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 23 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.

Raiders v Manly

Sat 10/8, 3pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Raiders lose Zac Hosking but Ethan Strange returns to the starting side in the halves.

Manly lose Aloiai but regain Haumole Olakau’atu and Lachlan Croker after a long lay off with concussion related symptoms.

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
L Hopoate	Talau	Lawton	Brooks	DCE	Olakau’atu	Garrick	Saab
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

Both sides have balanced stats for tries scored and conceded. The Raiders have been playing a more direct style of footy with Tom Starling at hooker and Fogarty returning to the side.

Hudson Young has been in great form again this season. We like him as a try scorer today, as well as the right edge combo of Timoko and Savage against the clearly weaker defensive edge of Lawton, Talau and Hopoate.

For Manly – it’s hard to go past DCE, Olakau’atu, Garrick and Saab. They’ve all been in and out of the side over the last few weeks but fresh off the bye – they should be ready and raring to go!

Cowboys v Broncos

Sat 10/8, 5.30pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Cowboys lose Granville but regain Reuben Cotter. The Broncos are missing Mam and Payne Haas, so Willison moves to starting prop and Josh Rogers moves into the halves. There are rumours that Walsh may move to the halves with Tristan Sailor to start at Fullback.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Feldt	Vailea	Nanai	Townsend	Dearden	Luki	Holmes	Taulagi
Karapani	Mariner	Piakura	Rogers	Reynolds	Riki	Staggs	Arthars
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Broncos will be even more dependant on Reece Walsh in attack. We’re backing him to score or setup Arthars or Mariner, his two favourites to hit up in attack.

The Cowboys do concede a lot of middle forward tries. With no Payne Haas today, we’re loving Willison’s chances of scoring a try. 

Nanai and Feldt on the Cowboys’ right side running at Rogers, Piakura, Mariner (centre) and Karapani is a recipe for disaster for the Broncos.

Dragons v Bulldogs

Sat 10/8, 7.35pm

Wicky’s breakdown – Both sides go in unchanged after impressive wins last weekend.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Lomax	Max Feagai	Su’A	B Hunt	Flanagan	Leilua	Suli	Tuipulotu
Addo-Carr	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 Dragons have scored 50% of their tries through the right edge and the Dogs have scored 49% of tries through the right.

Jaydn Su’A was on fire last week – him or Lomax on the right side would be our recommendations for try scorers for the Dragons.

For the Bulldogs – it’s Kikau’s 150th so we do like him to crash over. Aside from that – Kiraz has been in electric form.

Dolphins v Warriors

Sun 11/8, 2pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Dolphins lose Josh Kerr but regain Nikorima in the halves (O’Sullivan back to the bench).

The Warriors are unchanged, however, they did receive some sad news with Shaun Johnson confirming this will be his last season in the NRL.

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
Kosi	Leiataua	Capewell	CHT	TMM	Niukore	RTS	DWZ
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

Wayne Bennett has said that Isaako and TPJ are confirmed starters for the Phins. They need to win this game, otherwise they risk falling out of touch with the Top 8.

In attack – Farnworth and Bostock have both looked threatening over the last few weeks. Nikorima’s been playing busted – Kaufusi and Averillo are clearly not as dangerous as the left edge in attack.

The Warriors have been disappointing in 2024 but that side right on paper looks great with SJ, RTS and DWZ. Hopefully they can gel in the last few games of the season and SJ’s career.

Knights v Wests Tigers

Sun 11/8, 4.05pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Knights are unchanged, whereas the Tigers are missing Olam and Latu Fainu. They do get Pole, Doueihi and Sezer back.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Sharpe	D Gagai	Frizell	Gamble	Crossland	KPP	Mapapalangi	Marzhew
Alaimalo	Doueihi	Samuela Fainu	Galvin	Sezer	Porter	Faataape	Staines
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

We can sum up the key weapons in this game easily.

Knights – left side. Ponga + Marzhew.

Tigers – through the middle. Api to setup Utoikamanu or Pole.

Rabbitohs v Storm

Thu 8/8, 7.50pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Rabbitohs get Cody Walker back but are still missing Latrell. The Storm are missing Eli Katoa but get Tui Kamikamica back.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
J Gagai	Kennar	Murray	Walker	Wighton	Chee Kam	Milne	Myers
Anderson	Howarth	Blore	Munster	J Hughes	Loiero	Meaney	Warbrick
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Storm score 45% of their tries through their left edge. With Munster in his 2nd full game back and no Eli Katoa, we definitely think the left side is where they’ll focus on in attack. Blore, Howarth and Anderson would be key targets there.

With Cody Walker back – the first thing that comes to mind is it reactivates Jacob Gagai on the right wing.

After their embarrassing loss at home to the Dragons, the Storm are likely to focus on their defence so we’re happy to just mention Gagai for the Rabbitohs’ attack tonight.

Titans v Sharks

Fri 9/8, 6pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Sharks are missing Trindall, Wilton and Uele. Talakai shifts into the 2nd row, Brailey into the halves and McInnes to starting hooker.

The Titans lose Beau Fermor but could be getting AJ Brimson back (he’s currently 18th man).

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
J Fifita	Sami	K Haas	Foran	Campbell	D Fifita	Brimson	AKP
Stonestreet	Iro	Talakai	Atkinson	B Brailey	Nikora	Ramien	S Katoa
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Sharks are missing Hynes and Trindall – this will definitely make their attack more unpredictable.

Atkinson has looked like a dangerous running threat – we’d lean towards him and the right edge of Nikora, Ramien and Katoa in attack.

The Titans have threats across the park – AKP is comfortably this season’s leading try scorer and Foran has been great setting up the right side attack.

Eels v Panthers

Fri 9/8, 8pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Panthers regain Daine Laurie in the only key change for this game.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Russell	Penisini	B Cartwright	Brown	Asi	Lane	Talagi	J Tago
Turuva	C McLean	Sorensen	Luai	Cleary	Martin	I Tago	To’o
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Eels were surprisingly stoic in their surprise win against the Warriors. In attack – Daejarn Asi looks like. a strong ball runner and Jake Tago has scored in his last two games.

The Panthers have looked great with ball in hand – we think Casey McLean at left centre is one to watch out for (again, scored 2 tries in the last 2 weeks). But the other obvious pick here Brian To’o – on the right wing which scores a lot more tries + has Nathan Cleary on that edge.

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