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 25 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.

Titans v Roosters

Sun 25/8, 2pm

Wicky’s breakdown – Beau Fermor returns in the second row and Mo Fotuaika returns at Prop. AJ Brimson is named on the bench once again.

The Roosters lose Connor Watson but get JWH back. Nat Butcher has been named to start at lock.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
J Fifita	Brimson	Fermor	Foran	Campbell	D Fifita	Kelly	AKP
Tupou	Suaalii	A Crichton	Keary	S Walker	Radley	Manu	D Young
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Roosters have a great spread in attack across both sides, similar to the Bulldogs. Manu and Dom Young on the right are lethal. Tedesco would be our other pick as the Titans concede the most tries to Fullbacks of any side in 2024.

The Titans have been atrocious the last couple of weeks. Their threats in attack are known by most – this season’s leading try scorer AKP or David Fifita trying to bully himself over the try line.

Dragons v Sharks

Sun 25/8, 4.05pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Sharks lose Talakai and Sione Katoa. They do get Iro, Trindall, Wilton and Hazelton back.

The Dragons are unchanged.

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	Mathew Feagai	Tuipulotu
Hiroti	Iro	Wilton	Trindall	Atkinson	Nikora	Ramien	Stonestreet
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

Firstly – lock in a Hazelton or Uele try this week. It may be our bias for these players, but the Sharks are close to the highest middle forward tries for the season too!

For the Dragons – all the stats point to Ben Hunt’s dominant right edge so Zac Lomax is the obvious choice. Su’A has also been in electric form the last few weeks and he is running at the Sharks’ left edge which has had their defensive issues in the last couple of seasons.

Wests Tigers v Manly

Thu 22/8, 7.50pm

Wicky’s breakdown – If Luke Brooks can get a win over his old side, it’ll confirm that he’ll be playing finals footy for the first time in his career! The Tigers lose Doueihi and Manly lose Tommy Talau with Koula starting in the Centres.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Staines	Faataape	Seyfarth	Galvin	Sezer	Samuela Fainu	Tupou	Alaimalo
L Hopoate	Koula	B Trbojevic	Brooks	DCE	Olakau’atu	Garrick	Saab
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

As much as the strike power on Manly’s right side is hard to look past. We think Luke Brooks will really step up in this game, against his old club. With the speed and class of Koula and Lehi Hopoate on that side too – there could be more value looking at try scorers for multis etc there rather than the usual culprits of Olakau’atu and Saab!

The Tigers have changes in their backline again. We can’t say much for their attack besides pointing out how good their middle forward try scorers are – look out for Pole and Utoikamanu. Pole is usually better value as he’s coming off the bench.

Warriors v Bulldogs

Fri 23/8, 6pm

Wicky’s breakdown – This game will be played at Shaun Johnson Stadium! SJ’s last game in Auckland before he retires at the end of the season. AFB and Jazz Tevaga will also be playing their last games for the club. The Warriors get Wayde Egan back.

The Bulldogs have Max King on the extended bench but are otherwise unchanged.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
DWZ	RTS	Niukore	Johnson	Metcalf	Capewell	Pompey	Montoya
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 Bulldogs concede 50% of their tries through their right side. The player that stands out here is Luke Metcalf. Second game back from injury now – he’s a great running threat.

Although for this game, SURELY Shaun Johnson looks to put on a show in his final home game! If he can – his running threat or DWZ and DWZ outside him should be the beneficiaries.

As we’ve said in the last few weeks – the Dogs have a really well balanced attack with threats across the park. Addo-Carr has had a couple of games back now and should be better for the run. Although Kiraz has been our favourite pick to go over in recent times.

Broncos v Eels

Fri 23/8, 8pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Broncos are missing Reece Walsh but get Cobbo back.

The Eels are missing Wiremu Greig as well now, with Makatoa getting a spot on the bench.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Cobbo	Staggs	Riki	Reynolds	Rogers	Piakura	Mariner	Arthars
Sivo	Talagi	Tuilagi	Asi	Brown	B Cartwright	Penisini	Russell
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Broncos are still a mathematical chance to make the Finals and although they’re missing Haas and Walsh, we think their outside backs are going to have a field day against a depleted Eels outfit. Look out for Staggs and Mariner especially who have been in electric form.

For the Eels – we like Asi’s running game and Gutho always steps up in attack when Moses is out.

Raiders v Panthers

Sat 24/8, 3pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Panthers lose Nathan Cleary and Mitch Kenny for this one. Cleary is supposedly aiming to return for the Finals. They do get Liam Martin back, Brad Schneider gets a start in the halves and Sommerton takes Kenny’s place at Hooker.

The Raiders lose Strange with Kris moving to Centre and Hopoate going onto the wing.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Savage	Timoko	Whitehead	Fogarty	Weekes	H Young	Kris	Hopoate
To’o	C McLean	Garner	Luai	Schneider	Martin	I Tago	Laurie
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

With Nathan Cleary out, we know that Dylan Edwards’ involvement will go through the roof. Him and Luai are the obvious threats here. The Panthers have scored 43% of their tries through their right edge and Brad Schneider is definitely more of a runner than a creator so he could be a threat also.

Storm v Dolphins

Sat 24/8, 5.30pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Storm lose Grant Anderson with Tyran Wishart filling in on the wing. Welch is in the reserves and Faalogo is back on the bench.

The Dolphins get Mark Nicholls back.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Warbrick	Meaney	E Katoa	J Hughes	Munster	Blore	Howarth	Wishart
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 Dolphins will likely look to attack the Storm’s edge with Howarth and Wishart defending next to each other. While Isaako’s had a relatively lean last few weeks – this could be the weak to play him in your SC team and perhaps include him in your try scorer multis!

For the Storm – their split of tries scored across both edges is relatively even. However, a couple of games in to his return we think this is the game that Cam Munster will really fire up. Look out for Blore in attack – he has a strong running game but hasn’t scored many tries, we think Munster will send him over for a try, especially running at Nikorima with a busted shoulder.

On a side note – it’s big NAS’s 200th game. Although the odds are horrible value, a big Asofa-Solomona barge over try wouldn’t surprise anyone!

Rabbitohs v Knights

Sat 24/8, 7.35pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Rabbitohs lose Cody Walker, with Dean Hawkins taking his place in the halves.

The Knights lose Tyson Gamble, with Jack Cogger taking his place in the halves. Dylan Lucas returns in the centres and Will Pryce gets a spot on the bench.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
J Gagai	Munro	Koloamatangi	Hawkins	Wighton	Duncan	Milne	Myers
Marzhew	Lucas	KPP	Crossland	Cogger	Frizell	D Gagai	Sharpe
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

No Trell or Walker. The Rabbitohs will likely play a game heavily reliant on their forward pack. A couple of players we really like to score are Cam Murray or Damien Cook. Cook’s been in great try scoring form this season and Murray had ridiculous stats last week.

For the Knights – KPP finally got over for a try! With a change in their halves again, we think it’ll be KP ball again. Ponga hitting up Marzhew or Sharpe with cutout passes or a Gagai solo run is how we can see the Knights scoring points in this one.

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