Lone Scout's NRL Fantasy Q&A: Round 17
It's do or die for a lot of NRL Fantasy teams with the head-to-head finals upon us and the overall points race down to the final four rounds.
With trades at a premium is it worth spending one of your last ones on a centre? Which one?
This week's big questions
How would be best to bring in for Latrell out of Peachey, Staggs or C. Graham? I am thinking Peachey but just wanted your thoughts!
From Chris Cook
Yep, Tyrone Peachey would be my pick. Staggs and Graham need attacking stats to post big scores, while Peachey is getting good numbers for tackle busts and tackles playing as a middle forward – even when he comes off the bench.
Hi Scout. Best CTR/WFB for Talau under $543k? Thanks
From Mark Jackman
Tyrone Peachey is my pick if you just need a centre, otherwise Stephen Crichton looks the best of the dual-position options assuming he keeps scoring tries for the Panthers.
I'm playing H2H. Made the top four, have two trades left and will field 16 players this round. Do I use my trades now or save them for next week?
From Maxy Browne
If you're any chance of winning your head-to-head game this week with your team as is, I reckon hold the trades. A win gives you a week off, so you won't need to use those trades until the crucial final two rounds.
Even if you lose you get another chance the following week so you can use one or both trades then.
Souths' ‘social loafer’ to replace Latrell at fullback
Is Capewell likely to regain a starting spot in the coming weeks or is that unlikely with the form of the other back-rowers? Also is Lumelume likely to start the rest of the games with Seve now gone due to his ACL? Looking for a cheap reserve who will play.
From Graeme Lock
It's anyone's guess really whether Capewell breaks back into the Panthers' starting side after starting in the second row in all three of his appearances before suffering a knee injury early in the season.
He was recruited as a starting second-rower but in his absence Liam Martin has excelled on an edge as the Panthers reeled off 11 straight wins. Capewell could well be eased back into the role via the bench this week, but it also won't be a surprise if Martin holds onto the starting spot all year with Capewell used as the team's bench edge forward.
The uncertainty is one of the reasons why someone like Tyrone Peachey – who costs just $23k more – is a safer option with a tackle-busting running game that doesn't require him playing 80 minutes to score well.
Kikau raring to return
If Capewell does get his starting spot back he's one of the best Fantasy centre options available, but if he doesn't get bulk minutes he won't get the tackle counts to be worth the price. It's a gamble at this stage, but we should have a better idea of his role going forward next week.
At Melbourne, Lumelume looks set to hold onto a role on the wing with fellow outside backs Suliasi Vunivalu and Paul Momorivoski not due back before the NRL finals and Seve out for the year.
Seeing how Angus Crichton is in the 21, what do you think the chances are of him playing?
From Jayden Clarke
He's still probably unlikely this round. But if he's not back in this week, he should be playing in round 18.
Townsend eager to steer Sharks in crunch time of the year
Last trades to finish team off, would you go Fifita or McInnes? Also for the centres, do you think J-Moz is a good option as POD? Has been scoring well lately and seems to find the try line a lot.
From Darren Barker
Cameron McInnes is a more reliable option that David Fifita, with Fifita generally needing a try to score about 65 while McInnes tends to score around 60 every week.
Josh Morris is in a group of decent centre options who can go big on any given week when he finds the line – at the very least his Roosters should hit some form with their stars returning in the final rounds so he should get plenty of chances to rack up some points. He's just not as reliable an option as the more expensive centres.
