NRL Fantasy 2021 Part 2 - Backdoor Entry

Welshy wrote:

standard-issue wrote:

Had to Google that

How are you travelling over there mate?

I'm good mate, still in a bastard lockdown because the morons who run the country didn't do their jobs at the start of the pandemic! Had no outdoor sport since before xmas as well which is effecting me more than anything in honesty, I'm working 2/3 days week and happy to be home for the rest because i'm still on 80% pay on the days I don't work.

You all good son?

Yeah, I can imagine how hard that would be knowing you, especially with your Coaching and your young fella doing so well and all. Gotta say I've been extremely lucky living in Perth, but still manage to whinge! Filth and PGC and the other Victorian lads on here have done it toughest in Oz I think.

Mighty Fishes wrote:

Welshy wrote:Will interesting to see how well RTS does in union. Outstanding player and leader, will be following him closely. Deserves the chance to represent the All Blacks

Im not that into union but ill happily watch the world cup just to see how he goes

Same here, not massive on Union, but RTS might renew my interest.

standard-issue wrote:

Yeah, I can imagine how hard that would be knowing you, especially with your Coaching and your young fella doing so well and all.  Gotta say I've been extremely lucky living in Perth, but still manage to whinge!  Filth and PGC and the other Victorian lads on here have done it toughest in Oz I think.

Yeah mate for sure, I've been good with everything else, pay more than enough all in all i'm only ever around £100 down month and working less than 50% of my hours, actually saved a bit because I'm not out every weekend! Christmas was great, but the missing sport is awful, tis' my release and without it is shit! Its our teams district year which they are missing u11s and there are no more honours until u15s over here, so its a huge thing to miss, plus they were red hot favourites to win DC Thomas cup which is held at Millenium Stadium and would of had 10/12 of the starting squad all from our team, plus my boy missing out on captaining them which would of been a fantastic achievement! Luckily 8 of our boys played up last season so they at least had district honours but its not the same as playing with your own age

Anyone else's side getting fucked up on the Android app?

I pick a team then it disappears and is mostly empty except for my interchange and emg full of people.

Honeysett wrote:Anyone else's side getting fucked up on the Android app?

I pick a team then it disappears and is mostly empty except for my interchange and emg full of people.

The app isn't ready until early February apparently.

Ponga Yeo the Mann wrote:

The first grade bubble has limited my access to the  first grade squad but we are working with cup and SG ball so see how I go

Did see something from NRL Physio saying Barry Toohey was on radio thinking Ponga misses 4-5 rounds

Though I thought Barry Toohey was supposedly getting less access this year and it could just be guesswork

Begs the question of how many games is enough to make Hoy worthwhile. I think you can completely discount the KM in first FB game (was when Pearce/Watson got injured). I would say he needs full 5 games to be worthwhile, because you either have red dot being replaced by garbage EMG WFB or you still need big cash to upgrade to gun

Camo123 wrote:

Did see something from NRL Physio saying Barry Toohey was on radio thinking Ponga misses 4-5 rounds

Though I thought Barry Toohey was supposedly getting less access this year and it could just be guesswork

Begs the question of how many games is enough to make Hoy worthwhile. I think you can completely discount the KM in first FB game (was when Pearce/Watson got injured). I would say he needs full 5 games to be worthwhile, because you either have red dot being replaced by garbage EMG WFB or you still need big cash to upgrade to gun

Happy 2021 everyone!
Sorry guys i'm gonna say Hoy is a trap, unless other injuries occur and he manages to stay in the starting line up longer.

sgdragons10 wrote:no one has mentioned cody ramsey from dragons, coaches talking him up alot. will definitely start on wing possibly start at FB, TB galore with his step

Passes the eye test but awkwardly priced. Not sure I want to spend that much on what is essentially a rookie winger

Camo123 wrote:

Did see something from NRL Physio saying Barry Toohey was on radio thinking Ponga misses 4-5 rounds

Though I thought Barry Toohey was supposedly getting less access this year and it could just be guesswork

Begs the question of how many games is enough to make Hoy worthwhile. I think you can completely discount the KM in first FB game (was when Pearce/Watson got injured). I would say he needs full 5 games to be worthwhile, because you either have red dot being replaced by garbage EMG WFB or you still need big cash to upgrade to gun

Barry Toohey’s son is one of the strength and conditioning guys and game day yellow shirts. I don’t think that has changed but no one from work are in the bubble. I can find out today but last I heard ponga was gonna miss about 2 but it can be hard to predict exactly after shoulder reco’s

I think I’ll be avoiding hoy either way. Asking to be punished IMO and with Mann and Watson around can’t see him getting as many chances this year unless it’s in the centres

No Worries wrote:People have seemed to move away from a hooker heavy team this year. Currentlu  have McInnes, Brailey & Grant but mybench sacrifices a mid range cow

I'm making sure I have a balanced squad this year, being able to comfortably cover each position, rather than staking my bench with the same position e.g. hooker

Is there any word on Billy Walters recovery?

robelgordo wrote:

Is Pangai playing edge?

i don't think so, but nothing is certain at the moment I guess. Walters did say earlier in pre season that he would use pangai at lock and believes that's where they'll get the most out of him. He wants him involved in the game as much as possible.

They've got Glenn, Riki, Oates and Palasia training on edges so I think its likely pangai is at 13. Glenn and Riki appear to be likely starters according to training reports.

Somewhat related but can't remember if its been mentioned, Terry Matterson said on TK's podcast that they'll use the starting props for around 50 to 60 mins. Macca looks most likely to start at 9 in round 1 as well.

my tv broke wrote:

i don't think so, but nothing is certain at the moment I guess. Walters did say earlier in pre season that he would use pangai at lock and believes that's where they'll get the most out of him. He wants him involved in the game as much as possible.

They've got Glenn, Riki, Oates and Palasia training on edges so I think its likely pangai is at 13. Glenn and Riki appear to be likely starters according to training reports.

Somewhat related but can't remember if its been mentioned, Terry Matterson said on TK's podcast that they'll use the starting props for around 50 to 60 mins. Macca looks most likely to start at 9 in round 1 as well.

So if TPJ is lock, starting props are Haas and Carrigan, so 50-60 minutes each is a huge drop from last season.

First draft for what it's worth:

J Brailey
McInnes(C), Gilbert, Ford
Davey, Crichton
Munster, Brooks
Roberts, Averillo
Tedesco, Turbo, Holmes

Lodge
Blore
Watson
Alvaro

Liddle
Bird
Moylan
Niu

162k ITB

Focusing on coverage and gun/cow strategy. Worried I might have too many injury prone players...

Looking at Andrew Davey’s stats he scored really well when he started and he had a good ppm coming off the bench. He looks like a good option if he gets the start. Ian also trying to fit Riki because he feels like a player everyone will have and I don’t want him to be the next lomax and miss out on him. I have; Egan, Liddle, JBrailey, Blore, Davey, Averillo and Watson on my bench and Fifita and Crichton starting at edge forward

mattnz wrote:
So if TPJ is lock, starting props are Haas and Carrigan, so 50-60 minutes each is a huge drop from last season.

Haas a certain starter but they'll need to squeeze 3 in to 2 with lodge carrigan and pangai. I've heard Lodge has been training as the starting prop but I'd also be surprised to see either of Carrigan and Pangai on the bench I guess. Personally I'd have Haas Lodge Pangai with a bench of Flegler Carrigan Asiata but time will tell.

How many guns is everyone starting with? I currently have 5 definite ones (Taumalolo, McInnes, Fifita, Munster and Kelly), three that could be (Bird, Holmes and TTurbo) and pretty much everyone else has the potential to be in that level just below

I would think that Lodge and Haas will start props and Carrigan at Lock.
Then Pangai on after 20-25 for Lodge with Carrigan into Prop?

This is my starting point which i'm sure will include a lot of common players.
J. Brailey
Taumalolo, McInnes, Crichton
Davey, Riki
Brookes, Munster
Averillo, Timoko
Holmes, RTS, Turbo

Liddle
Ford
CHN
Lam

Watson, Blore, Niu, Moylan

Brailey and Liddle - 80 min hookers?
Davey, Riki, Ford, CHN, Blore - potential big minutes on an edge
Brookes - no Benji, seems way under priced
Watson - big minutes off the bench?
Timoko - depends how long Croker out for
Moylan - training the house down

Feels one gun short, but maybe 5 guns is about standard (Taumalolo, McInnes, Crichton, Munster, RTS)

I'll try my best not to make any draft teams until TLT but is Haas another automatic pick again this year.

He was certainly worth the price tag last year but is there any like rumblings that Walters might want to reduce his minutes. Actually he'd probably score just as well if not better with a 20 minute rest so maybe he's just a no-brainer Day 1 pick.