2017 NRL.com Fantasy thread part 4

Johnny B Goode wrote:I finished 398th in 2015 having never had Smith or RTS in my team so you know it's possible to still rank highly without him but I've learnt it's better to just cast off the rebellious streak and have him from Day 1.
 
I started 2015 with a Michael Lichaa/Kierran Moseley combo and by the time post-Origin period rolled around I got way too cocky about doing so well without Smith, so I upgraded Lichaa to McCollough instead as a POD option. Macca's scores took a severe dip and Smith was well Smith.
2016 I learnt from that lesson and picked him on Day 1 except I didn't put the C on him every week because I thought it was boring and uninspired. After some disastrous goes at C'ing people like Teddy, BJ and Fifi on different occasions for captains scores of 25-35 it cost me a fair few ranking spots I'd imagine.  
This year I've learnt my lessons. The C is going on him Day 1 and it's never leaving him so long as he takes the field.

Aardvark Ratnick wrote:Not at all happy with Idris and Whare as my CTR,s but dont want compromise elsewhere , also Wallace V Daniel Saifiti any thoughts ? leaning towards DS .

Welshy wrote:Barba will be atrocious in Union especially in the ultra physical French league dominated by forwards. He does not have a transferable skillset

Rippin and Tearin wrote:

You might be suprised, have you watched the Frnech league? They dont bloody tackle especially in the backs

I have no idea about Barba's Union credentials but doubt he'll be any good simply because the transition form league to Union is one only a few players have been genuinely successful in. BUT the French league is the place to go - either that or go to Japan.

Presumably they will just chuck him at FB (or wing)- he wont have to tackle much, can join the offensive line in much the same way he does in RL, the only thing he'll have to learn to do is learn some positional play on D and work on his kicking game. Im not saying he'll be any good but outside backs have the easiest transition between the codes.

Also for those that say he is too small for Union... based on his wiki measures he's bigger than several All Blacks so I unless his measures are wrong (91kg and 1.76m) then size shouldn't be an issue for him. Come to think of it though he doesnt look like he is actually 91 kg....

For reference a few current (small) ABs below:

Damian McKenzie 1.77 81kg
Aaron Cruden  1.75 82kg
Aaron Smith 1.71 85kg

Welshy wrote:
Im very high on Saifiti mate, Wallace never been a huge scorer, chance for more minutes yes but at least Saifiti proved at the end of last year that he can produce some very decent prop scores! avg around 45 without checking the stats, likely the no1 prop at the Knights now so potential for a further increase

Fortitude wrote:

Benji's stint for the Blues (who suck) comes to mind. For mine, similar skill set that will get exposed

Aardvark Ratnick wrote:Not at all happy with Idris and Whare as my CTR,s but dont want compromise elsewhere , also Wallace V Daniel Saifiti any thoughts ? leaning towards DS .

Welshy wrote:

come on R and T you are comparing him size wise to world class union players in Cruden and a generational SH talent in Smith, yes MacKenzie is lightweight but he is another animal to Barba! All of them have also been playing union all their life and not just moving codes for a quick pay day

He won't make Toulons 2nd team. massive rumours Halfpenny is coming back to the Blues (Cardiff) if he stays, no way in a million years he starts FB over him. Then you have Josh Tuisova, Clerc, Ashton, Habana, Semi and O'Connor on the wings

Not a chance mate, he will be back after half a season

I watch the top regularly mate, he will get absolutely battered

Chewie wrote:Buhrer vs McGuire?

Assuming both get the lock position, and McGuire gets DPP

Warriors wrote:

McGuire. Firstly, Buhrer will play 80 on an edge, (not at lock) but next to Lamb? I think could be exposed. DCE is a much better defender than Lamb and is a little more creative. From memory Buhrer had a few attacking stats last year.

Discounting his injury game and his next two coming back from injury (both 65 mins, he actually scored a try in 1 of them) for scores of 45 and 40.

His next 11 games he averaged 56 points in 81 mins. But in these 11 games he had 2 tries, 2 try assists, 6 line breaks, 2 Line break assists, 21 tackle breaks and 8 offloads.
I would be very surprised if he kept these numbers up for the whole season, let alone played the whole season without significant injury.

He should average 50 if staying fit, but I think McGuire will push to a 53 average personally.

Chewie wrote:RTS vs Holmes?

Chewie wrote:next one:

RTS vs Holmes?

Now BBQ is gone

Holmes played 4 games at fullback in 2015 (62, 18, 8, 39)

Chewie wrote:next one:

RTS vs Holmes?

Now BBQ is gone

Holmes played 4 games at fullback in 2015 (62, 18, 8, 39)

my tv broke wrote: