Lone Scout's NRL Fantasy Q&A: Round 3
NRL.com's Lone Scout answers the big trade questions heading into the third round of the NRL Fantasy season.
With Fantasy coaches losing patience with young Storm halfback Brodie Croft and liking the look of barnstorming Broncos prop Tevita Pangai jnr, it's another crucial week of trades.
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There have been a couple of updates to the game itself, with the match centre landing at https://fantasy.nrl.com/match-centre (on both desktop and mobile) and Coach statistics now available on the Stats Centre at https://fantasy.nrl.com/stats-centre.
Onto this week's questions.
With big Sammy Burgess moving to the front row and Cameron Murray moving into 13, is it a bad thing for big Sammy owners? I'm thinking of trading him out.
From Darren Ikiua
Burgess has been a gun in the past so it's too early to be trading him out based on one quiet game, so it's a wait and see for now. If he's not scoring well in a couple of weeks' time, make the trade.
What's Reece Robinson's job security? Likely to be the full length of Daniel Tupou's recovery or is there someone else knocking down the door?
From Mykol Min Tee
Robinson has been brought in to add depth to the Roosters outside backs, and an injury to a winger is exactly what he's at the squad to cover for. If he struggles he could be dropped, like any player, but the Roosters are light on in terms of other options (a reshuffle with Latrell Mitchell moving to the wing and Mitchell Aubusson to centre is one alternative, for instance) so you'd expect him to have the spot for the next couple of months with Daniel Tupou sidelined with a torn pec.
Trade Croft, move Cartwright to half and bring in Griffin, Pangai, RFM, Bateman or Arrow?
From Levi
Good move, Croft could still prove to be a cash cow but he needs some big improvements in both attack and defence to get there. If you make the trade I'd rank those options: 1) Slade Griffin; 2) Jai Arrow; 3) Tevita Pangai jnr; 4) Raymond Faitala-Mariner; 5) Luke Bateman.
Isaiah Papalii to Pangai then Croft to JT?
From John Campbell
Good-looking trades. Beware there is still a risk in trading in Thurston, who has yet to play a game alongside Michael Morgan this season. Tevita Pangai jnr is unlikely to hit 60 every week (his effort against the Cowboys included a try and a try assist) so expect to see him average closer to the low 40s in the long run – still making him at handy mid-range cash cow at his current price.
Looking at trading out Croft and Latu. Would have exactly $1mil to spend. Was thinking Murray first? Then is it too late for Griffin, Pangai, Kennar…?
From Trevor Maggs
Croft and Latu are sells, but I'd probably bring in Slade Griffin before Cameron Murray – purely based on cash-making potential this week. Griffin's price is rising quickly while Murray's won't skyrocket just yet unless he gets a monster score against Manly. (He's still a good buy in the next few weeks.) It's not too late for any cash cows really, with Pangai and Kennar both having break evens in the single digits (Kennar's is actually -4).
Which two are more important this round, TPJ, Murray or Griffin?
From Luke Matthews
Personally I've got Griffin in my team and will probably be buying Murray. Griffin is a cash cow, Murray is a potential keeper, and Pangai jnr will probably be somewhere in between – he actually has a lower break even than both but looks set to score around 40 points a game when he's not scoring and saving tries.
If you had to keep two out of Aubo, Rochow, Croft and Inglis, who would it be?
From Daniel Chapman
Rochow and probably Inglis.
Best similar price trade for Gallen?
From Tim Wood
Assuming you're looking at back-rowers only, Martin Taupau has scored 55 points a game, as is Trent Merrin who will save you close to $100,000, Nathan Brown should be reliable at the Eels, Aidan Guerra is scoring 58 points a game so far at the Knights, and Tohu Harris made 68 last week and looks good value at $653,000.
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