NRL Fantasy 2023 Part 5 - Assemble the base price players

B/L wrote:

So are you locking in a top 10k finish ?

To be fair even 13000th doesn't even get you into league 8 here

It's cutthroat

DT early mail:

Broncos:

Halfback Adam Reynolds is racing the clock to be fit for round 1 having missed the pre-season trials with a niggle.

He’s expected to face Penrith in the opener, with Jock Madden on standby if he were to miss.

Reece Walsh is expected to miss out due to a facial fracture, with Selwyn Cobbo to deputise at fullback, which would also see Jesse Arthurs named on the wing.

The biggest question mark over an otherwise settled line-up is the hooking battle, with Billy Walters, Cory Paix, Tyson Smoothy and Blake Mozer all competing for the position.

Walters is likely to get the nod, with Paix sharing the role off the bench.

Sea Eagles:

Tom Trbojevic will return for the season opener at fullback.

Despite a desire to move to centre, Reuben Garrick is expected to play on the wing in 2023.

Josh Schuster suffered a calf injury in week two of trials and will miss round 1. This will see Cooper Johns link up with recruit Kelma Tuilagi on the left edge.

Jake Trbojevic will make the move to prop, with Sean Keppie likely starting at lock.

Bulldogs

Paul Alamoti will partner Jake Averillo in the centres, with Hayze Perham to play fullback.

Raymond Faitala-Mariner will start on the edge, but is likely to spend time in the middle third.

This will open up an edge spot during the match for debutant Jacob Preston, who excelled in both trial fixtures.

Tevita Pangai Jnr picked up a calf strain at training that will see him miss the opening month of action, opening a bench role for Cronulla recruit Franklin Pele.

The well regarded Chris Patolo is expected to miss the opener due to injury.

Viliame Kikau failed a HIA in the trial loss to Cronulla, barring any lingering symptoms he should be fine to take his place on the left edge outside Matt Burton in the opener.

Cowboys

Early Mail: There’s little movement to the Cowboys’ 17 from last season.

They’re down an edge back-rower with Luciano Leilua unavailable due to being subject to the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy, and Heilum Luki is still some time away from returning from an ACL injury.

This will see Coen Hess given first crack on the left edge.

Jake Granville is likely to be picked as the bench utility, a spot filled by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow last season

Raiders
Early Mail: The Green Machine are short a genuine fullback, with Xavier Savage breaking his jaw in week one of pre-season trials.

Jordan Rapana avoided suspension after an incident in week two of NRL trials and will take his place on the wing.

Seb Kris will deputise at fullback, with Harley Smith-Shields returning from an ACL injury in the backline.

The other watch at the Raiders is the starting lock role vacated by Adam Elliott.

Joseph Tapine was the preferred option in the second trial, while both Emre Guler and Corey Horsburgh are options.

Danny Levi is expected to start at hooker, with Tom Starling sharing the role off the bench and Zac Woolford the odd man out.

Pasami Saulo is expected to pip rookies Trey Mooney and Ata Mariota for the final bench spot.

DT early mail.

Sharks

An extremely settled line-up for the Shire folk, up until news surfaced Dally M Medal winner Nicho Hynes suffered a recent calf injury.

Hynes is in serious doubt for the season opener, with Braydon Trindall to come in if he’s ruled out. Trindall would also take over the goal-kicking duties.

Interestingly Ronaldo Mulitalo played left wing in the trial win over the Bulldogs, with Sione Katoa on the right outside Jesse Ramien.

Teig Wilton is tipped to start on the left edge, relegating club veteran Wade Graham to a bench role where he’ll be injected as a middle forward.

Rabbits

The backline picks itself, with Taane Milne unavailable for the opening round with suspension.

Isaiah Tass will start at centre, with Izaac Thompson on the wing.

Siliva Havili is out for an extended period, while Hame Sele is in doubt for round 1, which would see Tom Burgess join Tevita Tatola up front, also opening up minutes for Davvy Moale.

Blake Taaffe is expected to be named as the bench utility, locking in big minutes for Damien Cook with no other noted hooker on the bench.


Dolphins

Rookie Isaiya Katoa has leap-frogged Anthony Milford for a round one starting role in the halves.

Katoa will make up the spine alongside Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Sean O’Sullivan and Jeremy Marshall-King.

Euan Aitken will make the move back to centre in 2023 where he’ll start alongside Brenko Lee.

Edrick Lee suffered an ankle injury at training and will miss a month of action, opening up a spot on the wing for Robert Jennings.

Tom Gilbert will be the 13, with Ray Stone playing off the bench.

Roosters

Jaxson Paulo is expected to start on the right wing outside of Joey Manu.

Manu is in doubt with a facial fracture, with Corey Allan or Paul Momirovski in line to replace him if unavailable.

Momirovski suffered a pre-season concussion and is in doubt for the start of the season.

In his new position of centre, Joseph Suaali’i failed a HIA in the trial loss to Manly, but should be okay with the long turnaround until the season begins.

Egan Butcher is expected to replace Angus Crichton in the back-row, with promising rookie Siua Wong a chance to replace him off the bench if named in round 1.

With Connor Watson injured, Jake Turpin is set to play off the bench.

He’ll enter the game at hooker, which will likely see recruit Brandon Smith spend time in the middle rotation.

Luke Keary is expected to be fit for round 1 despite suffering a head knock at training that saw him miss the second trial.


Titans

With Patrick Herbert and Brian Kelly unavailable in the early stages of the season, Jojo Fifita, Alofiana Khan-Periera, Phillip Sami and Aaron Schoupp make up an exciting backline.

Blessed with options in the playmaking ranks, the spine will run out as AJ Brimson, Kieran Foran, Tanah Boyd and Sam Verrills.

Boyd will goal-kick and partner David Fifita on the right edge, with Foran on the left with Beau Fermor.

Jayden Campbell is likely to be named as the bench utility, he spent time at centre during the pre-season trials.

Erin Clark is likely to start at lock, however he faces competition from Isaac Liu.

How is that all the broncos have at hooker. Plenty of teams with better options coming off the bench then what they have starting and they spent money on Walsh when the seem to have other options at fb?

It says there Lane is out long term, is there an official timeline of his injury? I can't remember seeing one.

Cheers @WT2K

I am thinking maybe both storm and no eels 2rf if it lines up like that mail

Indefinite according to the eels. That’s not normally a good sign

Krump wrote:How is that all the broncos have at hooker. Plenty of teams with better options coming off the bench then what they have starting and they spent money on Walsh when the seem to have other options at fb?

I think Mozer is the future but young. I think most teams would have signed Walsh if he was throwing himself at them

Joey Taps knows the score.

Sorry, that was a bit bigger than it was supposed to be

rhinoceroo wrote:Sorry, that was a bit bigger than it was supposed to be

It happens mate when you get excited before TLT

rhinoceroo wrote:Sorry, that was a bit bigger than it was supposed to be

First time ever saying that?

rhinoceroo wrote:

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

it’s hard to interpret what the same rotation as last year means, is Kenny promoted to Api or is Kenny still Kenny?

Api averaged 69 mins last year.

Might be a wait until R4 call, like you say.

rhinoceroo wrote:Sorry, that was a bit bigger than it was supposed to be

Fixed

Also, I don't think it really matters what number he is wearing.

For people going premium WFB, I think Latrell offers some value over Teddy. Since coming back from the states for his injury rehab he's comfortably averaged over 50, with some big scores in there and only a handful of shockers.

Teddy has a slightly better draw, except for the fact that he has a bye in round 4. If you had Cheese and also one of the Butcher brothers, that would be a big drop to your score.
Latrell player every game up until origin 1. Once origin hits Latrell is more of a tradeout then Teddy
After R4 both Teddy's byes fall on origin weeks. Last year he backed up every time, but that may not be the case this year.

Thanks for the excellent info WT2K.

Mulvy wrote:

Fixed

Also, I don't think it really matters what number he is wearing.

Yeah, more the "passing before the line? Fuck that, I want to run into some kents" attitude.

Milchcow wrote:
For people going premium WFB, I think Latrell offers some value over Teddy. Since coming back from the states for his injury rehab he's comfortably averaged over 50, with some big scores in there and only a handful of shockers.

Teddy has a slightly better draw, except for the fact that he has a bye in round 4. If you had Cheese and also one of the Butcher brothers, that would be a big drop to your score.
Latrell player every game up until origin 1. Once origin hits Latrell is more of a tradeout then Teddy
After R4 both Teddy's byes fall on origin weeks. Last year he backed up every time, but that may not be the case this year.

Yeah for me it's between Drinky and Latrell as gun WFB options

For similar reasons, I think Cook might be worth it over Harry Grant

Costs a lot more, but gives you a good 5-6 points a week extra. Take into account no bye before origin and you are looking at an extra 80+ points.

Would you give up 80 points if it gave you an extra $100k on your team?

rhinoceroo wrote:Joey Taps knows the score.

Does this mean Guler lock?