Life has been insanely busy (early assessments coming in the term) but will taper off in the coming weeks, I miss posting terrible takes and clogging up the thread while games are on.
My thoughts for this week:- Gut instinct is to hold
Cleary this week and reassess next week. Don't want to risk trading to
Moses only for him to not play next week.
SJ could be the answer (but no round 16), I must be one of the only people not to own him.
-
Greig being "injured" and sat out doesn't feel like a coincidence given they have just gotten RCG and Davey back for their forward pack. It really feels to me like Arthur has recognised he's a young forward who has played a lot of minutes in the last few weeks and could use a second week off. Unless something concrete about his "injury" comes out in the next few days, I will fully expect him back in round 16.
- My 2c on who will be the blues origin halves is that Freddy will go with
Reynolds and
Walker with
Latrell at left centre because he loves connections so much. Wouldn't at all be surprised to see
Hynes at either 14, or left right out of game 2. I personally would have
Burton on the bench as he legitimately covers the backline, plus can do a job in the halves. We have an abundance of fullbacks in our team so we don't exactly need our 14 to cover fullback.
-
Hosking is going to stick around for me I think. Trades are at a premium, and despite the non-80 minute role, he still usually scores well, just a down week I suspect and I don't want to overreact. No Cleary on his edge worries me though, attacking stats could dry up, will wait and see I think.
-
Bateman is likely coming in for me this week. I already have
iPap, but personally not many other Bulldogs/Sharks so I can afford 3 Tigers I think. Rather than choose between the Tigers backrowers: Porque no los dos?
- For those with
Boyd I think it's a tough decision. I traded him last week to
Cook, and am now somewhat regretting not having him to cover
Cleary. Will likely have to either play
Oloapu as one of my halves, or make a premature trade to
Moses/
SJ and cop the negatives associated with each. I think
Boyd is definitely a hold this week, reassess in round 16 during his bye.
- Not sure
Fainu is worth it, but will be if
Tuilagi doesn't come back on the edge. I honestly haven't seen him play, for those who have, does he genuinely pass the eye test? Who does he remind you of?
-
Stone may not (pardon the pun) lock down the lock role long-term, but at least you know barring injury he'll always be in the 17. Bennett loves him, and he's a tackle-bot who with decent minutes can be in your 17. Good safety trade in (no round 16 though).
- How good is
Bula though!?
- With
Gilbert injured, I think they bring in
Horse. I like what Jimmy said about
Hopgood already being in the QLD team (
Cotter), so I suspect they'll give
Horse his shot. It would be good for our fantasy sides (those of us with
Hopgood anyway).
-
Bird being out for holders sucks, I don't see him playing. NRLPhysio was very bearish on his likelihood of playing in the next few weeks. He recommended him as a strong sell, and I'll follow the GOATs advice for now.
- This one only really affects me, but
Garrick at centre is pretty boo-urns.
Probably missed a bunch of talking points, but will chime in over the course of the week.
![NRL Fantasy 2023 Part 58 - I can’t see Cleary through the tears - Page 28 Giphy](https://2img.net/h/media0.giphy.com/media/HX7pvh1mIqImc/giphy.gif)