2016 NRL.com Fantasy thread part 4

im pretty sure i had taia a few years ago and he was a massive PITA

Bren wrote:
I will gladly be proven wrong but on all stats / team lists etc I have seen say Jamie Lyon. Am I missing something or is this an inside joke I missed?

haha all good Bren, just having a joke. still surprised people get his name wrong - spelling hodkinson, fafita, farah etc wrong is one thing, but plenty of people seem to think his name is actually lyons, including some media types.

jstands wrote:I'm reposting this because I was totally ignored!

I've managed to put this '2 gun halves' team together. What do we think?

Smith, Lichaa
Woods, Ah'Mau, RCG (cheapie)
Surgess, Rochow, Sue, Tapine (cheapie, cheapie)
DCE, Sezer, Hastings (Taylor)
Copley, Auva'a (Gutherson, cheapie)
Mansour, Gordon/Fergie, Mann (cheapie, cheapie)

I like the pick of RCG have toyed with it myself. Sezer will lose goal kicking at the Raiders and I am not sure about Copley and Mann but otherwise nice team.

Sezer will surely be doing the bulk of kicking during the game? Austin is more of the traditional running five-eighth

Remember the days when Albert Kelly was at the Titans and Sezer was kicking like 600m a game?

multiple.scoregasms wrote:

Draft I was playing around with

Seggy, Niko
Fifita, Woods, Lawrence, Hala
Surgess, T-Rex, Taumalolo, Henry, Chee Kam, Nuffie
DCE, Maloney, Hastings, Barba
Lawrence, Hurrell, Copley, Auva'a
Inglis, Mansour, Gordon, Gutherson, Nuffie

Always happy to help you out MS.

HOK: I'm assuming the Niko choice is a VERY flexible one. While I advocate having him in your team I would be running him as a 4th HLF rather than your second rake. Lets say he only plays 4-6 weeks and then is dropped to the bench as a utility when Pearce for brains returns. I'll give him 80k over that 4-6 weeks (and that may be being generous). Now, unless you have a fair bit of coin up your sleeve, that 80k price rise will only bring Niko up to 210k in value meaning a big jump to a hooker worth having (or multiple trades to get that cash). However, if you play him as a 4th half then you can simply downgrade him to a nuffie or potentially a new cow (think Te Maire Martin) and you haven't lost out.

FRF: I really like the Fifi pick. I know early in the season a lot of people are gun shy on him and he's a pretty polarizing character but I think there are two things that really stand out for me regarding him this year. Firstly, obvs his number of selections. Secondly, and what I think is the real reason I'm interested in him, is he is still angry about the hoo haa that was made regarding little brother and himself last year. I know he still played following that suspension but I just feel he may be ready to let his game, rather than his attitude, do some talking. Not sold on Lawrence tho. He is still under contract until 2017 and until someone puts some fire under his arse or some pressure on his spot he is over priced for mine.

2RF: I've spoken about Benry previously and Surgess is Surgess. I like the Taumalolo pick. Think both he and Papa could be in for big years. Not loving T-Rex the toothless dinosaur tho. He is almost as big a risk as Kyle Turner and for that money I'd be more likely to shift Lawrence to my second row, Gutherson to centre and then look at C Mata'utia for a quick grab maybe.

HLF: Barba? Just can't see it. Sure he is priced low but not basement low and if he doesn't play that's 50k you could use elsewhere. Maloney is a good choice (Bird can't kick his way outta a wet paper bag) and DCE is a great choice. Downgrade Barba to a nuffie for mine.

CTR: Probably stronger than most 3/4 lines with Hurrell in there. It's a risk but I like it. Final make up will depend on what you decide to do with T-Rex I would say but even if you do move Lawrence it's still a decent line.

WFB: Probably the first I've seen with Inglis. I read somewhere the other day that he is looking to finalize his (next) contract. Seems a bit ahead of himself and we've seen in the past that these things sometimes seem like an off field distraction for him so lets hope that isn't the case. I really rate him and he can be a game changer (likes to destroy my Broncs all willy nilly) but I'm not sure I'd take that gamble. Could pay off in a big way though. Mansour and Gordon I spoke about in my last breakdown.

Hope that helps mate.

User Name wrote:

I like the pick of RCG have toyed with it myself. Sezer will lose goal kicking at the Raiders and I am not sure about Copley and Mann but otherwise nice team.

I'm not totally comfortable with Mann either, but if Dugan does play centres as rumoured then I think Mann will be locked in at fullback.

And regarding my centres I don't mind going cheap to start the year. Get me near 25 points each and I should be okay

jstands wrote:Sezer will surely be doing the bulk of kicking during the game? Austin is more of the traditional running five-eighth

Remember the days when Albert Kelly was at the Titans and Sezer was kicking like 600m a game?

Yeah he did the bulk of the kicking last season as well. I am not suggesting he will lose money and I think he will only get better. I was just pointing out he will need to make up the goal kicking points.

User Name wrote:

Yeah he did the bulk of the kicking last season as well. I am not suggesting he will lose money and I think he will only get better. I was just pointing out he will need to make up the goal kicking points.

Yeah that's fair enough.
All we need is for him to stay fit now

jstands wrote:

Yeah that's fair enough.
All we need is for him to stay fit now

That was his biggest problem. I think the Raiders will be good for him. He had a lot of pressure at the Titans and playing with Austin will take some of that off him and I think he will flourish.

SoylentGreen wrote:

SI wrote:
Yeah, that's right, but also a prime example of how they can recur.  My concern is him doing it again, not necessarily how he comes back form wise.

Pretty sure that was his first ACL - he'd done his shoulder previously and missed a bunch of games with osteitis pubis but I don't think he'd done a knee

Looks like you are right mate.  Either way, knees are knees and whilst I will probably have him as an NPR, there is no way I could have him as a 3rd WFB.

User Name wrote:Taia, LAM and Lawrence seem to be the spots that keep changing in my team. Taking a risk on Feldt as I do not think Slater and Mann will increase too much.

Seggy  Lichaa
Surgess  Graham  Lawrence
Parker  Rochow  Taia  LAM
DCE  Hastings  Taylor
Ferguson  Auva'a  Gutherson
Mansour  Gordon  Feldt

Cartwright comes in and out of my team and as some have said if he is named I will probably have him. Taia will get 80 mins so hoping he can get 45+.

I lolled at the LAM comment from someone just before. I have him in my side at the moment but as with you User, I'm not sold on it. May just go Elliot Whitehead for a massive gamble and hope that he becomes the next Sia Soliola.

As for your team...

HOK: Seggy could be great but as i said before, not personally sold. I think Milchy made reference to Lichaa being solid but he is sitting around about his ceiling already so don't expect a whole lot of movement from him.

FRF: I have Graham and will hope that he doesn't have another brain fart and hopefully hold him for the year. Surgess will come good but I don't expect him to come out of the blocks like Usain Bolt. As stated earlier, no love lost for Lawrence IMO, just seems lazy and I can't justify the price for the performance.

2RF: PARKER! Yes, I'm biased but honestly, I can't have a team without him in it and with the Broncs bye schedule this year I will hold him all year. Rochow is the interesting one here. He could potentially go great guns and has a good work ethic but I'm just concerned about the minutes and potential rotations at the Knights. If team lists name a utility on the bench then I'd grab him as I think he'll play some length. Unfortuantely, I have to disagree regarding Taia. I don't see him getting 80. And first year back in the NRL is going to test him. Also, if you haven't caught the latest the Knights have signed Pauli Pauli meaning even more horses in the stable for FRF/2RF positions.

HLF: Solid with DCE and a couple of cows there to hope for an upgrade down the track.

CTR: I like Ferguson in there... Maybe just because it looks stronger than the more suggested Auva'a/Copley line ups.

WFB: Feldt... You sure? I agree, I don't think Slater and Mann will do a great deal but at 270k I think I'd be more likely to go with Valentine Holmes or Corey Oates. Other than that selection, pretty similar to most others out there.

All in all looking solid with a couple of genuine guns in there. Nice mate.

Floor Pie wrote:How many scores in the 30's does it take before LAM becomes Leeson Ah Mau again???

Couldn't agree more. Don't understand the love for the guy. Sure he will go 'OK', but as a mid ranger on the higher scale with regard to price, what is the upside?

Ah, it was Floor Pie's comment. Still lolling... Does he go back to Leeson Ah Mau or become Mary's little LAMb instead?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/supercoach/nrl-casualty-ward-2016-your-clubs-preseason-injuries/news-story/7d38a841d28652f7bca69fddde282b72#load-story-comments

Hey guys, not sure if this article has been mentioned but it indicates that a few players (including Edwards and Frizell) may possibly miss some of the opening rounds

Mr Fernando wrote:

haha all good Bren, just having a joke.  still surprised people get his name wrong - spelling hodkinson, fafita, farah etc wrong is one thing, but plenty of people seem to think his name is actually lyons, including some media types.

Oh man you almost had me. I was checking Wiki and NRLstats in case I made an error

Mearcat085 wrote:

Always happy to help you out MS.

HOK: I'm assuming the Niko choice is a VERY flexible one. While I advocate having him in your team I would be running him as a 4th HLF rather than your second rake. Lets say he only plays 4-6 weeks and then is dropped to the bench as a utility when Pearce for brains returns. I'll give him 80k over that 4-6 weeks (and that may be being generous). Now, unless you have a fair bit of coin up your sleeve, that 80k price rise will only bring Niko up to 210k in value meaning a big jump to a hooker worth having (or multiple trades to get that cash). However, if you play him as a 4th half then you can simply downgrade him to a nuffie or potentially a new cow (think Te Maire Martin) and you haven't lost out.

FRF: I really like the Fifi pick. I know early in the season a lot of people are gun shy on him and he's a pretty polarizing character but I think there are two things that really stand out for me regarding him this year. Firstly, obvs his number of selections. Secondly, and what I think is the real reason I'm interested in him, is he is still angry about the hoo haa that was made regarding little brother and himself last year. I know he still played following that suspension but I just feel he may be ready to let his game, rather than his attitude, do some talking. Not sold on Lawrence tho. He is still under contract until 2017 and until someone puts some fire under his arse or some pressure on his spot he is over priced for mine.

2RF: I've spoken about Benry previously and Surgess is Surgess. I like the Taumalolo pick. Think both he and Papa could be in for big years. Not loving T-Rex the toothless dinosaur tho. He is almost as big a risk as Kyle Turner and for that money I'd be more likely to shift Lawrence to my second row, Gutherson to centre and then look at C Mata'utia for a quick grab maybe.

HLF: Barba? Just can't see it. Sure he is priced low but not basement low and if he doesn't play that's 50k you could use elsewhere. Maloney is a good choice (Bird can't kick his way outta a wet paper bag) and DCE is a great choice. Downgrade Barba to a nuffie for mine.

CTR: Probably stronger than most 3/4 lines with Hurrell in there. It's a risk but I like it. Final make up will depend on what you decide to do with T-Rex I would say but even if you do move Lawrence it's still a decent line.

WFB: Probably the first I've seen with Inglis. I read somewhere the other day that he is looking to finalize his (next) contract. Seems a bit ahead of himself and we've seen in the past that these things sometimes seem like an off field distraction for him so lets hope that isn't the case. I really rate him and he can be a game changer (likes to destroy my Broncs all willy nilly) but I'm not sure I'd take that gamble. Could pay off in a big way though. Mansour and Gordon I spoke about in my last breakdown.

Hope that helps mate.

Cheers for the breakdown. As you said a few too many risks to bank my season on but thats the side my brother is running with atm

Finger Puppet Mafia wrote:

Couldn't agree more. Don't understand the love for the guy. Sure he will go 'OK', but as a mid ranger on the higher scale with regard to price, what is the upside?

I posted a few stats on him in the last thread but ill post it again.
LEESON AH MAU
Ah Mau started 2015 as the no nonsense mid-range prop none of us would ever consider averaging 39.9 in 43.7 minutes including 26 tackles and 112 metres per game. When Merrin was suspended for rounds 17-21, Ah Mau was forced to step up and lead from the front, boosting his average to 48 points in 49.4 minutes including 32.6 tackles and 137.2 metres. However upon Merrin’s return from suspension Ah Mau kept these numbers at a near identical pace. From round 17 onwards Ah Mau averaged 49.1 points in 50.7 minutes including 29.9 tackles and 143.3 metres per game. Priced at 357k, Ah Mau is nearly 100k cheaper than the likes of Woods, Bromwich, Graham etc. but has shown the potential to match their scores. Will Ah Mau be the main benefactor from Merrin’s departure?

It's not so much that Merrin has left and therefore you expect LAM to step up that concerns me about him. It's more the amount of cattle they have. Dragons relied on Merrin for a lot of the time and looking at those stats whether he was or wasn't there, Ah Mau still only averaged 49.9 minutes per game. Now if he scores at an average of 49.1 that's almost one PPM and I'll take that every day but with their off season purchases, the availability of Packer etc etc will he get the minutes? If he only gets 40 minutes that reduces his average to around 36 and at 357k that is a harder decision to make.

not an expert on the dragons but it would seem more like cooper and JDB take up merrins slack while guys like masoe/packer/etc provide the big bopper punch. i reckon ah mau stays where he's priced.

hold the phone. Masoe is out for the season with an ACL