Lone Scout's NRL Fantasy Q&A: Round 22

Author: Lone Scout NRL Fantasy guru
Timestamp: Thu 9 Aug 2018, 08:01 AM

Jai Arrow is back, Moses Mbye is a sell and it's time to put those final few trades to good use. NRL.com's Lone Scout is here to answer your big NRL Fantasy questions.

Round 22 NRL team lists | Teams analysis | Make your NRL Fantasy trades

Arrow back to pre-Origin minutes?
From Jay Harris

Yep it looks like it. The biggest Fantasy question of round 21 was answered when, after two 40-minute games, Jai Arrow played 73 minutes for the Titans against Parramatta and racked up 58 points – which is bang on his average when playing big minutes. Unless he's troubled by injury again he's a keeper.

Now that Arrow is back to his usual minutes supposedly, which two do I play of him, Fainu and Farah?
From James Peters

Got a three-sided coin? One recent form, assuming they all play big minutes, Farah is probably the guy to leave out considering he scored 33 in round 19 and would have scored around 40 before grabbing a try against the Knights last week.

Looking to upgrade Lachlan Lewis. Best player under $700k? Can be any position.
From Imnothangingoutwithyouguys Anymore

It might be Manase Fainu, who's only $583,000. Next best are Jai Arrow ($673k, 58 last week but injury worries before that), Daly Cherry-Evans ($681k, in good form but has been boosted by scoring plays recently) and Andrew McCullough ($682k, 81 last week but most of his scores have been below 50 this year).

NRL Fantasy Preview - Round 22

Is Mbye a hold? Low trades and he's leaking cash?
From JT Redman

Mbye's mid-season switch from the Bulldogs to Wests Tigers has hurt his Fantasy scoring, with his goals and kick metres drying up. Those two factors alone have cost him more than 10 points a game. If you can afford an upgrade to a gun (Ponga, Tedesco, Trbojevic, Mitchell, even Tuivasa-Sheck or Ferguson) it's probably a trade worth making.

TPJ to Taupau? Thoughts on Hoppa? Is it worth going to Mitchell if you have 4+ trades?
From Ben Lewis

Good trade, sell, yes.

Four weeks to go, have next to no cover and one trade left. Feeling confident, Watson to another half in Cleary or trade to Tolman, injury prone Arrow or whoever else under $739k?
From Cam O'Dwyer

I'd definitely go for Arrow over Tolman, but Watson to Cleary is the obvious upgrade there.

I've been holding Lewis and Holland in my emergencies. Is it time to upgrade or hold another week? No urgent H2H finals this week but also want to get Arrow before his price shoots up.
From Daniel Chapman

Arrow has abreak even of 60 so there's no urgent need to snap him up if money's an issue, but then again if you can afford to upgrade a mid-range player to a keeper you should do it. The question really is whether there's someone in your top 17 who needs upgrading to someone like Arrow. Holland and Lewis are both very solid back-ups to have on hand but the real goal should be to have as many guns in your starting side as possible.

What's the go with Fainu LS? I heard he had a court case coming up which might affect his availability. Please tell me this isn't so.
From Billy Robinson

There's been no court decisions yet with proceedings pushed back until a later date. He's named to play and expected to be Manly's starting hooker for the rest of the season at this point.

Mbye and TPJ for Latrell and Gehamat Shibaski? Gives me 200k for the next three weeks with a full 17.
From James Kapaniris

This is the time of year when buying a non-playing $212k player is probably a better move than buying a playing rookie. If you can't decide on your 17th scorer you can put them in your emergencies in No.18 and No.19, with the No.18 to play first in a round, and put a non-player in No.17. If your No.18 scores well, don't change a thing and he'll be your automatic emergency (replacing the non-player on your bench). If he flops, move your No.19 onto the bench.

That loophole can backfire in a few ways (there's no guarantee you end up with more points, and if you haven't got depth in every position in your reserves an injury could hurt your team badly) but it's something to consider if you're cashing out a player right now.

I have four trades left. Should I use one to downgrade Tuala to a red dot so I can loophole Arrow and Gallen?
From Connor Carr

Your team sounds a bit overloaded if you can't fit both Arrow and Gallen into your side, and I'd only burn trades for the sake of loopholing if you will still have cover for every position amongst your reserves. If it's a yes to that, then it's not the worst idea.

I have three trades left and am playing you in H2H this round. Should I save my trades against your team and take the more than likely loss, freeing them for me to use them against you in the grand final. 😅
From BTF O'Farrell

Good plan. My boys are in good form these days.

How do I persuade other people in my league to trade Cook out for Segeyaro?
From Tony Nguyen

Try a bribe, maybe?