2018 NRL.com Fantasy thread part 1

Milchcow wrote:

It is less risky on a week to week basis, as its a lot easier to replace them with a reasonable scorer if they don't play. And you don't have to worry about your dud cash cow giving you a shit AE.

Its a bit tougher from a cash building point of view, because with only 4 NPR slots, you can't afford too many of them sitting around not doing anything.

And more on the 4 npr spots. Backs usually are the ones that are the best cash cows as they get 80 minutes. However getting 4 that will play is the problem.

Milchcow wrote:
From a cheapie point of view.
With current standing I'd say these guys will be very popular.


Canberra Hooker
Bryce Cartwright
Manly five-eighth
Taane Milne

But its a tough choice between whether you have these guys in your 17 or spend a valuable NPR spot on them
For me Milne will either be a starting CTR or not in my team. Unless he can get himself DPP status I don't think I want to waste a bench spot on a CTR.
I think Cartwright will either be good enough to play in my 17 or not worth it at all.

Canberra hooker and Manly 5/8th have 2 of my tentative NPR spots at the moment. Perhaps not good enough scorers to want in your 17, but reasonable cash making potential


No doubt between now and March a tonne of other rookies will turn up to make the choice interesting

Not having a CTR on the bench will put you at risk of only having 16 players if injury hits. I'm looking at carrying 1 WFB/CTR cashcow on my bench for cover (likely in 8th position)

Chewie wrote:An open bench of 8...
I just had a read of the new rules. The tricky bit is that there are 4 emergency players to cover 6 different positions and the interchange positions.

What happens if, Cameron Smith pulls out last minute and Garvey replaces him from the Interchange as the highest ranked replacement? I assume that my ranked number 5 emergency player (doesn't matter if he's not a Hooker)  takes Garvey's spot on the interchange.

That is my reading. If anyone in your starting 13 pulls out, they are replaced by the first person in 14-21 that covers that position.

If the replacement is from 14-17, then next in line from 18-21 (any position) comes into your scoring team.

So Cam Smith out - gets replaced by Garvey (who lets say is in position 14) And Garvey then gets replaced by whoever is in 18 (whatever position)
If you have no hookers in position 14-17 then Smith gets replaced by highest ranked hooker in 18-21
If you have no hookers in position 14-21 then Smith doesn't get replaced and you play with 16 that week.


I imagine there will be a tonne of questions on the specifics in the coming weeks as everyone tries to figure out exactly how it works.

But, captaincy choice aside, your 14-17 should be where you chuck all your DPP players, to maximise replacement potential.

Chewie wrote:

Not having a CTR on the bench will put you at risk of only having 16 players if injury hits. I'm looking at carrying 1 WFB/CTR cashcow on my bench for cover (likely in 8th position)

That is my plan. But bench will have to be DPP CTR/WFB. As a single position CTR, Milne is going to be useless on the bench. Hence he'll be in my starting 13 or nowhere. Same goes for pretty much any rookie who is CTR only or WFB only.
DPP is where it will be at.

Here's my first draft:
Smith
McGuire, Eisenhuth
Brown, Murray, Cartwright
Croft, Watson
Milne, Opacic
Tedesco, T-Trbo, Ponga

Garvey, Lodge, Arrow, L. Croker
NPR'S
Tom Wright (hlf/ctr Manly) - apparently Walker could be out until round 5-6 & the Manly forums reckon he's a good chance to be ctr
Zac Lomax (ctr/wfb Dragons) - probably won't play round 1 but he's in the mix for a wing spot
AJ Brimson (hlf/wfb Titans) - probably won't play round 1 but in pre season he has been running at f/b with Gordon in the ctrs
Leleisiuao (ctr/wfb Eels) - was looking at a sc forum last night & saw his name pop up quite a bit. Apparently he's competing with Au'va & pushing for a wing spot but he's probably unlikely to start round 1

From my starting 17 I'm not sure I even want Cartwright or Watson in my team but they're cheap. I want a bit more flexibility in my 2fr with a dpp frf/2fr. I'm going full gun in my wfb's to compensate score wise for my very cheap ctrs.

Milchcow wrote:


That is my plan. But bench will have to be DPP CTR/WFB. As a single position CTR, Milne is going to be useless on the bench. Hence he'll be in my starting 13 or nowhere. Same goes for pretty much any rookie who is CTR only or WFB only.
DPP is where it will be at.

Currently I'm thinking of running with Hayne & Milne in the CTRs and putting Dean Whare (WFB/CTR) on the bench in positon 8 (or 21 depending on how you look at it)

I'm still looking for a good 2RF/FRF for my interchange though. I'm hoping we'll get a few surprise FRF/2RF positions come round 1

Kikau will hopefully be FRF/2RF by the start of the season. Plenty on the Panthers forum think he'll be the starting second row, although if he is everyone will have him.

Boozecluez wrote:

Will make cheap injury prone players slightly less risky now with the new 'insurance' plan. Ie Inglis/Hurrell/JGraham

Also good for cows that are still trying to secure a starting place (especially with coaches that like to play musical chairs), ie Souths CTR's last year
If they pull out last minute you are less likely to get burned especially if they play on the sunday

Remember this only works if they pull out before the game, not 5-10mins into the game though.

What are peoples thoughts on Matt Moylan? Seems to be undervalued. Won't get many kms but more of a Munster type half. Can see him as the go to half when the Sharks are on attack.
DPP status is handy too.

Milchcow wrote:

Chewie wrote:An open bench of 8...
I just had a read of the new rules. The tricky bit is that there are 4 emergency players to cover 6 different positions and the interchange positions.

What happens if, Cameron Smith pulls out last minute and Garvey replaces him from the Interchange as the highest ranked replacement? I assume that my ranked number 5 emergency player (doesn't matter if he's not a Hooker)  takes Garvey's spot on the interchange.

That is my reading. If anyone in your starting 13 pulls out, they are replaced by the first person in 14-21 that covers that position.

If the replacement is from 14-17, then next in line from 18-21 (any position) comes into your scoring team.

So Cam Smith out - gets replaced by Garvey (who lets say is in position 14) And Garvey then gets replaced by whoever is in 18 (whatever position)
If you have no hookers in position 14-17 then Smith gets replaced by highest ranked hooker in 18-21
If you have no hookers in position 14-21 then Smith doesn't get replaced and you play with 16 that week.


I imagine there will be a tonne of questions on the specifics in the coming weeks as everyone tries to figure out exactly how it works.

But, captaincy choice aside, your 14-17 should be where you chuck all your DPP players, to maximise replacement potential.

Thing is though, why not then have 14-19 so there is the potential to have an AE in each position? I guess we are speculating and I'm sure FanHub know what they are doing 

Honey Badger wrote:What are peoples thoughts on Matt Moylan?  Seems to be undervalued.  Won't get many kms but more of a Munster type half.  Can see him as the go to half when the Sharks are on attack.
DPP status is handy too.

DPP helps but I've never liked him Fantasy wise. I feel DPP Centre/WFB will be more valuable then Half/WFB.

SI wrote:
DPP helps but I've never liked him Fantasy wise. I feel DPP Centre/WFB will be more valuable then Half/WFB.

Looks like the sharks have a tough draw to start with too, which could potentially reduce his scoring output.

Wonder who the JBrom/Leilua of 2018 will be.

Watch a former gun put out a few dud scores and 20% of the comp jump on him only for him to continue to put out dud scores throughout the year.

Any picks? Paul Vaughan? Inglis? Matt Scott? Moses?

filthridden wrote:Wonder who the JBrom/Leilua of 2018 will be.

Watch a former gun put out a few dud scores and 20% of the comp jump on him only for him to continue to put out dud scores throughout the year.

Any picks? Paul Vaughan? Inglis? Matt Scott? Moses?

I couldn't even consider Scott personally. Vaughan probs my the did, I mean that try scoring run last year was ridiculous.

filthridden wrote:Wonder who the JBrom/Leilua of 2018 will be.

Watch a former gun put out a few dud scores and 20% of the comp jump on him only for him to continue to put out dud scores throughout the year.

Any picks? Paul Vaughan? Inglis? Matt Scott? Moses?

I think Matt Scott and JBrom are past their fantasy prime, I also have doubts about Surgess who has a lot of young talent around him

SI wrote:
I couldn't even consider Scott personally. Vaughan probs my the did, I mean that try scoring run last year was ridiculous.

Mini stroke?

filthridden wrote:

SI wrote:
I couldn't even consider Scott personally. Vaughan probs my the did, I mean that try scoring run last year was ridiculous.

Mini stroke?

I can't even remember what I was trying to say so yes, probably right in the middle of a TIA as we speak!

Not sure if anyone cares but Jack Stockwell out with shoulder injury for Titans due to return rnd 3-4.
Source:wackojacko whispers Twitter feed

Cash cows need to make cash straight away. Tigers draw goes Roosters, Storm, Broncos, Eels, Storm. Even if Milne edges out the others for starting centre, is he really worth having I wonder?

Milne averages over 40 as starting centre. If he secures the spot, he is a bargain.