2018 NRL.com Fantasy Thread Part 6

my tv broke wrote:I really like the Merrin pick. Think he will go well this year, gut feeling etc.

Should get really good minutes too.

I am liking Fifita. A guy with a history of over 60 avg, for under $800k. Only Surgess is cheaper with that history.

The 2 week play the ball crackdown might cost him. But with my fantasy optimism glasses on surely he realises he'll be a prime target and remember to use his foot

There are just no other gun FRF that are tempting at this point.

Threw together a team based loosely of that K5 chaps layout in renegades. Sorry if that's sacrilege haha

Cook
Fifita, Lodge
Fitz, Harris, RFM
Croft, Carty
Aubbs, Milne
Edwards, Ponga, Dufty

Liu, NAS, Watson, Hiku

Leilua, Kikau, Garvey, Croker

Fifita is my captains option. Is this a solid team or still has holes?

White Lightning wrote:Funny joke in sc. If you start with the Manly brothers, Roberts & Hayne you'll have a twin turbo jet plane.

If you start with them in Fantasy you have wasted your salary cap

Brent Read reporting Eels have offered big $$$ for mansour.

Milchcow wrote:
I am liking Fifita. A guy with a history of over 60 avg, for under $800k. Only Surgess is cheaper with that history.

The 2 week play the ball crackdown might cost him. But with my fantasy optimism glasses on surely he realises he'll be a prime target and remember to use his foot

There are just no other gun FRF that are tempting at this point.

I agree with how hard it is picking the frf's this year. I start with Fifita every year but not this year & he's as good a pick as any but I'll offer some counter points.
He's just got out of rehab 2-3 weeks ago re his ankle surgery so fitness/weight is a concern
He was fat last year which affected his mobility. This year with his surgery he is probably still the same size.
Opposition teams have worked out how to stop his run metres by the first defender going low & tying up his legs
He is a big man & early season he might struggle & he does play in the heat & humidity in Townsville in round 1.
As you mentioned he could get hammered with penalties for incorrect play the balls.

1. Michael Gordon
2. Brendan Elliot
3. Dale Copley
4. Konrad Hurrell
5. Phillip Sami
6. Kane Elgey
7. Ash Taylor
8. Leilani Latu
9. Nathan Peats
10. Max King
11. Ryan James
12. Will Matthews
13. Bryce Cartwright

14. Mitch Rein
15. Keegan Hipgrave
16. Jai Whitbread
17. Joe Greenwood
18. Moeaki Fotuaika
19. Alexander Brimson
20. Karl Lawton
21. Tyronne Roberts-Davis
22. Kiah Cooper
23. Tony Matautia

Unavailable Titans include Jai Arrow (ribs), Anthony Don (shoulder), Morgan Boyle (shoulder), Ryan Simpkins (knee), Jack Stockwell (shoulder), Brenko Lee (knee) Kevin Protor (throat) and Jarrod Wallace (suspension).

bout the only thing of interest with titans is where Arrow and Cartwright fit in round 1, so this list isn't much use.

Looks like Carty will stay at lock.

I didn't realise Will Matthews was at the Titans either.

Host not in the Dragons squad for the Charity Shield but Sims & Leilua are. So the round 1 there could be 3 scenarios re the vacant 2fr spot:
(a) Sims starts & Leilua on bench or
(b) Leilua starts & Sims on bench in frf rotation or
(c) Sims starts, plays 80 minutes & Leilua not in 17

interesting article re raiders and the fat crew - https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/raiders/josh-papalii-joey-leilua-and-junior-paulo-shed-a-combined-30kgs-following-disastrous-world-cup/news-story/7e7a96bc1fd83d402089c4b160ea8901

“Drinking a lot of alcohol, eating shit, not training hard, it was eventually going to take its toll, and it did during the World Cup,’’ Papalii told The Daily Telegraph.

“I knew when I got back here I needed to click into gear. I got to 128kg, which is the heaviest I’ve been. There were no excuses for it. I had a good time and got a bit carried away in camp.

Papalii knew he had plemty of work to do after the World Cup wrapped up.

“That’s not Samoa’s fault, I just didn’t have the desire to eat properly or stay off the drink. I played a shit World Cup.’’

Haven't seen James Graham talked up much lately, and still worried about Jessie Bromwich after being burnt by him last year.

But I can't go past either of those guys. Bromwich is priced at 36 points and Graham priced at 46 points. Both could easily score 55+.

Also another option is G. Burgess who is priced at a measly 26 points. However that is far too much of a risk.

What does everyone think of this team?

Smith (C)
Taupau Lodge
NBrown Merrin NAS
Croft Watson
HHunt Milne
Tedesco Ponga Katoa

Cook, Lichaa, Tualau and 1 base price. I have guys like McKendry, Nicholls, Kikau, L Leilua, LCroker, A Doueihi, Aj Brimson, Kennar, Haavili, Garvey all on the watchlist.

At this stage Nicholls, Kikau, Kennar look locked in.

I have a feeling that their will be enough viable cheapies now to fill out my squad just not sure about missing out on JBrom, Alvaro, Arrow, Cartwight, Harris, Whitehead, RFM but also don't see them taking off straight away either. Only Alvaro from that lot plays round 13.

The reasoning behind Taupau and NBrown. Guns in their positions that play Round 13. Set and forget until after then.

Watson, HHunt, Milne, Katoa, Ponga, Cook all play round 13.

I have been doing a little analysis on byes and we will have a maximum of 12 trades after the first bye to churn our squad over and get as many players for round 17.

So 34-12 = 22 left. If say you want to leave 10 after round 17 then we really only have 12 trades to make between after round 1 and the first bye.

This means you need at least 5 players in your squad who you want there round 13. I feel I have NBrown, Taupau, Ponga, Cook and possibly Watson.

Its going to be hard conserving trades early on if you haven't picked the right team in round 1.

Random wrote:Haven't seen James Graham talked up much lately, and still worried about Jessie Bromwich after being burnt by him last year.

But I can't go past either of those guys. Bromwich is priced at 36 points and Graham priced at 46 points. Both could easily score 55+.

Also another option is G. Burgess who is priced at a measly 26 points. However that is far too much of a risk.

I'm hearing you there. I got burned by Bromwich last year and I am very reluctant to consider him this year. Graham looked broken and tired at the end of last season....I've considered him somewhat, but what is his health like? Has he played any trials?

At the moment I've gone all out in my FRF with Fifita and Taupau, with Lodge on the bench...

Parramatta Eels v Newcastle Knights pre-season trial squad
1. Bevan French
2. Kirisome Auva’a
3. Michael Jennings
4. Jarryd Hayne
5. Josh Hoffman
6. Corey Norman
7. Mitch Moses
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Cameron King
10. Tim Mannah
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Brad Takairangi
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange
14. Beau Scott
15. Kenny Edwards
16. Kane Evans
17. Suaia Matagi
18. Tepai Moeroa
19. Peni Terepo
20. Will Smith
21. Kaysa Pritchard
22. David Gower

Warriors wrote:What does everyone think of this team?

Smith (C)
Taupau Lodge
NBrown Merrin NAS
Croft Watson
HHunt Milne
Tedesco Ponga Katoa

Cook, Lichaa, Tualau and 1 base price. I have guys like McKendry, Nicholls, Kikau, L Leilua, LCroker, A Doueihi, Aj Brimson, Kennar, Haavili, Garvey all on the watchlist.

At this stage Nicholls, Kikau, Kennar look locked in.

I have a feeling that their will be enough viable cheapies now to fill out my squad just not sure about missing out on JBrom, Alvaro, Arrow, Cartwight, Harris, Whitehead, RFM but also don't see them taking off straight away either. Only Alvaro from that lot plays round 13.

The reasoning behind Taupau and NBrown. Guns in their positions that play Round 13. Set and forget until after then.

Watson, HHunt, Milne, Katoa, Ponga, Cook all play round 13.

I have been doing a little analysis on byes and we will have a maximum of 12 trades after the first bye to churn our squad over and get as many players for round 17.

So 34-12 = 22 left. If say you want to leave 10 after round 17 then we really only have 12 trades to make between after round 1 and the first bye.

This means you need at least 5 players in your squad who you want there round 13. I feel I have NBrown, Taupau, Ponga, Cook and possibly Watson.

Its going to be hard conserving trades early on if you haven't picked the right team in round 1.

Very similar thinking to me re: brown and taupau. Also a big fan of merrin this year. My difference is possibly starting without smith to allow a bit more depth rather than relying on too many 228 players

Well, few names to keep an eye on for the eels for round 1 TLT, namely TAKA

Milchcow wrote:
I am liking Fifita. A guy with a history of over 60 avg, for under $800k. Only Surgess is cheaper with that history.

The 2 week play the ball crackdown might cost him. But with my fantasy optimism glasses on surely he realises he'll be a prime target and remember to use his foot

There are just no other gun FRF that are tempting at this point.

Any chance he plays for Tonga instead of NSW?

mulvy wrote:

Any chance he plays for Tonga instead of NSW?

I'd assume NSW.

I think next best gun option is James Graham. Reduced price due to injury last year, if he can get back to fitness he will score above price.

Dragons middle forwards probably weaker than the dogs were, so no reason to think his workload will drop with the move

Milchcow wrote:

I'd assume NSW.

I think next best gun option is James Graham. Reduced price due to injury last year, if he can get back to fitness he will score above price.

Dragons middle forwards probably weaker than the dogs were, so no reason to think his workload will drop with the move

I tend to disagree in regards to James Graham. No way he gets the minutes he was getting at the dogs with quality middle men in Vaughan, LAM and JDB. There just is no need. Not sure why his scores dropped half way through last year(probably minutes/injuries/concussion) but I feel he may be a mid 40's scorer going forward.

mulvy wrote:

Any chance he plays for Tonga instead of NSW?

Apparently Fifita has said he wants to play for NSW now.
That team list for the Eels is interesting as BA said he would name a full strength side for the trial. Reading the Eels forums they said BA really likes Takairangi & they also said Moeroa could be playing in the middle in 2018. Also Alvaro starting prop is good but with 2 props on the bench & BA usually equally sharing the props minutes I think he's a wait & see. Atm I have Moses & Brown in my team but I've now added Takairangi in the ctrs.