Bundy Mixer: Best PODs for Week 2 2024

Article by Lachie

For those that are unaware, Bundy Mixer (Mixer on NRL website) incorporates both NRLW and NRL players running through the NRLW season which carries onto be the only finals fantasy game available. If your NRL fantasy classic team is like mine and many others in that trades are at a premium, the Mixer is a great, low effort required team to set up with a new team each week where you can target fixtures and pick new players. It’s not too late to sign up and try to mow me down sitting at 50th overall after week 1 with weekly prizes available.

I’ll attempt to run through some spicy PODs (1 NRLW and 1 NRL per position where applicable) noting that is more optimal to go with the crowd for the first few weeks within reason. Stats on NRLW players courtesy of nrlw.yafss.com

Hooker:

NRL: Tom Starling or Jacob Liddle 

Both averaging 50+ in big min roles, why not double down on Tom Starling for maximum exposure to Ricky’s random rotations (2.6%). Jacob Liddle has some good upside of a try and high tackle numbers but the Storm matchup could see the edges get targeted more than the middle (3.5%)

NRLW: Emma Manzelmann 

Unfortunately NRLW hookers don’t usually play the full game however I would back a bounce back and starting position of Manzelmann as Cowboys underwhelmed at 0.3% averaging 45 in 58 mins at hooker. 

Middle:

NRL: Pat Carrigan 

With Broncos fighting for their slim hopes of finals, Carrigan and Haas will both be flogged week in week out. Obviously Haas is the higher upside play on a weekly basis, but at 0.6%, Carrigan offers a safe floor now Origin is over.

NRLW: Alexis Tauaneai 

As spotted by the creator of the NRLW stats site, Tauaneai is one of the few NRLW middles that plays the full 70 mins. She has a low of 41 excluding a injury game in her short stint of NRLW, and is a massive differential at 0.3% owned.

Edge:

NRL: Angus Crichton

After a down week in which some lost patience, I would definitely caution losing patience with Angus. With a 3 way battle between 3 similar scorers including Fifita and Koloamatangi, it might be worthwhile just to pick the lowest owned in Angus at 6%.

NRLW: Christian Pio

Since moving to prop in 2023, Pio has played less mins for greater impact, averaging 46 in the middle but available at EDG in Mixer. Should you want to switch your order of 3 NRLW and 3 NRL I would probably go NRLW at EDG or HOK, such as this pick at 0.4%.

Half:

HLF: Jamal Fogarty 

Let’s be honest no-one is taking on the 93% owned Cleary, fresh off a 112. If you’re feeling ballsy, Fogarty dominates kick metres at 0.9% owned. I wouldn’t suggest switching to an NRLW player given the upside of the NRL players.

Centre:

NRL: Dane Gagai 

Why not take a CTR averaging 50+ at 0.1%. Well the real answer is the position scarcity, given CTR is usually quite a good position between the 2 NRLW guns in Kelly and Sergis.

NRLW: Mahalia Murphy 

If you’re brave enough to go against the might of Kelly and Sergis who are surprisingly reliable for CTRs, Murphy is the NRLW out of position 2nd row available at CTR. Averaging roughly 40 at 2nd row, she could be a spicy differential at 0.3% while Kelly has a tougher matchup v Broncos this week (who surprisingly actually lost last week to the 2023 wooden spoon in Eels).

Winger/Fullback:

NRL: Jayden Campbell/Kalyn Ponga/Scott Drinkwater

With the first 2 having a solid base of kick metres and goalkicking and the latter with the magical Tigers matchup, should you steer towards an NRL WFB, I would be happy to take on Teddy with any of these 3 at a maximum of 2.6% ownership with Drinkwater 

NRLW: Teagan Berry 

Granted not a differential in the standard definition at 14.5%, the masses are flocking to Pelite after yours truly got the differential 79 points last week. Pelite again has a favourable Tigers matchup but Berry,as the lightning quick leading NRLW tryscorer can strike at anytime, including against a poor Cowboys outfit.