Draft Breakdown: Waiver-wire targets, finals week one

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We are well and truly into the business end of the season and although I’ve made finals in my leagues, I expect I will struggle in a few this week.

I face the bloke with Tommy Turbo in one league and I also have Lil Papi and Hynes sharing time in another league.

I will need to play the waiver-wire to be any shot in my leagues and roll the dice on a few of those final tactics I mentioned in my article a couple of weeks ago.

Best call last round –  Euan Aitken – Continues to impress with his base stats, even with a late shift to centre and genuinely one of the best CTW options with the Warriors draw. 

Worst call last round – Adam Keighran – Although I wasn’t expecting much last week against the Panthers and I will be playing him against the Broncos, I am worried about his job security with some of his efforts.

There are some really good matchups this week and I expect some really high scores.

Avoid playing or wavering risky options from Raiders, Dragons, Broncos, Titans and Parramatta this week.

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WAIVER OPTIONS – ROUND 22

George Jennings (CTW)

Pending team lists, Jennings is expected to return from injury and play the Raiders on Thursday night.

Although the Raiders aren’t playing as poorly as earlier in the season, they aren’t playing well enough to hold out the Storm juggernaut putting on some serious points.

The only negative is that Reimis Smith, inside Jennings, doesn’t set him up much and he relies on Hughes and Lil Papi for attacking stats. But given the Raiders leaky edges and quality of Hughes and Lil Papi he is a great waiver option.

Enari Tuala (CTW)

Last week we mentioned how much Jake Clifford would benefit from having Ponga back in the side and the Knights’ run home.

Tuala is another beneficiary as he plays on the left wing outside of Best and Ponga’s preferred side.

Since shifting to the left wing he has scored 110 and 59 points and faces a Sharks team that look like they’ve given up for the season.

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Joey Lussick (HOK)

Lussick is expected to take over as the starting hooker for Parramatta.

Although I am slightly worried about Will Smith on the bench, Brad Arthur has played Lussick for 80 minutes when Mahoney was previously out of the side.

Lussick will score 50+ points if he is playing 80 minutes and isn’t going to shy away from a scoot close to the line which could take him to an 80 point hooker if you are lucky.

Nat Butcher (2RF)

Butcher was a late inclusion in the Roosters line-up, playing 80 minutes on the edge and scoring 59 points in mostly base stats.

Butcher will likely get an extended role on the edge with Angus Crichton suspended for three games.

Butcher gets through a lot of work when he fills in on the edge and I expect him to get 55+ for the next three weeks and may even get an attacking stat with the Roosters playing the Broncos and Dragons over the next two weeks.

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Stefano Utoikamanu (FRF)

Uto has turned a SuperCoach corner and has recently been given more minutes at the Tigers, resulting in a five round average of 58PPG.

Uto is a dependable option in a season where FRFs are fluctuating more than usual in their SuperCoach output.

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Other options that have good matchups and might get the call up to starting teams

• Jaxson Paulo (CTW) playing the Titans and benefiting from the Souths attack.
• Taylan May (CTW) will benefit from being the left Panthers winger against the Dragons.
• Egan Butcher (2RF) has looked impressive in the last few weeks and there’s a chance he gets more minutes or starts with the Roosters outs.
• Aaron Schoupp (CTW) although playing for the Bulldogs, has a great work rate and could fall over the line against the Warriors.
• Danny Levi (HOK) will likely play 80 minutes again this week, although he isn’t the most trustworthy SuperCoach player.
• Peta Hiku (CTW/FLB) another CTW with good workrate and an easy draw.
• Issac Liu (FRF/2RF) will see more minutes with JWH being rested and Crichton suspended.