Social Wrighty's Player Agent Game

[Chris Hodges]

@Wrighty some questions if i may.

1) Your backline seems fast, but none of them are known for doing hard work/carries. They rely on flashiness (and with obvious defensive frailties). Who is going to do early hitups in your team? Who is leading the defence in that backline?
2) An odd choice to have a captain on your bench, and a fringe NRL player as your back cover. Combined, im somewhat unsure if this is a joke selection or a joke team, especially with Hetherington and Lodge being named in your leadership team. Can you please clarify the rationale behind the thought process as it fights to play against not just NRL standard teams, but some of the best assembled players in the NRL era.
3) Can you elaborate why Brad Thorn is playing on a different edge to what he played most of his career in the second row? And Willie Mason on the other edge to what he played? What is the reason for the change to sides neither played much of in the NRL.
4) Tonie Carrol was known as a bodyguard. Who is he bodyguarding out of Moses and Maloney. Or is the future plan to clone him to protect both players?

 

[Chris Hodges]

1) He played the 2002 season on the wing when the Roosters won the Premiership. He started on the wing before moving to full back (a bit like RTS). I decided Brett and Mini need to be in my team and that meant Johnston and Mark N missed out. I needed Mulitalo physical presence and metres coming out of trouble.
2) I rate his kicking highly especially after he nailed that clutch sideline conversation for NSW (cant remember which year that was but can remember Ray Warren saying this is a career kick for Carney. And he nailed it) He averaged 78% over his career which is the same as Jonathan Thurston and better than Cameron Smith. I don't see how that is a potential weakness?

1) thanks. Ill rate your team based on Minichello's 2002 performance on the wing. Interesting that you think he had a better 2002 season on the wing, than what Mark N produced in 2025, where he also earnt the Australian rep jersey.
2) Yeah he may have decent statistics, but 289 goals across 11 seasons is fairly low for a first choice kicker, especially a gruelling season against some of the NRLs best players ever.

 

[Chris Hodges]

@Mr. Brownstone

Some questions for you.
1) Hate to say it but solid team.
2) Can you please justify the selection of Daniel Tupou and Xavier Willison in your team? Can you please provide the season/s where you believe the players each made their mark. If you could select upgrades on both of those players, who would you pick considering the makeup of your team.

 

[Warriors55]

1) thanks. Ill rate your team based on Minichello's 2002 performance on the wing. Interesting that you think he had a better 2002 season on the wing, than what Mark N produced in 2025, where he also earnt the Australian rep jersey.
2) Yeah he may have decent statistics, but 289 goals across 11 seasons is fairly low for a first choice kicker, especially a gruelling season against some of the NRLs best players ever.

Thanks Chris! I think people would rate me down a bit for having both Mark N and Mclean in my backline when they are both still inexperienced so I had to leave one out. Johnston was hard to leave out but I thought people may see him as a bit of a journeyman. I didn't plan on getting Stewart so they forced a rethink because he offers things that Mini doesn't at full back.

I just had a look and Carney played 166 games so 289 goals is not too bad in that situation even though he didn't kick in every game. The first 3 years he played NRL he didn't kick as Schifcofski was kicking. Later in his career at the Sharks he was a sharpshooter especially in 2013 when he kicked at 93%.

 

[Chris Hodges]

I just had a look and Carney played 166 games so 289 goals is not too bad in that situation even though he didn't kick in every game. The first 3 years he played NRL he didn't kick as Schifcofski was kicking. Later in his career at the Sharks he was a sharpshooter especially in 2013 when he kicked at 93%.

Thanks for referencing 2013, his best year at kicking. Note he was not the first choice kicker at the Sharks that year either. He was only given the kicking boots after Michael Gordon was injured. Normal transmission resumed once Gordon was healthy again and took over the goal kicking duties once more.

 

[Warriors55]

Thanks for referencing 2013, his best year at kicking. Note he was not the first choice kicker at the Sharks that year either. He was only given the kicking boots after Michael Gordon was injured. Normal transmission resumed once Gordon was healthy again and took over the goal kicking duties once more.

You know your stuff Chris! Carney was first choice kicker in 2012 though for the Sharks kicking at 78% which is his career average. That is probably a better reference year than 2013.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Im just curious as i evaluate who to give my points to hence the questions. Are they too difficult to answer properly?

Some more for you:
1) Since we are evaluating players in their prime years (or to date), do you feel Leka has earnt the right to be part of 8 or so squads of the best players in the NRL era? Or are you basing his selection in your team based on his likely projectory.
2) What are the team dynamics like with JT, Ezra and Leniu in the team? How many times has Ezra hid behind JT in training drills when Leniu was the tackler?
3) Ezra is primarily a running half. Are all the playmaking responsibility on JT/Cam Smith?
4) Can you justify Daniel Saifiti's inclusion in the squad, let alone as the starting prop? Do you agree that your forwards are your weakness?

Thanks for the inquiries Hodgo,

1 - Leka - I’ve just got a man crush on the guy. He was my avatar before this game. Future immortal. The bench is where you put future stars, happens all the time, even at international level.
2 - mate that’s in the past. We identified that raw cultural passion and based the team around culture and a shared culture. What to some may be a weakness is actually a strength when channeled right.
3 - Mam is a role player who plays head up footy. Damn right Smith and JT organise the team. It would be stupid not to
4 - his father is/ was on the forum (or used to be) and im not ashamed to say its a strategic play for a vote. Its all about strategy isn’t it? . Anyway he’s a beat that churns out the meters with low errors. I disagree the pack is a weakness. Everyone is a Daly M player in the pack except Saifiti. Plus our bench is forward heavy not requiring a replacement for Smith. When you include the bench our forwards are really an advantage.

We should catch up for golf again this week. I’ve got the Lambo back from Moses for you, in return for you looking after me

 

[Chris Hodges]

You know your stuff Chris! Carney was first choice kicker in 2012 though for the Sharks kicking at 78% which is his career average. That is probably a better reference year than 2013.

Yeah he was first choice kicker in 2012 at the Sharks - Because Michael Gordon was playing at the Panthers lol

So coaching staff determined that Michael Gordon was a better goal kicker than Carney, when he arrived at the Sharks.

No negative in being behind Gordon as first choice kicker, who was a sharpshooter. But the lack of experience for Carney being first choice kicker may potentially hurt you, in what is likely to be a close upcoming season in the PAG competition lol

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

@Mr. Brownstone

Some questions for you.
1) Hate to say it but solid team.
2) Can you please justify the selection of Daniel Tupou and Xavier Willison in your team? Can you please provide the season/s where you believe the players each made their mark. If you could select upgrades on both of those players, who would you pick considering the makeup of your team.

Yeah fair questions. Re Daniel Tupou, he’s been an exceptionally consistent performer for well over a decade & currently ranks 4th on the NRL’s all time try scoring list (will most likely pass Slater midway through 2026), also a high yardage wing. Hard to pinpoint a single year because he’s excelled in so many however even if we go really recent - in 2024 he scored 21 tries, made 6 try assists, 31 line breaks, made 83% of his tackles which is incredible for a winger & averaged 168 run metres a game!

Xavier Willison is one of those next generation elite players who is just starting to show his ceiling. Outperformed Payne Haas to be the best prop in the 2025 grand final & played very strongly for NZ in the Pac Champs once he usurped NAS. Has a long career ahead of him in the black jumper as part of the best international forward pack in the world.

I wouldn’t upgrade either from within my squad but if I was looking across other teams then given the makeup of my side & with no salary cap constraints I’d switch Tupou to a player with a similar jumping ability but a bit more x-factor in Israel Folau. For Willison if I’m swapping like for like & looking at a youthful player in the early stages of their career with great impact off the bench then I’d go Naufahu Whyte.

 

[Chris Hodges]

Thanks for the inquiries Hodgo,

1 - Leka - I’ve just got a man crush on the guy. He was my avatar before this game. Future immortal. The bench is where you put future stars, happens all the time, even at international level.
2 - mate that’s in the past. We identified that raw cultural passion and based the team around culture and a shared culture. What to some may be a weakness is actually a strength when channeled right.
3 - Mam is a role player who plays head up footy. Damn right Smith and JT organise the team. It would be stupid not to
4 - his father is/ was on the forum (or used to be) and im not ashamed to say its a strategic play for a vote. Its all about strategy isn’t it? . Anyway he’s a beat that churns out the meters with low errors. I disagree the pack is a weakness. Everyone is a Daly M player in the pack except Saifiti. Plus our bench is forward heavy not requiring a replacement for Smith. When you include the bench our forwards are really an advantage.

We should catch up for golf again this week. I’ve got the Lambo back from Moses for you, in return for you looking after me

1) Future Immortal locked in. Unfortunately i am giving my vote based on performance to date, considering their position assigned, and what was the prime year in that position. Hard to justify him in elite company we are supposedly building, just yet IMO.
2) Can you explain how the teams dynamics comprising of Mam, JT, and Leniu could be a strength?

Golf is on, You have to start paying up the bets for the last few times when you have lost to me! Thanks for the Lambo, next game i will give you an extra 1m to spend on some decent cologne.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

1) Future Immortal locked in. Unfortunately i am giving my vote based on performance to date, considering their position assigned, and what was the prime year in that position. Hard to justify him in elite company we are supposedly building, just yet IMO.
2) Can you explain how the teams dynamics comprising of Mam, JT, and Leniu could be a strength?

Golf is on, You have to start paying up the bets for the last few times when you have lost to me! Thanks for the Lambo, next game i will give you an extra 1m to spend on some decent cologne.

1 - base Leka on his tigers or Knights game - match winner! Can already do what many career players in other teams never could. Limited role in the bench will release his potential.

2 - Mam and JT have a shared public understanding which will improve them In the halves. Culture is an invisible glue that binds individuals into something stronger than their individual talents. The ki is in the wi really and it’s just getting those passionate cultural players to develop a shared culture and channeling them to play for each other.

 

[Chris Hodges]

Yeah fair questions. Re Daniel Tupou, he’s been an exceptionally consistent performer for well over a decade & currently ranks 4th on the NRL’s all time try scoring list (will most likely pass Slater midway through 2026), also a high yardage wing. Hard to pinpoint a single year because he’s excelled in so many however even if we go really recent - in 2024 he scored 21 tries, made 6 try assists, 31 line breaks, made 83% of his tackles which is incredible for a winger & averaged 168 run metres a game!

Xavier Willison is one of those next generation elite players who is just starting to show his ceiling. Outperformed Payne Haas to be the best prop in the 2025 grand final & played very strongly for NZ in the Pac Champs once he usurped NAS. Has a long career ahead of him in the black jumper as part of the best international forward pack in the world.

I wouldn’t upgrade either from within my squad but if I was looking across other teams then given the makeup of my side & with no salary cap constraints I’d switch Tupou to a player with a similar jumping ability but a bit more x-factor in Israel Folau. For Willison if I’m swapping like for like & looking at a youthful player in the early stages of their career with great impact off the bench then I’d go Naufahu Whyte.

Thanks.

Some more.
1) Are you concerned about your middle forward rotation? Keon has been picked on 2025 form (as a prop i assume)?
2) Thoughts on your selection of Brett Kimmorley. Looks like an odd selection from the outside. Would you have preferred to go for a hooker/utility in hindsight or was getting Kimmorley on the bench part of your strategy? If so, what role do you see Kimmorley playing, especially when you have Lockyer and Cronk as your halves.

 

[Wrighty]

@Wrighty some questions if i may.

1) Your backline seems fast, but none of them are known for doing hard work/carries. They rely on flashiness (and with obvious defensive frailties). Who is going to do early hitups in your team? Who is leading the defence in that backline?
2) An odd choice to have a captain on your bench, and a fringe NRL player as your back cover. Combined, im somewhat unsure if this is a joke selection or a joke team, especially with Hetherington and Lodge being named in your leadership team. Can you please clarify the rationale behind the thought process as it fights to play against not just NRL standard teams, but some of the best assembled players in the NRL era.
3) Can you elaborate why Brad Thorn is playing on a different edge to what he played most of his career in the second row? And Willie Mason on the other edge to what he played? What is the reason for the change to sides neither played much of in the NRL.
4) Tonie Carrol was known as a bodyguard. Who is he bodyguarding out of Moses and Maloney. Or is the future plan to clone him to protect both players?

Thank you for the questions Chris my pleasure to answer them:

1) Matt Timoko will help with the hard work and carries. I brought him into the team partly for his yardage.
Timoko's running meters are very good
2023 158 meters per game
2024 159 meters per game
2025 149 meters per game

Josh Addo Carr isn't quite as good but makes an effort with his yardage
2023 121 meters per game
2024 132 meters per game
2025 148 meters per game

Who is leading the defence in the backline?
I have two specialist centers who played for the Kangaroos and Kiwis respectively. Both of them would not have achieved those honours without being sound defensively. I don't have access to Lyon's Tackle Efficiency Stats as he is retired however he was the Dally M centre of the year in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014.
Timoko's Tackle Efficiency Rates
2023 87.3%
2024 86.7%
2025 84.3%

2) "An odd choice to have a captain on your bench, and a fringe NRL player as your back cover. Combined, im somewhat unsure if this is a joke selection or a joke team, especially with Hetherington and Lodge being named in your leadership team. Can you please clarify the rationale behind the thought process"

* I knew someone would ask me about my captain being on the bench and did think this through. I have two vice captains in my starting 13 who will have full powers to direct the team during the 80 minutes. Of those two vice captains Steve Price won the Dally M
captain of the year award three times and Jamie Lyon won it two times, so both will be highly effective at providing leadership. Starford is the talisman of the team and has been named the captain therefore, but his leadership responsibilities on the field will be assumed by the vice captains.
* Starford himself is most definitely not a fringe NRL player. There are a number of centre options the Tigers have and he is the preferred starting centre. His attacking stats are actually equal to Matt Timoko's on a tries per game basis. However Timoko has been selected as the starting center as he offers strong yardage compared to Starford, and like you asked in question #1 I wanted to address yardage carries in my team so Timoko was selected. But as an offensive player Starford is very much an NRL standard centre. He is also ideal for a bench outside back utility in a fantasy game as he has played 53 times in first grade at centre 22 times at wing, and 5 times at fullback. I agree though he is not appropriate to have in the starting 13 so will play off the bench. He is my favourite NRL player, as you are aware, so hence was named captain, but holds his own in a game like this as a valuable bench outside back utility player.
* Hetherington and Lodge in the leadership team. I have just edited and deleted that aspect since it is proving a distraction.

3) Can you elaborate why Brad Thorn is playing on a different edge to what he played most of his career in the second row? And Willie Mason on the other edge to what he played? What is the reason for the change to sides neither played much of in the NRL.

I have just edited my post to correct this. People can edit their posts in view as long as they do so relatively quickly and before the thread is opened for voting. I made sure I checked everyone's edge but neglected those two. Addo Carr is on his correct wing and Lyon is on his correct edge.

4) Tonie Carrol was known as a bodyguard. Who is he bodyguarding out of Moses and Maloney. Or is the future plan to clone him to protect both players?

Tonie can body guard Moses and Mason can body guard Maloney since they are on the same edge. Wille Mason and Brad Thorn are known tough guys so I have no end of choices for body guards!

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Thanks.

Some more.
1) Are you concerned about your middle forward rotation? Keon has been picked on 2025 form (as a prop i assume)?
2) Thoughts on your selection of Brett Kimmorley. Looks like an off piece. Would you have preferred to go for a hooker/utility in hindsight or was getting Kimmorley on the bench part of your strategy? If so, what role do you see Kimmorley playing, especially when you have Lockyer and Cronk as your halves.

Keaon should always have been a middle & once he permanently shifted there this year he was elite - big minutes, huge work rate & skilful as well, hence his selection in the Kangaroos for the Ashes & subsequent to that the million dollar contract. So yes definitely 1/4 of the middle forward rotation with Tapine, Morley & Willison.

Kimmorley is a bit of an injury insurance player on the bench which I believe I can afford due to the high- minute players in other positions - Cook for example was nearly always an 80 minute player at the Rabbits. Injuries happen all the time, particularly with the HIA rules so with Kimmorley able to play halves & Lockyer able to shift to fullback, Teddy to wing, RTS to centre then all bases are covered. Also I like the potential to bring Kimmorley on in the final quarter to give my other halves a rest or when I feel the spine needs to be mixed up a bit. Also he played 2 of his 22 tests for Australia off the bench, so if its good enough for the Kangaroos then its good enough for me.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I like the potential to bring Kimmorley on in the final quarter to give my other halves a rest

Almost like you don’t have confidence in Cronk and Lockyer to action a plan b if you find yourself behind

Who would he replace with why?

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Almost like you don’t have confidence in Cronk and Lockyer to action a plan b if you find yourself behind

Who would he replace with why?

Haha whatever, each game is different, play eyes up football & be prepared to pivot when required. Kimmorley is elite, not as good as Cronk but conservatively I’d say at least on par with half of the starting halfbacks in other teams. He’s an asset to have on the bench.

 

[Wrighty]

I love your spine @Muddogz did you maybe think about going Johnson at 6 and Cleary at 7 rather than the other way around?

 

[Muddogz]

I love your spine @Muddogz did you maybe think about going Johnson at 6 and Cleary at 7 rather than the other way around?

Yeah that’s definitely a typo @Wrighty Cleary and 7 and SJ at 6 a better combo.

 

[Wrighty]

Yeah that’s definitely a typo @Wrighty Cleary and 7 and SJ at 6 a better combo.

You are allowed to go back and edit it - so would do so.
Smashing Spine !!!!

 

[Chris Hodges]

@Muddogz

Few questions if i may please?

1) Goodness thats a lethal team you have assembled. Congrats!
2) Where do you see your team's weakness? I cant help but feel you have put Temu fluro spinners on your brand new ferrari with that second row pairing,.Thoughts?
3) How do you see Johnson/Clear combination playing? Who is the playmarker? What role do you see them playing?
4) Are you concerned about lack of hooker cover? Who goes to hooker should Buderus get injured?
5) Liam Martin? What year was his prime? What will be his value to your team? Waterboy?

Congrats, thats a very strong team you have built!