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Writer's pictureJonathan Turner

GameDay Squad Rugby League - Round 8 Team To Beat

Join us as JT puts on his general manager cap and selects his dream team going into round 8 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.


James Tedesco, Isaiah Papili'i and Cam Murray in a nrl round 8 team to beat

Winger/Fullbacks (WFB)


Dylan Edwards' gold GameDay Squad player card

Dylan Edwards

Penrith Panthers (Average 64, Round 7 Rank – 28th, Overall Rank – 2nd)

Verses Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium, Sydney

Thursday at 7:50pm AEST

Edwards had his worst game of the season last week and only managed 24 points in a close fought win against the Knights. What makes Edwards a great option for fantasy coaches is his ability to break tackles. The Knights only allowed him to break one tackle but excluding this game, Edwards averages nine tackle breaks a game and that’s worth 27 points. I’m expecting him to bounce back this week against the Rabbitohs as he has averaged 59 points a game against them over the last four meetings. Edwards just edges out Latrell this week as I think the Rabbitohs attack will find it a lot tougher to score against the Panthers. I have him scoring 55+ points this week.


Tom Trbojevic's legend GameDay Squad player card


Tom Trbojevic

Manly Sea Eagles (Average 55, Round 7 Rank – 16th, Overall Rank – 10th)

Verses Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney

Sunday at 4:05pm AEST

Turbo hasn’t had the best couple of weeks, and I’ve been fading him recently. This week it’s a completely different story as he comes up against the Wests Tigers. We all know what Turbo can do while fit and against a team that is allowing 49 points per game to opposition fullbacks, it’s wheels up for Turbo this week in my opinion. I have him scoring 55+ points.


James Tedesco's silver GameDay Squad player card


James Tedesco

Sydney Roosters (Average 36, Round 7 Rank – 7th, Overall Rank – 25th)

Verses Dragons at Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Tuesday at 4:05pm AEST

I believe this is a get right game for the Roosters and Teddy. Last week, Teddy was back to his tackle breaking best in a losing performance against the Sharks. He only scored 41 points, but we saw glimpses of what us fantasy coaches have come to expect from him on a weekly basis. The Dragons are allowing an average of 54 points to opposition fullbacks this season and I think this is a great match up for Teddy. Last season, Teddy had two great performances against a stronger Dragons outfit and scored 71 and 74 points in these matches. I have him scoring 60+ points.


Centres (CTR)


Joey Manu's bronze GameDay Squad player card

Joseph Manu

Sydney Roosters (Average 29, Round 7 Rank – 32nd, Overall Rank – 26th)

Verses Dragons at Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Tuesday at 4:05pm AEST

In the Round 7 review blog, Manu was one of my fallers. That was until he was named in the halves after Sam Walker was dropped. Manu played two games in the halves in 2022 scoring 67 points against the Panthers and 121 against the Dragons. The Dragons have allowed three 75+ scores to halves this season and with the number of touches Manu will make this week, we may see a huge week from him. I have him scoring 60+ points.


Siosifa Talakai's platinum GameDay Squad player card

Siosifa Talakai

Cronulla Sharks (Average 39, Round 7 Rank – 5th, Overall Rank – 10th)

Verses Bulldogs at Accor Stadium, Sydney

Saturday at 5:30pm AEST

Once again, I’m not a huge fan of the matchups for most centres week and Talakai makes it into my team to beat for the first time this season. After starting the season slowly, he hasn’t had a score below 40 in his last four games. The reason I like him this week is due to the number of points the Bulldogs have been allowing in the last couple of weeks. Also, the Bulldogs are without their two starting wingers, and this may lead to miscommunication in defence against a potent Sharks backline. Talakai still hasn’t scored a try this season and with a size advantage over Averillo, he may just score his first one of the season. I have him scoring 45+ points.



Halves (HLF)


Nathan Cleary's diamond GameDay Squad player card

Nathan Cleary

Penrith Panthers (Average 70, Round 7 – 7th, Overall Rank – 2nd)

Verses Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium, Sydney

Thursday at 7:50pm AEST

Cleary had a quiet week compared to the expectations I had for him against the Knights. I just can’t leave him out of my team to beat due to the great base and high ceiling that he possesses. I have him scoring 65+ points.


Nicho Hynes' legend GameDay Squad player card

Nicho Hynes

Cronulla Sharks (Average 84, Round 7 – 2nd, Overall Rank – 1st)

Verses Bulldogs at Accor Stadium, Sydney

Saturday at 5:30pm AEST

Same story as every week for Nico, he can’t be left out of my team to beat. Like Cleary, Hynes is set and forget. I have him scoring 65+ points.


Edge Forwards (EDG)


Isaiah Papali’i 's diamond GameDay Squad player card

Isaiah Papali’i

Wests Tigers (Average 52, Round 7 Rank – Bye, Overall Rank – 4th)

Verses Sea Eagles at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney

Sunday at 4:05pm AEST

Papali’i has had five games this season and has scored 50+ in four of them, with his season high being 66 points. To be honest, he seemed to be a better fantasy assist at the Eels and it looks like he’s still getting used to the Wests Tigers systems. He is one of only six edge forwards with an average 50+ points and it was a tossup between him and Nikora for my starting edge spot. I’ve given Papali’I the slight edge as I believe he has a higher ceiling and is coming off a much needed week off. I have him scoring 55+ points.


David Fifita's platinum GameDay Squad player card


David Fifita

Gold Coast Titans (Average 59, Round 7 Rank – 3rd, Overall Rank – 2nd)

Verses Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Sunday at 2:00pm AEST

Like many players in my team to beat, Fifita is a regular starter. He is yet to be the best scoring edge forward of a week but has five top five finishes. I’m still waiting for him to have an explosive game and have a score of 80+ points. It might just come this weekend against the Dolphins. I have him scoring 55+ points this week.



Middle Forwards (MID)


Cameron Murray's bronze GameDay Squad player card

Cameron Murray

South Sydney Rabbitohs (Average 58, Round 7 Rank – 8th, Overall – 3rd)

Verses Panthers at Accor Stadium, Sydney

Thursday at 7:50pm AEST

Like every week, Murray is set and forget. I’m not prepared to see him knock out a 80+ score if I was to bench him. I have him scoring 60+ points this week


Payne Haas' silver GameDay Squad player card

Payne Hass

Brisbane Broncos (Average 67, Round 7 Rank – 2nd, Overall Rank – 1st)

Verses Eels at TIO Stadium, Darwin

Friday at 8:00pm AEST

Like Murray, Haas is set and forget in the MID position. I have him scoring 60+ points his week.


Isaah Yeo's gold GameDay Squad player card


Isaah Yeo

Penrith Panthers (Average 61, Round 7 Rank – 3rd, Overall Rank – 2nd)

Verses Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium, Sydney

Thursday at 7:50pm AEST

Like Murray and Haas, Yeo is set and forget at the moment. He plays 70+ minutes a game and hasn’t had a score below 52 points this year. I have him scoring 60+ points this week.


Hooker (HOK)


Harry Grant's diamond GameDay Squad player card

Harry Grant

Melbourne Storm (Average 56, Round 7 Rank – 11th, Overall Rank – 2nd)

Verses Warriors at AAMI Park, Melbourne

Tuesday at 7:00pm AEST

Grant had his worst game of the season fantasy wise in a woeful Storm performance against the Sea Eagles. I’m sticking with Grant again this week in my team to beat but he’s on very thin ice. Cook has outscored him three of the last four weeks but I believe the Storm can bounce back this week and they have a more favorable match up. Out of the two hookers, I think that Grant offers more upside in attack especially with Cook up against the Panthers. The Storm generally perform very well against the Warriors in the ANZAC Day clash but I don’t see this match being as one sided as previous years. I still think they will win, and Grant should be required heavily in defence. I have him scoring 60+ points. Fringe players that just missed out on the starting 13:

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow WFB – Dolphins

Latrell Mitchell WFB – Rabbitohs

Katoni Staggs CTR - Broncos

Daly Cherry-Evans HLF – Sea Eagles

Briton Nikora - Sharks

Ryan Matterson MID - Eels

Tohu Harris MID - Warriors

Damien Cook HOK - Rabbitohs


 



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