Milchcow 2024

Final trades were Iro and Stewart in for Rapana and Chan
914 last week which was a step in the right direction

21 green dots this week, and $600k in the bank, so the world is my oyster

Initial trade thoughts

Levi out for Crichton is 1 trade
Then to work out what to do with Talagi - has to go soon if he's going to be a bench utility, so maybe this week.
Waddell might be a bit too short term, but then he'll probably hold the spot for 8 weeks and kill it
Chester might be some good coverage at CTR/WFB - but not sure long term scores will be worth it. Might be better stumping up cash for Aitken

Aitken appears to be a longer term safe as houses milchcow type option

Dolphins still have Lemuelu as short term injury, although I know there's been a few posts suggesting longer

But Aitken has never started edge when Lemuelu has been available, and whilst people love reading things into whatever team the coach named this week, I am more conservative with my predictions (sometimes to my detriment)

Current team

JMK
Tapine Haas Yeo
Fifita Lemuele
Hynes Brown
Strange Iro
Weeks Fa'alogo Tedesco

May KPP Galvin Garrick
Wighton Hands Koula Waddell


Bold are clear keepers

My trade in targets are Cook (this week)
Cleary as soon as fit enough to trust, maybe wait a week on BE
Grant, Murray, Olakau'atu - all under $700k with highish BE

KPP, JMK, Weekes, Brown are all around $600k in price so 1 decent downgrade and I can just about squeeze in a few of those.

WFB will be tough as not sure on where funds will come from, also Weekes and Fa'alogo are of limited usefulness. Koula may get a reprieve if he gets some time at fullback. Garrick may or may not be able to stick around

Latrell may be out of range so might take a punt on Drinkwater and/or Walsh for hopefully under $650k each

Funds remain the issue though. Only $95k in the bank, might end up regretting getting Hynes too early, but I did need the points last week.
Really would like a $250k player to turn up soon

Team pre trades. 6 trades and $602k in the bank

Cook
Tapine Yeo Haas
Fifita Koloamatagi
Galvin Gray
Wighton Iro
Tedesco Garrick Drinkwater

Terrell, Curran, Starling, KPP
Strange, Howarth, Sipley, Hands


One trade is definitely Cleary in.
If I lose Sipley, Strange, KPP can then afford $1300 on 2 players to complement the Chin
Only 2 trades for injuries, but at least I'd have a strong team.
Sipley and Strange almost certainly gone, and then toss up keeping KPP or not.
Last week I panic traded Lemuelu to Curran which was probably a waste, think I might regret that, have to stay calm after lockout this week and not trade (or I should have just brought Cleary in and been done with it)


Tempted by Dylan Brown with no Moses. Also think Harry Grant can finish the season well. have a few days to see if anyone else tempts.
Could also wait a week and get Cam Murray

I think if I have the trade I'll ditch Terrell May before his bye. There are a bunch of players for a similar price who can outscore him with 5 games vs 4, and if Roosters are full strength fpor the run home there might be a rest or 2.

Grant looks pretty banged up and isn't the scorers favourite, given Storm likely to shore up top 2 wouldn't surprise me if he gets rested before finals.

Brown less risk with no Moses there, if you're thinking that way. May is also likely to go out of my team as well before the Roosters bye but I wouldn't be upset if he didn't. He's been amazing for us fanatics this year.

Are you wanting depth in 18 or 19 as I feel you could get another huge name into the squad with that 1.3m

I'm feeling Brown love at the moment - need a decent half for when Galvin is on the bye and for a potential Cleary rest (although hopefully with all the games already missed through injury they play him right through for match fitness)

Currently have too many iffy players in the team. Assuming Strange and Sipley go this week, still have Howarth, Hands, Gray. Not terrible players for backup but don't want to rely on them each week. And I won't be surprised if Starling goes back to a smaller role at some point.
So would definitely rather add 2 $650k players than gun up and run another cheapie