2017 NRL.com Fantasy thread part 7

@feline

What are you going to do in your WFB when Ponga is dropped? Play the Python?

I've got concerns over Phythian, memories of Feeney are too raw.

Feline wrote:

Made a team with Smith and McInnes, and a POD N.Brown as a hooker substitute late sometime in the game for De Gois or Kritchard taking a rest and extending his minutes to 55 or 60 through this. Who knows if this will happen but if there is not a bench hooker, it will either be him or Kenny Edwards and I have read that he is training a bit in this position. age Useful mid-range to gun POD if that is the case, but who knows what Brad Arthur will do, but this is as likely as anything.

Also, I really like the idea of Bateman if he is named at Lock. Super good value. If these two come off you can get quite a good team with Smith and McInness, with taking Hampton as a sleeping cash cow, who will play half during origin.

Any thoughts?

HOK: Smith / McInnes
FRF: N.Brown / Gurgess / Faufusi / Leota
2RF: Surgess / Jrbojevic / Eaylor / Bateman / Sironen / Chee-Kam
HLF: Gutherson / Lamb / Hampton / Frown
CTR: Walker / Mata'uita / Idris / Cotric
WFB: Tuivasa-Sheck / Hayne / Ponga / Phythian / Suli
CTR:

I don't like Ponga in the 17. I would even question in him the 25, but he could be cut short if Winterstein comes back round 2 and you are playing Phythian.
But you don't have much cash to spare to upgrade him (unless you have a fat reserve), so I think you need to downgrade one of Walker/Mata'uita and take the gamble on someone like Idris in your 17.
Other than that I really like this team. Mainly because if you swap maybe 4 players, it is my current team.
Bateman could absolutely be fantastic value if he nails down that lock spot. I just worry that if the raiders don't get wins off the bat, Sticky will want to chop and change with Soli and others and there are just too many Raiders forwards in the mix for minutes. One last complaint, which is also my current problem. Hampton should be Elgey. I know it, you know it. But i just can't find the cash. Almost completely satisfied with my team in every way, but having a Hampton when I should have an Elgey and being unable to correct that is doing my head in. I just cannot be happy.

Anyone going Farah over Smith. Farah's first game v Wests. He'll really want to prove a point. I reckon he'll score 76. He'll be on 40 odd at half time.

Welshy wrote:Hasn't Ricky already said Solly will be starting at lock?

Yeah Soli will be lock and he and Bateman will both spend times at both lock and FR thoughout the game I'd say, which will also likely vary from game to game with injuries and depending on the opposition. I very much doubt either will be good fantasy options (Bateman could maaaybe become more valuable towards the end of the season, but i wouldn't count on it).

White Lightning wrote:Anyone going Farah over Smith. Farah's first game v Wests. He'll really want to prove a point. I reckon he'll score 76. He'll be on 40 odd at half time.

Gah, that's a good point. Now trying to find a way to fit in Smith, McInnes and Farah. Boil some coffee, it's gonna be a long night!

Pookus McFly wrote:

Gah, that's a good point. Now trying to find a way to fit in Smith, McInnes and Farah. Boil some coffee, it's gonna be a long night!

I would say the McInnes & Farah combo could pay dividends.

White Lightning wrote:Anyone going Farah over Smith. Farah's first game v Wests. He'll really want to prove a point. I reckon he'll score 76. He'll be on 40 odd at half time.

I reckon he'll score 30, give away penalties and make unforced errors trying to overplay his hand whilst sharing time with Cook. Each to their own i guess.

Archer wrote:
I reckon he'll score 30, give away penalties and make unforced errors trying to overplay his hand whilst sharing time with Cook. Each to their own i guess.

I can see this happening. I think Farah is one of those silver spoon holding, twatty "older kids" at school or in your sporting team that talks emselves up all the time and then when push comes to shove either overdoes it and ends up fucking it all up or is shown to be the ageing pretender that he really is.

I'm watching this closely, not because I think/want it to happen but more because Rabbit thinks Farah is the answer to all Souffs problems... And God I wanna laff at that guy.




















Kinda like NSW did for God knows how many years... LOL!

http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/raiders/ricky-stuart-wants-salary-cap-revamp-with-shaun-fensom-edrick-lee-forced-out-of-canberra-raiders/news-story/974e94c6087288a7b4b814772dbeb538

fensom to cowbs and lee to sharks discussed here
ffs fensom to cowbs would be shit! no extra value at all

White Lightning wrote:Anyone going Farah over Smith. Farah's first game v Wests. He'll really want to prove a point. I reckon he'll score 76. He'll be on 40 odd at half time.

No way would I pick anyone solely on their round 1 fixture.

I'm assuming Farah plays origin which makes him a no-go due to byes. he'd need to go back to his prime of 60+ scoring wise to be worth the trades required

didn't know E-Lee was on the way out too, does Cotric come in to play now?

might rethink my CTR if it goes that way, had Walker locked in, by if Idris, Talakai, Kelly & Cotric are all named, it could create some space for upgrades elsewhere.

Random wrote:

Ballin isn't set for Round 1 at this stage. He may come in Round 2/3 but it is a risk regarding injury status. He is cheap though and a few guys were looking. But mostly see the basement prices an area to save a little.

Ballin basically had one bad injury that he came back from to early. He's not injury prone. I'm happy to include him from the start to save a trade. All other cheap hookers are problematic and Ballin is a proven first grade player.

I think Suli will get first crack at the Tigers wing spot.

Tigers paid a lot of money for him publicly and would love for him to go of and show him off and that he was worth the money

FYI for everyone picking Talakai, looking at Souths forums they think Goodwin will be at centre and Burns wing. Suppose we'll wait and see.

Whats the bet they're both named but one on the extended bench

Honeysett wrote:@feline

What are you going to do in your WFB when Ponga is dropped? Play the Python?

I've got concerns over Phythian, memories of Feeney are too raw.

Good question...

If I replace Jrbojevic with Cartwright I can move Gutherson down there and Cartwright to half if Ponga is dropped and Phythian doesn't perform. That being said also have Suli as back-up.

In fact I think I will change Jrbovejic to Cartwright. I think that solves the issue nicely

@@Archer I've got Daylor in my team. How do you think he fits into that Raiders pack?
Potential redemption star story??

rhinoceroo wrote:FYI for everyone picking Talakai, looking at Souths forums they think Goodwin will be at centre and Burns wing. Suppose we'll wait and see.

It's a tough call, there is value in putting Goodwin back to centre and bring Burns in.  Saying that, Talakai adds more to the team overall than Burns I reckon.

Pookus McFly wrote:

I don't like Ponga in the 17. I would even question in him the 25, but he could be cut short if Winterstein comes back round 2 and you are playing Phythian.
But you don't have much cash to spare to upgrade him (unless you have a fat reserve), so I think you need to downgrade one of Walker/Mata'uita and take the gamble on someone like Idris in your 17.
Other than that I really like this team. Mainly because if you swap maybe 4 players, it is my current team.
Bateman could absolutely be fantastic value if he nails down that lock spot. I just worry that if the raiders don't get wins off the bat, Sticky will want to chop and change with Soli and others and there are just too many Raiders forwards in the mix for minutes. One last complaint, which is also my current problem. Hampton should be Elgey. I know it, you know it. But i just can't find the cash. Almost completely satisfied with my team in every way, but having a Hampton when I should have an Elgey and being unable to correct that is doing my head in. I just cannot be happy.

See the last comment about Ponga / Phythian.

As for Elgey I am not convinced Elgey is even close to a must have.

Hampton as a bench hooker may make a small amount of cash, but his real value is when Origin kicks in and he plays 4 or 5 games starting. No need to waste a trade as he is already in the team. Don't really need him before then.

Feline wrote:

See the last comment about Ponga / Phythian.

As for Elgey I am not convinced Elgey is even close to a must have.

Hampton as a bench hooker may make a small amount of cash, but his real value is when Origin kicks in and he plays 4 or 5 games starting. No need to waste a trade as he is already in the team. Don't really need him before then.

Wait, why does he play 4-5 games starting over origin? He might get round 15 with the halves out, but cowboys have a bye for the other two origin games.