$101K BANK
HOK: Grant
One of my notes from last year is to start with a 1x gun HOK/MID/HLF. So Grant just meets the HOK requirement. Should be the best in his position. Not fully convinced by Robson and have Cheese in MID currently to accommodate.
MID: Hopgood | B. Smith | Tupouniua
Currently on Hopgood as the gun MID. DPP and slightly cheaper has him over the line ahead of Haas, with some ability to gain cash. Cheese and Tupouniua speak for themselves. The DPP for Cheese also makes him more interesting for flexibility and hopefully no longer playing injured.
EDG: Wong | Piakura
Safer to pick Wong and flick later if needed rather than not pick him and scrambling to get him in, I think. Piakura is an auto-pick.
HLF: Cleary | Fogarty
(C)leary locked in, and Fogarty should have some value and upside as main playmaker, kicking, goal kicking, etc. Not expecting SJ 2023 but still value.
CTR: Kris | Strange
Kris is priced at 28 and has a career average at 35 at CTR, and will be back in R2 in that spot - will be used to look at Burbo and will stay if Burbo gets a decent score. If Burbo shits the bed, which he very well might, then Kris can go to someone else like Simonsson or Suli. Assuming Strange gets the 5/8 spot then he'll be the other CTR.
WFB: Papenhuyzen | Rapana | Kini
Papi is another auto-pick. Rapana has a career FB average of 51 and priced at 35. Kini is a gamble kind of like Trindall last year, just hoping his talent and weak opposition can let him get some good scores early.
INT: Smithies | Luki | Lussick | Hutchison
Smithies - base stat beast and should get DPP, ideally keep lock when Horse is back. Luki - with Leilua gone then that edge spot should be his, and has a high ceiling. Lussick - easy choice if he plays 80 but if Hands is on the bench then will need to revisit. Hutchison - assuming starting halfback, easy choice.
EMG: Salmon | Hughes | B. Trbojevic | Cotric
Salmon - assuming starting lock, not sure on his minutes so not in top 17 for now. Hughes - should be this year's Ming. Burbo - starting edge at 250k but still going to loop him because I can. Cotric - could be anyone in this last slot, just have him here as the WFB/CTR DPP and does have value if he does line up on the wing.
OTHER PLAYERS OF INTEREST
Haas: 'Best' MID but next to no value at his price. Opting for value, I think Hopgood or Murray are better choices who can meet the same points. I could actually afford the Haas/Hopgood double, but would have next to no cash in the bank.
Moses: Priced high so you're banking on the Eels early draw. Maybe only has a few points of value in him but also has a low game he can pop out at any point.
Murray: Back and forth on him. Would need to sacrifice elsewhere to get him in. Could move Cheese to HOK and go Murray in MID too.
Ponga: The best WFB. History shows starting with a gun WFB isn't ideal for team composition, but he should do well.
Tedesco: Notorious slow starter but I did have him last year in R1 at 800k odd. Still an option to include and would then get the VC.
Cotter: Wouldn't surprise me if he gets 5ish points of value but there's better options that are cheaper than him IMO.
Penisini: Would be the one I fork out for if I go expensive at CTR but can't fit in.
Lane: Similar to Cotter, better options for cheaper. Wouldn't surprise me if Tuilagi takes some minutes too.
Aitken: Only if starting edge... then might need to tinker to fit him in.
Blore: Ideally the starting Storm edge is Bradley, but haven't seen enough of Blore play in the preseason.
Tatola: Same reasoning as Cotter. Also he's boring to watch.
Simonsson: An option to pivot Kris to if I need to. Good option if playing CTR and has DPP.
Suli: Another Kris pivot option. Would hope he improves with a new coach and back to a 40 average.
Flanagan: Ultra slow burn I think. Like Ilias a few years ago. Can wait a bit and see how he goes. An option is to start Hutchison in HLF2 and have Flanagan as the back-up half. Would then use the extra cash from dumping Fogarty to get another gun elsewhere.
Levi: If he gets 40ish minutes then he should make cash, but he's a shit player.
Weekes: Will be in if he gets the 5/8 spot over Strange.
Bradley: Will be in if he gets the starting edge spot. Should then be WFB/EDG DPP.
Last edited by Shady2K on Wed Feb 28, 2024 4:49 pm; edited 2 times in total