Decision Time: Answering the big questions


<p>Hey troops!</p>



<p>Things are getting real in both SuperCoach and NRL and I for
one am absolutely buzzing. </p>



<p>Things are very similar to last week &#8211; use trades wisely,
save them as late as possible over the weekend and if you can save one or two
this week, do it as it could come in very handy over the next fortnight. </p>



<p>By all means though have a crack if it means trying to save
your head-to-head season or if you want to take a risk to climb the overall
rankings. There’s no point bowing out wondering what could have been.</p>



<p>Let’s check in on some of this week’s key matters.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Kalyn Ponga – Hold or sell?</strong></h2>



<p>We spoke about it on the podcast this week and I’ll
reinforce my thoughts. If you can hold him then absolutely do so. </p>



<p>He could have a monster last two weeks with the form he was
in prior to being rested (running hard and getting the ball in the right
areas). </p>



<p>You don’t want to watch him score 120+ again or worse 180+
having sold. </p>



<p>Plus you save a trade by holding him and with rests on the
cards Ponga as an extra number next week could prove pivotal. </p>



<p>On the flipside, if you are locked in a tight head-to-head
battle or you are short on players and have no one else to trade then you may
need to sell him and there are some decent options available. </p>



<p>This is especially if you can also trade in a centre or a back-rower via dual position swaps. In the end it comes down to individual circumstances. Do what you need to do in search of the win!</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cam Smith –</strong> <strong>Buy or Wait?</strong></h2>



<p>One question I’m tussling with this week is whether or not
to bring back Smith to my squad right now. </p>



<p>On the surface it’s an easy yes. But with only three trades
left and a potentially nice match up for Cam Murray, who I would trade to Smith,
I’m pondering holding off a week and seeing how it unfolds as taking that extra
trade into the final two weeks is looking tempting. </p>



<p>The way the Storm are currently playing is that they are
looking to give early ball to their outside backs, especially on Justin Olam and
Josh Addo-Carr’s edge. </p>



<p>Whether this will continue with Little Papi out is anyone’s guess,
but it wouldn’t shock me to see Smith cruise through this encounter and simply
pass wide a lot of the afternoon with Nicho Hynes playing a similar role to
Papi at fullback. </p>



<p>It’s possible he saves his craft and guile for upcoming
tougher matches, but on the other hand if he can rack up even two try-assists
and kick a heap of goals you could be missing out on 100+. </p>



<p>If I don’t trade I’d be hoping he sticks around the 70 mark
and Murray matches or betters it. </p>



<p>I’m genuinely torn given the value of trades and will wait
until closer to the weekend to decide. </p>



<p>I’m leaning towards holding Murray and hoping Munster does the damage and not Smith on Sunday.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Depth of Squad </strong></h2>



<p>Be wary of trading out any of your playing guys as a squad
of 20 or 21 could be super handy if 4+ guys get rested/injured next week or the
week after. </p>



<p>Resting’s may not actually unfold, but it is good to be
prepared. Certainly you are skating on thin ice if you only have 17-18 players
and it will be a nervous wait for team lists and late scratchings. </p>



<p>The benefit of that is an easy shot at VC loophole, but the downside is obvious. Even holding a guy who may score you 30 in the coming weeks as a 17<sup>th</sup> man if things get crazy is still 30 points!</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Target Match Ups </strong></h2>



<p>As always try to target matchups when in doubt, as scores
can at times be especially lopsided in the final few weeks of the regular
season as some teams look towards Mad Monday whilst others are tuning up for finals
footy.</p>



<p>Outside backs from Melbourne this week look juicy, whilst an
eye on Chooks backs next week against the Sharks I like a lot. </p>



<p>Someone like Kotoni Staggs becomes a huge play as he runs
into the Titans and Cowboys in the final three weeks and has the goal-kicking. </p>



<p>Conversely, I am reluctant to play Maika Sivo against
Penrith as his space may be limited and I fear a score of 15 may well occur. </p>



<p>I’d genuinely prefer Jake Averillo against Manly in the early game, albeit risky. Be smart with any trades for backs especially and take a look at their run home.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Brisbane Bench Make Up</strong></h2>



<p>With the current make up of the Brisbane bench I think Payne Haas is an absolute must. He is a huge chance of 80 minutes again and could base 100 with offloads. </p>



<p>He’s not an anti-POD option! Pat Carrigan is similar thought not quite as prolific.</p>



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



<p>The bloke is a machine. The only risk is getting knocked
again, but he scored 74 last week and it was one of his quietest games of the
season with no offloads for just the second time this year. </p>



<p>With Brisbane next week and the Tigers the week after I would not want to be playing against him. I have him equal with Haas as the safest forward in terms of an easy 70-80+ points who also has upside.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Nofa the Great</strong></h2>



<p>A shout out to Nofa who keeps on keeping on (at my expense).
He is averaging 80.8 points as a winger which is simply ludicrous! </p>



<p>A very tough two weeks after the Souths game means he isn’t
a must purchase, but anyone who owns him will be cheering and if you want to
buy him than why not?</p>



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



<p>That’s about all for now. Remember where possible to play
guys who have a match early in the round (unless you really want to sit them of
course), as this will give you wiggle room if late changes do occur. </p>



<p>And for anyone that doesn’t already, it’s critical to have
the guys on your four man playing bench as those that play late in the round
again in case of late changes. </p>



<p>For example, if you have Cam Munster and Jarome Luia at 5/8
and you are playing both then make sure Luia is starting as he plays on Friday.
</p>



<p>That way you can rearrange your playing bench as necessary
as the weekend goes.</p>



<p>Cheers all!</p>


Decision Time: Answering the big questions, RD 18

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