25 NRLCEO Players NOT to Draft in 2015
Ahhhh… Regrets.
We’ve all had a few.
But is there anything worse than fantasy draft regrets?
Watching that winger you were “about to select with your next pick” go on to become the top try scorer, while you are stuck with last year’s equal top try scorer who now is now banned for illegal betting and has exactly zero tries next to his name.
It happens to the best of us.
So here at NRLCEO, we’ve put our collective heads together to come up with a list of players to avoid come drafting time in early 2015.
So between me (“The Commish”), Mig (“the Engine Room” and heart and soul of NRLCEO), Geoff (the “Workhorse Watcher”), Ryan (the “Trade Doctor”), The Crystall Ballboy, Mark (the Tantasy Podcast Host) and Phil (the Moneyball Podcast Host) we’d like to present to you some of our predictions.
Corey Parker (Phil)
Has served reasonably well this season, but has been a shadow of the former CEO star since his move into the front row. With Wayne heading back to the helm, Ben Hunt sharing kicking duties, a long and developing list of strong forwards, the continual dis-colouration of his hair and the fact he didn’t invite me to his 50th, it’s time to search elsewhere for a first round pick.
Trent Merrin (Phil)
Since his relationship with Sally Fitzgibbons became public knowledge (OK, that was also around the time Steve Price got the sack), he hasn’t been the consistent superstar we expect. Mary’s now landed that full-time coaching deal, and it seems as though his tactics will see Merrin become more familiar with the pine, more often!
Josh Reynolds (Phil)
Too suspension-prone, and that is only amplified on the adrenalin-raging Origin stage.
Too many dummy spits. Too loose. Not scoring as much as he used to.
Avoid.
Greg Inglis (Phil)
Too inconsistent for one of the game’s best players. Goes missing some weeks. I wouldn’t pick him before round 5 in the draft, and I doubt he’d still be available in any League by then.
Semi Radradra (Phil)
Has been amazing for my team this season, so the law of averages means he’ll go quiet next year. Opposition sides will be on higher alert. Expect another Dally M hangover from Jarryd Hayne, too, which will mean less opportunities for Eels players to get on the end of meat pies.
Josh Papalii (Mig)
The bloke has the work ethic of a council worker. Loves to hide on the blind side in attack and runs away from tackles at every opportunity. He needs to care more about his stats!!
There aren’t many players who play more minutes for less output. Just four workhorse tries in 2014 and two tries. Compare that to 2013 (4 tries & 9 workhorse) and his break out year in 2012 (6 tries & 13 workhorse) and you can see why NRLCEOs are wearing thin with patience.
Greg Bird (Mig)
Good for nothing in NRLCEO. He plays 80 minutes and can’t make 24 tackles to compliment his 16 runs per game.
He started the season off on fire with four workhorse tries in the first four games, but it’s been a downhill slide since then. Three tries all year isn’t a horrendous return and his 14 goals is good utility value, but that’s all he is – utility value. Worth nothing more than a bench spot.
He’s also is a grub who tries to milk a penalty at every opportunity. Will never be drafted into my team on principle.
Paul Gallen (Mig/Trade Doctor)
Prefers representative games only these days which is no good for the NRLCEO. The bloke is gold when he is playing for the Sharks – but he NEVER does! There are plenty of better forwards these days without the baggage.
Paul Gallen can be fantasy gold for an NRLCEO coach in any given week. He is a threat for a double workhorse in any week he plays and a constant offload threat for sneaky LBAs. He is a dual position player, listed as FR/BR and adds great value to any lineup.
When he plays.
In 2013, Gallen played 14 of 24 matches for the Sharks (and NRLCEO coaches). In 2014; just nine.
Gallen has made NSW Origin his priority over the last few years, doing anything to play for the Blues to the detriment of club matches for the Sharks. He has also just turned 33 and plays a very physical style that will take a toll on his body.
He is injury prone, old and is already guaranteed to miss at least three games due to Origin. I’d love to draft Gallen in the 12th round, but let’s face it he won’t be there and isn’t worth the Top 3 pick is will generally take to get him. Pass.
Issac Luke/Adam Reynolds/Luke Keary (Trade Doctor)
The Rabbitohs need to make a decision on their halves pairing going forward, otherwise each of these players loses NRLCEO value.
The Bunnies made the decision to take an overweight, injury prone and past it player from Manly in Glenn Stewart (from a Manly fan – thanks!) to be their ball-playing lock in 2015. This leaves John Sutton as a likely player at 5/8 next season, and leaves room for only one of Reynolds/Keary in the starting side. We’ll have to see how the trials/rumours play out next year, but my bet is Keary moves back to a bench utility role.
This leaves the possibility of reducing minutes for Issac Luke. Issac Luke has the potential to be an NRLCEO star, but doesn’t have the tackle-pig style of fellow big name hookers like Smith, Farah, McCullough and Ballin. He needs all 80 minutes to get the WHs/DWHs and without more information on how Coach Maguire wants to play the lineup I’d rather look elsewhere for my hooking choice in 2015.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (The Commish)
Ok. So he may have been starting to get his act back together towards the end of 2014, but “Two-Dad’s” has been pathetic this year.
Just three workhorse tries in the first 16 rounds this year for a man who was the sixth highest average draft pick is just not good enough. In front of him was Aiden Tolman (who has 15 workhorse tries despite missing a number of weeks through injury) and behind him was Nate Myles (who has 16 workhorse tries).
His eight workhorse tries so far this year pale compare to his 15 in 2013. The Roosters game plan dictates how well he does in NRLCEO and with their strong bench rotation he just doesn’t get the minutes.
Ben Barba (The Commish)
Apart from his hat trick last week (which was quality timing for some CEOs in their finals) he has ruined the dreams of many CEOs this year as his life fell apart in the public eye.
He is out of touch, looks lethargic and his mind seems elsewhere.
Only seven tries in 22 games is his worst return since his full season of first grade in 2010. The Broncos haven’t got their value for money and CEOs haven’t either.
We just can’t see how he will turn on his blistering performances for the Broncos again alongside their 22 other fullbacks in Brisvegas in 2015.
Simon Mannering (Mark)
“The captain” has been getting a lot of points through tries this year and not workhorse tries. And a try scoring forward in form can hard to pick year by year.
Whoever the top try scorer ends up being, they inevitably fall down the list the following year. Look at lasts years top try scorers – David Simmons, Wolfman and James McManus. In 2014 Simmons has six tries, Wolfman has zero (bet on that David?) and McManus has just four tries.
Tim Mannah (Workhorse Watcher)
Does this one really need explanation? Mannah’s challenges in the workhorse department this year are well documented but the fact he has made no other contributions this season makes him a complete no go. No line breaks, no line break assists, not a crumb. Just two workhorse tries and life membership in the No Cigar Club.
Luke Brooks (Workhorse Watcher)
Until Robbie Farah writes a tell all book somewhere down the line we’ll never know the full story behind the Mick Potter fiasco or for that matter Benji Marshall. Sure things are sweet between him and Brooks right now. But the minute Robbie decides he doesn’t like him anymore, who knows where the halfback will end up? In fact, if there’s anyone at the Tigers not on Robbie’s Christmas card list you should probably steer clear of them. Perhaps we can include a section on said players in next year’s Season Guide.
Any Holden Cup player who’s been “earmarked” (Workhorse Watcher)
This is not in any way a criticism of the U20s Watch, but there is a reason that the NRL is scrapping the Holden Cup. In terms of developing players to then make the transition into first grade, it stinks. Players do eventually come through but usually after a stint in NSW or QLD Cup. There are some exceptions; players like Curtis Rona and Clint Gutherson were good in limited opportunities but players like Jake Trbojevic, Zach Strasser and Jon Sila were unseen in first grade despite some big wraps in the media at the start of the season.
Reece Robinson (Crystal Ballboy)
Not that anyone would really have “Re-Ro” high on their drafting list, but as you all know, any starting winger in the NRL can be worthwhile if you are in a competition of 10 or more teams.
After 16 tries in 2012 and a future looking bright at full back, Robinson has fallen back into the doldrums that many predicted he would end up in all along. If it wasn’t for injuries, it really seems like Ricky Stuart would prefer he didn’t play at all. With Sisa Waqa coming to Canberra, there is no room for Reecey – so now he might not be playing NRL.
Jonathan Wright (Crystal Ballboy)
He has been sub-par all season, and there’s no reason to think the Sharks will improve enough to warrant his selection in your NRLCEO team.
Ray Thompson (Crystal Ballboy)
The Crystal Ballboy had him in his squad this year, and had to cut him to recruit someone else. This left his team without a halfback and he scored just as many points with a blank position as he did when he was there. And it’s not like the Cowboys aren’t doing well this year. Lui is better anyway.
Sika Manu (Crystal Ballboy)
The Panther forward overachieved last season in the try scoring department with five tries, and his selection this season was severely unwarranted. He’s a solid player, but doesn’t goes close enough to register a workhorse try. 19 games in 2014 and he hasn’t registered a single NRLCEO point!
Rory Kostjasyn (Crystal Ballboy)
Jake Granville is headed north and is going to take Kostjasyn’s playing time away from him. Sure he may slot into the back row, or come off the bench, but he won’t be able to make up the required involvements.
Actually, come to think of it, Granville might be the Nathan Peats of 2014. Not the injured Peats, but the one that racked up workhorse tries like they were going out of fashion.
Any Raiders or Titans players (Crystal Ballboy/Phil)
Most of us agree that they will both be useless in 2015. Aside from Shaun Fensom and Nate Myles… avoid!
What about you? Is there anyone you won’t be drafting in 2015? Tell us in the comments below.
JB
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