NRL Fantasy 2019 thread part 8

Tried a team with 3 Hookers, leaves a little light in WFB, thoughts

Smith
Taupau, Vaughan
Stimson, Arrow, Murray
Cleary, Keighran
Holland Nikora
CNK, Edwards, A Hopoate

McCullough, Mahoney, Hetherington, D,Brown
Burr, Ravalawa, Xerri, Allan

Can swap Stimson to L.Leilua depending on if JDB suspended

Mulvy wrote:

I love the guy, but I just see him playing 50 minutes and scoring 42-45. Robbo seems to go for a pretty even split on his middles. Are you going for keeper or high scoring cow? If the latter, he may get there but I'm not convinced.

42-45 points in 50 minutes.... how do you predict that?

MilfordTheMagician wrote:

I don't recall Glenn ever playing as a middle forward. I recall him playing hooker and halfback but never as a prop/lock.

Fensom is basically a prop these days.

Glenn definitely has, I can't remember if it was 2016 or 2017, but he played a fair few games where he came off the bench and played in the middle, i guess you'd say as a 'lock'.

I sort of expect him, or Su'A, to play a bit of middle this season.

Gillett on playing lock this week-

“I will play some middle, just trialling it out this week,’’ he said.

“Tevita is out and if he is fit and healthy and plays lock I’d push back out to the edge. It may be one or two games, depending on a few injuries.

“I’ll be doing a lot of video this week to make sure I get the role right. It’s a new role for me, but I’m learning it pretty quick. Change is always good.

Bethany_B wrote:

If not him then who gets all the minutes? There's 240 minutes to go around (3 middle forward spots) among 5 players, since Seibold has said he wants 2 bench middles.

Let's say the two bench middles get 30 minutes each, which is pretty optimistic for them and makes guys like Flegler and Carrigan worth running if they get the bench spots, that leaves 180 minutes between the three starters, Ofa, Lodge and TPJ (or whoever fills in for him). Lodge only played 60 minutes once in 2018, and usually got around 50 mins. For argument's sake, let's say Lodge gets 55 minutes a game, leaving us 125 minutes between Ofa and TPJ.

In the 3 games TPJ played at lock (rounds 8-10 last year), he played 49, 60 and 59 minutes, while at prop he played 4 games and never got over 50 mins. Either way, he has a recurring hammy problem and I doubt he'll get more than 50-55 mins at lock. That leaves 70 mins for Ofa.
Either way, I doubt that both bench middles will get 30 minutes each, more likely to get 20-25 each, or one of them getting 20 and the other getting 30, meaning even more potential minutes for Ofa.


TLDR: McGuire's minutes will likely go to Ofa since he's got a better motor and is less injury prone. If not, the bench middles become good cash cows.

I think we are all being a bit rigid in our thought process behind positional tactics. Whilst there is a base formula most coaches rely on, there is absolutely no way that the 5 middle forwards should only play middle, and the edge back rowers should only play edge, and the bench utility like Staggs should only replace someone in the backline and the back up 2nd row should only play on the edge.

Rugby league is evolving, particularly since the 8 man interchange limit. The game is becoming more fluid and dynamic, with emphasis on athletic bigs who are light on their feet and good laterally (think Frizell, Fifita, David Fifita, Gillett etc). Coaches who innovate and mix it up and lean towards a more fluid rotation will benefit most of all IMO.

Whilst there will be a base starting point in line with what we are all thinking (ie Lodge, Macca, Ofa, Glenn, Gillett, TPJ), we should almost be expecting a point in games whereby someone like Staggs is thrown in for Lodge to increase attacking dynamism and throw something different at the opposition, which sees the 'big middle 5' getting their minutes eaten up by a so-called backline utility.

It actually surprises me how little of this type of thing there still is in the game today, but that is changing each and every year. Don't be surprised to see alot of that this year.

my tv broke wrote:Gillett on playing lock this week-

“I will play some middle, just trialling it out this week,’’ he said.

“Tevita is out and if he is fit and healthy and plays lock I’d push back out to the edge. It may be one or two games, depending on a few injuries.

“I’ll be doing a lot of video this week to make sure I get the role right. It’s a new role for me, but I’m learning it pretty quick. Change is always good.

And why I've said all along to not start him

Matt Gillett wrote:“There will be thoughts before the game about what could happen, maybe an injury will happen again,’’ Gillett told The Courier-Mail.

“I’ve definitely had those thoughts, no doubt about that.

“Once you are on the footy field, you are thinking about doing your role, not thinking about injuries. That’s what I’ve found.

“I am pretty sweet with it. We do game scenarios every day at training so we are doing the contact.

“I won’t be going out there trying to whack blokes in defence. I will get my timing back and once I get that I am confident I will be able to go harder.

“It might take me a little while to find my feet again, but the body is great and I’m in good nick at the moment.’’

my team looks a bit top heavy. It starts like this.

Macca
Fifita, Vaughan
Jurbo, Murray, Tapine

Pearce.

I guess you don’t need to be a brain scientist to figure out where it goes from there. But Fuck it. I’m
Sticking with it

just an observation. There's way too much chat about the Broncos team on this forum this season, I'm starting to think they have made payments to @random to get prime-time
#conspiracy

MilfordTheMagician wrote:

I don't recall Glenn ever playing as a middle forward. I recall him playing hooker and halfback but never as a prop/lock.

Fensom is basically a prop these days.

Neither do I but according to Alfie he does. If he doesn't, my calculations are even more in favour of Ofa getting big minutes. Fensom probably won't get that many minutes

Marty and Fifita are tempting but thinking of rolling with Vaughan/Tolman

Parramatta Eels
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Verified account

@TheParraEels
5m5 minutes ago
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Club Statement: Kaysa Pritchard.

Dealing with residual impact from a serious injury suffered last season, the Club has granted Kaysa’s request for some time away from the game to assess his immediate playing future.

Details: https://eels.co/2TiIfzv #blueandgold

Big news for Mahoney...

Gillett said "if TPJ is fit and healthy and plays lock". As MTB has been stating for the past few days, TPJ will play in the lock role suggesting Ofa will be playing prop?

Liverpool_Bulldog wrote:Marty and Fifita are tempting but thinking of rolling with Vaughan/Tolman

Looking the same for me, though I still want TPJ even though it seems too risky.

Was just reminded that Korbin Sims is also suspended for the first two rounds of the season. That is going to leave the Dragons fairly short in the middle with JDB also (almost certainly) stood down. Vaughan looked super fit in last weeks trial so I'm finding him hard to ignore.

MilfordTheMagician wrote:Parramatta Eels
‏
Verified account

@TheParraEels
5m5 minutes ago
More
Club Statement: Kaysa Pritchard.

Dealing with residual impact from a serious injury suffered last season, the Club has granted Kaysa’s request for some time away from the game to assess his immediate playing future.

Details: https://eels.co/2TiIfzv  #blueandgold

Big news for Mahoney...

Would they still need to pay him? Moving Kaysa on so Luke can fit in? or Mahoney has sewn up his spot and Kaysa is essentially not needed?

my tv broke wrote:

Looking the same for me, though I still want TPJ even though it seems too risky.

Was just reminded that Korbin Sims is also suspended for the first two rounds of the season. That is going to leave the Dragons fairly short in the middle with JDB also (almost certainly) stood down. Vaughan looked super fit in last weeks trial so I'm finding him hard to ignore.

Hey MTB, I would love to still run with TPJ. He is that boom player that, not only for fantasy reasons, you just love to watch him play.

Also you make Vaughn awfully tempting.

StormTrooper96 wrote:Gillett said "if TPJ is fit and healthy and plays lock". As MTB has been stating for the past few days, TPJ will play in the lock role suggesting Ofa will be playing prop?

I'm pretty sure the accepted lineup is Ofa and Lodge at prop, TPJ at lock.

but with TPJ injured there are a few questions about how the lineup will change, and who the fantasy winners/losers are out of the changes.

I don't think TPJ is in any doubt for round 1 (although who really knows with hammys). They said he's missing the trial as a precaution. Wasn't even mentioned in yesterdays "injury update".

my tv broke wrote:

Looking the same for me, though I still want TPJ even though it seems too risky.

Was just reminded that Korbin Sims is also suspended for the first two rounds of the season. That is going to leave the Dragons fairly short in the middle with JDB also (almost certainly) stood down. Vaughan looked super fit in last weeks trial so I'm finding him hard to ignore.

Yeah my thoughts exactly.
Started with him a couple of years back and he was great

my tv broke wrote:I don't think TPJ is in any doubt for round 1 (although who really knows with hammys). They said he's missing the trial as a precaution. Wasn't even mentioned in yesterdays "injury update".

It's not TPJ being fit for Round 1 that worries me, it's him tweaking a hamstring 15 minutes into Round 3.