With Queensland still under lockdown the NRL has sought permission to push on with the Round 21 fixture on the Gold Coast. The Raiders and Dragons are looking to get back into the top 8 when they clash in the early game, followed by the Top 4 clash between the Eels and the Rabbitohs. Looks like a cracking slate on Friday Night.  

 

On Draftstars, we have a pair of $10,000 contests for both single games. We also have a 2-game contest for $3,000 which you can use the “Player Swap” feature on Draftstars. There are also Mini and Micro contests available for the late game. 

 


 

Markets

 

Raiders $1.31 v Dragons $3.50

Line - 11.5

Total - 50.5

 

Eels $3.50 vs Rabbitohs $1.31

Line - 10.5 

Total - 51.5


 

Weather

 

Gold Coast - Clear conditions - another perfect night for a double-header.


 

Team News

 

The Raiders welcome back Ryan Sutton from a chest injury which pushes Hudson Young to the second row and Corey Harawira-Naera to the bench. Seb Kris is out.

 

Cody Ramsey is named at centre after missing last week's loss to the Rabbitohs. Ben Hunt is out with a fracture so Corey Norman shifts from centre to five-eighth and Jayden Sullivan drops to the reserves to allow for Ramsey and Zac Lomax to form the new centre pairing. Also back are Blake Lawrie, Jack Bird, Jack De Belin, Josh McGuire and Mikaele Ravalawa from suspension. 

 

Mitchell Moses is back for the Eels pushing Jake Arthur out of the side. Waqa Blake has been named but needs to pass protocols after failing a head injury assessment last week. Oregon Kaufusi is starting prop with Reagan Campbell-Gillard out with a groin injury. Blake Ferguson was pulled from the starting 13 on Thursday night with Haze Dunster replacing Fergo on the wing. 

 

The Rabbitohs should have Tevita Tatola back on the bench in what is a pretty much unchanged starting side. Benji Marshall is back on the bench after clearing quarantine. 


 

Fantasy Overview

 

This slate is shaping up to be a big scoring one with many players having a high floor yet priced at a level that can create flexibility in your lineup. The Eels and Rabbitohs have many high priced players being bumped down a tad so that you don’t have to play a 20 min bench player. I like it. I think the $3.50 for the Eels is a good price so keep that in mind if you are playing either slate. 

 

Value Selections

 

Adam Clune ($7,700 HALF)

 

The injury to Ben Hunt has afforded another opportunity to Clune and we find him this Friday with a bargain salary. You will need to go all the way back to April to see his starts for the Dragons, averaging 41 in his 4 starts which is plenty at his salary. Tough matchup against the Raiders and a position stacked with big ceiling players does cause me to pull the handbrake a little here.   

 

Oregon Kaufusi ($7,600 FRF)

 

Gets the start in the place of Reagan Campbell-Gillard and should go well after impressing off the bench for the Eels. I wouldn’t expect big minutes (40 max) but will go at a point a minute which will be more than enough to pay off the cheap price tag. 32.6 3-game average is quite acceptable here.

 

Other considerations: Haze Dunster ($7,000 W/FB) & Billy Burns ($8,650 2RF/CTR)

 

Mid Price Selections

 

Jack De Belin ($10,660 FRF/2RF)

 

Freshened up after his suspension with his team mates, De Belin is in his preferred position at lock for the Dragons. Would of thought by now that his price should be creeping up after 5 solid games but it now represents some great value at 10.6k. I wouldn’t worry about not playing the full 80 minutes as he can easily get 45+ in tackles/150+ meters alone. 

 

Junior Paulo ($11,100 FRF)

 

Another forward that his price hasn’t met his current output over the past three weeks. Paulo’s minutes have gone up and with a big game against a quality line, I don’t expect Paulo spending too much time on the pine for this one. With Campbell-Gillard missing, I expect Paulo to go at least 60 minutes which really boosts his potential for a ceiling score

 

Other considerations: Adam Reynolds ($11,820 HALF), Dane Gagai ($10,060 CTR/W/FB)

 

Premium Selection

 

Damien Cook ($13,710 HOK)

 

Cheapest hooker out of the main 4 available, sign me up. McCullough’s form is off the boil, Mahoney is an OK pivot but $800 more expensive and Hodgson has been playing pretty well, but yet to have a massive game over 66. Cook has the floor and the ceiling on these guys and it's a straight up gift from Draftstars here. 

 

Other considerations: Isaiah Papali’i ($15,230 2RF/FRF), Ryan Matterson $13,680 (2RF)

 

Draftstars Suggested Team

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