Wicky, NRL Fantasy Scout & Kyle Bedford break down each side’s players by which side of the field they play on for every NRL game in Magic Round in 2024. Where do teams favour going to in attack? Where do teams leak most tries?

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Souths have scored 62% of their tries on the left side. It’s not just these guys being back together and the stats – but also look at the right side. No Ilias/Hawkins, no Graham – Teaupa, Thompson and Gagai don’t inspire much confidence.

Warriors v Panthers

Sun 19/5, 1.50pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Wahs with no Shaun Johnson, coming off 4 losses and playing the Panthers. The left edge for the Warriors was atrocious in defence last week – TMM, Barnett, Pompey and Montoya are the 4 guys likely to be there this week, we can see the Panthers picking these guys off easily.

The Panthers have scored 63% of their tries on the right side. Turuva was moved away from that wing just as a defensive play (To’o to defend against the Dogs’ lethal left) but he should be back on the right wing for this one! He’s our clear pick to score and a potentially sneaky VC option in Supercoach.

Storm v Eels

Sun 19/5, 4.05pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Storm have scored 54% of their tries on the left edge, we expect to see this continue with Munster playing there and Hughes (right) and Papenhuyzen (FB) still missing. In Coates‘ return game – we can see him getting over for a try or two.

Maika Sivo has scored 6 tries in 4 games this season. The Eels have scored 41% of their tries through their left edge. It’ll be a difficult matchup for the Eels with Gutho and Moses still missing – but as good as Blaize Talagi’s running game was last week, if they spread the ball out wide we can see Sivo being the benficiary here.

Wests Tigers v Dolphins

Sun 19/5, 6.25pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Tigers have lost Papali’i (scored 2 tries last week) and Bateman as well as Starford To’a. The Dolphins have lost Max Plath but get the Hammer back!

We said a crucial thing to observe was which side Farnworth played on. Luckily – it was Averillo inside Isaako on the right. With that set to continue – we LOVE Isaako against a Tigers side missing troops on both edges.

Raiders v Bulldogs

Fri 17/5, 6pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The only key team change for this game is Rapana back for the Raiders. With no Fogarty – it’s so hard to predict what the Raiders will do in attack. Their pack is their strength – hopefully Josh Papa can break his 2024 try drought with an early meat pie against the Dogs.

One thing that is clear though is the Dogs’ reliance on their left edge. Burton’s in great form – Kikau’s still near the top of the Dally M leaderboard and on a dry, fast track at Suncorp – expect to see Addo-Carr stroll over for a try or two. The Dogs have scored almost 50% of their tries on the left edge.

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Manly v Broncos

Fri 17/5, 8.05pm

Wicky’s breakdown – Tom Trbojevic and Jason Saab will be missing for Manly whereas Billy Walters is out for the Broncos. Manly get big Haumole back whereas the Broncos start Tyson Smoothy with gun rookie, Mozer on the bench.

The Broncos have conceded 50% of their tries to the left edge. With Manly’s right edge having DCE and Olakau’atu – we think that’s one area they’ll definitely go hard on, considering they’re missing the class of Turbo and Saab.

Titans v Knights

Sat 18/5, 3pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Titans JUST held on against the Cowboys after they seemed to be losing a player to injury every odd set! Brimson, Foran, Sami and Smith-Shields are all out. We think Weaver will come into the team but as it stands – their halves are Randall and Verrills!

The Knights have lost Daniel Saifiti (suspension) and Gamble (long term injury) and Best, Frizell and Gagai are all under an injury cloud due to hamstring or calf complaints.

It’s actually quite a tricky game to read without Ponga for the Knights and Foran for the Titans. David Fifita’s scored in 3 of the last 4 games – 2 of them just brute force runs from dummy half! We think they’ll definitely go there in attack – so Fifita himself or Khan-Pereira could be good options to Captain in Fantasy/Supercoach and add in your multis respectively!

Sharks v Roosters

Sat 18/5, 5.30pm

Wicky’s breakdown – Joey Manu misses this one (Conussion) and Nicho Hynes could be a late out again (Calf) with Trindall in the extended squad. Brandon Smith comes back in for the Roosters. The Roosters have been on fire in the last month but the Sharks are coming off an impressive victory over the Storm in Melbourne. Without Nicho Hynes!

The Sharks have scored 8 tries in the last 3 weeks through middle forwards – Hazelton, Talakai and Oregon Kaufusi have all scored 2 each during that time. The Roosters have a great pack but one of Hazelton or Talakai especially could be interesting options as a POD Draft pickup or anytime try scorer option in multis.

The Roosters’ left edge has been unstoppable. Especially if Hynes is a late out – we think Keary and Crichton will see a lot of ball and Daniel Tupou might be a beneficiary of this in his 250th NRL game!

Rabbitohs v Cowboys

Sat 18/5, 7.45pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The crew is back! Trell at FB, AJ on the left wing and Cody + Wighton have been there on the left already. Souths have scored 62% of their tries on the left side. It’s not just these guys being back together and the stats – but also look at the right side. No Ilias/Hawkins, no Graham – Teaupa, Thompson and Gagai don’t inspire much confidence.

The Cowboys looked pretty inept in attack against the Titans. They laid on two late tries but with Drinkwater, Nanai and Dearden in that team – they were underwhelming and both teams have had more than a month without a win now. We think the Cowboys will attack the inexperienced right edge for the Rabbitohs – Dearden, Luki, Holmes and Murray Taulagi could have a field day if they can finish off their attacking raids.

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