2017 NRL.com Fantasy thread part 1

Bren wrote:

flasSId* wrote:So I haven't tried making a team yet.  The teams I have seen around the traps suggest this is by far the hardest year in the FanHub era to make one?  That is awesome, will make it a bit less formulaic and predictable but might mean a bit of luck picking the right mid rangers?

Backlines will potentially be similar but FRF and SRF could be very different between teams.

I have a challenge for ye. Only allowed to select a squad of players with the letters S and I in their name. Least you can still select Cam Smith.

Did it in my head and was travelling really well till I got to the Halves and Centres. Decent forward pack.

Welshy wrote:probably a bit back heavy and $24,000 over budget but I'm pretty happy with this

Smith, McCullough
JWH, Gurgess, Hoare, Ese'Ese
Surgess, Taylor, SioneMat, Hess, Elliott, Capewell
Norman, Hodgkinson, Elgey, Spud
Croker, Idris, Scott, Kelly
Tedesco, RTS, Hayne, Jennings, Phythian

plenty of option in the CTRs to dump Croker to someone like Chambers and use the cash up top

Nice team mate but do yourself a favour & bin Macca. K-Nik will steal his minutes. Macca relies on a big tackle count so he needs 70+ minutes but he'll only get 55 mins with K-Nik on the bench. Macca only did well on the run home in 2016 when K-Nik was injured & they played 4 forwards on the bench.

White Lightning wrote:

Nice team mate but do yourself a favour & bin Macca. K-Nik will steal his minutes. Macca relies on a big tackle count so he needs 70+ minutes but he'll only get 55 mins with K-Nik on the bench. Macca only did well on the run home in 2016 when K-Nik was injured & they played 4 forwards on the bench.

Yes but the difference is this year no CP13. Nobody knows what the rotation will be yet. World club series might be interesting

mulvy wrote:

Yes but the difference is this year no CP13. Nobody knows what the rotation will be yet. World club series might be interesting

MTB reckons the Macca minutes issue will be the same as last year. Time will tell though as you say.

Pookus McFly wrote:

Hook: Nothing to see here, move along
FRF: I like the undervalued picks, both had frustrating 2016's but solid scorers before that
2RF: Just not convinced of Hess's minutes, perhaps will get more gametime but too awkwardly priced for someone I am not convinced will get the upgrade. I worry that ET could spend time at hooker with their new options while JT figures it all out. He scored poorly there and Doubt he will see much price rises if he does
HLF: I like the Hodkinson pick, definitely could be a big improver, and you have Elgey as pseudo-backup in case he is not
CTR: Solid
WFB: Am I crazy to think Tedesco will be a POD with so many well priced WFB? You might have a huge edge with this pick if he busts out a classic Teddy 100 in round 1 with low ownership. As a Souths' fan, let me assure you- the Tiges love to turn up for the bunnies. It could happen.

I like your team overall, just wondering who your reserves are?

Macca, Hess, Elgey & Hoare

Easy enough to drop Croker to Chambers who I'm backing for a big year or TTurbo who played most of the year on a bum ankle! and upgrading Hess to KBrom or someone of the same ilk

I never go strong in the backs to start season especially the CTRs, this year with so many undervalued wfbs it seems even more silly to go big starting off, the safer option is normally to save and get established forward fantasy guns but I may go the opposite and try to start big off the bat

mulvy wrote:

Yes but the difference is this year no CP13. Nobody knows what the rotation will be yet. World club series might be interesting

Agree with your take on Macca, with no Parker seems stupid removing your best defender and ruck operator, can see Macca going to lock for a spell and playing close to 80

Macca to me seems a pretty low risk, high ceiling pick, can't see his scores dipping, the reason people are down on Macca is because he dropped close to $150,000 off his 2016 starting price, this year is priced where there is plenty of room for a return to form if Bennett plays him the 80

Decided to have a play with the team builder. Very few guns for me lots of mid-rangers which led to a change in strategy and means ill play Smith/Cow hooker combo rather then the initial 2 x 2nd tier i was going to run.

Smith/King
(pretty straight forward)
Saifiti/Wallace/Offa/Hoare
(I think the Knights are building around DS and he reaches just below gun status, Wallace looks like a worker to me and will step up as a starter for GC, Offa because i previous Broncos posts, Hoare as i need a cheap guy)
Surgess/JDB/JFH/Capewell/Stimpson/170k from team lists
(2 Guns seems a bit of POD here, I like JFH to be the go to 2nd rower for Panthers this year, Yeo to be dropped. Capewell DPP with Sione should either be centre or off the bench for 40min/ Stimpson as heard he is inline fore a role with the storm and is rookie price)
Norman/Moses/Elgey/Hingano
(i think Moses goes to gun status this year, the last 2 are just hopeful of getting a run because the teams have big wraps on them and i need cheap)
TTurbo/Maituia/Kelly/Olive
(i just want 2 guys who will score consistent but can bust out big, 2 rookies for cash making any more seem risky, i like Olive to get a wing spot)
Hayne/RTS/Tedesco/Scott/Phythian
(set and forget 3 guns, I dont trust Slater and only really made cash when he'd go on a 6 try in 3 game run, Scott i think gets rd1 wing spot hence why ill get him here, Phythian because he has a decent shot at making the Knights team somewhere)

was a bit hard to read team like that

Smith/King
Saifiti/Wallace/Offa/Hoare
Surgess/JDB/JFH/Capewell/Stimpson/170k from team lists
Norman/Moses/Elgey/Hingano
TTurbo/Maituia/Kelly/Olive
Hayne/RTS/Tedesco/Scott/Phythian

White Lightning wrote:

Nice team MS. Keep an eye re Lichaa. I was reading on some forum that the Bulldogs have been shopping Lichaa around but there have been no takers so far. They reckon he doesn't lead the team around. Garvey or Woolford could be on the bench in round 1 as they start to phase him out. The only other doubt is Slater but you'll know his situation come round 1. Last year I started with Slater & he got injured in round 1. I think he's too injury prone but I could be wrong. Also will the Knights get enough dominant possession for Hodkinson to score attacking points.

Back up hooker has changed with every single draft I've done, haven't found one I like yet.

Wardle will be a decent option in the CTRs but I think I have too man knights already, and any knights back will be risky after the season they had last year

Nothing better to do so I'll throw out another team - lots of similarities to other sides on here

Smith, King
Daifiti, Gurgess, Wallace, Ofa
Surgess, ET, KBrom, SMat, Capewell, Stimpson
Norman, Moses, Sezer, Jacks
Hurrell, Idris, Scott, Kelly
Trbo, RTS, Hayne, Pythian, Jennings

SoylentGreen wrote:Nothing better to do so I'll throw out another team - lots of similarities to other sides on here

Smith, King
Daifiti, Gurgess, Wallace, Ofa
Surgess, ET, KBrom, SMat, Capewell, Stimpson
Norman, Moses, Sezer, Jacks
Hurrell, Idris, Scott, Kelly
Trbo, RTS, Hayne, Pythian, Jennings

Interesting with Turbo at FB. Is the plan to start him there so you don't have to pick Slater and move him to centre later?

My team is a lot different with no Smith. With 0itb it must be a sign haha.
Luke (King)
R. James, McGuire, Kasiano (Ese'ese)
Surgess (c), Cartwright, Sione Mata'utia, Hess (Capewell, Stimson)
SJ, Maloney, Moses, Elgey
Idris, C. Scott (B. Kelly, Drew)
Moylan, RTS, Hayne ( R. Jennings, Dylan Edwards)

SoylentGreen wrote:Nothing better to do so I'll throw out another team - lots of similarities to other sides on here

Smith, King
Daifiti, Gurgess, Wallace, Ofa
Surgess, ET, KBrom, SMat, Capewell, Stimpson
Norman, Moses, Sezer, Jacks
Hurrell, Idris, Scott, Kelly
Trbo, RTS, Hayne, Pythian, Jennings

Not sure if the powers that be want to start a new thread closer to the season for teams and predicted scores etc, will leave in here for now

Smith 130, King 20-40
Daifiti 35-50, Gurgess 35-50, Wallace 30-40, Ofa
Surgess 55-60, ET 45-52, KBrom 35-45, SMat 35-45, Capewell, Stimpson
Norman 50-60, Moses 40-45, Sezer 30-40, Jacks
Hurrell 35-45, Idris 25-40, Scott, Kelly
Trbo 40-55, RTS 40-55, Hayne 35-55, Pythian, Jennings

715 - 897 avg 806

My latest draft

Smith (McInnes)
Gurgess, Prior (Ofa, Gray DPP)
Surgess, Buhrer, Sione (Hess, Capewell, Stimpson)
Norman, Moses (Mortimer, nuffy)
Idris, Hurrell (Kelly, MCK DPP)
Hayne, RTS, Slater (Pythian, Drew DPP)

Please note:
- a few DPPs for flexibility
- Sione could swap easily with MCK (save a trade)
- Mortimer in the halves if he starts at hooker
- Players in bold I definitely want to have in the team

I think I have a good starting 17 with these options

White Lightning wrote:My team is a lot different with no Smith. With 0itb it must be a sign haha.
Luke (King)
R. James, McGuire, Kasiano (Ese'ese)
Surgess (c), Cartwright, Sione Mata'utia, Hess (Capewell, Stimson)
SJ, Maloney, Moses, Elgey
Idris, C. Scott (B. Kelly, Drew)
Moylan, RTS, Hayne ( R. Jennings, Dylan Edwards)

Nice team!
I would steer clear of Maloney though, very inconsistent

White Lightning wrote:My team is a lot different with no Smith. With 0itb it must be a sign haha.
Luke 45-55(King) 20-40
R. James 50-60, McGuire 50-55, Kasiano 25-35 (Ese'ese)
Surgess (c) 110-120, Cartwright 50, Sione Mata'utia 35-45, Hess 25-35 (Capewell, Stimson)
SJ 50-55, Maloney 35-40, Moses 40-45, Elgey 30-35
Idris 25-40, C. Scott 20-35 (if CTR) (B. Kelly, Drew)
Moylan 40-45, RTS 40-55, Hayne 35-55 ( R. Jennings, Dylan Edwards)

725 - 900 - avg 812.5

Welshy wrote:

Not sure if the powers that be want to start a new thread closer to the season for teams and predicted scores etc, will leave in here for now

Smith 130, King 20-40
Daifiti 35-50, Gurgess 35-50, Wallace 30-40, Ofa
Surgess 55-60, ET 45-52, KBrom 35-45, SMat 35-45, Capewell, Stimpson
Norman 50-60, Moses 40-45, Sezer 30-40, Jacks
Hurrell 35-45, Idris 25-40, Scott, Kelly
Trbo 40-55, RTS 40-55, Hayne 35-55, Pythian, Jennings

715 - 897 avg 806

Cheers welshy - I think I'd be more likely to run with my 4th FRF in the 17 over King, but that's unlikely to change the predicted score.

Mulvy - yes, Trbo at WFB and SMat at 2rf are there as CTR options. Slater is tempting, but I don't trust him to stay on the field

SoylentGreen wrote:

Cheers welshy - I think I'd be more likely to run with my 4th FRF in the 17 over King, but that's unlikely to change the predicted score.

Mulvy - yes, Trbo at WFB and SMat at 2rf are there as CTR options. Slater is tempting, but I don't trust him to stay on the field

scores overs in my pre season excitement but anything above 760 R1 is a decent start in my book, over 800 and you are laughing and your pre season scouting has paid off

Chewie wrote:

Nice team!
I would steer clear of Maloney though, very inconsistent

Thanks mate. The theory re Maloney is his output should improve with no Ennis directing the attack & no Barba at the back stealing try assists. Either Holmes or J. Bird at f/b don't have the speed or footwork to run the Barba set play so there will be more responsibility on Maloney & Townsend to get more involved in attack. Hopefully this improves Maloney's consistency.
Also I just read on sc addicts that the Sharks/Segeyaro deal is on & that Segeyaro could be a Shark sometime next week. I was keen on Prior but this will mean less minutes for him as I assume Segeyaro will play 80 mins so there will be an extra forward on the bench. I'm not sure how accurate this news is though.

Ya segeyaro to sharks appears to be happening