Join us as JT puts on his general manager cap and selects his dream team going into round 13 of the NRL! He'll have the entire player pool to choose from, which should make selecting 3 winger/fullbacks, 2 centres, 2 halves, 2 edge forwards, 3 middle forwards and 1 hooker weekly easy right? Please note that the round rank is based on where the player ranks within their position. The same applies for the overall rank except the rank is calculated on the players average not total points. Well, let us know who you agree with and who else you might have selected down below on all of our social channels twitter, facebook, instagram, discord.
Winger/Fullbacks (WFB)
Scott Drinkwater
North Queensland Cowboys (Average 36, Round 12 Rank – 8th, Overall Rank – 28th)
Verses Eels at CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Friday at 8:00pm AEST
Drinkwater is coming off a season high 60-point performance against the Wests Tigers. Even though Cowboys were terrible, Drinkwater was still able to chalk up three try assists. The Cowboys are without three of their starting backs due to Origin and I believe Drinkwater will be heavily involved. We may see an uptick in the amount of touches he has and in the kick meter department. I have him scoring 45+ points.
Kalyn Ponga
Newcastle Knights (Average 25, Round 12 Rank – 27th, Overall Rank – 55th)
Verses Sea Eagles at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Sunday at 4:05pm AEST
Ponga was a surprise exclusion from the Queensland Origin squad in my opinion. Maybe it’s because he hasn’t shown great form in the halves or maybe it’s because he’s not playing at fullback anymore. This week we see Ponga move back to fullback at the expense of Lachlan Miller. The experiment with Ponga in the halves might just be over. I believe Ponga has a point to prove after missing out on Game 1 selection. Up against a depleted Sea Eagles team this week, Ponga has a great opportunity to put himself back in contention for Queensland #1 jersey. I have him scoring 45+ points this week.
Jamayne Isaako
Dolphins (Average 53, Round 12 Rank – 7th, Overall Rank – 4th)
Verses Dragons at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Thursday at 7:50pm AEST
Isaako has been excellent this season, he has scored 11 tries and is the Dolphins goal kicker. He has had four scores of 70+ points and only two sub 40 scores. I like this matchup for Isaako as the Dragons have been exposed several times down their left edge. The Dragons have been terrible on the road and are letting in 28 points a game. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Isaako score a try, maybe even two. I have him scoring 50+ points.
Centres (CTR)
Dane Gagai
Newcastle Knights (Average 48, Round 12 Rank – 25th, Overall Rank – 1st)
Verses Sea Eagles at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Sunday at 4:05pm AEST
Gagai let down a lot of fantasy coaches last week but I’m expecting him to bounce back this week after missing out on Origin selection. With the Sea Eagles missing the likes of DCE, Jake and Tom Trbojevic, I don’t think they will be firing too many shots at the Knights defence. This is important for Gagai’s fantasy output as he has been losing 17 points a game through missed tackles over his last three games. My narrative is that Gagai is going to show the Queensland selectors that he still has the goods to be an Origin player. If this comes to fruition, Gagai should be one of the top centres for round 13. I have him scoring 45+ points.
Connelly Lemuelu
Dolphins (Average 39, Round 12 Rank – 13th, Overall Rank – 14th)
Verses Dragons at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Thursday at 7:50pm AEST
It was a coin flip between Lemuelu and Farnworth for my second centre spot and Lemuelu gets the nod this week, only just. The main reason is that he offers a better base than Farnworth as he plays on the edge not at centre. The Dragons will be without Ben Hunt and will be running with the young halves pairing of Amone and Sullivan. I’m expecting the Dolphins to target the Dragons through the middle, and this may expose the Dragons edges. If this does happen, we may see Lemuelu have the odd one on one match up against the Dragons halves and cross over for a try. I have him scoring 45+ points.
Halves (HLF)
Shaun Johnson
New Zealand Warriors (Average 67, Round 12 – Bye, Overall Rank – 3rd)
Verses Broncos at McLean Park, Napier
Saturday at 5:30pm AEST
Johnson has turned back the clock this season and has been a great asset for coaches. His lowest score of the season was 50 points back in round one against the Knights and his season high of 96 came in round five against the Sharks. He offers 43 points each week through run metres, tackles, and kick metres. His defence has been elite this season and he’s made 212 tackles with only 13 misses, that’s a tackle efficiency of 94%. The Warriors were on a bye last week and will be well rested for their clash against an under-strength Broncos. Johnson has a new halves partner this week in the form of Luke Metcalf and this will be the first time they have played in the halves together. I’m expecting Johnson still to be the dominant half and he should be heavily involved on attack. I have him scoring 55+ points.
Mitchell Moses
Parramatta Eels (Average 61, Round 12 – 2nd, Overall Rank – 4th)
Verses Cowboys at CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Friday at 8:00pm AEST
Moses sneaks into my second halve spot ahead of Reynolds, Brown and Walker. There isn’t much between these four halves this week. Moses has five scores this season of 70+ points but he does have the occasional dud game and has had three scores of 30 or less. With the Cowboys having their worst game of the season, I’m expecting them to be fired up for this one. They are however missing players due to Origin in key positions. The Eels forward pack is also under strength, and this is a concern as Moses might struggle to get front foot ball. Most of the halves this week are in a similar situation with the exclusion of Shaun Johnson. Due to the ceiling Moses possesses he makes it into my team to beat. I have him scoring 50+ points.
Edge Forwards (EDG)
J'Maine Hopgood
Parramatta Eels (Average 50, Round 12 Rank – 7th, Overall Rank – 6th)
Verses Cowboys at CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Friday at 8:00pm AEST
Hopgood was one of the first picked in my team to beat this week. He’s been in great form over the last month and averages 60 points a game over his last four. The Eels will be without Paulo and Matterson this week but welcome Ofahengaue to the club. I’m expecting Hopgood will once again get 70+ minutes, maybe even 80 with the look of their team list. I have him scoring 60+ points this week.
Jack Bird
St George Illawarra Dragons (Average 51, Round 12 Rank – DNP, Overall Rank – 5th)
Verses Dolphins at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Thursday at 7:50pm AEST
Bird missed the last game against the Roosters due to knee soreness and the Dragons welcome him back this week. It was a coin flip between Bird and Olakau’atu for the second edge spot. Bird got the nod as he performs better on the edge than any other position in fantasy terms. On the edge he averages 56 points a game compared to 52 points at lock. With the Dragons playing the first game of the round this week, you will be able to check the late mail to see if he is in or out for their clash against the Dolphins. After reading a few reports, there doesn’t seem to be much of a concern about his knee. If he is a late exclusion, Olakau’atu can easily be moved into the starting side as the Sea Eagles play later in the weekend. I have him scoring 50+ points.
Middle Forwards (MID)
Jack De Belin
St George Illawarra Dragons (Average 54, Round 12 Rank – 4th, Overall – 4th)
Verses Dolphins at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Thursday at 7:50pm AEST
With an average 68 points over the last four rounds, I can’t look past De Belin this week. He has finished as a top four MID in each of the last four weeks. With Blake Lawrie being out injured, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see De Belin have another 80-minute performance. I have him scoring 55+ points this week.
Tohu Harris
New Zealand Warriors (Average 50, Round 12 Rank – Bye, Overall Rank – 8th)
Verses Broncos at McLean Park, Napier
Saturday at 5:30pm AEST
Harris has been having a good season so far, but he did have a dip in minutes due to his knee. Prior to the bye he had back-to-back 80-minute performances and this always makes fantasy coaches happy seeing an 80-minute MID. Across these two games he averaged 63 points. I don’t see any reason why he won’t put in another 80-minute stint his week after having a week off last week. I have him scoring 55+ points his week.
Joseph Tapine
Canberra Raiders (Average 48, Round 12 Rank – 28th, Overall Rank – 10th)
Verses Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium, Sydney
Saturday at 7:35pm AEST
Even though Tapine didn’t have the best of games in fantasy terms against the Sea Eagles, he did play a season high 58 minutes. This week Tapine moves to lock and looking at the Raiders interchange, I believe he should be on the field for 55+ minutes. Last season when he played 55+ minutes he averaged 60 points. I know that Tapine hasn’t backed up his 2022 form, but I think this is the right time to take a chance on him. I have him scoring 55+ points his week.
Hooker (HOK)
Damien Cook
South Sydney Rabbitohs (Average 51, Round 12 Rank – 2nd, Overall Rank – 2nd)
Verses Raiders at Accor Stadium, Sydney
Saturday at 7:35pm AEST
Without Grant available this week, playing Cook in my team to beat was an easy decision. This is more narrative based than anything. I think Cook will be filthy on missing out on NSW selection and I’m expecting a huge performance from him. He hasn’t been running the ball out of dummy half much this season and I wonder if this is one of the reasons he wasn’t selected. I think the Raiders will try and use their big boys to go through the middle of the Rabbitohs without Murray there. If this comes to fruition, Cook will have a mountain of tackles to make. As the Raiders tire on defence, we may just see those snipping runs out of dummy half come back into Cook’s game. I have him scoring 60+ points. Fringe players that just missed out on the starting 13:
Greg Marzhew WFB – Knights
Kaeo Weekes WFB – Sea Eagles
Herbie Farnworth CTR – Broncos
Adam Reynolds HLF – Broncos
Haumole Olakau’atu EDG – Sea Eagles
Addin Fonua-Blake MID – Warriors
Corey Horsburgh MID – Raiders
Reece Robson HOK – Cowboys