NRL Fantasy 2023 Part 1 - Just open up already

mattnz wrote:Crichton is leaving Panthers after this season (who knows, maybe earlier the way things have happened).

Not surprising the Panthers couldn't table an offer before they knew the new salary cap. A total balls up by NRL leaving it so late.

$750k-$800k is crazy money for Crichton. Decent player, but not worth anything like that at CTR and wouldn't be in the top 10 fullbacks in the NRL.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-stephen-crichton-exit-reasons-penrith-panthers-bulldogs-dolphins-contract-signings/news-story/7dde81f0f2d1f60f65b2739ced9b3b3b

for him to be paid more than Hynes is a joke, he better end up a good FB

mattnz wrote:Crichton is leaving Panthers after this season (who knows, maybe earlier the way things have happened).

Not surprising the Panthers couldn't table an offer before they knew the new salary cap. A total balls up by NRL leaving it so late.

$750k-$800k is crazy money for Crichton. Decent player, but not worth anything like that at CTR and wouldn't be in the top 10 fullbacks in the NRL.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-stephen-crichton-exit-reasons-penrith-panthers-bulldogs-dolphins-contract-signings/news-story/7dde81f0f2d1f60f65b2739ced9b3b3b

Yeah, he's a top centre but hasn't exactly been impressive at fullback when he's filled in there. Can't see any of the top clubs going for him (unless he's willing to play centre for them), but understand it from his point of view because it's a short, unsecure career, he's already won plenty, and if someone is willing to pay him star fullback money on a long contract then why not go for it?

Welshy wrote:Any love for Mitch Kenny, or SLuke going to be taking too many minutes off him?

I'm surprised there has been little mention of him. Starting hooker for the premiers. More minutes than last year. Very nice price. Scores well when starting at hooker.

Couldn't read the article but saw a Townsville Bulletin headline this morning that Jayden Sullivan is sidelined with a hammy injury. Will have to wait on details of the severity, but if Amone and Sullivan are out, I'm guessing bird goes to half which could possibly give Fuimaono Bird's edge spot and a nice cow option.

Sounds like the Titans spine isn't quite the done deal after all;

Titans website wrote:
With Kieran Foran joining the Coast, public opinion has been in overdrive with how the Titans spine will look in 2023, and whilst the Titans coach remains tight-lipped as to the final combination for Round 1, he has ruled out the incumbent No. 6 (Brimson) making a switch to the outside backs.

"It will definitely be five-eighth or fullback," Holbrook told SEN's Sportsday.

"I've said a few times that I think he's equally as good at six and at one. Obviously we've got young Jayden Campbell who is electrifying at the back there for us as well.

"We've just got to use these next five to six weeks in trials to work out our best combination and then stick with that, but I can't give a definite answer at the moment."

The Bludger#2 wrote:

Hey Bethany,
just want to pick your brains -
Do you have any ideas about the Storm forward rotation, I haven't picked any up yet and it just feels like I'm missing an obvious cow.
Is McDonald going to see a jump in minutes?

Cheers,
Bludger

MS hot take is that Tariq will be spending most of his time in the middle with edge stints only as an emergency. Legs are gone ala Josh Jackson, Tohu Harris, Simon Mannering, Matt Gillett

WT2K wrote:Bit of WT info coming in. as it stands: talau + naden centres. Doueihi will be 5/8. Ofahengaue likely 13.

Be interesting to see how Talau bounces back from injury but at this stage is my starting centre. Should be good for 30 odd average

multiple.scoregasms wrote:

MS hot take is that Tariq will be spending most of his time in the middle with edge stints only as an emergency. Legs are gone ala Josh Jackson, Tohu Harris, Simon Mannering, Matt Gillett

Good Fantasy captain, good player.

multiple.scoregasms wrote:

MS hot take is that Tariq will be spending most of his time in the middle with edge stints only as an emergency. Legs are gone ala Josh Jackson, Tohu Harris, Simon Mannering, Matt Gillett

I also think that Tariq will be in the middle, and that NAS edge is underestimated as a possibility.

multiple.scoregasms wrote:

Be interesting to see how Talau bounces back from injury but at this stage is my starting centre. Should be good for 30 odd average

Historic average as a centre (20 games): 25.8

I really don't want him but unless another base price centre crops up, might have to. Alamonti isn't planned to start the season in first grade according to TK's podcast, which usually has good contacts.

multiple.scoregasms wrote:

MS hot take is that Tariq will be spending most of his time in the middle with edge stints only as an emergency. Legs are gone ala Josh Jackson, Tohu Harris, Simon Mannering, Matt Gillett

You could argue that they all played their best footy when they moved to the middle. Add Ruben Wiki and Toni Carroll to that list

MBye maybe 6 to start season, but hard to know with Dragons having the first bye. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dragons-spine-suffers-another-blow-with-sullivan-sidelined-as-amone-faces-court-20230117-p5cdas.html

Welshy wrote:

Reckon I would prefer Kenny if he's getting 60/65 mins

Will be far more consistent

Soni Luke has played between 21 and 36 minutes in each of his 4 games so far. If he is on the bench, expect him to take decent minutes off Kenny.

In games between 50 and 70 minutes for Kenny he has averaged 37, with just one decent score of 55.

Boyd has averaged 47 at halfback, with just 1 game under 43.

rhinoceroo wrote:MBye maybe 6 to start season, but hard to know with Dragons having the first bye. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dragons-spine-suffers-another-blow-with-sullivan-sidelined-as-amone-faces-court-20230117-p5cdas.html

Averaged 28 there in 2021. Next to Hunt, where no one seems to score well. Pass.

mattnz wrote:

Averaged 28 there in 2021. Next to Hunt, where no one seems to score well. Pass.

The only attractive thing is CTR. There really is nothing much there at the moment.

Doesn't look like Alamonti is going start. Ditto Te Whare. There's Talau at $250 but the fact he's in so many squads (including mine) shows how desperate the centre situation is, he'll score even worse than Mbye. Thompson at $319 with a horror fixtures list and no job security also seems a comparatively good option.

Couple of options at $372 (Reimis and HTF) but they don't exactly fill you with hope. Even higher up, there's not much value... would be interested in Schoup if he had goalkicking, but if Boyd's playing he probably won't. Wouldn't mind Staggs if I was spending bigger cash on a centre, but doubt I will be. It's generally dire.

WT2K wrote:

I'm Not a fan of either  talau or naden... Could all change during trials. Also, how do I change user name here.. anyone know?

Admin are the only ones that can do it. Pretty sure that’s Random and SI

mattnz wrote:

Soni Luke has played between 21 and 36 minutes in each of his 4 games so far. If he is on the bench, expect him to take decent minutes off Kenny.

In games between 50 and 70 minutes for Kenny he has averaged 37, with just one decent score of 55.
Boyd has averaged 47 at halfback, with just 1 game under 43.

If Luke could take up to 36 minutes off Kenny, than we should look at Kenny from 40-70 mins. It gets worse at 34.6 It gets even worse when you filter for when he started at Hooker and was relieved (rather than being the interchange himself) at 33.6.

Priced at 29 with 4-5 points of upside is tricky. I figure it's probably worst case that Kenny averages 33.6, but plenty of better value out there (like Boyd).

multiple.scoregasms wrote:

Be interesting to see how Talau bounces back from injury but at this stage is my starting centre. Should be good for 30 odd average

DPP centre/WFB - unless a gun rookie finds a spot in the 13 of some team, lock him in as NPR back-up.

rhinoceroo wrote:

The only attractive thing is CTR. There really is nothing much there at the moment.

Yeah, CTR is a bit of wasteland at the moment if none of these young guys get a shot.

If Grahame gets the left CTR position, I could almost be tempted to go there, as you need to select someone and should have some upside on the preferred attacking edge.

Otherwise, the guys that are basement price with job certainty, are at that price because they score so badly in fantasy - Talau, Naden

Will see how final teams shake up, currently have 2 x $230k hopefuls, with $265k bank to fix it at TLT in my latest draft.

Anyone else interested in Welch at $638k.
Priced at 44, average 41.
Anyone think Welch capitalise on the bump in ol scores?
I'm considering him as my premium middle - instead of AEliott