As we draw closer to the start of the 2019 NRL season, we take a look at the players that you’re going to want in your NRL Fantasy team come the Round 1 clash against the Sea Eagles.
Position-by-position, we’ll break down each player available from Wests Tigers with reasons why they’re certainly worth picking up in your squad for the year ahead.
For more information on NRL Fantasy, pick your team at fantasy.nrl.com.
Robbie Farah (HOK — $826,000)
The most expensive option at hooker for Wests Tigers in NRL Fantasy this year, Robbie Farah provides an excellent alternative to the more popular number nines in the game this year with Damien Cook and Cameron Smith likely to be in plenty of teams. Since returning to his old club halfway through last year, Farah proved to be a superb Fantasy asset and looms as a great differential at hooker again this year, with question marks surrounding the potential output of both Smith and Cook with new coaches and playmakers around them in 2019. Farah averaged 55.3 points per game since joining the club midway through last season — including five scores of 60 or more — and should again see similar numbers, depending on his timeshare with Jacob Liddle. If you don't want to splash the cash early on with the question marks surrounding Smith and Cook then Farah might just be the way to go.
Training at Leichhardt Oval!
Elijah Taylor (HOK/2RF — $572,000)
Elijah Taylor presents an interesting option for Fantasy coaches this year with the Kiwi international available at both second row and hooker following his mixed role in 2018. If you're wanting to avoid the big guns at hooker, someone like Taylor could be worth a look at well under $600K because his defensive workload always provide coaches with a good base to work off. Should he start at lock forward as in seasons gone by, Taylor is seemingly locked in for 40-50 tackles per game (minimum) plus any attacking stats that come from there. His final three games of the season last year saw him average upwards of 50 points per game, so he's definitely worth looking at if he can produce that again to start 2019. Because of his dual position flexibility, Taylor is definitely one to keep an eye on with the Round 1 teams.
Jacob Liddle (HOK — $261,000)
Awkwardly priced just above cheapie range following his performances off the bench last year, Jacob Liddle will certainly be one on the watch list for a number of Fantasy coaches this year as he looks to continue his development at Wests Tigers. Behind Robbie Farah in the pecking order, it remains to be seen whether Liddle can jag a bench spot for the opening round or whether he will feature in reserve-grade, and obviously his selection in Fantasy sides depends on that. If he can get on the field consistently — even at 15-20 minutes per game — Liddle's willingness in defence and creativity out of dummy half mean he's capable of seeing solid price rises to his $261K figure heading in to the year. Liddle does loom as the next man up, however, if anything does change in the position, so he's definitely one to keep an eye on throughout the year.
