to sell the images so he's reported it to the police.

Started off as a photo shoot and progressed further.

https://www.broncos.com.au/news/2020/12/10/walters-its-their-time/

Long way to go til Round 1 but it sounds like Isaako will have first crack at fullback. Ended the year on 337k so a good candidate for that 3rd wfb spot..

Not super relevant to fantasy, but he also mentions Oates is in the forwards this year. (i am thinking Riki and Glenn probably starting on the edges)

https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2020/12/10/hola-on-transitioning-to-new-position/

Peter Hola says that Payten wants him on an edge this season. The way he words it, sounds like a pretty good chance to start in round 1, and if so, another cheapie that everyone will have

Broncos sign John Asiata.
Kevin Walters already talking up how he should help bring leadership & experience to the forward pack.

I wondered for a moment if that means a more minutes upside (average 31MPG last year), but TBH he will be priced at a low 20's average, and seems to average in the 20's regardless of minutes...

Still, good for the Broncos to get some more experience in there

my tv broke wrote:https://www.broncos.com.au/news/2020/12/10/walters-its-their-time/

Long way to go til Round 1 but it sounds like Isaako will have first crack at fullback. Ended the year on 337k so a good candidate for that 3rd wfb spot..

Not super relevant to fantasy, but he also mentions Oates is in the forwards this year. (i am thinking Riki and Glenn probably starting on the edges)

His 2020 average was about the same as his 2019 average. If you assume he'll stay at fullback all year, rather than get bumped to the wing again - his FB scores are only super tempting because he killed it in round 1

He'll likely be cheap enough to be more tempting than everyone else at his price though, so he'll be in everyone's draft teams at least. And surely the Broncos improve next year. They can't really get any worse.

Milchcow wrote:

His 2020 average was about the same as his 2019 average. If you assume he'll stay at fullback all year, rather than get bumped to the wing again - his FB scores are only super tempting because he killed it in round 1

He'll likely be cheap enough to be more tempting than everyone else at his price though, so he'll be in everyone's draft teams at least. And surely the Broncos improve next year. They can't really get any worse.

They could stay the same...

MORE RULE CHANGES 2021

The changes are (with my hot takes~!):

- the introduction of a two-point field goal for kicks taken from more than 40 metres out;
Almost irrelevant, although I love a field goal, it’s my secret shame. Might indirectly make penalty goals more valuable too. Then again...

- six-again to be called for 10-metre infringements;
... not going to be many penalty situations left at this rate

- penalties for teams if they leave a scrum before a referee calls "break";
Seems like the kinda thing that will be enforced for about 6 rounds then forgotten. Like playing the ball correctly or square markers

- a play-the-ball restart if the ball or player with the ball goes over the sideline;
Just remove scrums altogether already.

- The Bunker will now review replays after an on-field referee awards a try but a conversion attempt will not be allowed until it gets the green light;
I’m confused what the change actually is off the top of my head

- injured players will be interchanged if a trainer ask for play to be stopped;
Good in the sense that the Storm innovated tactical stoppages last season but hopefully doesn’t go the other way where trainers don’t request play to stop when it should.

- when a captain's challenge is inconclusive a team will not be docked for an unsuccessful attempt;
Captains challenges are a mess, I don’t think they add much value and would scrap them TBH. But like golden point it’s here to stay

- and a handover will be ordered when a player does not make a genuine attempt to play the ball correctly with their foot.
Hahaha this is not happening much. Another that will be forgotten after 6 weeks. I guess it replaces being penalized? So like the six again but for the defensive team.

Also Peni Terepo retiring due to epilepsy

1. Field Goal rule is meh. Like the 20/40 I doubt we see it much.

2. I like the 6 again for offside however they need to bring in a rule with 3 in a row and it's a sin bin.

3. If they repack the scrum and then break early again it's a sin bin, I don't like that.

4. Yeah I don't mind that, speeds the game up.

5. This means that the on field ref will back himself to make a decision and the Bunker will review it which is going to cause more controversy however I do like it. The NRL crisis merchant media will destroy it though.

6. They're off the field for 2 minutes minimum and then back on if it's minor, which is junk.

7. I like this, they shouldn't lose the captains challenge on grey areas.

8. Again who the fuck cares if they play it with their foot. I can honestly say I really don't care if they just step over the ball, it's the same thing.

I hate the Bunker reviewing of try while conversion is occurring

Just look at the mess that happened in R20 when they trialled the rule with HTF no-try from 90m out with offside. They thought they scored and then massive let down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f4RsV-wj1E

Speeding the game up more might make injuries still pretty bad even though there was influence this year from COVID break and individual training

Milchcow wrote:

His 2020 average was about the same as his 2019 average. If you assume he'll stay at fullback all year, rather than get bumped to the wing again - his FB scores are only super tempting because he killed it in round 1

He'll likely be cheap enough to be more tempting than everyone else at his price though, so he'll be in everyone's draft teams at least. And surely the Broncos improve next year. They can't really get any worse.

They have the toughest draw of any team. They don't play a single team that finished below them.

So if more than 1 player breaks early from the scrum who decides which one goes to the bin ?

The bunker are reviewing every try now, is that the rule ? They make it sound like if the ref awards a try and the bunker says no try the try still stands you just dont get a conversion attempt.

robelgordo wrote:Also Peni Terepo retiring due to epilepsy

That's definitely a sad one. I thought in 2018 he had a bit of a breakout year and looked like he could become one of the premium middle forwards in the NRL.
I was surprised he seemed to go off the boil after that.

The video is worth watching:
https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2020/12/10/peni-terepo-on-retirement-epilepsy-and-life-after-footy/

It's also a testament to some of the good things clubs help players with outside of footy (even dirtbag clubs like the Eels - yes I'm still a bit bitter about Matterson, Moses & Utoikamanu)

MORE RULE CHANGES 2021

- penalties for teams if they leave a scrum before a referee calls "break";
- and a handover will be ordered when a player does not make a genuine attempt to play the ball correctly with their foot.

These aren't so much rule changes, as indicating that they might enforce an existing rule that has been ignored

- injured players will be interchanged if a trainer ask for play to be stopped;
Watch for every injured player to sudden'y require an HIA
We already have seen some teams use "HIA" subs for leg/shoulder injuries. This will only get worse if more injuries require a sub be made.


I still don't understand why Rugby League feels the need to change so many rules so often.
The 2 point field goal for example. Nobody was asking for it. There is no current problem with the game it is trying to solve. Its just tweaking for the sake of it.