There has been plenty of controversy surrounding who is the correct player to buy or keep in your NRL Fantasy squad for 2020.
Participants have utilised their trades based on inconsistencies from their players to upgrade to a better player, or to downgrade to a cash-cow option in an attempt to make some cash for their squad.
In saying all this, I will provide my top three players from each position currently in NRL Fantasy for the run home in 2020.
Winger/fullback
1. Kalyn Ponga
Ponga has been in fine form the last few weeks with an average of around 77 points in his last three games, and not to mention an outstanding performance last week in Round 13 with 103 points. Ponga is most certainly a must-have if you haven’t got him in your squad already.
2. Ryan Papenhuyzen
Papenhuyzen has shown some signs of inconsistency earlier in the season, but he has proven to be a very handy player to have in your team, averaging around 56 points in his last three games and 53 in his last five matches.
3. James Tedesco
Yes, we all know that Tedesco hasn’t been in his best form whatsoever in terms of racking up the points in NRL Fantasy, only averaging 42 points in his last three, while only putting up a score of 20 in Round 13. But besides all that, he is still a must-have in anyone’s team.
(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Centre
1. Zac Lomax
While there has been heaps of speculation on who the best centre options are. Lomax has proven to be one of the most consistent centres all season. Producing a season-high performance of 75 last week, and an average of 53 points in his last three matches, Lomax is definitely an automatic recruitment in the centres.
2. Stephen Crichton
Crichton has produced consistent numbers also, but has not been in the best form, but is still a very important option for that other centre position and will most likely hit the ground running for the remainder of the season for the Panthers.
3. Tyrone Peachey
With an average of 55 points in his last three games, Peachey is finally starting to show signs of strong performances for the remainder of the 2020 season. Peachey also has that dual position option of a centre/second row forward as well. If centre positions are already full, Peachey would be a handy bench option for your team as well.
Halves
1. Nathan Cleary
There is absolutely no doubt that Cleary is the best option for that half position in anyone’s team, while also being a very popular captain as well. With an average of 80 points in his last five matches, Cleary looks to continue his outstanding form for the Panthers in the 2020 season.
2. Daly Cherry-Evans
While Manly is experiencing a mid-season slump, Cherry-Evans has easily been Manly’s best player Fantasy-wise this season, as he averages 70 points in his last five matches.
3. Ben Hunt
With Hunt temporarily switching from the halves to the centres, Hunt was a very handy cheap option for a half spot in your squad. However, he has now switched back to halfback but has continued some good form, averaging 67 in his last five.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Second row
1. James Taumalolo
He is most certainly a popular option for that second-row spot in anyone’s team, averaging a whopping 74 points in his last three games.
2. Isaah Yeo
Yeo has been very consistent all season for Fantasy players this year. He averages 62 in his last three.
3. Tohu Harris
Harris has surprisingly been very good for the Warriors this season and for Fantasy players. He averages 66 points in his last three games.
Front row
1. Payne Haas
There is absolutely no doubt that Haas is everyone’s first choice front-row option in everyone’s team at the moment, and has been one of few consistent performers for the Broncos this year. Haas averages 71 in his last three games and is a reliable captain option as well.
2. Patrick Carrigan
Carrigain started off very cheap at the start of the season and has made plenty of cash for the coaches who pounced on him towards the start of the season. He currently has a price tag of $769,000 and averages 63 in his last five games.
3. Josh Papalii
Papalii has been yet another consistent forward for Fantasy coaches this year, averaging 62 in his last five.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Hooker
1. Cameron McInnes
McInnes has been the best player for the Dragons this season and has certainly paid off in anyone’s Fantasy squad. He has an all-season average of around 74 points and is also another good captaincy option as well.
2. Apisai Koroisau
Koroisau has now come back from his short injury and looks good for the run home. He’s averaged around 62 points all season.
3. Kurt Mann
Now that Mann has switched to the hooker position due to the horrid run of injuries for the Newcastle Knights, Mann looks to be a handy option at hooker if you are a bit tight on cash. He is also a reliable bench option, averaging about 49 points all season.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I agree. The only reason I VC’d Teddy last week was because I had a free shot with both hookers out. I got lucky this time as he had a poor game and Taumalolo scored much better.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think the VC loop is over rated...lucky if it works once a season. I try and work it if I can but I don’t plan my whole team around it You need your VC scoring better than 100 and no dud non playing reserves as your auto Say you have Taumalolo as C who scores 70 Tedesco as VC who scores 100, bench Stephen Crichton who scores 50 and have Hammer as your AE who scores 20 Your normal score would be 70*2 + 100 + 50 = 290 for the three players If you VC loop Teddy and your score is 100*2 + 70 + 20 = 290 So if Teddy has a 120 game you make an extra 40 points or better or you don’t have a low scoring non playing reserve But the flip side is if Crichton goes large it could cost you points So, if you can land it, it’s pretty sweet, but I don’t think it’s worth planning the whole round around it...
The Barry
Roar Guru
I went Smith to McInnes last week My opponent ran with no hooker. It worked well as he only had one non playing reserve, who scored 85 or so...unfortunately Ponga messed up his plans :silly:
Chris Love
Roar Guru
This was the first time I put the VC on Teddy. It was an easy choice as I decided to Nuff The Hammer and Upgrade Walters to Moses as a back up half. Effectively I was nuffing two almost. I ran with no hooker over the weekend and still managed to win my league match up. I was hoping Smith was going to return for this week so Grant to McInnes it is.
Dane DC
Roar Rookie
Yeah we definitely should!
Chris
Roar Pro
NEVER CAPTAIN A THURSDAY NIGHT PLAYER BARRY!! VC loop is another good thing about Supercoach, you can change your VC and/or C to anyone you want as long as they haven't played yet, whereas in Fantasy they are locked in at the start of the round. If there's a Roar tipping comp, there should definitely be a SC comp if enough would be keen. If you have enough cash, Hammer to Kennedy from Cronulla is a solid upgrade. Consistent 40's and a good few 50's/ a 60 at 420k. May be slight bench fodder but a good option above a lot of others in his position.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Last week I captained Teddy in the first game thinking with injuries and no Flanagan he might be more heavily involved, so I was in a world of hurt straight away But yeah, I had Ponga and my opponent didn’t so he got me out of jail and got me the win I had / have a fair bit of coin riding the pine with Grant, Best, Matterson and Crichton injured Matto back this week and Best will go for probably Bateman I need to trade Hammer before he loses money...not sure who for That’ll still leave me Grant, Crichton and Munster on the injured list Maybe we should think about a Roar SC or Fantasy League next season...?
Dane DC
Roar Rookie
Yeah gets a bit frustrating at times but I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed it still. I tried SC last year but just went back to Fantasy full time because yeah like you said, it’s more user-friendly
Chris
Roar Pro
Doing both Fantasy and Supercoach can get a bit tedious (I did both at the same time through school, used last period to do my trades because a lot of thought went into every one) and Fantasy is a bit more user-friendly in my eyes, there are little color-coded circles that indicate whether or not a player is named or coming off the bench, it's a little more tight in terms of scoring (Tedesco's magical SC 199 score was worth only 111 Fantasy points). It's pretty fun. How'd your week go TB. The difference between a lot of sides this week was Ponga, so if you had him, congrats. Personally Munster is my only sell this week and moved up 5000 spots with a 1320 score, top of the league and with no injury issues as of this minute. I'm riding a wave of pure luck at the moment :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Lomax has been the gift that keeps giving. I had him from the start as a cash cow but he’s been clocking up big scores for fun...same as Stephen Crichton They’re both potentially keepers now because of how dire CTW is It’s a killer when your keepers like Smith, Matterson, Munster etc go down with injuries. You burn trades trying to maintain you team instead of improving it. I got one week out of Munster and two or three out of Smith I’m still carrying Grant and Angus Crichton because I haven’t been able to trade them out yet...I’ve got to get Best and Hammer out this week On the plus side, it’s made the season more interesting and hopefully will mean we have more different sides than we usually get at this time of year...
Aiden
Guest
In one week I lost Matterson, Smith, Best, Twal and Grant. It, along with key errors like trading out Lomax and Ponga early on, have killed me.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I play SuperCoach rather than fantasy The scoring system looks different but key players similar...although there’s a few on your list that just aren’t relevant in SC This has been a really enjoyable season with no origin complicating things. Injuries have thrown the cat among the pigeons In the last few weeks I’ve lost Koroisau, C Smith, Grant, A Crichton, Matterson, Munster, Best CTW is the hardest position to fill, followed by 5/8 - particularly with Munster’s injury Some potentially key players in SC that aren’t on your list: Nofoaluma, Bateman, Johnson... and potentially Tommy Turbo if he can get back on the park