Final word: Strategy, skippers, trades, Round 25


<p>Well folks it&#8217;s, crunch time. </p>



<p>H2H wise, people will be looking to spring some last-minute moves on their opponents if they’ve held trades, which I’ve found mightily hard to do this season. On the other foot, you have the overall race heating up, with some very interesting diversity in teams at the very top of the overall rankings – good luck to those of you still in the title race and remember to hold your nerve while sticking to your plans.</p>



<p>As for Turbo Irvo, my season just hasn’t got off the tarmac yet, but this time I can’t blame Jetstar, only myself. Loading up on South Sydney players was a good idea in theory but it just hasn’t panned out that way, which is of course the nature of the game. I suspect I’ll end the season around 3000<sup>th</sup> overall which is by no means a bad ranking but nevertheless still a little disappointing after a few great years in a row.</p>



<p>Moving on to this week, it really does look like a week to get your knives out and take a few final stabs at it. Matchups are juicy, captains are juicier, and the top 8 race is juiciest.</p>



<p>Let’s start with some great stats courtesy of the great man Maxy Bryden (of Bryden’s lawyers fame):</p>



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<p><strong>Worst defensive edges last 6 game average:</strong> 1. Dolphins left edge 2. Eels left edge 3. Sharks left edge 4. Bulldogs left edge 5. Raiders left edge 6. Dragons left edge 7. Tigers left edge 8. Eels right edge</p>



<p><strong>Best attacks:</strong> 1. Panthers right edge 2. Broncos right edge 3. Dragons right edge 4. Warriors right edge 5. Sharks right edge 6. Roosters left edge 7. Knights right edge</p>



<p>Given this fantastic info we can take a little dive into which players have the absolute cream of the crop H2H matchups on paper this week.</p>



<p><strong><em><strong><em>NRL Fantasy betting? Yep, you heard that right! This week for our betr SC Playbook multi, we’ve got King Gutho 50+ NRL</em></strong> Fantasy points and a Maika Sivo ATS! </em></strong><a href="https://betr.com.au/sportsbook#/sport/1007/competition/1001472/1027529/event/1371268/all"><strong><em>FOLLOW HERE</em></strong></a></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="819" height="1024" src="http://13.210.220.211/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Copy-of-Betr-punting-posts-45-819x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2246591" srcset="https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Copy-of-Betr-punting-posts-45-819x1024.png 819w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Copy-of-Betr-punting-posts-45-240x300.png 240w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Copy-of-Betr-punting-posts-45-768x960.png 768w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Copy-of-Betr-punting-posts-45-640x800.png 640w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Copy-of-Betr-punting-posts-45.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 770px" /></figure>



<p>Semi Valemei clearly has the best CTW matchup in the first game of the round against the Sharks&#8217; weak left edge. Priced at reasonable 559k, he could be worth taking a punt on, especially with an even better matchup next round against the Dolphins. In-form Kyle Feldt is another option for those with 710k to spare.</p>



<p>DWZ is our next player of interest, and he has been for some time. With CNK back for the warriors you can expect DWZ to get some quality attacking ball against a shaky Manly edge defence who have given up tries to right wingers in multiple games in a row. This could be the game owners really cash in on a big DWZ ton if Manly capitulate against a very in-form Warriors team.</p>



<p>For the Roosters, I think it’s clear that Daniel Tupou is the man to take a punt on considering the Eels&#8217; dreadful left edge defence. He’s a try scoring machine and easily capable of going big in not just this game, but also the next one against the Tigers. Watch for Teddy to explode in these last three games as he tries to brute force the Roosters to three wins in a row to scrape into the 8.</p>



<a id='0q1gI0VJQEJN5RFtMOfygQ' class='gie-single' href='http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/1593709838' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'0q1gI0VJQEJN5RFtMOfygQ',sig:'i1YRnqt93rUp_cSirwnR09MRaejydfXpPfOzzvFaoQU=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1593709838',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



<p>Next, we move onto the Tigers vs Dolphins. Tigers&#8217; left edge has been shaky so expect Jamayne Isaako to notch up another above par score for the course. Conversely ,the Tigers should have some joy down the Dolphins&#8217; left edge, with the likes of Laurie, Starford, and Bateman all playable options, despite not being buys.</p>



<p>Now for the real jam: Decimated Titans vs formidable Penrith. I’ll say this without any hesitation – CAPTAIN NATHAN CLEARY! Seriously, if you don’t, I think you’ll regret it. Sub-par score against Manly last week by his standards, has Luai back, has Timmy&#8217;s man-crush the Peach back in the centres – all signs point to 150+ for Nath. Brian To’o has been in solid try scoring form and I can’t see it slowing down, nor can I see any late season resting’s with the minor premiership still up for grabs.</p>



<p>If you haven’t had enough jam yet, good thing there’s another jam filled donut in the second last game of the round where in-form Melbourne take on bottom dwellers St George. When I say this game could be anything ,I mean ANYTHING. Munster, Hughes, Grant, and Meaney could all go 100+ in a game like this. But the man I really have my eye on to use my final trade is Eli Katoa. Dirt cheap at 510k, he looks to have two huge matchups in a row against the Dragons and Titans, and for me that’s enough to warrant a final trade in chasing the 100+ ceiling we know he has but just hasn’t quite cracked this season.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Trades</strong></h2>



<p>Brendan Piakura -> Eli Katoa</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Captains</strong></h2>



<p><strong>VC</strong> – CNK</p>



<p><strong>C</strong> – Cleary</p>


Final word: Strategy, skippers, trades, Round 25

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