NRL $2,000+ Saturday Line-Up
This Saturday could be season defining, with three massive games on offer that could shape the top eight. The Cowboys and Panthers will both be looking to solidify their spot in the finals in Townsville, while the Raiders will be looking to force their way in with a win over the Broncos. Lastly, a top of the table clash rounds out Saturday’s action as the Storm travel to Sydney to verse the Roosters.
Here is a team you may consider for the NRL $2,000+ Saturday competition
Front Row Forward
Jesse Bromwich ($12,500)
Bromwich was massive against the Cowboys, running nearly 200 metres in a lion-hearted performance that kept the Storm alive. It was great to see Bromwich back to his best after a tough season and with Christian Welch and Jordan McLean out, he will have to bring this sort of effort week in, week out if the Storm are to compete in the middle. His ability to keep the ball alive has made him one of the best front-rowers in the competition and was on show again last week as he made three offloads. The Storm will need plenty from Bromwich if they’re to beat the Roosters.
Shannon Boyd ($8,900)
Boyd returns for a crucial clash against the Broncos this week after injuring his medial ligament in round thirteen. He played just seven minutes in that game which has led to a handy discount in this contest given Boyd’s calibre. The big man is a wrecking ball when he gets going and he should be able to impose his size through the middle against the Broncos.
Hooker
Kodi Nikorima ($8,850))
Nikorima is risky because Ben Hunt has been named on the bench and will play at some stage, but Nikorima is a good option despite this. Not only does he present significant value given how expensive the other options at hooker are, but he also has some excellent scoring potential thanks to his ability to create attack for Brisbane. Not only is his running game dangerous, but his kicking game looks to be improving every week. Even though he isn’t as consistent as the other options at hooker, it’s worth the risk considering his price and upside.
Second Row Forward
Jason Taumalolo ($15,300))
Put simply, Taumalolo was a beast last week as he ran a massive 300 metres for the Cowboys in their tight loss to the Storm. He is currently second in the league in running metres, behind just Paul Gallen, despite the fact that he has played two less games than the Sharks’ veteran. Add to this his consistent defence and ability to bust through tackles and it is clear why he won the 2016 Dally M Medal. The Panthers have had a mediocre defence this season and Taumalolo will be putting pressure on it with every run.
Felise Kaufusi ($10,500)
Kaufusi has been in magnificent form for the Storm recently, scoring four tries in his last three games. His ability to position himself perfectly and pierce through holes in the defence through well-timed line running has been pivotal to the Storm’s attack and he’s been back to playing the full 80 minutes in recent weeks. His worst score of the year when playing a full game is a respectable 35.2 and given his form, there is no doubt he’ll do so again this week.
Centre
Joseph Leilua ($10,850)
After a couple of down weeks earlier in the year, Leilua looks to be back to his best after a great performance against Penrith prior to the bye. He ended up with eight tackle breaks, three offloads and a try in a typically rampaging running performance which left the Panthers on the back foot in defence. The Broncos have been prone to defensive lapses out wide and Joey Leilua is the perfect man to exploit a bad decision and turn a half chance into a scoring opportunity.
Half
Michael Morgan ($11,200)
Morgan was in sublime form at halfback prior to Thurston returning and will probably line up there once more on Saturday with a battered and bruised JT likely to miss the game. Morgan’s confidence will be sky-high after giving the offload that led to Queensland’s match-winning try on Wednesday and he will need to produce another strong performance for the Cowboys if they’re to beat the red-hot Panthers. Expect Morgan to fill up the attacking stats and be involved in nearly all of the Cowboys attack.
Wing/Fullback
James Roberts ($12,200)
Roberts has been superb recently, with the speedster racking up metres and tackle breaks for fun. His speed makes him so difficult to stop and it makes him a threat to score at any time and against a Canberra team that has struggled to defend out wide at times, he will be primed to strike. Roberts has scored the third most tries in the competition this season and he hasn’t gone three weeks without scoring at any stage this year, so he will be itching to continue that record this week.
Justin O’Neill ($8,600)
Despite a lacklustre start to the season and an unceremonious dropping from the Queensland team after Origin I, O’Neill has begun to found some form recently. After breaking just seven tackles in his first seven games this season, he has broken 13 in the last three rounds and has started to look like his old self in attack. He’s also been livelier with the ball which has seen him gain more metres and present a threat to break the defensive line. There’s no doubt that O’Neill at his best will cause problems for the Panthers and will end up with a handy Draftstars score.
The Line Up
FR-F: Jesse Bromwich ($12,500)
FR-F: Shannon Boyd ($8,900)
HOOK: Kodi Nikorima ($8,850)
2R-F: Jason Taumalolo ($15,300)
2R-F: Felise Kaufusi ($10,500)
C: Joseph Leilua ($10,850)
HALF: Michael Morgan ($11,200)
W/FB: James Roberts ($12,200)
W/FB: Justin O’Neill ($8,600)
Salary Remaining: $1,100
NRL SCORING SYSTEM
Try Scored = 8 points
Goal = 2 points
Field Goal = 5 points
Try Assist = 5 points
Line Break = 4 points
Line Break Assist = 2 points
Tackle = 1 point
Tackle Break = 3 points
Missed Tackles = -2 points
Offload = 2 points
Run Metres Gained = 0.1 points
Kick Metres Gained = 0.05 points
Error = -2 points
NRL