With injury doubts surrounding a few key NRL Fantasy players and the head-to-head league finals looming (or already having kicked off in some leagues), it's another crunch week of trades for NRL Fantasy coaches.
Here are the Lone Scout's answers to this week's big questions.
What do we do with Bodene Thompson? Sitting just over $500k he could be traded to some big gun forwards. Is it worth holding him or trading him for someone like Gallen, Fifita or James?
From Tim Hendrie
It's a possibility Thompson will be a late inclusion this week, but that's been the case for weeks. Surely he must be close to returning now, but the safest option is presuming he'll be back next week. If you're playing head-to-head, are safe in the top eight and your league finals haven't started yet then you're better off holding, but if you're playing for overall points or have a must-win head-to-head match you should consider trading – especially if you have cash to spend.
Either way, keep an eye on the late mail this week before making a decision – the fact the Warriors play in the first game on Saturday means you have can leave the decision until the weekend and still have a lot of trading options when the Warriors' final team list is announced on Saturday afternoon.
Is Matt Parcell a hold at this stage or sell? I've kept him for the past month hoping he would return but its getting close to finals and I cannot afford to have him there doing nothing?
From Jake Cummings
Yeah I reckon he's a sell. His ongoing injury plus the fact Manly are winning games with their current setup of Apisai Koroisau playing hooker suggests Parcell's minutes (and scores) could drop when he eventually does come back.
Is Jack de Belin a good pick up to round out my forwards? My concern is his minutes, but a good sign is that he is starting at lock with Mike Cooper starting prop this week.
From Ed Lyons
Yep, with Leeson Ah Mau suspended for the next three weeks and Mike Cooper starting up front de Belin should keep up some strong scores – particularly after scoring 62 in 80 minutes last week.
I could upgrade a centre and fullback to have my best 17, but I have two trades left so I'm thinking hold them for injury in finals (playing head-to-head).
From Blake Batchelor
Yeah hold those last two trades for injuries, especially in head-to-head.
Should I sell Chris Lawrence? I can't afford the top-ranked centres, but looking at either Hurrell, Lolohea (now he's fullback again) or Ferguson (now he's fullback). But just being cautious as both Lolohea and Ferguson could be easily moved from fullback. Thinking of going Lolohea. Thoughts?
From Wonny Sill Billiams
Despite a lean couple of weeks – mainly last week's injury-affected 11 – Lawrence still averages close to 40 points a game this season which makes him a borderline keeper at centre. He's also on track to play this week, as named. The advantage of trading in someone like Hurrell is you could get similar scores while also freeing up $130,000, so if that kind of money means you can bring in another keeper elsewhere then that trade makes sense. Otherwise, if you can't bring in an elite scorer like Jarrod Croker or Euan Aitken I'd probably hold Lawrence.
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