Lone Scout's NRL Fantasy Q&A: Round 14
The cash cows have come and gone and now it's time to start locking in your "final" 17, ideally keeping a few trades up your sleeve for the run home.
This week's big questions
Is Brimson a good option to partner Ponga and Teddy in the WFB’s for the run home? Could score similarly to Pap but save a bit of cash?
From Anthony Hall
He does look a value option at $469k, but don't expect him to necessarily to regularly produce the kinds of attacking numbers he managed against a pretty poor Cowboys side last week. His 74-point bonanza featured a couple of tries, an assist and a try save.
Still, as I wrote in my Titans Fantasy guide way back in January, he's a player capable of scoring 45 points a game when playing at fullback and his dual-position status as a WFB/HLF gives him an extra advantage as well.
There's a big gap between James Tedesco, Kalyn Ponga and the rest of the top options at winger/fullback, and Brimson is certainly a contender for that third spot.
Probably sound ridiculous saying this but is Darius Boyd worth a crack at centre?
From Joshua Long
I don't think so. Boyd did produce a very handy 64 points against the Sharks a fortnight ago, featuring four try assists at fullback, but it's still only his second score above 40 this year (and the other included a try).
But after last week's 31 and with a $411k price tag, I think there are better options elsewhere.
Should Fantasy coaches hang on to Harry Grant?
Is Joseph Tapine a sell? And Fogarty shaping as a keeper?
From Charlie Baxter
It's not urgent but Tapine is probably one to upgrade when you can, with his minutes a bit of a lottery off the bench lately. Fogarty isn't necessarily a season keeper just yet but with a break even of 25 and three scores above 60 in his past five games you can at least hold him for a while.
Is it time to upgrade Hudson Young now? Seems like his minutes are dropping...
From Nathanael Whyte
Young was always going to play reduced minutes after moving from an edge to lock, although he scored well (58 points in 46 minutes) a couple of weeks ago before managing just 30 in 40 minutes in last week's loss to Penrith. He's not a must-sell yet, but like Tapine he's one to upgrade at some point.
Robinson won't sign Pangai: Not type of player we want
I need to trade out Mann or Pearce. Who should I keep?
From Reg Hawkins
This is a tough call. Even though Pearce only scored 36 last week it's encouraging he didn't lose any kick metres to new halves partner Blake Green, with Green actually taking on Kalyn Ponga's usual kicks (and Ponga didn't struggle either, notching up 103 points). Pearce's defence was his problem on the day, with seven missed tackles and only 17 made tackles as the Knights dominated possession. He also didn't get amongst the attacking stats against the Tigers.
Mann, meanwhile, played the full 80, with about 65 minutes at hooker before switching to the outside backs to cover for the injured Gehamat Shibasaki. Phoenix Crossland is in the Knights 17 as their bench hooker.
If Mann plays 80 at hooker he's worth keeping, while Pearce is capable of scoring around 50 most weeks. Ideally, hold onto both for another week and see how it plays out. Otherwise, with Newcastle's favourable draw likely to result in more attacking stats than defensive ones I'd probably lean towards holding Pearce.
Farah fears finals are beyond Wests Tigers
Is Haumole Olakau'atu one to bring in?
From Veni Tuku'aho
Olakau'atu had a monster game in the starting side last week, including a try, in the absence of Manly back-rowers Joel Thompson and Curtis Sironen. But he's back to the bench this week where his minutes drop off significantly so it's a no.
What's up with Robson? Rollercoaster ride with him. 80 minutes then next week 25 minutes. Thinking it's time to trade.
From Ben Austin
Interim Cowboys coach Josh Hannay has tried a few combinations already since taking on the head coaching role and that has led to Reece Robson's minutes going all over the place – in his last three games he played 65 minutes, then 80, then just 26 last week with Jake Granville playing 54 minutes off the bench in his first appearance since round 4.
With Granville again on the interchange it's hard to be confident Robson will get significant game time, although that could change week-to-week.
If you're very low on trades you could hold Robson in the hope he'll get back to playing the full 80 in the coming weeks, but otherwise now could be the right time to spend that $687k on an established keeper who has good job security in the run home.
When will SBW be added to the Fantasy roster?
From Misi Faapoi
After he officially signs with an NRL club.
