Sit v start: Who to play in your final 17, Rd 15?

So last week was ‘revenge of the NPRs’!

I’m not phased by this. There’s always a degree of luck/variability in selections and it’s good to see a bit more cash generation from the bench. It also solidifies a few play options for this week.

Below are my thoughts for this week, with plays listed in priority order. Thanks as always to the legendary nrlsupercoachstats.com, whose website I’ve utilised for position vs team analysis and various stats breakdowns.

A general note to keep an eye on the weather leading into the round and across the weekend. For rain-affected matches I’d slightly favour forwards over backs.

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Start

Ranking	Player	Vs	Matchup	Avg	3RA	Base + Power – Negs	Avg Minutes
1	May	Warriors (a)	4th	69	66	38	80
2	Tago	Warriors (a)	4th	61	62	36	80

Same as last week, no need to get cute here. Lock in the Panthers’ young guns vs the Knights.

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Consider

Ranking	Player	Vs	Matchup	Avg	3RA	Base + Power – Negs	Avg Minutes
3	Kiraz	Tigers (n)	5th	60	52	47	78
4	Butcher	Eels (a)	11th	54	66	47	59
5	King (M)	Tigers (n)	9th	48	63	48	42
6	Suaalii	Eels (a)	5th	50	41	31	77
7	Penisini	Roosters (h)	11th	56	73	42	79
8	Savage	Knights (h)	3rd	36	65	23	58
9	Arrow	Dragons (a)	1st	52	50	52	67
10	Haas	Storm (a)	16th	64	51	63	59
11	Randall	Raiders (a)	5th	47	46	44	67
12	Mam	Storm (a)	16th	83	83	36	80

Kiraz’s base stats increased significantly last round, coinciding with a move to centre. I’m keen on him as a play this week, If we get mail that he’ll play the same position. If not, I’d bump him down a few spots.

Butcher played 80 mins at Lock last week after 40 mins the week before. I think the bigger minutes will be more likely moving forward, so I’m pretty high on him this round.

Max King based 64 in 57 minutes last week… beast! He has a 3-round average of 63 and looks like a safe play. There is potential that Pangai takes more minutes off him, however, I expect this to have minimal impact.

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Suaalii I also like against the out-of-form Eels. I have him above Penisini, who will be safe as usual thanks to his high floor.

I imagine Arrow will continue to be safe for 50ish points. However, I’d prefer the likes of Savage as more of an upside pick.

Haas I have way down the rankings based on the niggling injuries and tough matchup. I’d probably play him over someone like Randall, who played 80 mins last week, but has been hard to catch all season.

Mam is also down the rankings based on matchup and another change in halves’ partner.

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Sit

Ranking	Player	Vs	Matchup	Avg	3RA	Base + Power – Negs	Avg Minutes
13	King (J)	Broncos (h)	4th	53	40	47	62
14	Ilias	Dragons (a)	1st	36	38	17	80
15	Tuipulotu	Cowboys (h)	16th	49	39	34	80
16	Koula	Cowboys (h)	16th	37	51	30	68
17	Martin (T)	Storm (a)	10th	39	51	18	79

Josh King’s output has fallen off lately, so I’d avoid. Ilias has a nice matchup, but I still wouldn’t play based on his past output.

Tuipolotu, Koula & TMM are all sits in my view, based on tough matchups.