The Fantasy King: Round 20
By Mick Adams
There have been some big developments in the NRL over the last couple of days on the injury and suspension fronts, with some massive ramifications for fantasy players. This comes after a big scoring round. If you didn’t break a thousand give yourself an uppercut, as there were points on offer everywhere. On a personal note, after last week’s discussion I landed on Ben Barba as my fullback, and was rewarded in a big way. Looking at his fantasy history, it’s clear he’s an all or nothing proposition. But there’s been a lot more of the former than the latter of late, and he is without a doubt the most spectacular talent running around in the NRL at the moment, so let the good times roll. On ya Benny. This week’s talking points:
Isaac Luke
Facing a four week stint on the sidelines for a lifting tackle, Luke has incurred the wrath of many a fantasy player for his stupidity. He’s got it in him, doesn’t he? I like watching the bloke play but there’s just something in his game that he can’t seem to get rid of.
At this stage of the year four weeks might as well be four decades for fantasy players. Some might have the luxury (or lack the trades) to keep him as a non-playing reserve and inject him back in come fantasy finals time, but for mine he’s gone. I can’t justify leaving 300k+ on the bench when there’s the likes of Cameron Smith, Trent Merrin and Sam Burgess sitting outside my squad. Speaking of Merrin, he had a sensational game for the Dragons on Sunday, and is priced almost identically to Luke. Could be a sign…
Dene Halatau
Out for eight weeks. Halatau has been a popular fantasy pick due to his dual position availability- I don’t think I’ve had many head to head battles not involving Halatau this season. His injury will thus give many players headaches. Personally, I don’t think it’s much of a loss. He was a fantasy star in the back half of last year but hasn’t had nearly the same effect this season. As far as back rowers available in the centres go, he’s a long way behind the holy trinity of Gavin Cooper, Simon Mannering and Tony Williams. Throw in rookie sensation Konrad Hurrell into that mix and Halatau is surplus to requirements.
One interesting scenario the injury throws up is David Stagg, who has been named in the starting side in Halatau’s absence. You can’t really question Des Hasler’s wisdom given the way the white hot Bulldogs are going at the moment, but his seeming distaste for Stagg is a bit perplexing. A great fantasy buy in years past, he’s seen a drastic reduction in scores this season as his minutes have been cut. Will the Halatau injury make Stagg a viable fantasy option once again? If not, next year could be a good time to buy the big blonde backrower, providing Wayne Bennett shows him more love than Hasler.
The Absentees
Billy Slater, Paul Gallen and Brett Stewart were all expected to return this week. None have been named to play. For this reason I am especially glad I splashed out on Barba instead of waiting for Stewart or Slater. And as I’ve mentioned, the way Barba individually and the Bulldogs as a team are going, he could well be the best option regardless of the others’ availability.
Of the three, Gallen is the most troubling. It has been obvious since at least the second Origin that something is not quite right with the lionhearted NSW and Cronulla captain. A couple of weeks ago I advised a mate to hold off on buying Gallen as I wasn’t sure how he’d pull up after Origin, and it seems my fears have come to some kind of fruition. Who knows, he might be back next week carving up the competition like only he can, but as for fantasy it’s a big concern. If Flanagan has any sense at all he’ll manage Gallen’s minutes and work rate in the lead up to the finals. The Sharks haven’t had a better chance of winning the competition since 1999, but Gallen must be there at the end or those chances decrease to approximately zero.
Wade Graham
A couple of days ago I came across the stunning fact that the former Panther is only 21. He seems to have been around forever. If you’d have told me he was there with Tony Puletua and Scott Sattler doing a victory lap after the 2003 grand final I wouldn’t question it.
Regardless of his vintage, Graham has been killing it in fantasy lately. He was the best player in a beaten Sharks side on the weekend, and was duly rewarded with a great score. He may have priced himself out of contention for most fantasy players in the market for halves however. I don’t know if I would take him over Thurston or Cronk given he is 30 or 40 grand more costly than either of those two.
Thank you Adam Reynolds
Deep in the second half of the Monday night game, I was in serious trouble. Taking on the competition leader in my league, I had held a lead for most of the weekend but was watching it being rapidly whittled away by the exploits of Sam Burgess. At the 75 minute mark I had fallen behind, and it looked hopeless. We both had Isaac Luke in our 17, meaning it came down to Burgess versus Reynolds. I drained the last of my schooner and prepared to head home in defeat.
We all know what happened next, the Bunnies putting two tries in as many minutes in one of the greatest finishes to a game of footy I’ve ever seen. And who was on the end of that second miracle try? Adam Reynolds. Supercoach points for a try? 15 points. Margin of my head to head victory? 14 points. An outstanding night of rugby league.
