NRL Fantasy: Lone Scout's strength of Origin bye schedule
With Origin around the corner that means stars missing NRL action and therefore not able to score for your Fantasy team and it also means those pesky byes crop up for all teams.
But never fear as the Lone Scout is here to save the day and help you navigate the Origin/Bye round period with a breakdown of the best teams and players to target and which ones to avoid altogether.
Origin period hot takes
- Round 12, 13, 15, 16, 18 and 19 will only count the starting 13 towards your overall score. Therefore if you have surplus players in any position (eg 2 hookers or 3 halves), only your starters will count.
- Some head-to-head leagues will not play in the above rounds, check your settings and if you aren’t worried about your overall score, you may be able to hold these players.
- Trades increase to max 4 per round from Round 13 and 8 trades are added in Round 20 so this will help you get through this difficult period.
First take: Warriors v Broncos
Tier 1 - Warriors and Raiders
- Plays all 4 major and minor bye rounds
Both these clubs play all four of the first 2 major and minor bye rounds making any fantasy relevant but non-origin players easy trade in options from these teams.
Top recommended buys/holds: Erin Clark (MID), Tanah Boyd (HLF), Joe Tapine (MID), Jackson Ford (MID) (If not named for NSW)
Top recommended sells: Hudson Young, Jackson Ford (if named for NSW).
Tier 2 - Dolphins and Titans
- Misses minor bye round 13
Players from teams here may cause issue in Round 13 if too many are held of the same position. However as only the top 13 players will count towards scoring you should be able to survive, just beware doubling up on players from the same position (ie: Zane Harrison, Jayden Campbell, Isaiya Katoa HLF or Max Plath, Oliver Pascoe HOK).
Top recommended buys/holds: Herbie Farnworth (CTR), Connelly Lemuelu (EDG), Keano Kini (WFB), Cooper Bai (MID), Oliver Pascoe (HOK), Zane Harrison (HLF), Jayden Campbell (HLF), Max Plath (HOK/MID), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (EDG) (if not named for Queensland), Jack Bostock (WFB) (if not named for NSW).
Top recommended sells: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Jack Bostock (if named for NSW), Jayden Campbell (HLF), Max Plath (HOK/MID), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (EDG) (if named for Queensland).
Sua sizzles in the second
Tier 3 - Wests Tigers, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Storm and Roosters
- Misses major bye Round 12 (Tigers, Sharks and Roosters)
- Misses major bye Round 15 (Sea Eagles, Dragons, Bulldogs, Cowboys and Storm)
- Misses minor bye Rounds 13 & 16 (Rabbitohs)
These teams miss either one major bye round or 2 minor bye rounds over the next month. We will need to limit the amount of players held between these groupings to ensure we don’t find ourselves too short for certain rounds, this can be alleviated however with bringing in Tier 1 and 2 teams or making trades to either Wests Tigers, Sharks or Roosters heading into Round 13. 2
Top recommended buys/holds: Kai Pearce-Paul (EDG), Nicho Hynes (HLF), Jye Gray (WFB), Toby Couchman (MID/EDG), Ryan Couchman (EDG), Hamish Stewart (MID), Lachlan Galvin (HLF), Scott Drinkwater (WFB), Tom Chester (WFB/CTR), Sualauvi Fa’alogo (WFB), Ativatu Lisati (EDG), Terrell May (MID), Api Koroisau (HOK) (If not named for NSW)
Top recommended sells: Latrell Mitchell (CTR), Cameron Murray (MID), Reuben Cotter (MID), Keaon Koloamatangi (MID), Stefano Utoikamanu (MID) (If named for NSW), Heilum Luki (EDG) (if named for Queensland).
First take: Eels v Storm
Tier 4 – Eels and Broncos
- Misses major bye Round 12 and minor bye Round 16
These clubs are best to lessen our exposure too as they miss both a major and minor bye round over the next month.
Top recommended buys/holds: Jack Williams (MID/EDG), Joash Papalii (WFB), Xavier Willison (MID/EDG)
Top recommended sells: Reece Walsh (WFB), Ben Talty (MID), Patrick Carrigan (MID)
Nathan Cleary makes history
Tier 5 – Knights and Panthers
- Misses both major bye Round 12 and 15
Top recommended buys/holds: Dylan Brown (HLF), Nathan Cleary (HLF), Kalyn Ponga (WFB) (If not named to start for Queensland).
Top recommended sells: Trey Mooney (MID), Jermaine McEwen (EDG), Isaah Yeo (MID), Isaiah Papali’i (MID/EDG)
I hope this helps those coaches out there who have been writing in to ask about the make-up of their teams come Origin time.
I will collate a second list to cover Round 16-19 over the next few weeks and publish here at NRL.com.
In the meantime stay tuned to my weekly segments of Winners and Losers, TLT Analysis and our ever-popular Thursday Q&A where we will answer your burning questions.
