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 Round 17 in 2024. Whether it’s to decide your NRL Fantasy or NRL Supercoach Captain or to lock in the last leg of your multi – we have you covered!
You can check out all of Wicky’s content, tips and more here and you can follow NRL Fantasy Scout on Instagram for regular updates.
Dragons v Dolphins
Sun 30/6, 2pm
Wicky’s breakdown – The Dragons are notoriously strong on the right side but with Bird and Lomax both missing – it’ll be interesting to see if Hunt can get the most out of Max Feagai and Tuipolotu on the right side. With the wet conditions in Sydney – it wouldn’t surprise us if Hunt runs the ball more himself.
| R WING | R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
| Tuipulotu | Max Feagai | RFM | B Hunt | Flanagan | Su’A | Suli | Mathew Feagai |
| Niu | Farnworth | Aitken | I Katoa | Nikorima | Lemuelu | Averillo | Isaako |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR | R WING |
The Dolphins are missing The Hammer due to his injury from Origin II. The Dolphins have scored 10 tries through middle forwards this year – 3rd most of any team. We tipped Max Plath to score the 1st try at $81 a couple of weeks ago and Mark Nicholls coming off the bench just screams anytime try scorer today!
Dom Young. The Tigers have conceded 12 tries to right wingers this season and the Roosters have scored 12 tries through their right winger!
Panthers v Cowboys
Sun 30/6, 4.05pm
Wicky’s breakdown – Important to note almost all the Origin players from both sides are out for this one, aside from Isaah Yeo for the Panthers! The Panthers have conceded 56% of their tries this season through their right edge – Finefeuiaki has looked impressive in the left 2nd rower position for the Cowboys, we like him to crash over today. There were also rumours Alamoti may be playing on the wing, another one to look out for.
|
R WING |
R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
|
Turuva |
Tago | Henry | Cole | Schneider |
Sorensen
|
Alamoti | McLean |
| Burns | Purdue | Finefeuiaki | Clifford | Townsend | Luki | Vailea |
Feldt |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR |
R WING |
Roosters v Wests Tigers
Sun 30/6, 6.15pm
Wicky’s breakdown – The Tigers have been surprisingly impressive in the last fortnight. They go into this game full of confidence and the rain should bring these 2 teams closer together. The Roosters have named their Origin players, however, Collins, Leniu, Butcher and Whyte are on the bench – we think there’ll definitely be a reshuffle come final teams time. Same with the Tigers having Bateman on the bench with Reuben Porter starting in the 2nd row.
| R WING | R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
| D Young | Manu | Radley | S Walker | Keary | A Crichton | Tupouniua | Tupou |
| Faataape | Doueihi | Samuela Fainu | Galvin | Sezer | Porter | Naden | Laulilii |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR | R WING |
If you think the Roosters can go against the Tigers resurgence and the rain – then the right winger is the way to go. Dom Young. The Tigers have conceded 12 tries to right wingers this season and the Roosters have scored 12 tries through their right winger!
Bulldogs v Sharks
Fri 28/6, 8pm
Wicky’s breakdown – The Dogs’ right edge scores 51% of their tries and concedes 55% of their tries. We saw Salmon score their first try last week and looking at their lineup this week, Preston has been ruled out but Stephen Crichton could still be a late in on the right edge! If Skelton stays as the right winger – we’d say he’d be the one to look at for your multis or as a sneaky Draft (short term) trade in!
| R WING | R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
| Skelton | Kiraz | Salmon | Sexton | Burton | Kikau | Xerri | Wilson |
| Mulitalo | Iro | Talakai | Trindall | Hynes | Nikora | Ramien | S Katoa |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR | R WING |
The Sharks have scored 13 tries through middle forwards in 2024 – the most of any team. We’ve tipped Rudolf and Williams in our Punter’s Preview article and podcast to crash over at juicy prices. But if Wilton starts on an edge, Talakai would go back to the middle – him and Hazelton coming off the bench against a Dogs’ pack with Turpin, Hopoi and Morrin would be an enticing proposition!
Warriors v Broncos
Sat 29/6, 3pm
Wicky’s breakdown – The Broncos are without their 3 Origin stars – Haas, Carrigan and Walsh as well as Jordan Riki. The Wahs are missing Shaun Johnson but they do play this one at home with TMM and CHT in decent form in recent weeks.
| R WING | R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
| DWZ | RTS | Niukore | TMM | CHT | Capewell | Pompey | Montoya |
| Arthars | Cobbo | Piakura | Mam | Madden | Gosiewski | Staggs | Mariner |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR | R WING |
We think the Broncos’ left edge will naturally get more ball with no Walsh or Reynolds. Mam, Piakura and Cobbo are all dangerous in attack – that’s where we’d be looking for multis or draft teams!
The Wahs go into this one as favourites, even without Shaun Johnson. Te Maire Martin played 3 games in the halves without Shaun Johnson in recent weeks – averaging 450 kick metres, scoring a try and having SEVEN try assists in that time. The Warriors’ right winger has scored the most tries of any position for them in 2024, watch out for a return to form for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak!
Knights v Eels
Sat 29/6, 5.30pm
Wicky’s breakdown – Mitch Moses had 4 try assists on Wednesday night in Game 2. That’s as many in one game for the last 20 years. As many in a whole series for the last 8 years! He was on fire – and if he can bring that form to club land, watch out for Cartwright, Penisini and Blaize Talagi on his side. Unfortunately, J’maine Hopgood is likely gone for the season with a back injury.
| R WING | R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
| Tuala | D Gagai | Frizell | Pryce | Hastings | KPP | Best | Marzhew |
| Sivo | Russell | Lane | D Brown | Moses | B Cartwright | Penisini | Talagi |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR | R WING |
For the Knights – Joey Johns finally gets what he’s been asking for! Will Pryce, the electric utility, gets his first game in the halves for the Knights. They are missing Dylan Lucas but KPP returns on an edge. Can Pryce and Sharpe revive the Knights’ hot and cold attack? A home game against the 17th placed Eels as good of an opportunity as they’re going to have!
Parramatta concede the most tries in the comp to wingers and centres – on both sides! Dane Gagai is in contention for a miraculous return to the Maroons’ side – either for Val Holmes or on the bench. He’s looked really, really driven to score in recent weeks. He’d be our favourite pick to score a try in this game.
Storm v Raiders
Sat 29/6, 7.35pm
Wicky’s breakdown – The Storm have scored 51% of their tries through their side edge. With Munster still out and Hughes and Katoa having that great partnership on the right, we can see this continuing. The right side half and 2nd rower have scored 14 tries this season for the Storm – more than any other club.
| R WING | R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
| Warbrick | Anderson | E Katoa | J Hughes | Wishart | Blore | Howarth | Coates |
| Savage | Kris | H Young | Strange | Weekes | Whitehead | Timoko | A Hopoate |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR | R WING |
The Raiders are reportedly going to have some late team changes including Rapana going to the wing with Weekes shifting to Fullback. This will be confirmed in the update 1 hour before the game – but if you’re willing to take the risk, Rapana would be the one to include in your multis at fullback prices!
Aside from that – we think this is the exact type of game Hudson Young is designed for. Left out of the Blues side, the Raiders are struggling and a game away from home – he’ll be fired up. Him and Angus Crichton are the best try scoring left edge 2nd rowers in the comp – the Raiders are struggling for creativity in attack, we can see them going to what works for them by going to Young and playing direct (look out for Tapine especially).
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