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 26 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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Knights v Titans

Sun 1/9, 2pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Knights lose both their starting backrowers (KPP and Frizell) and will have Brodie Jones and Dylan Lucas playing in the backrow this week. They also get Bradman Best back.

The Titans lose AJ Brimson for the remainder of the season with Sami to take his spot at centre.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Sharpe	D Gagai	Jones	Cogger	Crossland	Lucas	Best	Marzhew
AKP	Kelly	D Fifita	Campbell	Foran	K Haas	Fermor	J Fifita
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

If David Fifita plays on the right with Foran again this week – we love him as a try scorer, especially running at Cogger and Jones.

For the Knights – they do get Bradman Best back. This could finally ignite their left edge, which Ponga prefers. Look out for Best and Marzhew.

Roosters v Raiders

Sun 1/9, 4.05pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Roosters lose JWH and Suaalii. They get Connor Watson, Brandon Smith and Michael Jennings back.

The Raiders are unchanged.

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	Jennings	Tupou
A Hopoate	Kris	H Young	A Cook	Weekes	Whitehead	Timoko	Savage
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

We saw the Roosters’ left edge click last week with Angus Crichton and Tupou especially on fire. Defensively – with Whitehead moving into the middle and Sasagi going to the 2nd row, the Roosters might go to that left side in attack again.

For the Raiders – we can’t see slick backline plays getting the job done against this Roosters outfit. It’ll be one of the big boppers or Hudson Young who we’d look at for try scorers.

Cowboys v Storm

Thu 29/8, 7.50pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Storm have rested most of their regular starting players – Papenhuyzen, Munster and Welch are probably the only long term ‘regulars’.

The Cowboys get Taumalolo and Nanai back. The Cows are playing at home with a potential top 4 spot on the line.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Feldt	Vailea	Nanai	Clifford	Dearden	Luki	Holmes	Taulagi
Faalogo	Tonumaipea	Chan	Munster	Anderson	Bradley	Seve	Ieremia
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The only thing we can say for the Storm is that Munster should get a lot more ball with no Hughes and Grant.

For the Cowboys – we’d look at the usual culprits. Nanai and Feldt on the right and Dearden and Holmes on the left. Fresh off the bye and with so much on the line, we can imagine them putting on a few tries in what should be absolutely perfect weather in Townsville.

Bulldogs v Manly

Fri 30/8, 6pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Dogs lose their Skipper Crichton and Kurt Mann. Kiraz moves to the centres with Skelton coming in on the wing and they get Curran back on the bench.

Manly lose Waddell and get Lodge back on the bench. Koula goes back to the bench with Talau starting.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Skelton	Kiraz	Preston	Sexton	Burton	Kikau	Xerri	Addo-Carr
L Hopoate	Talau	B Trbojevic	Brooks	DCE	Olakau’atu	Garrick	Saab
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Bulldogs concede 51% of their tries through their right edge and are missing Crichton. We usually love Manly’s right edge but we think Brooks or Lehi Hopoate could be the players to look out for this week from Manly.

For the Dogs – same story most weeks now, they’ve got threats across the park. Manly have leaked a few more tries through their left edge this season, which makes Preston an attractive option. He hasn’t got much ball in recent weeks and he just might in this game with Critta missing.

Rabbitohs v Panthers

Fri 30/8, 8pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Panthers get Kenny and Alamoti back with Nathan Cleary aiming to return for Week 1 of the Finals.

The Rabbitohs lose Murray and Shaq Mitchell. They do get Cody Walker back.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
J Gagai	Myers	Koloamatangi	Walker	Wighton	Duncan	Milne	Munro
To’o	Alamoti	Garner	Luai	Schneider	Martin	I Tago	Turuva
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

No Cleary means more ball for Luai and Edwards. Edwards‘ stats especially go through the roof in games without Cleary. The Panthers players will know they’re playing for spots in the final 17 before the finals.

For the Rabbitohs – with Cody Walker back, we’ll back in Jacob Gagai on the right wing.

Eels v Dragons

Sat 31/8, 3pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Eels are unchanged and the Dragons get RFM back on the bench with Suli in the reserves.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
J Tago	Penisini	B Cartwright	Brown	Asi	Tuilagi	Talagi	Sivo
Mathew Feagai	Max Feagai	Leilua	Bird	B Hunt	Su’A	Lomax	Ravalawa
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Dragons score 49% of their tries through their right side + the Eels are the worst team in the comp at conceding tries to wingers and centres. For us, this means Zac Lomax is a lock.

For the Eels – the Dragons have conceded 41% of their tries through their right side and the left winger has been a key attacking threat for them so we’d look at Maika Sivo. We do generally like Asi, Tuilagi and Talagi in attack too on that left edge.

Dolphins v Broncos

Sat 31/8, 5.30pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Broncos lose Kobe Hetherington and have included the Man Mountain Ben Te Kura on the bench. Payne Haas is in the reserves and could be a late in.

The Dolphins lose Jesse Bromwich, Kerr and Nikorima. However, they do have JMK, TPJ and Trai Fuller in the reserves who could all be late ins.

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
Isaako	Averillo	F Kaufusi	O’Sullivan	I Katoa	Lemuelu	Farnworth	Bostock
Arthars	Mariner	Piakura	Rogers	Reynolds	Riki	Staggs	Cobbo
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Broncos have leaked almost half of their tries in 2024 through their left edge. All 4 players on that edge for the Broncos haven’t played there consistently this season, so we’d look at Isaako in attack for the Dolphins. Farnworth has also been in excellent form.

In attack, with no Walsh we’d look at the strike centres in Mariner and Staggs.

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Sharks v Warriors

Sat 31/8, 7.35pm

Wicky’s breakdown – The Sharks lose Ramien and Hiroti but get Talakai and Sione Katoa in their spots. Nicho Hynes is in the reserves and could be a late in.

The Warriors’ last game of 2024 will be played without RTS and Pompey. They get Ali Leiataua and Taine Tuaupiki back (with CNK moving to centre).

R WING	R CTR	R EDG	R HLF	L HLF	L EDG	L CTR	L WING
S Katoa	Atkinson	Nikora	Hynes	Trindall	Wilton	Iro	Stonestreet
Montoya	Leiataua	Capewell	Metcalf	Johnson	Niukore	CNK	DWZ
L WING	L CTR	L EDG	L HLF	R HLF	R EDG	R CTR	R WING

The Sharks have scored 41% of their tries through their left edge (compared to 33% on their right) and with Wilton and Iro reunited and Stonestreet in hot try scoring form, that’s probably where we’d look.

We’ve been saying this for a couple of weeks now but this is it! SJ’s last ever NRL game. Niukore is a juicy price so we’d lean to him for 1st try scorer and surely SJ dummies and goes one last time and goes over himself.

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