NRL $1,000+ Roosters v Eels Line-Up

The round comes to a close on Sunday with a contest between the red-hot Eels, who have won their last three games, and the fifth-placed Roosters. With excitement machines like Corey Norman, Blake Ferguson and Latrell Mitchell in action, there is no doubt this will be an entertaining contest between two in-form teams.

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Here is a team you may consider for the NRL $1,000+ Roosters v Eels competition

Front Row Forward

Nathan Brown ($15,100)

Brown is beginning to establish himself as one of the best fantasy forwards in the league thanks to a massive improvement in his running game which has seen him become a genuine metre eater. His tackling has always been strong, which gives him a great base for his scoring, whilst his ability to break tackles and offload the ball gives him a nice upside. Against a massive pack like the Roosters have, Brown will be relied upon to star defensively if the Eels are to win.

Dylan Napa ($8,550)

After proving to be one of the best props in the competition last year, Napa has struggled with injuries early this season which has led to some low scoring Draftstars games. This means that he comes at a massive discount for a guy who averaged 44.7 points per game last season. With Origin only a few weeks away, Napa will be keen to prove his fitness to Kevin Walters which should mean more minutes, runs and tackles for the big redhead.

Hooker

Jake Friend ($13,650)

Considering Kaysa Pritchard is no longer at a bargain price, Friend is the obvious option at hooker. Even though he hasn’t quite been himself this year, in recent weeks, Friend has started to show off the tackling prowess that led to him averaging over 60 Draftstars points per game last season. He’s made a mammoth 106 tackles in the past two weeks and if he racks up those sorts of numbers, combined with a bit of zip out dummy-half in attack, he’ll produce a huge score.

Second Row Forward

Mitch Aubusson ($11,450)

When Aubusson plays the full game, he scores well. After being demoted to the bench last round and only playing 32 minutes, Aubusson has been put into the starting line up once again. In games he’s started this season, he’s played the full 80 minutes each time and has averaged 50 Draftstars points. Against the Eels, this should be no different and considering his price is reduced, he’s a great option.

Kenny Edwards ($5,750)

Last week, Edwards looked to have readjusted to the pace and ferocity of first-grade after a shaky start in his first game back from his domestic violence suspension. He finished with 99 metres gained on nine runs, showing glimpses of the damaging running game he is known for. Defensively his tackling has been good, so if he does get used as a frequent ball-runner, he will be able to produce a nice score. At under $6k, he’s far too cheap to ignore.

Centre

Blake Ferguson ($8,050)

The centres in this game are all fairly similar and given that there are no standouts, Ferguson is a nice option at a slightly cheaper price. Given his excellent performance for the Kangaroos – which included an incredible interception which led to a length of the field run – it is clear that Ferguson is in good form. His ability to break the defensive line gives him a massive upside, whilst his running metres will keep you in good stead even if he has a bad game.

Half

Mitchell Pearce ($16,900)

Pearce has been the form halfback of the competition this season and it has shown in Draftstars scoring, where he has averaged nearly 60 points per game. His ability to fill up every area of the stat sheet is impressive – so much so that he has filled every category except for conversions at least twice this year. Pearce is involved in nearly all of their attacking action and his kicking game is so pivotal for the tri-colours that you can bank the points. It is tempting to go for a cheaper option – such as his partner in the halves, Luke Keary – but Pearce is the best chance to score 70+ and win you the contest.

Wing/Fullback

Clinton Gutherson ($10,600)

Gutherson was arguably best on ground last week in a massive performance that led to an upset win over the Cowboys. His two tries were crucial, but so too was the attacking versatility that he gave them thanks to his ability to act as a ball runner and field marshal. Since moving back to his favoured fullback position, the Eels’ custodian has had some great performances, which has seen him average 41 in the last three weeks.

Michael Gordon ($9,500)

Gordon has been solid this season for the Roosters, providing them with a safe fullback and a reliable goal kicker. This has seen him boost his Draftstars average from 31.7 at the Eels last season to 38.4 this year, much of which has been the result of a better attacking team creating more chances for him to capitalise on. Coming up against his former team, Gordon will be wanting to show Eels’ fans exactly what they’re missing out on which will hopefully result in some excellent attacking stats.

The Line Up

FR-F: Nathan Brown ($15,100)

FR-F: Dylan Napa ($8,550)

HOOK: Jake Friend ($13,650)

2R-F: Mitch Aubusson ($11,450)

2R-F: Kenny Edwards ($5,750)

C: Blake Ferguson ($8,050)

HALF: Mitchell Pearce ($16,900)

W/FB: Clinton Gutherson ($10,600)

W/FB: Michael Gordon ($9,500)

Salary Remaining: $450