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 24 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.

We’ll stick with our guns here. Souths – we love Cody Walker to hit up Jacob Gagai on the right wing.

Dragons v Titans

Sun 18/8, 2pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Dragons are missing Suli, Sele and Flanagan. They get Jack Bird back.

The Titans lose Mo Fotuaika but get back Brian Kelly (AJ Brimson has been benched).

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Lomax	Max Feagai	Su’A	B Hunt	Bird	Leilua	Mat Feagai	Tuipulotu
AKP	Kelly	D Fifita	Campbell	Foran	K Haas	Sami	J Fifita
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Dragons are missing Suli and Flanagan from their left edge and considering they score 50% of their tries through their right side – we’re backing in a Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax masterclass.

For the Titans – it’s Foran’s 300th. There could be a late reshuffle with Fermor and Brimson potentially coming into the starting side on that side, but for now – we love Sami and Jojo Fifita especially to go over through a Foran pass.

Sharks v Knights

Sun 18/8, 4.05pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Sharks have Uele and Mulitalo returning. This game is at Shark Park – so it’s a huge boost for the Sharks chances of holding on to their top 4 spot!

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
S Katoa	Ramien	Nikora	Atkinson	B Brailey in Defence/McInnes in Attack	R Hunt	Talakai	Mulitalo
Marzhew	McCarthy	KPP	Crossland	Gamble	Frizell	D Gagai	Sharpe
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

If Mulitalo and Trindall start, it’ll change the Sharks’ attack quite a bit. But if they go as named – look out for Atkinson to control the side in attack. They’re like the Dogs – they’ve got strike across the park. If we had to choose a couple of threats, we’d go with Nikora and Ramien.

For the Knights – they’re 2 points and significant points differential outside the top 8. It’s all or nothing. That means Ponga should be demanding even more ball. Sharpe scored three tries on the right wing last week but we think with Lucas back on the left side – Ponga should sweep around more there and look out for Marzhew who caught a cold on the left wing last week!

Panthers v Storm

Thu 15/8, 7.50pm

Wicky’s breakdown – Ivan Cleary has confirmed Dylan Edwards and Fisher-Harris will be returning to the playing 17, however they’re currently named in the reserves. You’d expected they both start. There is a rumour that Turuva will be dropped with Laurie shifting from Fullback to wing. We’ll find out for sure 1 hour before the game.

The Panthers do lose Liam Martin and Scott Sorenson – with Mav Geyer and Liam Henry named in a makeshift 2nd row.

The Storm get Eli Katoa back.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
To’o	I Tago	L Smith	Cleary	Luai	Geyer	C McLean	Laurie
Anderson	Howarth	Blore	Munster	J Hughes	E Katoa	Meaney	Warbrick
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Panthers have Mav Geyer and Liam Henry named in the second row. Lindsay Smith could potentially spend some time there as well. The left edge for the Panthers could definitely be a weak point in defence with Geyer and McLean – both NRL rookies, likely defending next to each other. Watch out for Jahrome Hughes and Eli Katoa in attack on the Storm right edge.

In attack, the Panthers will likely rely heavily on their spine with Dylan Edwards back. Especially in big games – watch out for Cleary and Edwards today. There are rumours that Turuva may be benched or dropped with Laurie shifting to a wing – so be careful if you’re thinking of Turuva for multis etc – teams will be confirmed 1 hr before game time.

Manly v Warriors

Fri 16/8, 6pm

Wicky’s breakdown – Manly will get Koula back, he’s set to be named on the bench and play as a super sub in his first game back from injury. They also get Josh Aloiai back.

The Wahs get Adam Pompey and Montoya back but lose Ali Leiataua and TMM.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Saab	Garrick	Olakau’atu	DCE	Brooks	Burbo	Talau	L Hopoate
Montoya	Pompey	Capewell	Metcalf	Johnson	Niukore	RTS	DWZ
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

Manly playing at Brookie with DCE, Olakau’atu, Garrick and Saab on the right. And Tommy Turbo out the back. This looks lethal. Hard to pinpoint specific players here but it’s definitely the side we’d be looking to for multis or sneaky Supercoach VC picks etc.

For the Warriors – Shaun Johnson has a maximum of 3 games to go in his career. He’ll want to put on a show, RTS and DWZ on his side definitely gives him enough firepower.

Roosters v Eels

Fri 16/8, 8pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Roosters will be missing Nat Butcher and there is a chance Dom Young drops out (due to the injury before their bye).

The Eels could get Maika Sivo back (named in the reserves) and Ryan Matterson has been named at lock but is unlikely to play.

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	Suaalii	Tupou
J Tago	Talagi	Lane	Asi	Brown	B Cartwright	Penisini	Russell
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Eels are missing a few of their stars, have been impressive in the last two games and now literally have nothing but pride to play for.

One interesting stat – the Eels are the worst side at conceding tries to centres and wingers, on both sides, in 2024. Last week they almost beat the Panthers – but all 6 tries they did concede were to centres and wingers. That makes us suggest Young, Manu, Suaalii and Tupou for try scorer picks or sneaky Supercoach VC picks.

For the Eels – if they are going to score a couple of tries, we’d be looking at the left side. Talagi or Tago. Jake Tago’s scored in his last 3 games, including against the Storm and the Panthers!

Bulldogs v Dolphins

Sat 17/8, 3pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Dolphins lose Mark Nicholls but are otherwise unchanged.

The Dogs get Salmon back on the bench. This should be a cracking game in Bundaberg!

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Kiraz	S Crichton	Preston	Sexton	Burton	Kikau	Xerri	Addo-Carr
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

The one standout stat for this game is that the Dogs concede 52% of their tries through their right edge. Herbie Farnworth has been on fire in recent weeks – he’s our main pick to score from the Phins.

For the Dogs – they’ve gone from strength to strength in recent weeks. We’ve mentioned Kiraz on the right wing repeatedly in recent weeks. And interestingly, even though he has Kikau and the Foxx on either side – Xerri has been a standout in attack.

Cowboys v Raiders

Sat 17/8, 5.30pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Cowboys lose Nanai, with Finefeuiaki starting in his place. They’ve also dropped Townsend, with Clifford getting a start in the halves!

The Raiders will be missing Jordan Rapana with Adam Cook named in the halves and Strange shifting to the centres.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Feldt	Vailea	Luki	Clifford	Dearden	Finefeuiaki	Holmes	Taulagi
Kris	Strange	H Young	A Cook	Fogarty	Whitehead	Timoko	Savage
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

We think with Townsend being dropped, Tom Dearden will pick up a few more touches in attack. The combination of Dearden and Finefeuiaki in attack is our one to watch out for. Their speed and power should be too good for Fogarty and Whitehead.

For the Raiders – big Josh Papa has stepped up in recent weeks and with the Cowboys missing Taumalolo and Nanai, we’re backing another big bopper to crash over this weekend. As we’ve got a great price for him – we’re hoping it’s Morgan Smithies ($81s).

Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs

Sat 17/8, 7.35pm

Wicky’s breakdown – Jahream Bula has been sent for shoulder surgery and will almost definitely miss the rest of the season. There’s also a chance Aidan Sezer misses this one (due to an injury from last week) – look out for Api to potentially shift to the halves and Tallyn Da Silva to start at hooker if this does happen.

The Rabbitohs are missing Chee-Kam and Murray shifts back to lock with Koala and Duncan playing in the 2nd row.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Staines	Faataape	Seyfarth	Galvin	Sezer	Samuela Fainu	Doueihi	Laulilii
Myers	Milne	Koloamatangi	Wighton	Walker	Duncan	Kennar	J Gagai
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

We’ll stick with our guns here. Souths – we love Cody Walker to hit up Jacob Gagai on the right wing.

For the Tigers – their attack will be even worse with no Bula and potentially no Sezer. We’ll back in their middle forwards, either Utoikamanu or Pole to crash over against a Bunnies side that has very, very little resolve in defence.

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