NRL $2,000+ Saturday Line-Up
Saturday kicks off with a brilliant matchup between the second-placed Roosters and the defending premiers Cronulla. After this, the Warriors make the long trip over to Perth, desperately needing a win against the Sea Eagles to keep their top eight hopes alive. Similarly, Canberra will be looking to win at home against the Cowboys to stay in touch with the eight. With plenty of superstars on offer, it should be a cracking day of football.
Here is a team you may consider for the NRL $2,000+ Saturday competition
Front Row Forward
Paul Gallen ($18,700)
After getting beaten by the Sea Eagles pack last week, Gallen will be keen to lead the Sharks to a dominant performance through the middle against the Roosters. Gal’s running game is still one of the most dominant in the league and he currently has made the second most metres in the league this season. His ability to create second-phase play is impressive as well, with his 27 offloads putting him equal-fourth in the league among forwards. Against a Roosters pack that is missing skipper Boyd Cordner and Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Gallen should put in a massive running performance.
Junior Paulo ($12,850)
Paulo is enjoying a career-best season and seems to be getting better by the week. His running game has been strong all season, but his metre-eating ability have been complimented with vintage Paulo offloading in recent weeks. Because he is so difficult to bring to ground, the 118kg wrecking ball is excellent at keeping the ball alive and creating more opportunities for his teammates. Against a weakened Cowboys front-row, Paulo will be looking to give the Raiders plenty of forward thrust. Defensively, he’s made over 20 tackles in each of the last four weeks which is handy given the load he is asked to carry in attack.
Hooker
Nathaniel Roache ($8,500)
The shoulder injury to Isaac Luke opens up a fantastic opportunity for Roache to have an impact as the starting hooker for the Warriors. After lining up on the bench eight times this season and playing a combined 78 minutes, Roache was required to fill in at dummy-half against the Bulldogs for 47 minutes. In this time, he was brilliant, making 27 tackles on defence and making a line break, 101 metres and three tackle breaks in attack. He should see even more time this week and given his handy running game and solid defence, he should provide great value in this contest.
Second Row Forward
Bodene Thompson ($13,600)
Thompson has begun to recapture the form that once made him one of the best second-rowers in the competition. His defensive presence has been sorely missed for the Warriors this season and he’s made a couple of poor decisions which have led to opposition scores. In the last two weeks, however, there have been no such errors, as he’s made a combined 85 tackles for just one miss. He also has more confidence in his running game and has been able to get away six offloads in the last two rounds. Against the Sea Eagles, who can be shaky on the edge at times, Thompson will have every chance to put in another great performance.
Ryan Matterson ($11,550)
Matterson has been a strong performer in the absence of Boyd Cordner, providing some excellent runs from the left edge. After playing at five-eighth for significant portions of last season, Matterson has been used almost exclusively in the back-row this year and has relished in his new role. When given the opportunity to start, Matterson has averaged 50.6 Draftstars points as opposed to just 32.2 when he’s coming off the bench. He’s been given the start once again this week and there is no doubt he will put in another solid performance.
Centre
Lewis Brown ($5,100)
Given that Brown is averaging just 12.1 Draftstars points in his 14 games this season, his inclusion is risky, but he will be given plenty of minutes in the back row due to Curtis Sironen’s injury. Brown will be asked to shoulder a heavy load on defence which will lead to a reasonable Draftstars score and if he can have a couple of influential runs, he will provide unparalleled value at his bargain price.
Half
Fa’amanu Brown ($5,800)
The Sharks have a hooking crisis with Jayden Brailey out with a jaw injury and Daniel Mortimer headed to the Super League. This has led to an opening for Brown who has been primarily used at five-eighth this season. His running game has been solid and he should provide some attack out of dummy-half and although his defence is not of the same standard as Brailey, he will be able to rack up plenty of tackles. This makes him fantastic value at under $6k as he should score a minimum of 35, which makes him the best bargain option in this contest.
Wing/Fullback
Tom Trbojevic ($12,950)
The Warriors give up the sixth most points per game in the competition and Trbojevic is one of the most dangerous attacking players in the game. Sounds like a pretty good combination for the man they call Turbo. His ability to make plenty of yardage on kick-returns is invaluable to the Eagles and when you combine this with his creativity close to the try line, it is clear why he is regarded as one of the brightest young stars in the game. Despite playing just 12 of the 14 games this season, Turbo leads the Eagles in metres and line breaks, and is second in try assists. He’s a phenomenal attacking player and should tear apart the Warriors on Saturday.
Kyle Feldt ($10,450)
The most in-form winger in the competition coming up against an inconsistent edge defence is a dangerous combination for Raiders fans. Feldt has been scintillating recently, as his combination of being an aerial threat and a running machine has seen him score at least one try in each of the last six games. He’s been a tackle breaking beast during this purple patch and has consistently been making over 100 metres. Nick Cotric and Jarrod Croker will have their hands full trying to stop Feldt this Saturday.
The Line Up
FR-F: Paul Gallen ($18,700)
FR-F: Junior Paulo ($12,850)
HOOK: Nathaniel Roache ($8,500)
2R-F: Bodene Thompson ($13,600)
2R-F: Ryan Matterson ($11,550)
C: Lewis Brown ($5,100)
HALF: Fa’amanu Brown ($5,800)
W/FB: Tom Trbojevic ($12,950)
W/FB: Kyle Feldt ($10,450)
Salary Remaining: $500
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