2018 NRL.com Fantasy Thread Part 7

mulvy wrote:Gee, the season opener has a chance to be a real let down with possibly Lodge my only player.

This is exactly why I'm considering bringing in Nikorima. This may be short-term thinking

Chewie wrote:My current rendition* (32k ITB):

CS9
Alvaro Lodge
Murray Whitehead RFM
Croft Watson
Hayne Taka
Teddy Ponga GI

Cook Garvilii Cartwright Arrow
LLeilua Hiku Croker Cthompson (or whatever other cheapie is the flavour of the month)

Plenty of midrange downgrade options to get smokies in...

*This draft team is protected by wookiee copyright laws, violation of this copyright will be met by brute Force

Well balanced. I like Alvaro but doesn't fit my side and talk of a big bench is scary but should go well. Biggest risks would be Watson, Hayne, Taka, GI and Arrow. They've all been in and out of my team but currently out. Will Arrow even get a start? Or at that price are you thinking that bench would be good enough and he would be first drop for injuries/suspension/form?

Thoughts on James Graham?

Which option do you like. Cheers.
(a) J-Trbo & Dufty or
(b) Brown & Ponga or
(c) Merrin & T-Trbo

I’m also tossing up about JTurbo in my team. Is he worth the price tag? He will most likely be playing 80 mins for Manly you’d think.

Which also brings a question to Merrin. With the Panthers pack, what’s his role expected to be? 60 mins? Or is he gonna churn out closer to 80?

White Lightning wrote:Which option do you like. Cheers.
(a) J-Trbo & Dufty or
(b) Brown & Ponga or
(c) Merrin & T-Trbo

B. Probably both rd 13 players vs none for the other two options. But realistically, why not Merrin and Ponga and spend the money elsewhere?

White Lightning wrote:Which option do you like. Cheers.
(a) J-Trbo & Dufty or
(b) Brown & Ponga or
(c) Merrin & T-Trbo

Its a "B" from me also

Welshy wrote:Thoughts on James Graham?

It's hard to predict what he'll do at the Dragons. Big minute guys like Vaughan and JDB and what Mary does and history of concussion and other injuries. But then they often have a utility playing fuck all minutes and their edge rowers probably won't play 80 most weeks. My gut feel prediction is 50. Haven't checked in a while but I think that's four above his price.

[quote="mickspicks"]I’m also tossing up about JTurbo in my team. Is he worth the price tag? He will most likely be playing 80 mins for Manly you’d think.

Which also brings a question to Merrin. With the Panthers pack, what’s his role expected to be? 60 mins? Or is he gonna churn out closer to 80?[/quote

imo J-Trbo is worth the money. Will play close to 80 minutes & Barrett said with his ball playing skills he'll be use as another option in attack & with Manly's opening draw he should get a few chances. In the trial Manly's pack was all over the Roosters & he assisted the first 3 tries.
Merrin I think will play big minutes. In both trials he has played the entire first half & seemed in great condition. His fitness is high & he could get 60-65 minutes. I read he's playing a mix of a ball playing lock & the traditional prop style & is looking fit, strong & he was bending the line with his hit ups which is good for his offloading game. In 2016 Merrin made 54 offloads (1,514 mins) & in 2017 just 35 offloads (1,094 mins).

I like both of them.

Jturbo played almost the full 80 all last year averaged 77 minutes

He won't be assisting 3 tries every game and surely if he is ball playing he loses some of the bread and butter hit ups etc?

rhinoceroo wrote:

Would you say Williams might be worth consideration? Was he doing the field kicking?

Uh i wasn't paying that much attention, i remember Williams putting in a few kicks, some that i was impressed with others not so much, but whether he did the bulk of the kicking... not sure.

Brown or Taupau?

Brown - minutes questionable
Taupau - prone to a suspension here and there

Virtually, they are the same price for anyone wondering about the cost variable...just in case there were too many variables to know exactly what would happen in my example

I just took Merrin out of my team half an hour ago to fit Mitchell in the centres.. Now I don't think I made the right choice..

Welshy wrote:Jturbo played almsot the full 0 all last year averaged 77 minutes

He won't be assisting 3 tries every game and surely if he is ball playing he loses some of the bread and butter hit ups etc?

It could also mean increasing offloads & Barrett said he was just 1 option but in reality he's has always been an option in attack. Most of the bread & butter hit ups happen in the first 70 metres (his goal line to 20 metres into the opponents half) so I don't see any affect on J-Trbo's output.

White Lightning wrote:

It could also mean increasing offloads & Barrett said he was just 1 option but in reality he's has always been an option in attack. Most of the bread & butter hit ups happen in the first 70 metres (his goal line to 20 metres into the opponents half) so I don't see any affect on J-Trbo's output.

A 56 average is tough to beat, especially when he is already playing pretty much the maximum amount of minutes he can

I love JTurbo but i think he is pretty much priced correctly, there is more value to be had elsewhere in the 2RF i reckon

Welshy wrote:

A 56 average is tough to beat, especially when he is already playing pretty much the maximum amount of minutes he can

I love JTurbo but i think he is pretty much priced correctly, there is more value to be had elsewhere in the 2RF i reckon

Still happy with Brown then? Or bench make-up starting to concern? Brown to Merrin helps me get JT in, but after having Brown all preseason I might regret it!

Welshy wrote:Jturbo played almsot the full 0 all last year averaged 77 minutes

He won't be assisting 3 tries every game and surely if he is ball playing he loses some of the bread and butter hit ups etc?

I am going all in on JTurbo Welshy. He is in my Fantasy, Dream team and Supercoach squads. I may even captain him
first round as a POD from Smith. My only worry about him is concussion as he loves tackling head on. He has had a couple of seasons
to work it all out and I believe he will thrive on the extra responsibility as a Manly forward leader. I watch every game every week and
statistics withstanding I find it hard to fault his game. The only thing that I am pissed off about is that he plays for Manly!!

Trajan wrote:

I am going all in on JTurbo Welshy. He is in my Fantasy, Dream team and Supercoach squads. I may even captain him
first round as a POD from Smith. My only worry about him is concussion as he loves tackling head on. He has had a couple of seasons
to work it all out and I believe he will thrive on the extra responsibility as a Manly forward leader. I watch every game every week and
statistics withstanding I find it hard to fault his game. The only thing that I am pissed off about is that he plays for Manly!!

He won't let you down and could possibly give you a bit more. I love watching him play too and in 2016 I bought him at the perfect moment on the way up, so fond memories. You can set and forget him but like Welshy I'm looking for a bit more value.

mulvy wrote:

Still happy with Brown then? Or bench make-up starting to concern? Brown to Merrin helps me get JT in, but after having Brown all preseason I might regret it!

Yes still happy with Brown, I can't see his minutes dropping below 65, he is too good for them with props like Matagai/Evans who are impact guys better suited to low minutes, and Mannah who is dump, they only have Alvaro and Brown who muck in every game, I'm fairly confident Brown is the big minute workhorse still

Trajan wrote:

I am going all in on JTurbo Welshy. He is in my Fantasy, Dream team and Supercoach squads. I may even captain him
first round as a POD from Smith. My only worry about him is concussion as he loves tackling head on. He has had a couple of seasons
to work it all out and I believe he will thrive on the extra responsibility as a Manly forward leader. I watch every game every week and
statistics withstanding I find it hard to fault his game. The only thing that I am pissed off about is that he plays for Manly!!

If I didn't have Brown I would probably have JTurbo, but I see more upside in Brown (+4 to 8 points) whereas I can't see JTurbo going to 60 points (+4) (making money and playing above his price)

Essentially I feel Brown can match/better JTurbo for less money and I owe Brown for being one of the only guys I had last year who didn't let me down!