NRL Fantasy 2023 Part 82 - Baggie Time

Finding it hard to put together a decent team within the cap. Going to need a number of base priced players to be available.

Early example squad:

Brailey
Curran May Brandon
Fifita Lucas
Cleary Fogarty
Mariner Cotric
Ponga Kiraz Weekes

Schuster Angus Piakura Lawton
4x250k

$22k remaining

Just got the email that fantasy's open already. Wasn't even on my radar, that caught me off guard.

Must resist the temptation to make a team before the New Year, that seems excessively early. It won't be easy...

One of the hardest selections to start the season will be which of the premium WFBs to run with, under a limited cap. Ponga, Teddy, Turbo, Drinkwater. Any of them could start the season on fire, but can't have more than 1 or 2 at most.

mattnz wrote:One of the hardest selections to start the season will be which of the premium WFBs to run with, under a limited cap. Ponga, Teddy, Turbo, Drinkwater. Any of them could start the season on fire, but can't have more than 1 or 2 at most.

The answer to that question is none of them.

Papenhuyzen at 495k (or Fa'alogo at 263k if he isn't ready in time) + 2 cheapies is the way to go, paying up for WFBs at the start of the season is almost never worth it.

Bethany_B wrote:

The answer to that question is none of them.

Papenhuyzen at 495k (or Fa'alogo at 263k if he isn't ready in time) + 2 cheapies is the way to go, paying up for WFBs at the start of the season is almost never worth it.

If Ponga comes out scoring like he did the last half of last season to win the Dally M, he had 1 score under 53 in the last 11 rounds he played and an average in the mid 60s, you won't want to be one of the few that miss him.

The problem with cheap backs, is they are cheap for a reason. Talau, HSS, Cotric, Naden etc. If you go to the next level up in the $400-500k range, you might as well spend a bit more and get a genuine gun, that is likely at least as undervalued.

Moanaman wrote:

Too much cricket on for that nonsense Stu!

You're not wrong..but as a sports hoe I will take it all at once if it's available

mattnz wrote:

If Ponga comes out scoring like he did the last half of last season to win the Dally M, he had 1 score under 53 in the last 11 rounds he played and an average in the mid 60s, you won't want to be one of the few that miss him.

The problem with cheap backs, is they are cheap for a reason. Talau, HSS, Cotric, Naden etc. If you go to the next level up in the $400-500k range, you might as well spend a bit more and get a genuine gun, that is likely at least as undervalued.

Every year there's an argument to not start with premium WFB and you want Ponga after a career Dally M year haha

Shady2K wrote:

Every year there's an argument to not start with premium WFB and you want Ponga after a career Dally M year haha

Ponga is undervalued, because he kept getting injured while playing at 6. His average at fullback is much higher than he is priced and is in career best form.

He has 1 season since being at Knights, where he hasn't hit $800k during the year.

multiple.scoregasms wrote:Aside from the usual suspects being thrown around on social media I quite like 2 "bargain" middles Adam Elliott and Matt Lodge. Elliott shouldn't have to share minutes too much with Mann moving on (maybe Crossland ends up in this role?) so hoping he can get back to 49 points 55 minute average he had at Canberra back end of 2022. Lodge is a wildcard but showed capable of 50 average in his limited stint at Manly. Maybe he times the meltdown well and skips a few byes as well with his midseason club change this year

Lodge is expected to be injured for the first few rounds of the season. Will be worth a look down the line, but cross him out of starting squad.

It's Leniu season anyway.

Snatchpato wrote:
The feeling isn't mutual, I care very little about South Sydney.

A Roosters fan that doesn’t hate Souths you would be the first I’ve ever met and vice versa it’s very rare………

rhinoceroo wrote:

Lodge is expected to be injured for the first few rounds of the season. Will be worth a look down the line, but cross him out of starting squad.

It's Leniu season anyway.

Will be interesting to see how many mins Robbo gives Leniu. Looks like he’s priced at about 29 to me. What probs want him playing 45mins to be interested.

mattnz wrote:

Ponga is undervalued, because he kept getting injured while playing at 6. His average at fullback is much higher than he is priced and is in career best form.

He has 1 season since being at Knights, where he hasn't hit $800k during the year.

I'm still not convinced that it's worth starting with any premium WFB, teams seem to defend better and attack worse in the first few rounds which affects WFBs a lot. Starting with top tier fullbacks is what you do when playing Supercoach.

Ponga is a perfectly fine pick but I think buying him at about round 5 is the better way to go, once you've had a few weeks of cash generation.

By starting with Ponga, you aren't starting with someone else at his price range, and I would much rather start with guys like Grant, Cleary, Haas and Hynes (my current draft has all four but there's a decent chance I will have to give up one to make it work)

Starting without Ponga after his career year would be like starting 2022 without Tommy Trbo after his stellar 2021

What is this?? opening up a month early

Given site is open now, we can start the 2024 threads in earnest

https://www.nrlfantasyfanatics.com/t2337-nrl-fantasy-2024-part-1-gates-are-open-come-on-in