2016 NRL.com Fantasy thread part 4

Anyone want to take a guess at the Dragons pack, and the minutes they will play?

SoylentGreen wrote:

Well you know he'll leave everything out on the pitch - but might find himself caught short back in the NRL

Oh he'll be relieved to be back on the field. Picked the right team if he likes being behind.

Honestly, I think Packer might not even be in the first 17 to start the year - let's say JDB is lock with Frizell and Thompson the edge back rowers, Cooper and Creagh the props and Ah Mau playing big minutes off the bench, that leaves Matthews, Lui, Masoe, Packer and maybe Marketo fighting it out for the other three spots.

Unlike the other guys, Packer is a pure prop, so they'll use him if they decide they need the size up front, but I think with reduced interchange and hot conditions in the opening rounds they might go for players with more endurance.

I wouldn't completely discount Ikahihifo from the Dragons line-up either.

Big Nick wrote:Honestly, I think Packer might not even be in the first 17 to start the year - let's say JDB is lock with Frizell and Thompson the edge back rowers, Cooper and Creagh the props and Ah Mau playing big minutes off the bench, that leaves Matthews, Lui, Masoe, Packer and maybe Marketo fighting it out for the other three spots.

Unlike the other guys, Packer is a pure prop, so they'll use him if they decide they need the size up front, but I think with reduced interchange and hot conditions in the opening rounds they might go for players with more endurance.

I think ah Mau would be starting. Personally I see it like this..

M. Cooper - L. ah Mau
J. Thompson - J. de Belin - T. Frizell

B. Creagh - W. Matthews - T. McCarthy - Masoe/Lui/Packer/Ikahihifo/Marketo

They have so many forwards.

Is Frizell not out for the start of the year?

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Also @ Honeysett, and @Welshy and everyone else picking JDB/Cooper

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/dragons/st-george-illawarra-dragons-second-rower-tyson-frizell-in-doubt-for-opening-nrl-game-after-back-surgery/news-story/be1e96c68d0d0c0c867f21b4e3d5ce5d

Frizell had back surgery and in doubt for round one, and if he does play will probably be eased back meaning bigger workload for others

Honeysett wrote:

Oh he'll be relieved to be back on the field. Picked the right team if he likes being behind.

What you meant to say is he likes to relieve himself on the field.

Thoughts on a player I haven't seen mentioned yet - Nene MacDonald

Pros - Averaged 35 at CTR but priced at 30; DPP; only decent player in Titans backline so could see more work/points without Roberts.

Cons - Other value players in his positions; poor byes; plays for Titans

Enough to put him on the watchlist?

rhinoceroo wrote:I wouldn't completely discount Ikahihifo from the Dragons line-up either.

Sorry bud but I for the life of can't understand how Ikahihifo manages to play 1st grade. He is slow, doesn't hit the ball on the burst re hitups & gives away silly penalties in the ruck. I don't rate him at all & how he picked up a contract at the Dragons is beyond me.

SoylentGreen wrote:

Well you know he'll leave everything out on the pitch - but might find himself caught short back in the NRL

White Lightning wrote:

Sorry bud but I for the life of can't understand how Ikahihifo manages to play 1st grade. He is slow, doesn't hit the ball on the burst re hitups & gives away silly penalties in the ruck. I don't rate him at all & how he picked up a contract at the Dragons is beyond me.

Well sounds like you've seen him more than me...saw things on a Dragons forum that suggested he'd make their 17 with Friz out but they have a heap of those fringe forwards Packer/Masoe/Mathews/McCarthy/Marketo.

@ Andy V. I've joined your league. Cheers.

Thoughts on Kurt Mann and Valentine Holmes?

Klemhammer wrote:Thoughts on Kurt Mann and Valentine Holmes?

Both are in contention for my team.
I will be watching them trial closely.
Team list Wednesday also plays a part.

Sashamaloo wrote:
Both are in contention for my team.
I will be watching them trial closely.
Team list Wednesday also plays a part.

So its TLW this year?

rhinoceroo wrote:Thoughts on a player I haven't seen mentioned yet - Nene MacDonald

Pros - Averaged 35 at CTR but priced at 30; DPP; only decent player in Titans backline so could see more work/points without Roberts.

Cons - Other value players in his positions; poor byes; plays for Titans

Enough to put him on the watchlist?

Doesn't matter what he averaged I'm not paying 270k for a centre from the Titans

BJ Leilua intrigues me, but probably just out of reach price wise being more expensive than Hurrell and Lafai so a more riskier proposition, Expecting some good things from the Raiders this year and on his day he is a damaging ball runner

Klemhammer wrote:Thoughts on Kurt Mann and Valentine Holmes?

Mann is in my team atm as it seems he'll be playing fb. If Holmes gets named at fb for round 1 he'll be in my team as well. This would allow me to upgrade Peats to Macca as my 2nd hooker.

With the Titans back row looking like Taia, McQueen & Bird I'm thinking Taia & McQueen will play 80 with Bird getting a rest. I can see the Titans doing a lot of defence so both Taia & McQueen could get good tackle counts with 40+ tackles easily a game. With McQueen being 52k cheaper he could be a great pod. Thoughts.