Welshys Player Profiles

Player: Matt Scott
Club: North Queensland Cowboys
Position: FRF
Cost: $503, 000
2015 average: 44
2016 average: 36
2017 average: 35
2017 minutes average: 48 (2 games)
Handsomeness rating: 3/5 Mitch Aubbussons

Matt Scott, the one-time fantasy gun and member of the prodigious 100 fantasy points club. Injured in just his second game of the 2017, his ACL tear kept him out for the remainder of the season (as ACL tears tend to do). Potential buyers would be hoping he not only gets back into form for 2018, but actually find his form of 2 seasons past (the year he won the comp), as it is worth noting he only managed a lackluster 36 point average from 2016, in which he played a full season for an average of 46 mins per game- which is closed to where he is priced.

2017 low score: R2: 22
2-17 high score: R1: 49

Wrap up
Priced at 34 points, there is not much value to be seen in Matt Scott if he only matches his fantasy scores of 2016 in which he played healthy. In 2015 when he was scoring 44 points per game, he averaged 53 minutes- 7 minutes more per game than in 2016. With new additions to the Cowboys roster since his injury: Jordan McLean and Shaun Fensom; as well as bigger roles for players like Scott Bolton and young gun Corey Jenson, it may be a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. Cowboys have a stacked forward pack and it might be hard for Scott to find those 53 minutes he needs to be of value. But if you think that Paul Green back the old warhorse in for 50+ minutes, then he could be a good buy.

predicted 2018 avg – 35-40 points


2/5 Hairy Pookus’ balls

Player: Bryce Cartwright
Club: Penrith Panthers
Position: 2RF/HLF
Cost: $325,000
2015 average: 50
2016 average: 51
2017 average: 22
2017 minutes average: 46
Handsomeness rating: 2/5 Mitch Aubbussons

Nephew of Panthers great John Cartwright, Bryce was one of the most promising young players of 2016, averaging 3 offloads per game with a season high of 10 in round 17! His trademark offload however was somewhat offset by his poor defence (averaging 3 missed tackles per game), yet he still achieved great fantasy scores thanks to his healthy 27 (av.) tackles and 127 (av.) running metres.
2017 saw somewhat of a fall from grace for Bryce with off field scandal causing him to spend some time away from the game early in the season, whilst a lateral meniscus tear kept him out of the game for 9 weeks during the mid season. He in fact only managed a single full 80 minutes at his preferred (fantasy) position of 2RF, playing 4 games at 5/8th and finishing the season with 6 games from the interchange bench for a paltry average of 37 minutes in this role. His scores fell accordingly.

2017 low score: R11: 6
2017 high score: R1: 41

Wrap up
The decision on whether to pick up Cartwright really just depends on his playing position. If he can win back the second row starting position then he should be a lock in everyone's fantasy teams. He does have plenty of competition for that spot though, with Corey Harawira-Naera and James Fisher-Harris both in the mix (assuming Issah Yeo has the other edge locked down). Even if playing from the bench, Cartwright will still probably increase in value (since 22 is not hard to beat!), but he probably scores too low to put in your starting 17, and priced too awkwardly to be a real cash cow in a position which now has limited spaces. So it is a simple equation for you fantasy punters: Carty gets the starting gig and he’s fantasy gold or he plays off the bench and misses out.

predicted 2018 avg – 45-50 points in starting second row; 20-30 points off interchange



4/5 Hairy Pookus' balls (if starting); just half a sack if not

Player: Greg inglis
Club: South Sydney Rabbitohs
Position: WFB
Cost: $503,000
2015 average: 45
2016 average: 44
2017 average: 25 (injured first game)
2017 minutes average: 58 mins (one game)
Handsomeness rating: 2.5/5 Mitch Aubbussons

Lauded as a future immortal by some, Greg Inglis has been toted as both the world’s best centre and the world’s best fullback during differing points in his career. Known for his trademark right hand fend, it is rumored that GI once palmed his way through the Earth itself just to palm some Chinamen on the other side. He has always been a fantasy gun in the backline, which made it all the more distressing for many fans to watch him limp around for most of round 1, 2017 with what was clearly a very nasty injury. It turned out to be his ACL and Greg spent the remainder of the season on the pine.

2017 low score: R1: 25
2017 high score: R1: 25

Wrap up
GI is priced at 34 points, which would be tremendous value considering his previous average in the fullback position. There are heavy rumors that GI may be switched to centre for the 2018 season and that is probably the crux of picking him. For 503k he is a steal at fullback, but his price is probably only par if he is playing in the three-quarter line. That said, off season surgery would have fixed a few niggling problems as well as his ACL, and Billy Slater showed that champions can indeed hit the ground running with comebacks. GI still has the talent (and the giant fend) to at least hold value at his price range even in the centre position and probably somewhat of a POD if he does play there. Disregard him at your own risk, but probably better options.

predicted 2018 avg – 35-45 points per game if playing fullback; 30-40 points at centre



3/5 Hairy Pookus' balls (splitting the sack at 4 for FB, 2 for Ctr)

Player: Andrew McCullough
Club: Brisbane Boncos (no, that’s not a typo!)
Position: Hooker
Cost: $844,000
2015 average: 56 (70 mins)
2016 average: 45 (66 mins)
2017 average: 58 (79 mins)
Handsomeness rating: 4/5 Mitch Aubbussons

Probably the only real contender to the obvious Cameron Smith pick, Macca has phenomenal work ethic, averaging a whopping 49 average tackles in 2017. He actually outscored Smith for the first 6 games last season and had faithful CS9 owners biting their nails wondering if they had made the wrong choice. McCullough added an average of 99 kick metres and 45 run metres to his reliable tackle count and even jagged a couple sneaky tries from dummy half early in the season. He played reduced minutes when was concussed in round 11, and though initially thought by many to be dead, he only missed one game before returning to illustrious scores for another 7 rounds. In round 21 he tore both his ACL and MCL and sat out the remainder of the season

2017 low score: R11: 37 (injury affected 58 mins); lowest 80 min game was R14: 46
2017 high score: R4: 81 (including a try)

Wrap up
McCullough has a high ceiling and low floor, which makes his a great fantasy prospect. His greatest attribute is his tackle count- 10 per game above Smiths’ in 2017. With a few forwards leaving the Boncos (still not a typo) this season, expect Macca to plug the gap until new recruits like Lodge find their feet. Could be a really reliable buy for those who want a POD from the heavily picked Smith whilst saving 73k to spend elsewhere, or just for those who want to troll Renegades about “how obvious it was to pick him, I can’t believe you guys didn’t” when he no doubt starts the season scoring 70s again.

predicted 2018 avg – 55-60 points per game



4/5 Hairy Pookus’ balls

Player: Mitch Aubusson  
Club: Sydney Roosters
Position: 2RF/CTR (Hopefully the former)
Cost: $573,000
2015 average: 38 (67 mins) playing 9 games at 2RF for 46 point average ; 6 games centre, 7 bench
2016 average: 38 (76 mins) playing 15 games at 2RF for 43 point average ; 7 games at centre
2017 average: 39 (79 mins) playing 15 games at 2RF for 45 point average ; 7 games cenre, 1 bench, 1 wing
Handsomeness rating: 6/5 Mitch Aubussons  (The Mitch Aubusson  handsomness paradox allows improper fractions)

The notorious black widow, despised by many fantasy players and heavily advised against buying from many supposed experts. Aubbs  enjoys a massive cult following at Fantasy Fanatics because of his handsomeness as well as his football prowess. It is often mused by many that he would probably also be a very generous lover. But whether you love him or hate him, there is no denying that he is the best option at centre available AS LONG AS HE STAYS IN THE 2RF. That’s all there is to it- if he plays 80 mins in the second row, he is fantasy gold; if he plays at centre or off the bench then he is overpriced (but perhaps not this season?- more on this to come). But because Aubbs  is so versatile on the football field, he is often moved to cover injuries in the three quarter line or wing during games. Even worse, when the stocks of outside backs are running low during the season, he often stays there for a large part of the season. Hence his nickname and the frustration of many  previously burnt fantasy coaches.

2017 low score- R14: 15 (at centre) ; lowest in 2RF- R10: 29
2017 high score: R2: 74

Wrap up
Roosters outside back stocks seem no healthier this year than the last: they have lost SKD but gained Reece Robinson. I assume Latrell and Manu play centre which leaves Aubbs  as the Mr. Fix it once again. He is priced at 39 this year so well worth rolling the dice IMO, since this is what he averages even with his positional changes each season. Aubbs can probably afford to be moved to centre 7 or 8 times and still hold value! And if he happens to play his first full season in the second row, everybody will be kicking goals (metaphorically, this isn't soccer). That said, he is not named the Black Widow without cause, and so Aubbs will most definitely play 80 mins in the second row if you don’t have him in your team this season, but will play mostly in the centres if you do.  I also have it on good authority that his hair smells like cinnamon.

predicted 2018 avg – 40-50 points per game if he can stay in the second row

       

5/5 Aubusson -obsessed Fanatics