The Postman’s DT Survival Guide to Origin

The Postman has your DT survival guide for the Origin period: DON’T PICK FRANK THE TANK.

So what is the secret to getting through the rep period with minimal damage DreamTeamers?

Well don’t look at me, The Postman might have all the mail on player injuries and a direct line to the selection table at most clubs, but how the heck can anyone form a rational or indeed logical approach to surviving the rep period from a Dream Team perspective is beyond me… seriously – what have you done to try and navigate the NRL’s clear dismissal of Dream Team as something to consider when they constructed the multi-bye draw of 2012?

My approach to surviving the rep period entering the year was to buy the can’t miss cheapies, stock up on a few DT guns and aim towards having a heck of a lot of Kiwis in my starting 17… so that when rep carnage kicked in – I had enough non-Origin ‘stars’ to get me through the pain.

Now that Origin 1 is here… the pain is evident but somehow not quite as bad as it could have been.

I’ve got the following players unavailable due to rep commitments: Todd Carney, Paul Gallen and Tony Williams.

So gravy train there – the non-Origin star approach has been of some benefit I guess.

Downside is I thought Frank Pritchard would be a wise investment after he teased us with 80 minute games at the start of the season.

But the BYES are starting to come into play and those unforgiving byes are where everyone will be really hurting.

For this week I’ve lost Corey Parker, Josh McGuire, Travis Waddell, Aidan Sezer, Ben Hunt, Peter Wallace, Corey Norman and Ken Sio, which leaves me with 13 fit players this week – so I’m doing about 2 or 3 players better than what seems to be the general average of 10-11 available players for Round 11.

But even if that is an advantage for me this week – next week I will still be without Gallen and Carney since the Sharks have the bye (and Ben Ross as well), and Thunder Thighs Konrad Hurrell with the Warriors taking a week off. Again that’s not too bad and Round 13 sees Penrith and the Roosters on the Bye-oou (I lose only Jake Friend and Tautau Moga) but Round 15 I’m in deep poop.

Say goodbye to Tony Williams, Jamie Lyon, Frank Pritchard, James Graham, Kyle Stanley, Jack de Belin, Ken Sio, Adam Reynolds and Dave Tyrrell…

But you know now that I’ve broken down my team – up until Origin 2 at least the ‘Dixie Ice Creams’ really aren’t that badly placed for this rep period in 2012… and I’m not looking any further ahead because I’m a touch worried I won’t like what I find.

How have you tried to survive it?

Because evidently my plan might just keep my team competitive in the overall race… not I’m about to have the FJ Cruiser delivered to my house, but some smart captaining when Corey Parker is unavailable could push me up the rankings over the next couple of months.

The Postman’s Mail: Something to consider is this: If you have Gallen and Carney now could be a time to sell if you want to try and bulk up your squad for the rep period. The pair will play just TWO NRL games between Origin 1 and Origin 3 (out of a Cronulla’s five games [they have two byes] from Round 11-17)… so if you’re going to jettison a rep star either of those two are worth considering – esp if you have some trades up your sleeve.

Another quick tip from your local Postman: Young Curtis Sironen might be a smart pickup in a week or two with the young Tiger a favourite of Tim Sheens. Remember the name and where you heard it first.

So DreamTeamers I want your strategy or indeed your band-aid solutions for surviving the rep period – share the wealth.