daily fantasy sports articles

We are only a day away from the kick-off to the 2019 NRL season and the Daily Fantasy Sports sites around Australia are supporting the first round by posting excellent betting tournaments and DFS contests.

The most significant game on the fixture is the opening game of the season with the Melbourne Storm taking on the Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park. The Australian sites have offered the following contests on this match-up:

Draftstars - $12,000 Special for $15 entry.

Moneyball - $8,000 Special for $15 entry.

PlayON - $1,000 Special for $10 entry, plus qualifiers for a $2,500 ANZAC Day Super Contest.

SportChamps – Have a go at the “Long Range” tournament by having a punt on 6 long range markets for only $5 entry. I personally like Latrell Mitchell for top season try scorer!

Melbourne Storm are currently around a single try favourite and have a fantastic record at AAMI park. Although I am big Storm fan, something is brewing with the Broncos. A new coach in Anthony Seibold and with a settled backline, I am going to target key players from the Broncos which are hopefully under owned.

Let's have a look at the key plays for Thursday’s contest.

Centre/Winger/Full Back

Jahrome Hughes ($9,800 DK $5,500 MB $9.9m PO) is the injury replacement for Scott Drinkwater and the heir apparent at full back for the retired Billy Slater, Drinkwater scored more Fantasy points at the fullback position than when he played at half back last season. Now Hughes has the Number 1 jersey by default and the Storm has a knack of producing high scores from the back regardless of the player in the position. Hughes will be a high owned play to start the season.

Toughest choice this week is who to pick out of the wingers in the game. All four are class and certainly go big if the opportunities arise in the game. With the Storm currently 3.5 point favourites, you can excuse yourself if you favoured both Josh Addo-Carr ($10,830 DS $6,300 MB $11.0m PO) and Suliasi Vunivalu ($8,900 DS $9.1m PO) for the Storm. But my pick is going to be Jamayne Isaako ($10,100 DS $6,800 MB $10.9m PO). Isaako has looked great in the pre-season setting up a full length try (great fantasy points) in game vs the Titans and has the added bonus of the goal-kicking duties. The 2^nd year player will be looking for Kodi Nikorima ($10,160 DS $7,500 MB $12.4m PO) and James Roberts ($9,980 DS $5,700 MB $9.8m PO) to set-up attacking raids on the Storm edge.

Also the return of Jack Bird ($7,900 DS $4,600 MB $6.8m PO) will be chalk on all sites due to his bargain basement salary, making the choice of your 3^rd back much more interesting. After injured plagued 2018, Bird is fit and ready to deliver for 2019 season on the left edge for the Broncos. 

Halves

If I going to back Isaako, then I going to target Nikorima here. Already has the coaches praise for his pre-season form and with Milford not appearing in the trail matches then I want to Nikorima to take the lead for the Broncos. Set-up some nice tries to Alex Glenn ($10,200 DS $5,800 MB $10.4m PO) on the right edge in a recent trial against the Titans. Again, no issue having Cameron Muster ($14,770 DS $7,600 MB $13.7m PO) in your side as his salary compares well to Nikorima.

Hooker

There are two quality choices at Hooker with the immortal in Cameron Smith ($16,900 DS $7,400 MB $15.2m PO) from the Storm up against Andrew McCullough ($13,900 DS $6,300 MB $12.4m PO) at Brisbane. If you can squeeze in Smith in your line-up then you are relying on his exceptional floor. McCullough should play the full 80 without Josh McGuire in the side (now at the North Queensland Cowboys) taking his role mid game. Either choice is fine in this contest. Good discount on PlayON for McCullough (Smith is $15.2m compared to McCullough who is $12.4m).

Forwards

One of my first picked in every Storm game, Felise Kaufusi ($12,630 DS $8,000 MB $14.1m PO) has a rock solid floor every game as he, bar injury, spends the full 80 minutes on the park. Doesn’t mind a try and contributes in most fantasy point scoring categories. Kaufusi is the highest salaried forward and I have no issues rostering especially in Cash games.

Minutes and rotation are a little bit up in the air at the Broncos, with Matt Gillet ($12,300 DS $7,300 MB $11.7m PO) playing out of position at lock and the buzz of rookie forward Tom “Animal” Fleger  ($7,000 DS $3,500 MB $5.9m PO) coming off the bench. So I am looking towards safer Melbourne forwards. The mail is Dale Finucane ($11,000 DS $6,500 MB $10.9m PO) will have a solid 55-60 minutes at lock after impressing in recent trials. Also keep an eye out on final team lists if either side change the starting packs as this will dictate the amount of minutes forward receive. Storm have named Kenny Bromwich ($8,860 DS $4,900 MB $8.8m PO) on the edge, the utility forward might get more minutes and could be worth the cheaper salary.

The Daily Fantasy Rankings "Dragon" has scoured the Australian sports betting markets and found some great value picks for these games. Check out his picks for the day below and click on the links to follow his betting plays!

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