Read on for an in-depth look at all the action across Round 7 of the NRL through the lens of two of the biggest NRL Fantasy Tragics, Byron & Liam from ‘Outta Their League’. The boys will cover each game from every angle to give you the information you need before locking in those crucial trades ahead of Round 8.

Prefer to get your NRL Fantasy news in audio format? Tune in to the weekly NRL Fantasy Podcast by Outta Their League here, on iTunes or Spotify!

Roosters (20) v. Dragons (10)

Sydney Cricket Ground | Thursday, 25 April 2019

Roosters

There is plenty to like at the Roosters from both an actual NRL and Fantasy NRL perspective after their powerful performance against the in-form St. George Illawarra Dragons who fought hard to make it a contest in the second half.

James Tedesco (62) caused headaches for the Dragons defence with just about every carry, and evidence of this can be taken from the 10 tackle breaks to his name rounding out another stellar performance for the premium WFB.

For non-owners playing head to head, I’d be looking to devise a plan to allow you to make the move to Tedesco the second someone like Maika Sivo matures as a cash cow.

Siosiua Taukeiaho topped the scores in this game with one of the best FRF displays so far this year. On his way to scoring 77 NRL Fantasy points, Taukeiaho scored a try, ran for 272 metres, broke 5 tackles and made 23 tackles! In a huge call, Mick Ennis dubbed him as the current FRF benchmark. And can you really argue with that?

If his NRL Fantasy scores lend any weight to this argument, the young prop is coming off scores of 69, 58, 56 and 77 in his last four games. As a result, he looms as a great POD for head to head players looking for a FRF to partner Fifita. With a break even of 23, this would be the ideal week to make the move.

In devastating news for the Roosters, NRL Fantasy owners and Kevvy Walters, the big news from this game comes from a serious injury to Jake Friend. Friend has unfortunately suffered a ruptured bicep and will require surgery. According to NRL Physio, most players require 12 weeks on the sidelines to recover from an injury of this nature.

This news would’ve hit particularly hard for Friend owners, given he had one of his best performances and managed 66 NRL Fantasy points in the 69 minutes prior to the injury.

Victor Radley continues to underwhelm with 19 points in 47 minutes, but Angus Crichton has now hit back-to-back 50s and his price is back on the up. He is still available at a heavy discount and you could do a lot worse than bring him in this week.

Dragons

Pre-season NRL Fantasy favourite, Zac Lomax (25) was a late inclusion to the starting line-up, replacing Ravalawa (3) on the wing. Priced at $213,00 and with a break even of 7, he could be a handy pick-up in your emergency list, particularly now he has been named in his preferred position of CTW ahead of Euen Aitken for Round 8.

Dufty (54) scored a brilliant individual try, and given his price point ($439,000), he could be a handy mid-range pick if you’re looking for an established WFB less than $500,000 (break even 9). It’s worth noting, however, he has failed to establish himself as a consistent top-line scorer in previous years.

Both Hunt (16) and Vaughan (36) had disappointing games, whereas Host managed 41 after he was promoted to the starting line-up. Lawrie (41) again scored well from the bench due to his PPM prowess and while Host is now less of an urgent sell this week as he was the week prior, Lawrie is absolutely a hold with a break even of of 27.

McInnes (57) continues to maintain an impressive average, while cementing his spot as a premium hooker and POD captain option.

Storm (13) vs. Warriors (12)

AAMI Park | Thursday, 25 April 2019

Storm

The referees have admitted to getting it wrong in a crucial moment in this game, but nonetheless, it’s another two-points to the ever-professional Melbourne Storm at home.

Looking at this game and the corresponding NRL Fantasy scores, it’s hard to look past Cameron Smith (74) and Cameron Munster (76). With everything going to plan, both of these players will be acquired by the OTL Bin Chickens post origin and that cannot come soon enough.

Despite handing over the goal-kicking, at least for now, Cameron Smith and rule number 1 are as relevant as ever. If you own Smith, hit the three little dots next to his name, select the big ‘C’ icon and leave it that way for the rest of the year. Thank me later!

Cameron Munster is the complete NRL Fantasy player this year and should be a target for those focused on head to head. His stats are spread across tackle breaks, run metres, try assists, tries and even kick metres in an effort to alleviate the pressure from Brodie Croft.

In terms of the sells from the Storm, it may be time to consider moving on Dale Finucane. After a fast start, he is now starting to taper off in the last few weeks with 3 sub-50 scores in the past three weeks and a loss of 26k in Round 7. For an extra 40k, I’d look to move him on to Angus Crichton or down to a Waddell.

If you were one of the savvy coaches that started with Kenny Bromwich, he too looks to have plateaued now after some $200k made.

Warriors

A spirited and courageous display showed coaches that there is a few positives from an NRL Fantasy perspective at the Warriors.

CHT (57) again showed his epotential with 2 tackles breaks, 24 tackles and a host of valuable kick metres. However, his Fantasy value may be short-lived, with Nikorima reportedly on the way from the Broncos. Given Blake Green is the established HLF in this side, this player transfer will certainly will hurt Harris-Tavita’s NRL Fantasy prospects and immediate future in the top squad.

The one positive to take from this he has made a substantial sum of cash over a short period of time, so coaches cashing him in will be left with some money in the kitty to work to magic elsewhere.

Patrick Herbert (32) had a solid NRL debut, which highlighted his defensive qualities through 17 tackles. Some of these being quality one on one stops on his own line. Herbert is priced at $229,000 and has a break even of 4, therefore, he could be worth a punt as his performance showed he doesn’t require attacking stats to achieve a score above 30. Further, if this form continues, there is no reason why he can’t cement that centre position ahead of Kata.

Leeson Ah Mau (61) was the Warriors highest scoring player with 9 hit-ups and 40 tackles, whereas, Burr (40), had another respectable game, and is still a definite a hold (BE 19) for NRL Fantasy coaches.

Bulldogs (24) vs. Cowboys (12)

ANZ Stadium | Friday, 26 April 2019

Bulldogs

I was a very happy camper to see my beloved Bulldogs get just their second win of the season after downing a Taumololo-less Cowboys team at ANZ Stadium.

The big news from this game was our first player to hit the 100 mark in 2019, Corey Harawira-Naera.

Before we break down his performance, the Bulldog broke a story on their Facebook page through the week that revealed what motivated him to come out in the second half and perform the way he did. According to CHN, he was pretty down on his performance after missing a crucial tackle that led to a Michael Morgan linebreak, and toward the end of the half one of the senior players in the Bulldogs side said something to the effect of “You’d better hurry up and do something or you’ll be hooked!”.

On behalf of NRL Fantasy coaches and CHN owners, I’d like to thank this unnamed Bulldogs player as it sparked an amazing response and has
Harawira-Naera positioned now as a great pickup ahead of the first bye round.

So, where did the 100 points come from? The stat sheet reads 2 tries, 1 try saved, 1 try assist, 2 line breaks, 43 tackles, 6 tackle busts and 159 metres ran. Whilst we can’t expect the attacking stats every week, he is one I’m looking at closely for this week after talking him up to other coaches in our league (one of those picked him up) as soon as he was named to start. In my opinion, he’ll make for a handy addition in Round 12 and his BE of (-2) adds to the appeal. At $590,000, an early move on Luke Garner given his recent head knock makes sense to me.

Rhyse Martin (46) continues to drop in price with another $28k leaked this week and Tolman got through his usual work and managed another 50+ score for the year. Lastly, in what comes as a surprise to NRL Fantasy coaches given the added responsibility with Foran on the sidelines, Lewis has had a slight dip in form with consecutive scores in the 30s.

Cowboys

How badly do the Cowboys need Taumalolo back from injury? The Cowboys have been one of the most disappointing teams this season, especially from an NRL Fantasy perspective.

Morgan (42),is a hold for now, but doesn’t look to be a keeper til’ the end of the season as he appeared to be after Round 1. Whilst he isn’t an urgent sell, there is plenty to like about a trade to Cleary, Pearce or Munster (if you have the funds) this week

Josh McGuire (53) and McLean (60) both had solid games, however, if you don’t already own them, there is better value forward options on offer this week.

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, other than for Taumalolo, there aren’t many players to pick-up from their current squad. Unless there is some dramatic changes in form, or to the starting line-up, they’re a side to avoid in general.

Panthers (18) vs. Rabbitohs (22)

Panthers Stadium | Friday, 26 April 2019

Panthers

The Panthers certainly looked improved in this game, but just weren’t quite good enough to pull-off an upset against a rampaging Rabbitohs side.

As someone playing overall, the player who has caught my eye from the out-of-form Panthers is Viliame Kikau. Available at $633k and with a break even of 34, I have him placed as a prime trade-in target in the same category as a Rhyse Martin or Jason Taumololo before Round 12.

This game was a prime example of just how damaging he can be with a score of 75 that stemming from a try, 2 line breaks, 19 tackles and a whopping 10 tackle busts. Given how hard he is to handle for opposition defences, he has more upside than just about any other 2RF in the game. One for the watch list, despite some erratic scoring to start the year.

Cleary had a sub-par performance with just 40 points to his name, as did James Fischer Harris with a season-low 37. Both of these guys remain indefinite holds. We say this every week, but the outside backs were lackluster again and if the Panthers were to click this year and start scoring some points, Mansour and Blake loom as absolute steals should they recapture the form of last year. Between them, these two have lost some $279k.

Rabbitohs

We have had loads of questions over the weekend regarding the popular NRL Fantasy prospect, Surgess (35). He started the season on fire with a bunch of attacking stats, however once the tries dried up, his scores dropped dramatically. While his price is still relatively high ($663,000), I would be looking to upgrade with a direct swap to the likes of Crichton or Arrow. Contrastly, Murray (61) had a similar start to Surgess, however, his scores haven’t dipped in games where he hasn’t had the attacking opportunities come his way. To that extent, Murray is now looking every bit a genuine keeper.

The Rabbitohs halves combination continue to impress this season. It’s clear to see why Walker’s (52) name has been discussed with the Blues squad this year. His impressive form continued in Round 7 with 1 try and 2 try assists, whereas Reynolds (54) has been a consistent, reliable HLF option with a 54.9 season average to date.

Damien Cook (47) had a rare off night, however still remains one of the most trusted NRL Fantasy players and captain.

Tigers (30) vs. Titans (14)

Scully Park | Saturday, 27 April 2019

Tigers

Shrugging off their monumental loss to the Eels the week prior, the Tigers bounced right back into form after an impressive 30 points to 14 win over the struggling Titans.

Likely due to the decreased requirement of defensive work, Farah (49) had his first sub-50 score that wasn’t injury affected and similarly, Twal also failed to crack the half century. Both of these players thrive in tighter contests and remain a hold after starting the year on fire.

However, the points came in thick and fast for some of the outside backs at the Tigers with Fonua (57), Jennings (57) and Marsters (79) all well exceeding their season averages.

For head to head players looking for a point of difference in the CTW’s, we can’t sing the praises high enough for Esan Marsters. His 79 points on the weekend may have been boosted by a try, but he is a rare back available in NRL Fantasy that doesn’t rely on this to post great scores. The 10 tackle busts and near 200 run metre statistics are the other numbers you should be paying attention to and are the ones that tend to be there week-to-week.

Titans

Despite lingering at the bottom end of the NRL ladder, the Titans have a number of popular NRL Fantasy players within their squad.

Rein (68) had his best Fantasy display of the season, which included 56 tackles. With a break even of 25, and plenty of value still to gain, Rein is a definite hold until Peats returns. Another hold is Cartwright (49), who provided a try assist for his team on the weekend and ensured his price will continue to climb in the coming weeks. Both Cartwright and Rein have the opportunity to gain another $100,000.

Tyrone Roberts (38), who was coming off two 55+ performances came back to reality with a modest NRL Fantasy sum this week. Those who were looking at him as a cash grab and Round 12 cover option will now be thinking about this again long and hard before pulling the trigger.

Arrow (53) remains a premium 2RF option who needs to be considered by any coach throughout the season, while popular cheapie, Jai Whitbread (32) scored well in his 35 minutes from the bench. Making $39,000 over the weekend and boasting a break even of 1 in Round 8, Whitbread owners will be disappointed to see he has been shifted to 18th man to accommodate the return of Wallace and Hipgrave.

Broncos (29) vs. Sharks (6)

Suncorp Stadium | Saturday, 27 April 2019

Broncos

The Broncos were back to winning ways at Suncorp with a professional display against an injury-ridden Sharks side.

The most popular NRL Fantasy player over the past fortnight, Payne Haas (50), didn’t disappoint in his third appearance of the season. Haas made a whopping $46,000 this week, taking his overall tally to over $200,000 in three weeks. Haas looks set to be priced over the $600,000 in the coming weeks at this rate. Further, he could be a genuine keeper til the end of the season if Seibold’s comments last week about starting every week prove true.

One of the most frustrating players to own in NRL Fantasy, Milford (71) had his best game of the season and boasts a three-game average of 57.7. Despite the up and down nature of the game, he has plenty of attacking upside and looks to be finding some form.

Ofahengaue (75) had a point to prove after being relegated to the bench and had a barnstorming 44 minute stint for in excess of 70 points on the back of a great FRF try.

Coaches who decided to keep Bird for another week were rewarded with a 50+ score and with a break even of 22 he is a hold for another week for most coaches.

Sharks

The huge news from this game comes from an injury at the 22nd minute to the highly popular NRL Fantasy HLF, Shaun Johnson. According to NRL Physio, Johnson is expected to miss a month of Football due to a hamstring strain that saw him hit an early shower on Saturday night. Whilst this is on the borderline of the sell/hold argument given the time frame alone, I have him as a sell this week given the high rate of re-injury to hamstrings. Head to head players could look to the likes of Cleary or Pearce, whereas Adam Reynolds shapes as the best HLF option in the upcoming bye round.

Liam (coach of the OTL Aztecs), has Andrew Fifita as a set-and-forget captain for the remainder of the year (barring injury) and it’s performances like this that show you why.

Another game where he was called upon for a superhuman effort in the middle, Fifita got through plenty of work on his way to a score of 71. Metres, post contact metres, tackles, offloads and tackle busts are all part of a regular day in the office for Andrew Fifita and if you don’t own him, you should!

He is our pick for the best captain option of Round 8 now that he is two solid games back from an injury concern. With the injury crisis at the Sharks, they’ll be looking to him more than ever to provide attacking spark.

One of the most disappointing results from the Round came from the ordinarily solid, Capewell. Unfortunately, Capewell come away with a sub-20 score on the back of 12 missed tackles in this game.

With $134k made and a break even of 40, I’d be looking to move Capewell on this week to one of the many cheapie options on offer including Herbert, Waddell, Dearden, Flanagan or even some tempting mid-range options such as CHN.

Sea Eagles (24) vs. Raiders (20)

Lottoland | Sunday, 28 April 2019

Sea Eagles

Dessie looks to have had an immediate impact on this Manly side, as they ground out a win over one of the in-form teams in the competition.

Many are of the belief that Manly sides of previous years lacked the game management skills and grit to stay in the contest when they’re in a tight one, but they found a way to get it done last week even without stars, Tommy Turbo and Cherry-Evans (for 33 minutes).

Leading into this game, DCE was the most expensive and best performing player in NRL Fantasy. However, as our listeners will know, he left the field early in the second half with a serious ankle injury which we have today found out requires surgery. Depending on where you’re getting your information, reports indicate that Daly could miss anywhere between 4 and 10 weeks and his Origin prospects are more than under pressure as a result.

For owners, he is a definite sell ahead of Round 8. However, given his high price tag, you will have the luxury of moving him on to just about any other keeper.

Speaking of keepers, Marty Taupau hit back with 71 points in 42 minutes. If you’re an owner, he is an absolute hold given the proximity to Round 12 and as a non-owner, he is very much on my radar.

Seldom can you find a front row forward with the upside to score at the PPM rate that Marty does, and his ability to bust tackles and offload are almost unmatched! We’ve had listeners ask if he is a sell due to his minutes, however, whilst the minutes are a concern, I have him as a definite hold at least until after origin.

Jake Turbo turned in a standard performance with a 59 boosted by a try assist Manase Fainu was huge off the bench with 64 points in 57 minutes. He is one that I will consider should he force his way into the starting side at any stage as he looks very likely out of dummy-half.

Finally, one of the buys of the week from Manly comes in the form of an interchange prop, Corey Waddell. His minutes were inflated due to spending some time as the worlds biggest five eighth in place of DCE, however he was extremely effective with 68 points in 62 minutes. At a tick under $400k and with a break even of (-14), it’s not too late to jump on Waddell.

Raiders

The hype around John Bateman (56) is not fading, and for good reason! He has now transformed himself as a legitimate captain in 7 short rounds due to his reliability (avg. 63.1). Although he now sits at $819,000, you simply have to find a way to get him in if you’re still a non-owner. Even if it means you need to move on a cash cow early.

Jack Wighton (55) had an eye-catching performance with two tries, while Croker (55) had another solid performance in centre. Croker has performed well this season with an avg. 40.6, however with the abundance of CTR talent available this year his low ownership (6.3%) is understandable.

Popular WFB, Klockstad (34) still bagged a try, but had a much quieter night compared to previous rounds. CNK remains a hold and should bounce back to 40+ scores as the Raiders look to get back into the winners circle.

Knights (28) vs. Eels (14)

McDonald Jones Stadium | Sunday, 28 April 2019

Knights

The Knights eased the mounting pressure on the team, and coach Nathan Brown, after a dominating home performance against the Eels.

Pearce (66) lead by example with 1 try, 1 try assist and 412 kick metres. We all know Pearce’s pedigree and with a price-tag of $591,000 (-$154,000), and a break even of 30, he is looking a very tempting pick-up at present.

Someone who has been a huge disappointment this season has been Fitzgibbon (33), who scored a try over the weekend but still didn’t manage to crack 40. We (The OTL Team) had high hopes for Fitzgibbon this pre-season, and even thought he had the potential to raise his game and cement his spot as a premium 2RF option by the end of the season, however, it doesn’t look to be the case. With a drop in value of just shy of $200,000, and an avg. 36.7, his stocks look set to drop further with a break even of 48 this week.

I have been waiting every week for his Fantasy rut to stop, however, it looks like we will be waiting a little while longer.

Ponga (53) hasn’t disappointed since returning to fullback and his price looks to skyrocket back to where it started before Round 1. Klemmer (50) is showing no signs of burning out after explosive early season form, and remains as one of the premium FRF options alongside Taupau and A.Fifita. 

Eels

After nearing 100 last week, Mitchell Moses showed why coaches have been weary to pick him up, despite his form, with a 34 to back up last weeks effort.

In contrast, Reed Mahoney has become the gift that just keeps giving with 69 tackles in this game amounting to another keeper-like score of 59. This output saw Mahoney add another $34k to his overall value and with a break even of 25 this week, there should be plenty more to come. A definite hold for owners.

Maika Sivo remains the one that got away for me in terms of the WFB cheapie options, notching up 58 points to keep his price ticking along for those who picked him up. Lane didn’t have the attacking opportunities come his way that were on offer last week, and as a result, failed to crack the 50.

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