NRL Round 20 Breakdown: Left v Right Edge Players

NRL Round 20 Breakdown: Left v Right Edge Players

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 20 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.

Panthers v Dolphins

Sun 21/7, 2pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Panthers get Nathan Cleary back but are missing all of their Origin stars. The Dolphins have The Hammer and Felise Kaufusi backing up but are missing Euan Aitken and JMK.

It seems like an easy game to pick with the Panthers playing at home but it’d 3rd v 6th on the ladder, the Dolphins will be up for this one!

R WING R CTR R EDG R HLF L HLF L EDG L CTR L WING
Turuva I Tago Henry Cleary Schneider Sorensen McLean Alamoti
Bostock Farnworth Lemuelu I Katoa Nikorima F Kaufusi Averillo Isaako
L WING L CTR L EDG L HLF R HLF R EDG R CTR R WING

With Cleary back, the right side for the Panthers is likely to see more ball. Especially with no Luai and Edwards – we can see Tago and Turuva having a lot more ball than in recent weeks. The Panthers have scored 44% of their tries through their right edge and that’s with Clearly only playing a handful of games this season!

The Panthers have conceded 58% of their tries this season through their right edge. They’ll have Liam Henry filling in for Liam Martin and Cleary back after a long lay off – this could mean more opportunities for Lemuelu, Farnworth and Bostock on the Phins’ left edge.

With Haumole missing, there could be even more ball going past Lawton to the lethal Garrick/Saab combo.

Manly v Titans

Sun 21/7, 4.05pm

Wicky’s breakdown – Manly get Paseka back, however they lose Haumole Olakau’atu. The Titans are missing AJ Brimson so Kini maintains his FB spot.

R WING R CTR R EDG R HLF L HLF L EDG L CTR L WING
Saab Garrick Lawton DCE Brooks B Trbojevic Talau L Hopoate
AKP Kelly D Fifita Campbell Foran Fermor Sami J Fifita
L WING L CTR L EDG L HLF R HLF R EDG R CTR R WING

The Titans have scored 44% of their tries through the left edge this season – even with Foran now moving to the right, Campbell’s electric form means that David Fifita and AKP especially on their left side remain key threats.

For Manly – they’ve been on fire on their right edge with Garrick Saab doing their best impersonation of Manu and Dom Young on the Roosters’ right edge! With Haumole missing, there could be even more ball going past Lawton to the lethal Garrick/Saab combo.

Cowboys v Bulldogs

Sun 21/7, 6.15pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Cowboys have all their Origin stars backing up, aside from Murray Taulagi (who was injured a couple of weeks ago).

The Dogs are missing Max King but do get Jacob Preston back.

R WING

R CTR R EDG R HLF L HLF L EDG L CTR L WING

Feldt

Vailea Nanai Townsend Dearden
Luki
Holmes Burns
Wilson Xerri Kikau Burton Sexton Preston S Crichton

Kiraz

L WING L CTR L EDG L HLF R HLF R EDG R CTR

R WING

The Dogs’ attack is really well rounded again with Preston back at right centre. We’d probably look at Crichton creating space for Kiraz on the right side or plays that focus around Burton/Kikau or Jacob Preston as their main threats in attack.

For the Cowboys – this is a huge game. A loss could see them lose touch with the top 8 (currently 9th with the Broncos, Rabbitohs, Raiders and Knights below them who are looking decent). Dearden had a huge game in the decider on Wednesday – Luki and Holmes can be dangerous in attack, that’s where we’d look for potential try scorer multis.

Raiders v Warriors

Fri 19/7, 8pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Raiders get Hudson Young, Fogarty and Hosking back! The Warriors lose CNK and Montoya and SJ is out long term. The Raiders are almost full strength and playing at home. This should be a cracking game!

R WING R CTR R EDG R HLF L HLF L EDG L CTR L WING
Savage Timoko Whitehead Fogarty Strange H Young Kris Rapana
RTS Pompey Capewell CHT TMM Niukore Leiataua DWZ
L WING L CTR L EDG L HLF R HLF R EDG R CTR R WING

RTS shifts to a wing and with no SJ – we think the Wahs’ attack will be more balanced. Their halves (TMM and CHT) both have strong running games. 

This lineup looks a LOT better for the Raiders with Strange back to his favoured left side with Hudson Young. Fogarty should get some game time with Hosking next to him (currently named on the bench) who’s a much better attacking threat than Whitehead.

Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers

Sat 20/7, 3pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Rabbitohs are missing Cam Murray (suspended for 2 games from Origin), Arrow (season) + Latrell (hopefully back in a couple of weeks). They get Havili back in the pack.

The Tigers are missing Api Koroisau and Alex Seyfarth. The Tigers get Twal back and have Tallyn Da Silva playing at hooker for Api.

R WING

R CTR R EDG R HLF L HLF L EDG L CTR L WING

J Gagai

Kennar Duncan C Walker Wighton
Chee Kam
Milne Johnston
Staines Faataape Samuela Fainu Galvin Sezer Bateman Doueihi

Laulilii

L WING L CTR L EDG L HLF R HLF R EDG R CTR

R WING

The Tigers look best in attack when Lachy Galvin and Samuela Fainu have their hands on the ball on the left edge.

We’re sounding like a broken record here but the Rabbitohs’ danger side is now the right edge with Cody Walker setting up tries for Jacob Gagai for fun. Gagai’s scored 6 tries to 3 compared to Alex Johnston in the last 5 games.

Knights v Broncos

Sat 20/7, 5.30pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Broncos’ Origin stars are all playing this game aside from Selwyn Cobbo. This moves Willison and Hetherington to the bench and Rogers and Sailor out of the team completely.

The Knights’ Origin stars Gagai, Best & Ponga have all been named. Tyson Gamble is in the reserves – this could spell the end of Will Pryce’s spot in the starting 13. Thomas Cant is also in the reserves – there’s still a chance Best or Gagai could be rested.

R WING

R CTR R EDG R HLF L HLF L EDG L CTR L WING

Mapapalangi

Gagai Frizell Gamble* Hastings
KPP
Best Marzhew
Oates Mariner Piakura Mam Reynolds Riki Staggs

Arthars

L WING L CTR L EDG L HLF R HLF R EDG R CTR

R WING

The Knights have scored 45% of their tries through their left side. With Ponga back and Best and Marzhew in amazing form, we’d expect this to continue.

The Broncos have been in horrendous form but with all their stars back, including Adam Reynolds, they’llbe expecting a much better performance. Reece Walsh scored an excellent solo try against the Panthers and this should be a mouth watering contest between him and KP!

Storm v Roosters

Sat 20/7, 7.35pm

Wicky’s breakdown – TBC

R WING R CTR R EDG R HLF L HLF L EDG L CTR L WING
Warbrick Meaney E Katoa J Hughes Wishart Blore Howarth Anderson
Tupou Suaalii A Crichton Keary S Walker Radley Tupouniua D Young
L WING L CTR L EDG L HLF R HLF R EDG R CTR R WING

TBC

If you want to follow more of our NRL analysis throughout the season or any of our other work at Wicky, please reach out via email or on social media.

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