It's a big week for Holden NRL Fantasy with thousands of head-to-head league competitions kicking off this weekend. Is your team up to scratch?
Next week registrations open for this year's second competition, with an extra major prize ($20,000 plus a grand final experience) up for grabs. The comp itself will begin in Round 6, and you'll need a new team under a new email address – registered after Round 4 – to enter.
For now though the focus is on which trades, if any, you should be making this week. With cash cows already having made some decent price increases it could be time to start keeping trades up your sleeves for the crucial later rounds, although there are still some great buys out there. Here are the best of this week's Fantasy questions.
From Kieran Collins
Hey Lone Scout,
When trading out Issac Luke, leaving you with $416k, would you personally:
a) risk the buy on the Rabbitohs rookie, leaving heaps of $ to invest in the forward pack in the next few weeks, or
b) buy a big dog like McC?
I'd personally probably take the plunge with Rabbitohs rookie Apisai Koroisau, if you need to trade out Luke. He has the potential to make some great quick cash over the next month or two. McCullough is obviously going great but if you haven't got him yet you've just about missed the bulk of his price increases by now.
Obviously if you prefer points to more spending money right now I'd go McCullough instead, but Koroisau could be one of the better short-term cash cows of the season.
From Jim Pashley
Quick question. I have Peats as my second hooker, how do I trade in Apisai Koroisau and trade out one of my 2RFs (eg. Hasson), putting Peats in at 2RF and obviously Apisai in at second hooker?
The trick for dual-position trades is to start with the player you're going to move within your squad – so Peats in this case – and take it from there. So you first select Peats to "trade", then pick Koroisau to trade in, then the game will give you a list of other options you can trade out by shifting Peats to your back row. Pick the name you want from this list (Hasson in your case) and then make the trade.
From Mitchell Streater
Hey LS do you think Semi Radradra is a good buy or will he be hot and cold if he doesn't score tries? Do you think Shaun Johnson will score well now that warriors have found form?
Both Radradra and Johnson will be up and down all year. Radradra has been in crazy form and will keep making a bit of money, but I won't be buying him as a winger from last year's wooden spooners seems like a risky buy for me. Johnson will probably average close to 50 but I expect high and low scores pretty regularly.
From Marcus Lavalle-Smith
I'm thinking of trading Tomkins for either Brett Morris or Semi Radradra. Given his price tag Tomkins is just not posting the scores he should be and those two are averaging a lot higher. Also considering trading out T-Rex but there doesn't seem to be many higher-scoring alternatives. What do you think?
I've got Tomkins and am keeping him. For pretty much all outside backs, regular scores in the 30s plus the odd big score is all you can expect. Yes, Tomkins is yet to hit that big score, but he's just three games into his NRL career, is a huge talent and is getting his hands on the ball more than Shaun Johnson at the Warriors, so I reckon there's a good chance a big performance is coming soon.
I'm always hesitant about buying wingers in fantasy as it's very difficult for them to be consistent. If you think Radradra will be a try-scoring, tackle-busting machine all year then snap him up, but otherwise he could prove to be just a short-term, mid-range cash cow.
If you are desperate to trade out Tomkins, I'd aim for a fullback like James Tedesco instead.
Tony Williams is a sell though. Snap up Tinirau Arona, or Jason Taumalolo or Tyson Frizell if you can afford them. Tariq Sims could also be a decent buy after becoming the starting Cowboys lock and scoring 54 last week.
From Shayne Dear
What are your thoughts on CTR position this year? Go cheap or spend money who would you aim to have long term?
I'm going cheap this year. At the top end of the spectrum is Jamie Lyon, who has been rock solid and may play five-eighth again with Kieran Foran in doubt this week, but with money to be made and not too many consistent options picking a couple of cash cows could be a decent move. I've got Jack Wighton and Will Hopoate at the moment, and if they keep hitting 30s with the odd higher score that'd do me fine.
From Josh Arkwright
Reckon its worth trading out Palavi when I already have Peats and Mau? Don't need another scorer at present, so reckon I should just wait for the next must have 2RF cashie?
Yeah that's not a bad idea. If you don't need to trade, you don't need to trade. If you can't upgrade John Palavi to a quality scorer the best move is probably to sit tight. Trades are priceless at the back end of the year, and there's always a chance Palavi could still make a little bit of cash down the track. Until then, no harm in just waiting for the right player to come along.
From Henry Carta
You think Ejijah Taylor is a keeper given he has been getting through a mountain of work playing the full 80?
Yep I think he is. His price is going to hit its peak soon so if you haven't got him already there's no major rush, but if he's in your side I'd be pretty much holding him for good.
Got a Fantasy question for next week? Join in the Fantasy conversation on Twitter, Facebook or by sending me an email at iamthelonescout@gmail.com. Get more hints and tips tips on my NRL.com page or start playing Holden NRL Fantasy now.
Holden NRL Fantasy weekly winners
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