DT Market Watch: Round 22

Let’s take a look at those players you should be investing in, holding or letting go, as well as some of the better captaincy options for Round 22.

This might be seen as a given, but after a slight price drop Gal is ripe for the picking this week. He has 74 minutes under his belt, and a good score of 60, so there can be no questioning his form. Now is the time to trade up and grab the premium second rowers, of which Gal is probably the most affordable. Back at home where he averages 52, he will certainly be a force.

The NSW five-eighth returned to DT form in spectacular fashion last week, smashing out 104 against the Panthers. Maloney was heavily involved in everything the Roosters did, and certainly repaid the faith shown by those coaches who stuck solid. This week the Tricolours host the Raiders, who conceded 68 points at home in Round 21. While you wouldn’t think they’d concede that many again, the Roosters have been ruthless in 2013, and Maloney should be at the heart of their chase for the minor premiership. He also scored 83 in his last meeting with the Green Machine in Round 5. Maloney won’t be this cheap again this season, so snap him up now if you’re after an affordable premium HLF for the finals.

 

Cost a lot of DT coaches big time last week after departing the game with a dislocated knuckle, but don’t let that 26 influence your buy/sell for the rest of this season. If you’ve got Farah now, then you’ll need him for the remainder of the year, so don’t waste a trade getting rid of a guy who averages 64 for the year and 56 against the Dragons (his likely return game). Also don’t forget Farah’s scores before the Titans game last week - 65, 56, 54, 86 & 99....and that’s in a struggling team.

Injuries have struck down a number of DT stars, with Sutton the latest in a long list of DT headaches. While he is expected to miss between 2-4 weeks, Sutton is responding well to treatment, which suggests he isn’t too far off. With trades at a premium this time of year, your decision to hold or sell Sutton will be unique to your situation. Are you short of trades? Can you field a strong 17 without the South Sydney five-eighth? Is the final H2H fixture in your league irrelevant? If so, just tuck him away on the bench. But if you need to field a premium HLF, and must win your final H2H match before the finals, then consider trading - you should be able to bring in any other HLF (with the exception of perhaps Dugan and Mullen).

Unfortunately this man mountain has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2013 season, requiring surgery on a knee problem that has plagued him most of the year (not that you’d know it looking at his form). An average of 52.31 and only 4 scores below 40 all year means Woods was a good consistent option, but free up the cash and upgrade in the front row, maybe to a Sam Burgess ($399,700), Aiden Tolman ($348,300) or Ben Hannant ($365,300) (or maybe even Gal - see above).

Was a handy cash cow for those searching for a late season burst of funds, making $86,800 after five rounds. But his scoring has all but dried up, with returns of 29 and 8 in his last two starts, and a current BE of 67. If you bought Harrison in, you obviously had a plan to upgrade him at some point before the end of the season - that time is now.

Round 22 Captains - players to consider 

Corey Parker | 2RF | $488,100

Daly Cherry-Evans | HLF | $377,200

Cameron Smith | HOK | $579,800

Andrew Fifita | FRF | $512,400

Josh Dugan | WFB | $435,500

Wildcard: Sam Burgess | FRF/2RF | $399,700