NRL Fantasy 2018 Thread Part 24

Smith out of my team is weird. It's a new frontier lads, be brave.

Milchcow wrote:

Shortlist McCullough, DCE, maybe JTurbo or Fifita

If Stimson will kick (and keep his starting spot when Kaufusi returns) then thinking about him too, but probably not as direct Smith replacement

A minor quad strain is limiting Storm skipper Cameron Smith's kicking game in both general play and off the tee ahead of their return bout with Wests Tigers on Saturday.

Smith raised eyebrows in last week's loss to Cronulla when he handed Melbourne's kicking tee off to second-rower Joe Stimson (who kicked two penalty goals from as many attempts) and only made one kick out of dummy-half.

Smith is not in any doubt for the weekend's double-header in Auckland, and were he playing a grand final would be able to assume his regular goal kicking duties.





But at 35 and just a month into the season, Smith will once again hand Melbourne's tee to Stimson against the Tigers.

"It's an extremely minor issue that he's just trying to rest," Storm football manager Frank Ponissi told NRL.com.

"If he has to kick he will kick, but we're just trying to limit the amount of kicking that he does during the week, especially when it comes to practice.

"He'll still kick in general play but we do have to limit his kicking during the week so he can get on top of it and get rid of it soon rather than later."

Smith's left boot is the most valuable in the game out of dummy-half, with his four 40-20s last year trailing only Blake Green (5).

Young half Brodie Croft did the lion's share of Melbourne's general play kicking against the Sharks, while the club is hopeful Smith will be right to goal kick in their round six clash with Newcastle.

All the latest team news on who's in and out leading into round five of the Telstra Premiership.


Smith is due to be back to normal kicking duties next week, I am willing to hold him this week and see how he goes next week.

No Worries wrote:Why isn't anyone talking bout Smith being rested over origin if he's carrying an injury ?

It’s a very minor injury. He will be 100% and goal kicking in Round 6.

Adam Reynolds and Adam Douehi shared playmaker duties at training on Wednesday. Robert Jennings (concussion) trained comfortably and should be fit for Friday night's clash after leaving the field in the fifth minute with concussion.

Not sure how to take this news? Doui training as a playmaker??

SI wrote:

Yep, I was assuming JFH slotted back into the Second Row but CHN played 40, so that would have been the entire second half for Yeo.  It's a strange minutes game though as Merrin still only got 41 himself.  Did JFH slot into Lock perhaps at some stage?

Yeah merrin played prop on the weekend, jfh lock

dreamers wrote:
It’s a very minor injury. He will be 100% and goal kicking in Round 6.

I do not know the odds of Smith kicking in round 6, but they are definitely less than 100%

And he's back in! Fuck

Milchcow wrote:

I do not know the odds of Smith kicking in round 6, but they are definitely less than 100%

Your guess is as good as mine.

I’m just trying to be optimistic

What I would give to have Doueihi starting right now lol

Smith might not be a default captain anymore but surely he is a hold. Selling him now you lose all that money.

Honey Badger wrote:Smith might not be a default captain anymore but surely he is a hold. Selling him now you lose all that money.

Exactly! Surely he gets back to his old self.

Merrin to Macca it is then

Honey Badger wrote:Smith might not be a default captain anymore but surely he is a hold. Selling him now you lose all that money.

It's only 100k. If you started with Isaako or Kennar then you're still up, I guess.

Onthebeatpete wrote:Should I trade in Mbye or Koroisau to partner DCE in the halves?

In L4 so had a quick look at your team.

I'd say Croker is fine or Maloney as a half partner. Your bench spots in 16 / 17 could use the money that Mbye or Korisau would be using in your halves.

I'm just worried with the depth of your bench that upgrading a half is a waste as you'll likely still play Croker anyway.

Also I'm not a huge fan of Koro or Mbye (wrote more about Koro in Booze's thread) as I don't see them being keepers. Both are also fully valued (priced at season average) so I don't see the attraction of pulling them in as sub-keeper level scorers.

Edit: But then again I am 16th in L4 so maybe you shouldn't listen to me at all And maybe you have other trades planned that you see fixing this. Just don't see the reason for all the Mbye/Koro love. Biggest scores are likely already gone for the season.

Best half under 560? (assuming I trade out Croker)

Ataylor, Nikorima, Green, Moses

Or trade out Havili

and aim for Townsend

@Fortitude out of those, K Nik

Rapture_NRL wrote:@Fortitude out of those, K Nik

Yeah Im leaning the same way. I just feel like Townsend is a good option, but would rather not trade out Havili just yet.

@Fortitude Yeah, I'm just bothered with how Ricky is playing his team. Chopping and changing isn't helping, but Havili has some cash left, plus K Nik will be up and down

Question: NAS to Friend/DCE? Or should I bank the trade? Friend will likely drop a bit of cash so not really a rush

My trades at this point will be croft and NAS out and Hunt & Gosie in

I'm holding Smith just cause I'm stubborn and don't want to jump on the trade smith bandwagon.

Team of killers this week

Smith
Kikau Lodge
RFM Murray Arrow
Mbye Hunt
GI Mitchell
Ponga Teddy Thompson

Cook Rochow TPJ Griffin

Doueihi Isaako Crichton Gosiewski


C is on Murray until I last minute panic

Captains options this week.. hmmmm

Smith, Arrow, Jurbo, Murray, DCE, SJ, Isaako, Teddy, Ponga or Cook

Leaning towards DCE but really fancy going for Arrow or Murray

Cook
Brom. Lodge
Hess J Turbo Merrin
JT Koroisau
O’Neill Kennar
Hiku Cotric Ponga
Murray Kikau Crocker Nichols
Carty Brown Katoa Milne