NRL Fantasy 2023 Part 5 - Assemble the base price players

It sounds like we won't be riding with Milf anytime soon

Wests Tigers’ star import John Bateman will miss the club’s season opener against the Gold Coast and could be out for up to a month after undergoing scans on his ankle.

Bateman, who only arrived in the country on Friday morning, was cleared of serious injury but will still miss the opening rounds in a blow to the Tigers on the eve of round one.

It marks the latest complication in Bateman’s move to Australia. The English international was initially delayed due to visa complications, forcing him to miss most of the club’s preseason. Having arrived on Friday, he toured the club’s Centre of Excellence and met his new teammates.

News Corp understands that Bateman has since been sent for scans which revealed minor concerns over the ankle. Prior to Bateman’s arrival, coach Tim Sheens had suggested the ankle problem was related to an old injury and was only a minor concern.

However, it now appears the issue at the very least will cost the Tigers one of their star recruits for their game against the Titans at Leichhardt Oval.

Boozecluez wrote:

Will Kennedy will get 80mins

Chewie wrote:It sounds like we won't be riding with Milf anytime soon

give him a month of scoring 15 on the bench then boom milf time.

my tv broke wrote:Has to be a chance that Bateman never ends up playing a game for the Tigers

Like Lee Mossop came over for free medical and holiday

Lets play
Pick the pre TLT assistant coach draft team

Just a bit of fun so nothing serious and will probably change but interesting to see peoples drafts and perceptions
Disclaimer: Most recent teams posted by player, I can't accept responsibilty for lack of updates


PLAYER 1

Answer:

Smith
Tapine Cotter Harris
Butcher Hopgood
Cleary Douehi
Alamoti Thompson
Perham Sloan Miller

Boyd Eisenhuth Loiero Seyfarth
Keppie Martin HSS Preston

PLAYER 2

Answer:

Robson
Tapine Elliot Cheese
Wilton Garner
Cleary Burton
Alamoti (hope he starts) Thompson
Savage Perham Miller

Boyd Hopgood Loiero Uto (if starts)
Doorey TMM Talau Sloan

PLAYER 3

Answer:

Kenny
Tapine Murray (vc) Hass
Hopgood Katoa
Boyd (C)leary
HTF Alamoti
TMartin Perham Miller

Garner BSmith Cotter Doorey
Dunster Blore Sloan Stone

PLAYER 4

Answer:

Hodgson
Elliott Barnett Nuikore
Hopgood Faitala-Mariner
Penisini Thompson
Miller Perham Sualii

Smith Boyd Katoa Doorey
Stone Martin Alamoti Talau

my tv broke wrote:Has to be a chance that Bateman never ends up playing a game for the Tigers

MF wrote:

Like Lee Mossop came over for free medical and holiday

You’re talking about the Tigers here lads not some ramshackle shitshow of a club. Shame on you for even considering that

Scott Moore

If anyone finds it useful, I can post the remainder of DT early mail.

Krump wrote:


You’re talking about the Tigers here lads not some ramshackle shitshow of a club. Shame on you for even considering that

Tigers will be paying him to play in England as well next year

mattnz wrote:
When you have some picks that weren't certainties to get the role you need to make the team work and 20 of your 21 pre TLT have the role you want, that makes a great TLT.

It’s still Monday tho innit?

WT2K wrote:If anyone finds it useful, I can post the remainder of DT early mail.

Yes please, let us simpkins for your information

WT2K wrote:If anyone finds it useful, I can post the remainder of DT early mail.

thank you good sir

Boozecluez wrote:Scott Moore

mattnz wrote:
When you have some picks that weren't certainties to get the role you need to make the team work and 20 of your 21 pre TLT have the role you want, that makes a great TLT.

So are you locking in a top 10k finish ?

DT early mail.

Storm: Nick Meaney will start at fullback and kick goals, with Young Tonumaipea and Reimis Smith starting in the centres.

Xavier Coates will play one wing, with Will Warbrick on the other.

Tariq Sims didn’t feature in either trial due to an injury niggle, he remains in doubt to face the Eels in round 1. If named, he’s likely to play as a middle forward.

This leaves the back-row edge roles vacated by Felise Kaufusi and Kenny Bromwich wide open.

Eliesa Katoa and Trent Loiero are the likely starters in round 1, with the likes of Joe Chan, Tom Eisenhuth and Jack Howarth putting pressure on for the roles throughout the season.

The highly regarded Howarth has seemingly fallen down the pecking order for the time being.

Eels:

Maika Sivo will start on one wing, with Isaac Lumelume a chance to take the right edge spot outside Will Penisini.

The left centre spot is up in the air, with Waqa Blake, Zac Cini and Haze Dunster battling out for the role.

Returning from a broken arm, Blake is likely to fill the spot if given clearance.

Their back-row has struck trouble, with Ryan Matterson suspended for the first three weeks, and Shaun Lane and Matt Doorey both injured in the trials.

Lane is out long-term, while Doorey is a chance to play the season opener with an ankle sprain.

Bryce Cartwright is one man in line for a call-up, but he’s under an injury cloud himself.

Jack Murchie and Jirah Momoisea may be called up if Doorey is ruled out.


Warriors:

Expect movement in the forward pack, with Tohu Harris starting at lock before switching to prop.

Harris will be the link man in the pack and is expected to play big minutes, as will Marata Niukore who starts on the edge.

The other edge is up for grabs at this stage, with Jackson Ford preferred to Josh Curran in week two of trials.

Mitch Barnett will start at prop but is also likely to spend some time on the edge.

Jazz Tevaga is unavailable for the opening few rounds due to injury.

Knights:
Kalyn Ponga starts at five-eighth, but has seemingly relinquished the goalkicking duties to Jackson Hastings for the time being.

Recruit Adam Elliott didn’t feature in the trials on return from injury, followed by a fresh niggle at training, but he’s expected to be fit for round 1 where he’ll start at lock.

Lachlan Fitzgibbon is expected to start on the left edge, with Elliott to move out wider at stages once fully fit.

Kurt Mann will play off the bench as the utility, with a plan to integrate him into the side at lock.

Recruit Jack Hetherington is in doubt for the early stages of the season with a calf injury.

Panthers:

Dylan Edwards, Liam Martin and Soni Luke didn’t feature in the World Club Challenge but are all expected to play in Round 1.

Luke Garner is expected to start in the position vacated by Viliame Kikau, while Zac Hosking is an outside chance to win the spot.

Mitch Kenny will start at hooker, with Luke expected to deputise at about the 25-30 minute mark, essentially the same rotation Api Koroisau was involved in late last year.

mattnz wrote:
When you have some picks that weren't certainties to get the role you need to make the team work and 20 of your 21 pre TLT have the role you want, that makes a great TLT.

We best all delete our teams and go outside, we have found our champion.

WT2K wrote:
Panthers:

Dylan Edwards, Liam Martin and Soni Luke didn’t feature in the World Club Challenge but are all expected to play in Round 1.

Luke Garner is expected to start in the position vacated by Viliame Kikau, while Zac Hosking is an outside chance to win the spot.

Mitch Kenny will start at hooker, with Luke expected to deputise at about the 25-30 minute mark, essentially the same rotation Api Koroisau was involved in late last year.

Hmmm... Luke (and Kenny) will still be pretty cheap in R4 with a lot more information.