NRL Fantasy 2023 Part 3 - Trials by Combat

The Pascoe Fiasco wrote:
What about Suaali’i over Holmes? He’ll be DPP if named at Left centre.

yeah I had Suaali'i but had some extra cash so went up to Holmes.

the bye in week 4 is abit of a turn off for Suaali'i as Thompson/Almoti could be gone by then if things go bad which is the reason i want a solid Centre.

Genderbender wrote:Just wondering if anyone could tell me if Warbrick is a big winger who can start sets off well?

I can definitely confirm that he is big but you might have to refine the definition of 'sets' for me before I venture anything beyond that

Holzman wrote:

yeah I had Suaali'i but had some extra cash so went up to Holmes.

the bye in week 4 is abit of a turn off for Suaali'i as Thompson/Almoti could be gone by then if things go bad which is the reason i want a solid Centre.

Not to mention that Val has goalkicking so his floor is automatically better than your average centre

Aardvark wrote:

I can definitely confirm that he is big but you might have to refine the definition of 'sets' for me before I venture anything beyond that

I’m open to others interpretations… put down your cheetohs and venture.

What are everyone's expectations for Brandon Smith?

His stats at hooker in recent years aren't that impressive, except for a 2 month stint in 2021 where he scored 6 tries in 8 games.
If he doesn't keep the tries coming he is only priced a few points below his average. There's almost no chance he loses money so don't think he's a bad pick. I'm just not sure he will be as good as people want him to be. He's 99% likely to be in my team either way

Genderbender wrote:


I’m open to others interpretations… put down your cheetohs and venture.

Allegedly he smashed through gathering up the first 80% of the Woolworths/Lego "Farm Bricks' collection but as it became harder to find the missing pieces his interest waned and at present they are sitting on his coffee table looking a bit forlorn

As far as running a rugby league ball back from an opposition kick I have no intel on but I'll make sure to keep everyone posted

Milchcow wrote:
What are everyone's expectations for Brandon Smith?

His stats at hooker in recent years aren't that impressive, except for a 2 month stint in 2021 where he scored 6 tries in 8 games.
If he doesn't keep the tries coming he is only priced a few points below his average. There's almost no chance he loses money so don't think he's a bad pick. I'm just not sure he will be as good as people want him to be. He's 99% likely to be in my team either way

He scores tries at hooker just from the way he plays, he's always been a very attacking hooker, loves a scoot out of dummy half. I wouldn't doubt him in terms of scoring tries, and he only needs a couple to start making big money. The fact that he has HOK/MID dual is also extremely valuable, especially with Clark looking like a no-go.

Aardvark wrote:

My bold prediction is that the Bulldogs middle forwards are not going to start feasting on each others flesh (or cannonablise each other either).

Yeah, you're probably right. James Graham isn't there anymore to teach them bad habits

Api and brooks out with calf injuries, both will be right for R1

Milchcow wrote:
What are everyone's expectations for Brandon Smith?

His stats at hooker in recent years aren't that impressive, except for a 2 month stint in 2021 where he scored 6 tries in 8 games.
If he doesn't keep the tries coming he is only priced a few points below his average. There's almost no chance he loses money so don't think he's a bad pick. I'm just not sure he will be as good as people want him to be. He's 99% likely to be in my team either way

I realised the other day he was now at the roosters and thought he's probably an auto pick., who probably, at worst, holds his value? I would assume he plays big mins..

Probably a bold choice to go without, would really hurt if he does score a few tries early on and everyone else has him.

Would be a interesting/hard choice to pick him if he went to a bottom four club but you've got to lean towards attacking chances coming his way..

Here we go....the sound of bitter tears

https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/02/14/nrl-team-lists-pre-season-challenge-round-2/

Bethany_B wrote:especially with Clark looking like a no-go.

i say this in ignorance, but whys he a no go ? I thought people wanted him if he started at lock, which seems to be confirmed (Tallis mentioned this during the broncos vs titans trial the other night)

personally, not that interested, but havent thought about it yet.

my tv broke wrote:

i say this in ignorance, but whys he a no go ? I thought people wanted him if he started at lock, which seems to be confirmed (Tallis mentioned this during the broncos vs titans trial the other night)

He's not at lock in this trial (named on the bench with Liu lock), and he was playing some hooker in the first trial which is an immediate no from me. Would rather get a look at him given that and bring him in if he is actually playing middle only.

Milchcow wrote:
Sims missing round 1 but potentially back round 2 or 3 could make it awkward picking a storm edge player.

My working assumption is 33yo Tariq Sims was signed by Storm for experience/leadership and some impact off the bench as mid, and he's taken a cut price deal and reduced role to try and get a premiership before retiring.

I watched a lot of Dragons last year, it was mostly miserable, and he was one of the main people making it miserable. I just can't see him being an 80 minute player anymore. Or the top 2 edge players available for any team (except a Fittler coached NSW side lol amirite...)

Zac Cini starting CTR - whose place is he warming? Otherwise, I would

Milchcow wrote:
What are everyone's expectations for Brandon Smith?

His stats at hooker in recent years aren't that impressive, except for a 2 month stint in 2021 where he scored 6 tries in 8 games.
If he doesn't keep the tries coming he is only priced a few points below his average. There's almost no chance he loses money so don't think he's a bad pick. I'm just not sure he will be as good as people want him to be. He's 99% likely to be in my team either way

In games over 30 minutes across his entire career, all positions, he averages a try every 3 and a bit games. When your sample size is over 5 years I think there's a point where it isn't a fluke anymore

robelgordo wrote:

My working assumption is 33yo Tariq Sims was signed by Storm for experience/leadership and some impact off the bench as mid, and he's taken a cut price deal and reduced role to try and get a premiership before retiring.

I watched a lot of Dragons last year, it was mostly miserable, and he was one of the main people making it miserable. I just can't see him being an 80 minute player anymore. Or the top 2 edge players available for any team (except a Fittler coached NSW side lol amirite...)

This is what I'm suspecting based on the trial team, with Tom Eisenhuth there as a placeholder for Sims (I would guess he'd start at lock and then move into prop for Josh King to come on)

Here's a few more cheapies that haven't been mentioned much as far as I know:

* Harley Smith-Shields (CTR, 250k) - Seems like he'll have that wing spot until Savage is back and would get WFB dual. His career average on the wing is 36 so there's definitely money to be made (7 games, lowest score 25 and highest score 68)

* Ben Murdoch-Masila (MID, 250k) - Seems like he's got the Dragons edge spot and would get EDG dual if named there in round 1, could be a bit risky and has the bye round 1 but keep an eye on him if we are desperately short of MID cheapies in round 1 TLT

* Sean Russell (WFB, 319k) - Looking like he's got the wing spot until Blake and/or Simonsson are back, he was looking great in his one game last year before his injury.

* Siua Wong (EDG, 230k) - Lots of wraps on this kid but not the best sign seeing the Butcher bros both named on the edge, keep an eye on him in the trial though, as Nat may move to the middle and Wong could come onto the edge then.

Warriors putting up a strong lineup v Storm in Christchurch this weekend. Rd1 runout side would be pretty close to this you'd think:

Bethany_B wrote:

* Ben Murdoch-Masila (MID, 250k) - Seems like he's got the Dragons edge spot and would get EDG dual if named there in round 1, could be a bit risky and has the bye round 1 but keep an eye on him if we are desperately short of MID cheapies in round 1 TLT
.

Chance of BMM getting named edge (or anywhere) in round 1 is zero, given the Dragons bye

Potentially he'll still be given DPP based on trials (its happened before, although I think that was in previous interpretations of DPP requirements)