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 21 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!
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The Titans have conceded 18 tries to Fullbacks (next worst is 13) and the Dolphins have scored 15 tries through Fullbacks (next best is 11). Lock in Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to score today.
Dragons v Panthers
Sun 28/7, 2pm
Wicky’s breakdown – The Dragons have sensationally dropped Tyrell Sloan to reserve grade. Ravalawa and Jack Bird are also missing, however, they do get Ben Hunt, Lomax and Lawrie back. The Panthers get all their Origin stars back aside from Dylan Edwards (injured).
| R WING | R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
| Lomax | Max Feagai | RFM | Hunt | Flanagan | Su’A | Suli | Tuipulotu |
| To’o | C McLean | Sorensen | Luai | Cleary | Martin | I Tago | Turuva |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR | R WING |
The Dragons have conceded the most tries in the comp to middle forwards – JFH and Leota have looked in the mood recently and Yeo, being fresh after a week off should be fired up today too.
For the Dragons – with Ben Hunt and Lomax back, the 49-33% split of right v left becomes the most relevant stat again. Look out for Zac Lomax, who should be a juicy price considering the Dragons are such big outsiders today.
Dolphins v Titans
Sun 28/7, 4.05pm
Wicky’s breakdown – Both sides go in with no changes.
| R WING | R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
| Isaako | Averillo | F Kaufusi | Nikorima | I Katoa | Lemuelu | Farnworth | Bostock |
| 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 conceded 18 tries to Fullbacks (next worst is 13) and the Dolphins have scored 15 tries through Fullbacks (next best is 11). Lock in Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to score today.
For the Titans – their left edge with Campbell, Fifita and AKP on a flat track at Suncorp will be lethal.
Raiders v Rabbitohs
Sun 28/7, 6.15pm
Wicky’s breakdown – The only change to either side is Chee-Kam moving to centre for Kennar, meaning Host moves to starting 2nd row.
| 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 |
| Johnston | Milne | Host | Wighton | C Walker | Duncan | Chee Kam | J Gagai |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR | R WING |
Rinse and repeat – Cody Walker has moved to the right side. Jacob Gagai will score tries.
Interestingly, Souths have scored 13 tries through middle forwards (2nd best of any team) and the Raiders have only scored 1! Moale crashed over first last week – we’re liking him or Tom Burgess to go over today.
Souths have conceded 17 tries to right wingers, the worst of any team. The Raiders’ right winger Savage has made a great transition to the wing in 2024 – and he’s on Fogarty’s side so we can see more opportunities for him. Whereas the left side with Strange and Young probably gets starved of quality ball for the centre and winger.
Warriors v Wests Tigers
Fri 26/7, 6pm
Wicky’s breakdown – The Tigers have a ton of changes. Most noticeably – they lose Doueihi, Sezer, Klemmer and Bateman. They regain Koroisau, Seyfarth and Isaiah Papali’i.
The Warriors lose Tuaupiki (which moves RTS to FB!) and Pompey with Ed Kosi moving to the wing.
|
R WING |
R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
|
DWZ |
Leiataua | Niukore | TMM | CHT |
Capewell
|
Graham-Taufa | Kosi |
| Laulilii | Faataape | Samuela Fainu | Galvin | Koroisau | Porter | To’a |
Staines |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR |
R WING |
For the Warriors – most Supercoach and Fantasy players will be excited about the return of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to Fullback! Unfortunately this only be for 1-2 games with Montoya and CNK due back in 1-2 weeks.
CHT & TMM have been in great running form – it’s hard to see DWZ getting as much ball as most fans would be hoping with no Shaun Johnson and RTS not being the best at setting up plays in attack.
We mentioned the Galvin + Samuela Fainu combo for the Tigers in attack last week. Galvin scored a try and they both looked dangerous in patches.
Sione Fainu, a rookie middle forward, scored his 2nd try. With Api back in the side – Pole, Utoikamanu and Sione Fainu are our 3 key middles to watch out for.
Eels v Storm
Fri 26/7, 8pm
Wicky’s breakdown – The Eels are equal last on the ladder and will be missing Moses, Paulo and Hopgood for the rest of the season. The only good news for them is that this is a home game against the ladder leading Melbourne Storm.
Cam Munster is likely to be named to start (he’s currently on the bench). This likely shifts Wishart to the bench and Faaalogo to the reserves. They also get big NAS back.
| R WING | R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
| Russell | Penisini | Cartwright | Brown | Asi | Lane | Talagi | J Tago |
| Anderson | Howarth | Blore | Wishart | J Hughes | E Katoa | Meaney | Warbrick |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR | R WING |
The Storm have scored 48% of their tries through the left edge this season and that’s with Cam Munster missing half the season. If he does start – it’ll be exciting to see how Blore, Howarth and Anderson play, given they’ve already been in great form!
The Storm have conceded almost half of their tries this season through their right edge. It’s honestly difficult to see the Eels scoring many points, but Daejarn Asi is a strong ball runner and Blaize Talagi has been impressive in the opportunities he’s had so far in his rookie season.
Broncos v Bulldogs
Sat 27/7, 3pm
Wicky’s breakdown – The Dogs are missing their Captain Stephen Crichton and the Broncos are missing Brendan Piakura, however, they do get Selwyn Cobbo back. Should be a cracker at Suncorp!
|
R WING |
R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
|
Arthars |
Staggs | Riki | Reynolds | Mam |
K Hetherington
|
Mariner | Cobbo |
| Wilson | Xerri | Kikau | Burton | Sexton | Preston | Kiraz |
Skelton |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR |
R WING |
With the Broncos close to full strength – it’ll be exciting to see if Reece Walsh can be as electric in attack as he was last weekend against the Bulldogs who are one of the best defensive sides in the comp in 2024.
The Broncos have scored 16 tries through their right winger. This was Cobbo’s spot last season, Mariner’s spot last season and is now likely Jesse Arthars’ spot. Arthars is a great shout for try scorer plays or a sneaky Draft pick! The Dogs have conceded 57% of tries through their right edge this season which further helps Arthars’ case.
The Dogs have a nice spread in attack – with Burton and Kikau obvious threats on the left and Preston and Kiraz looking dangerous on the right when they’ve been fit this season. With Kobe Ketherington filling in at left 2nd row and Cobbo new to the left wing role – the Dogs’ right might be the way they go today.
Cowboys v Sharks
Sat 27/7, 5.30pm
Wicky’s breakdown – The Sharks blood Liam Ison at Fullback, who replaces Will Kennedy (suspended). Murray Taulagi comes back in on the wing for the Cowboys but they are missing Heilum Luki (Finefeuiaki starts).
|
R WING |
R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
|
Feldt |
Vailea | Nanai | Townsend | Dearden |
Finefeuiaki
|
Holmes | Taulagi |
| Mulitalo | Iro | Wilton | Trindall | Atkinson | Nikora | Ramien |
S Katoa |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR |
R WING |
The Cowboys have conceded 12 tries to middle forwards in 2024 – 2nd worst of any team. The Sharks have scored 14 tries through middle forwards – the most of any team.
The Sharks have Hazelton, Talakai and Hamlin-Uele going through the middle rotation. BHU going up against his old side too. We’ll be shocked if one of the Sharks middle forwards don’t crash over today!
The position that has scored the most for the Cowboys has been their right winger (14 tries in 2024), which happens to be the Sharks’ weakness too. Kyle Feldt should be in for a day out – look out for a Drinkwater cut-out ball!
Roosters v Manly
Sat 27/7, 7.35pm
Wicky’s breakdown –Manly lose Lehi Hopoate which shifts Tommy Talau to the wing, Ben Trbojevic to the centres and Corey Waddell to start in the 2nd row. The Roosters have no changes to their 17 – they go in stacked as usual!
| R WING | R CTR | R EDG | R HLF | L HLF | L EDG | L CTR | L WING |
| D Young | Tupouniua | Radley | S Walker | Keary | A Crichton | Suaalii | Tupou |
| Talau | Burbo | Waddell | Brooks | DCE | Lawton | Garrick | Saab |
| L WING | L CTR | L EDG | L HLF | R HLF | R EDG | R CTR | R WING |
Both sides are missing a couple of strike players (Joey Manu and Olakau’atu). The Roosters’ left edge looks great on paper – Angus Crichton is in career best form and Daniel Tupou, the left winger, should benefit today.
For Manly – their left edge looks quite disjointed. Whereas their right edge, with Garrick and Saab especially, has been looking great. It’ll be a huge test for them today though – playing a quality side and away from their home turf!
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