NRL Fantasy 2023 Part 58 - I can’t see Cleary through the tears

Latest thoughts are Holding Fifita and hoping he backs up from origin. Selling him doesn't really improve my team, I can field a decent team and still hold him. Looking at going Cleary to Moses and Luki to Ipap. Hoping to go Ford to Matto next week which will give me the three rd16 mids without having to risk Fainu. Holding Fifita also saves a trade which might be needed if Moses gets called up (I think the risk is low though so I'm getting this week).

Cook
Haas Harris Horse
Ipap Hosking
Moses SJ
Null Manu
Ted Ponga Bula

Hopgood Ford Hedwards Drinkwater (loop)
Niko/Crossland Koula Fifita

8 trades 220k

wolfking wrote:

We were discussing in our chat, it's basically getting the three MID's for next week.  Outside of Hopgood and Matto (if he returns), it's slim pickings and if you don't go Fainu, you're going for a mid tier option (Elliot, Sip, JFH) and hoping they produce something.  Fainu was hopefully filling that second spot and then Matto hopefully could fill that third spot next week.  If you go Fainu and Matto doesn't retun next week, then it's picking the best option from those mid range guys.

Elliot though has the pedigree and a juicy price to take a punt if Fainu is too trappy.

I was mentioning yesterday though if Fainu is a cashout for you and you’re not selling with the cash gains you’re probably better off with Garlick as a cashout MID playing high min HOK without Grant in 16 and as a handcuff for Grant who’s played every game this year

Mulvy wrote:Latest thoughts are Holding Fifita and hoping he backs up from origin. Selling him doesn't really improve my team, I can field a decent team and still hold him. Looking at going Cleary to Moses and Luki to Ipap. Hoping to go Ford to Matto next week which will give me the three rd16 mids without having to risk Fainu. Holding Fifita also saves a trade which might be needed if Moses gets called up (I think the risk is low though so I'm getting this week).

Cook
Haas Harris Horse
Ipap Hosking
Moses SJ
Null Manu
Ted Ponga Bula

Hopgood Ford Hedwards Drinkwater (loop)
Niko/Crossland Koula Fifita

8 trades 220k

100% I'd be holding Fifita in your situation

Really want to get Fainu as currently sitting with 0 mids for next week, however the only player ready to trade to him really is Nikorima and he’s scoring well.

Niko is definitely an out next week, but would it be a bit silly to make that call early? Thoughts are the price rise difference between them is offset by the risk Fainu doesn’t even make next week, and if he does, jumping on a bit late isn’t a worry as he’s not been bought as a pure cash cow? Hmm…

mintotheimmortal wrote:How do we all feel about Hopgood and his future minute outlook. With RCG back and Matto back shortly do we think this could impact his minutes enough to cause hesitation in bringing him in?

I think there’s enough to say he isn’t a full season keeper when at full strength pack (+ final round bye when you may have run out of trades) but Hopgood/Matterson are the only good MIDs for R16

So short answer, I don’t know

Camo123 wrote:

I think there’s enough to say he isn’t a full season keeper when at full strength pack (+ final round bye when you may have run out of trades) but Hopgood/Matterson are the only good MIDs for R16

So short answer, I don’t know

I think he is a keeper for now, but I've earmarked one of the 8 trades that we get in R20 for his use, to be sold in either his bye round of R27 or earlier if his minutes drop back down.

Camo123 wrote:

I was mentioning yesterday though if Fainu is a cashout for you and you’re not selling with the cash gains you’re probably better off with Garlick as a cashout MID playing high min HOK without Grant in 16 and as a handcuff for Grant who’s played every game this year

Do they have any other hookers? Garlick doesn’t seem nailed on to be a big minute guy

Camo123 wrote:

I was mentioning yesterday though if Fainu is a cashout for you and you’re not selling with the cash gains you’re probably better off with Garlick as a cashout MID playing high min HOK without Grant in 16 and as a handcuff for Grant who’s played every game this year

Agree but problem is with my outs, I'll need someone playable.

Shady2K wrote:

Do they have any other hookers? Garlick doesn’t seem nailed on to be a big minute guy

Wishart CAN technically play hooker but he fucking sucks, and it's no surprise that he hasn't been on the bench for a while. I would think Garlick is the first choice backup for Grant.

We don't have anyone else that I know of.

wolfking wrote:


Agree but problem is with my outs, I'll need someone playable.

Bethany_B wrote:

Wishart CAN technically play hooker but he fucking sucks, and it's no surprise that he hasn't been on the bench for a while. I would think Garlick is the first choice backup for Grant.

We don't have anyone else that I know of.

Eh, dunno hey.

I need a player to have 17. So just for me Cleary has to be out, and Fainu makes the most sense

Hope he plays 15 and 16, then the rest doesn’t really matter

Panic!!

mintotheimmortal wrote:

100% I'd be holding Fifita in your situation

Cheers mate.

Camo123 wrote:

I was mentioning yesterday though if Fainu is a cashout for you and you’re not selling with the cash gains you’re probably better off with Garlick as a cashout MID playing high min HOK without Grant in 16 and as a handcuff for Grant who’s played every game this year

Yeah this is a really good point. If low on trades Garlick could be the better cash out, likely to at least give a few points as last resort in the run home and as you say handcuff for Grant. If you've got more trades punting on Fainu to make cash would be okay. Wolfy has more than most.

Cody Walker injured Quad at training today

Looking like Dbags may get off.

Denied charges after reviewing CCTV.

Probably knock out a rage 100 this week.

Mulvy wrote:Latest thoughts are Holding Fifita and hoping he backs up from origin. Selling him doesn't really improve my team, I can field a decent team and still hold him. Looking at going Cleary to Moses and Luki to Ipap. Hoping to go Ford to Matto next week which will give me the three rd16 mids without having to risk Fainu. Holding Fifita also saves a trade which might be needed if Moses gets called up (I think the risk is low though so I'm getting this week).

Cook
Haas Harris Horse
Ipap Hosking
Moses SJ
Null Manu
Ted Ponga Bula

Hopgood Ford Hedwards Drinkwater (loop)
Niko/Crossland Koula Fifita

8 trades 220k

Yeah, hold for you I think mate.

Hey guys, chasing some advice on my team with what to do with Cleary. I already have Sj and Hynes with Boyd as cover so I don't need to go another Half. Do I go for a Yeo or Bateman?

Team before trades looks like this 10 trades 90k ITB

Boyd
Haas Horse Tatola
Preston Hopgood
Sj Hynes
Taas Manu
Teddy Bula Walsh

Turpin Oloapu Ponga Cleary
Robson Luki JDB Burbo

Bethany_B wrote:

I call BS on that

If they wanted to rest him as much as they could, they wouldn't have bothered playing him at all last weekend.

He has this week off, then Origin 2, then round 17 which is on the Sunday (good) against his old club (good) with no travel required as both Origin 2 and the Titans R17 game are in Brisbane. He will 100% start and probably play at least 60 mins if not the full 80 as long as he doesn't pick up something in Origin 2.

It's almost as good for him after Origin 3 as well, he plays the Sunday in R20 against Parra in Sydney (Origin 3 is also in Sydney), so he has two longer turnarounds after Origin and no extra travel required.

Origin 2 is 18 days after his last club appearance (last weekend when he played 30 minutes), so that should be plenty of rest for him.

I've got to say I don't really agree on your take.
There's been a lot of anecdotes over the years that players find it hard to back up when it's a slightly longer time frame after Origin.

But anyway, my opinion really doesn't affect his minutes at all, so just looking at the facts as they are:

In 2021 Fifita was playing for the Titans under Justin Holbrook and played the first two Origins;

Rounds 1-12: Averaged 76.4 minutes per game (ten games)

Origin Game 1 (Wednesday in Townsville, QLD): Starting 2nd row - played 65 minutes
Round 14 v Roosters (Saturday at CBUS, QLD): 3-day turnaround, Interchange - played 35 minutes

Round 15 played 80 minutes v Sea Eagles.

Origin Game 2 (Sunday at Suncorp, QLD): Interchange - played 53 minutes
Round 16 v Raiders (Saturday at GIO, ACT): 6-day turnaround, Interchange - played 49 minutes

=======

Moving on to this year;
Rounds 1-12: Averaged 77.8 minutes per game (eleven games) - pretty comparable to 2021

Origin Game 1 (Wednesday in Adelaide, SA): Starting 2nd row - played 71  minutes
Round 14 v Rabbitohs (Saturday at CBUS, QLD): 3-day turnaround, Interchange - played 33 minutes

====

Maybe Holbrook gives Fifita 80 because it's a 4-day turnaround instead of 3, or maybe he does what he's done every other time so far, and starts him from the bench for 30, 40, 50 minutes?

EJ24 wrote:Hey guys, chasing some advice on my team with what to do with Cleary. I already have Sj and Hynes with Boyd as cover so I don't need to go another Half. Do I go for a Yeo or Bateman?

Team before trades looks like this 10 trades 90k ITB

Boyd
Haas Horse Tatola
Preston Hopgood
Sj Hynes
Taas Manu
Teddy Bula Walsh

Turpin Oloapu Ponga Cleary
Robson Luki JDB Burbo

Wouldn’t get a third edge this close to 16 given you can only play 2, unless you plan to trade one of the other 2 before?

Something I hadn't considered, what are Nanai's origin chances for game 2? Would be handy as a Luki owner.

mrbrownstone wrote:Something I hadn't considered, what are Nanai's origin chances for game 2? Would be handy as a Luki owner.

It was mentioned during the game on the 9 commentary, whether 1 match would be enough for Billy to pick him. Seemed like it wasn't out of the question.