NRL $3,000+ TITANS V EELS Line-Up

Friday night is packed with two huge games, but the Titans and Eels clash is what we’re focusing on. Both sides are struggling with various injury woes. It heightens the need to pick the right players for your Draftstars line-up!

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Here is a team you may consider for the NRL $3,000+ Friday Titans v Eels competition

Front Row Forward

Ryan James ($17,300)

If you don’t have James you won’t win this week, it’s as simple as that. While he does come at a premium, there is no one else in this matchup that has the point-scoring ability or consistency of the Titans co-captain. He doesn’t have an enormous upside, but you can expect a minimum score of 50 from James, which will be like gold compared to the other front rowers.

Suaia Matagi ($6,900)

After spending most of the year on the bench for the Panthers – his highest minute total for the entire season was just 41 minutes in Round 26 – Matagi has been given the starting nod at the Eels this season. When given the opportunity to start at prop last season, Matagi averaged 18.78 tackles and 100.9 run metres and even then, he was still playing just 35.44 minutes each game. So far, he’s had 47 and 42 minutes in his first two games with the Eels and looks to have built enough of a tank for this to continue. This means that Matagi is severely underpriced and will free up some cash to spend on his backline teammates.

Hooker

Kaysa Pritchard ($6,350)

Considering there are no elite hooker options for this game, the most logical course of action is to save the $4,200 and go with Pritchard. After coming off the bench and playing sparingly last season, Pritchard has confirmed himself as Parramatta’s first choice hooker this year. In the first two games, he’s played 80 and 73 minutes respectively and has racked up 35 and 37 tackles. If Pritchard can score around the 35 mark, he should at least match the output of Tyrone Roberts whilst saving you a ton of money.

Second Row Forward

Manu Ma’u ($12,800)

Ma’u cemented his spot as one of the most consistent back rowers in the league last season and he has continued this consistency in 2016, scoring 36.7 in each of the first two rounds. Despite being used in the centres occasionally last season, Ma’u has moved back to the second-row, where he dominates fantasy scoring. In the four games that he started in the centres last year, Ma’u averaged just 14.5 tackles per game. Compare this with the 29 tackles he laid per game from the back row and you have a man who is slightly underpriced for his output.

Kevin Proctor ($13,850)

Don’t be put off by Proctor’s terrible score in the first round against the Roosters. The Gold Coast’s new co-captain only played the first half due to a knee injury, but returned with aplomb in Round Two against Newcastle with a score of 42.40. Proctor averaged 46.7 last season and is a tackling machine who will also give you solid running metres against Parra.

Centre

Michael Jennings ($9,650)

The decision at centre comes down to Jennings and Konrad Hurrell with both priced at a tick under $10k. In the end, Jennings was picked because of the many different ways he can construct a score. Whether he’s breaking tackles, scoring or assisting tries, gaining metres or getting linebreaks, Jennings has the full offensive arsenal, which should be showcased against a poor Titans defence. His tackling numbers have also been solid this year, averaging 18.5 per game – up from 10.9 last year. Hurrell is also a decent selection, but if the Eels win by a big margin as expected, Jennings is the logical choice.

Half

Clint Gutherson ($11,300)

Gutherson and Ash Taylor are the two standout options in the halves this week, but Gutherson gets the nod due to the injury to Corey Norman. Gutherson is a well-rounded attacking threat that can produce tackle busts, line breaks, tries and kick metres on his day, while also taking the conversions. With Norman out Gutherson is only going to be asked to do more, which should result in a massive fantasy score.

Wing/Fullback

Semi Radradra ($12,100)

Radradra is the type of player that will change the course of your match in daily fantasy. The big winger has overcome a ton of adversity in the off-season to start the year averaging 53.35 – slightly more than the 49.3 he averaged in his standout 2015 campaign. Largely, that score came from last round, where Radradra put on a clinic by scoring four tries whilst picking up four line breaks and tackle busts. Against the Titans, Radradra should have a field day and may just be the player to win you the round.

Bevan French ($9,000)

With the Titans losing to Newcastle last week, Parramatta go into this clash as heavy favourites, meaning that the majority of your backs should be Eels. The Titans are the leakiest team in the competition so far, giving up 66 points in the first two rounds and French – the third leading try scorer in the league last season – should feast upon their terrible defence. Add to this that French should have more of the ball in his hands with the injury to Corey Norman and you have an excellent option for this game.

The Line Up

FR-F: Ryan James ($17,300)

FR-F: Suaia Matagi ($6,900)

HOOK: Kaysa Pritchard ($6,350)

2R-F: Manu Ma’u ($12,800)

2R-F: Kevin Proctor ($13,850)

C: Michael Jennings ($9,650)

HALF: Clinton Gutherson ($11,300)

W/FB: Semi Radradra ($12,100)

W/FB: Bevan French ($9,000)

Salary Remaining: $1,650