Tim Williams
SC Playbook founder, 2nd NRL 2020, 43rd BBL 21/22'
The squads have dropped for Round 1, we've broken them down to find the best buys and avoids to start the 2020 season.
Expert Analysis Squad BreakdownThursday, 8.05pm, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
Eels
1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Waqa Blake 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. Nathan Brown
Bench: 14. Brad Takairangi 15. Marata Niukore 16. Kane Evans 17. Peni Terepo
Reserves: 18. Will Smith 19. Ray Stone 20. Oregon Kaufusi 21. George Jennings
Analysis: With a friendly opening five rounds, the Eels are a team to target.
The likes of Ferguson and Sivo are strong POD options to start the year, but you’re paying premium price for players in the notoriously risky CTW position, so the cash may be better spent elsewhere.
Moses looks an exceptional option to start the year, but again, you’re forking the cash out for a player relying on attacking stats.
He finally shed his rollercoaster tag to produce a season average of 62PPG in 2019. He knocked out three triple figure scores, and notched just three scores under 30 for the year.
The four forward bench is an issue for the minutes of Matterson and Lane. While they should play the full 80, it’s a concern when paying premium price.
With so many mid-range options at 2RF/FRF, maybe it’s worth waiting on Matterson as an upgrade later on.
The bench named by Arthur rules out Nathan Brown as an option, while there’s far better options at fullback than Gutherson.
Bulldogs
1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2. Nick Meaney 3. Reimis Smith 4. Will Hopoate 5. Christian Crichton 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Lachlan Lewis 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Dylan Napa 11. Josh Jackson 12. Joe Stimson 13. Adam Elliott
Bench: 14. Dean Britt 15. Renouf To’omaga 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Kerrod Holland
Reserves: 19. Ofahiki Ogden 20. Jake Averillo 21. Sione Katoa 22. Jack Cogger
Analysis: Harawira-Naera and Okunbor have both been stood down but shouldn’t miss too many weeks.
As a result, Stimson is a trap for anyone considered him as CHN will take his spot on return.
Wakeham looks a serious cheapie option having won a halves role. In three games last season, Wakeham averaged 43PPG in 71MPG. There’s not a heap else doing at Belmore, with Hopoate more of an option down the track.
*Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a key on all SuperCoach relevant abbreviations.
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Embed from Getty ImagesFriday, 6pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Raiders
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Bailey
Simonsson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Curtis
Scott 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. George
Williams 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh
Hodgson 10. Dunamis Lui 11. Corey
Horsburgh 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph
Tapine
Bench: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Emre Guler 16. Iosia Soliola 17. Michael Oldfield
Reserves: 18. Jack Murchie 19. Sam Williams 20. Semi Valemi 21. Tom Starling
Analysis: Don’t be surprised to see Horsburgh and Tapine switch between the edge and middle before kick-off on game day.
Both men look serious options having averaged 33 and 44MPG respectively last season.
Horsburgh scored at the ridiculous rate of 1.21PPM and should play 50+ minutes at the very least.
Even with Bateman’s return he should maintain strong game time. Tapine will play 65-80 minutes pending fitness levels.
He’s a gun of the past having averaged 63PPG in 2017 and can return to similar numbers if his body holds up.
Bailey Simonsson and Nick Cotric are both serious POD options at very affordable prices., while there’s far superior fullback options than Nicoll-Klokstad.
Papalii is absolutely elite and should be considered as a partner to Payne Haas in the front-row.
He has averaged between 63-66PPG in the past four seasons. An established role in the middle saw Papalii’s minutes drop to 53MPG in 2019, but his points per minute increased to a stunning 1.22PPM. He’ll play more minutes early this season.
Williams is far from the lock we hoped having had an interrupted pre-season with a groin niggle, that being said, he’s very affordable and has big upside with a SuperCoach friendly game if he can convert his UK form to the NRL.
Titans
1. Phillip Sami 2. Anthony Don 3. Kallum
Watkins 4. Tyrone Peachey 5. Dale
Copley 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ash Taylor 8. Jarrod
Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Sam Lisone 11. Kevin
Proctor 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Jai
Arrow
Bench: 14. Nathan Peats 15. Jai Whitbread 16. Brian Kelly 17. Jaimin Jolliffe
Reserves: 18. Sam Stone 19. Jonus Pearson 20. Moeaki Fotuaika 21. Alexander Brimson
Analysis: Arrow averaged 62PPG in 57MPG in 2019, and 64PPG in 55MPG in 2018. When fit, there’s no doubting he’s an elite SuperCoach player.
The fact he was sent to the Perth Nines suggests he’s healthy heading into the new season. He looks set for an increased role and looks a superb buy at a discounted rate.
Watkins has decent job security as a cheapie, but how much does he have to offer?
Peachey is a surprise starting selection and at $366k looms as a serious mid-range option at CTW.
There’s issues over his job security, but he’s obviously been given the backing of new coach Justin Holbrook, so he looks a decent left-field POD.
Taylor is an extremely viable alternative to Williams/Luai/Wakeham at a similar price, he’s set to kick goals for the Titans.
Bryce Cartwright averaged 41PPG in 56MPG last season. In eight 80-minute games, he averaged 59PPG. If he plays the full 80 he is a serious option, but we won’t know until Round 1.
Embed from Getty ImagesFriday, 8.05pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Cowboys
1. Valentine Holmes 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin
O’Neill 4. Esan Marsters 5. Ben Hampton 6. Scott
Drinkwater 7. Michael Morgan 8. John
Asiata 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan
McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Coen Hess 13. Jason
Taumalolo
Bench: 14. Reece Robson 15. Mitchell Dunn 16. Shane Wright 17. Francis Molo
Reserves: 18. Corey Jensen 19. Connelly Lemuelu 20. Tom Opacic 21. Jake Clifford
Analysis: Holmes is a flyer at fullback with goal-kicking locked in, but surely there’s superior and safer options to begin the year?
Without goal-kicking duties, in a new-look backline, it’s probably worth waiting for a potential price drop on Marsters before jumping on.
Drinkwater is an option, but he hardly lit up SuperCoach last season with just a 39PPG average. There looks to be better options at a discounted rate.
We know Taumalolo will deliver the goods, but you are paying absolute premium price for him.
There’s a serious case for starting one of the many mid-range forwards ahead of him, then upgrading once peaked. Hess averaged just 38PPG in 61MPG in 2019, but regains a starting role in 2020.
The two seasons prior he averaged 58PPG as an 80-minute player, if he could emulate this it’d equate to a price rise of around $200k.
Broncos
1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Darius Boyd 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Anthony Milford 7. Brodie Croft 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. David Fifita 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Pat Carrigan
Bench: 14. TBA 15. Andrew McCullough 16. Rhys Kennedy 17. Jamil Hopoate
Reserves: 18. Xavier Coates 19. Herbie Farnworth 20. Tom Dearden 21. Ethan Bullemor
Analysis: Don’t worry about having too many Broncos in your team, they’ve had roster changes and injuries and are loaded with SuperCoach potential.
With a hooker and utility back on the bench, the entire pack are ripe for the picking.
Flegler and Carrigan will both make money and deliver solid points in the process for 17s, even when Ofahengaue returns.
Fifita is undervalued and is close to a must-have. The bench set up suggests Haas will play enormous minutes and is close to a lock in captain in Round 1.
Turpin isn’t an option with McCullough named on the bench. Bird and Staggs (goal-kicking) look to be exceptional PODs. They’ll bust tackles, offload and get through plenty of work.
UPDATE: Jack Bird has hurt his knee at training, with the degree of injury not yet confirmed. He won’t face the Cowboys with Jamayne Isaako to play fullback. This puts a serious dent in the buy hopes of Kotoni Staggs who is now unlikely to kick goals.
Embed from Getty ImagesSaturday, 3pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Enari
Tuala 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Hymel
Hunt 6. Kurt Mann 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David
Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel
Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Mitchell
Barnett 13. Herman Ese’ese
Bench: 14. Connor Watson 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Tim Glasby 17. Aidan Guerra
Reserves: 18. Pasami Saulo 19. Starford To’a 20. Mason Lino 21. Brodie Jones
Analysis: At awkward prices and with poor job security, Shibasaki and Tuala look like dangerous options due to their awkward starting prices.
Mann won his job primarily on form, not injury (Crossland to be eased back), so he’s probably the safest cheapie option here, although not without obvious risk.
Ponga will kick goals in 2020 with no Lino in the side. Lino had 33 conversions last season at 84%, so if we add 30 of these conversions onto Ponga’s overall score – based on his 80% success rate – he would have upped his average to 74PPG.
Klemmer is at peak price and although he’ll do a solid job, there’s no real value upside to him to begin the year.
Ese’ese is worth a look having jumped Glasby for a starting role, but it’s recommended to watch his minutes before jumping on.
Warriors
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Patrick Herbert 3. David
Fusitu’a 4. Peta Hiku 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Chanel
Harris-Tavita 7. Blake Green 8. Leeson Ah
Mau 9. Wayde Egan 10. Lachlan Burr 11. Adam
Blair 12. Tohu Harris 13. Isaiah Papali’i
Bench: 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 16. Eliesa Katoa 17. Karl Lawton
Reserves: 18. King Vuniyayawa 20. Hayze Perham 21. Leivaha Pulu 22. Taane Milne
Analysis: 2019 runner-up and Warriors fan Walson Carlos is big on the ability of cheapies Taunoa-Brown and Katoa. There’s serious job security issues, but they should see good minutes having been named on the bench that boasts a hooker and utility. While elite, there’s better options at fullback than RTS who has just four centuries in the past four seasons.
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Embed from Getty ImagesSaturday, 5.30pm, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Rabbitohs
1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Dane Gagai 3. James
Roberts 4. Braidon Burns 5. Campbell
Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Tevita
Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Jaydn
Su’A 12. Cameron Murray 13. Liam Knight
Bench: 14. Mark Nicholls 15. Ethan Lowe 16. Hame Sele 17. Alex Johnston
Reserves: 18. George Williams 19. Bayley Sironen 20. Troy Dargan 21. Keaon Koloamatangi
Analysis: Latrell is an enormous risk that could deliver enormous reward, but surely he’s due for a significant price drop in a new position, new club and with no goal-kicking duties.
Injury risk aside, Burns looks a super POD at centre, while you could make a case for Roberts at an affordable price to start the year.
Walker is an enormous POD as usual, having started last year on an absolute tear averaging 80PPG over the first 10 weeks.
The issue for all these men is South Sydney’s tough start to the year. Cook is the best hooker in the game and may well be a POD with cheapie/mid-range hookers emerging.
Murray will increase on his 59MPG last season and may well even play the entire 80.
Knight and Su’A are set to make some cash and could deliver decent scoring, but how will Bennett inject Lowe into the game?
The suggestion is that Murray moves to lock, Knight to the bench, and Lowe to an edge. This may mean 80-minutes for Su’A, but it’s all just speculation until we see it unfold.
Sharks
1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Josh
Morris 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo
Mulitalo 6. Shaun Johnson 7. Chad
Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Blayke
Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade
Graham 13. Jack Williams
Bench: 14. Connor Tracey 15. Braden Hamlin-Uele 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Scott Sorensen
Reserves: 18. Billy Magoulias 19. Braydon Trindall 20. Royce Hunt 21. Jackson Ferris
Analysis: Kennedy is a trap with Xerri and Dugan due back any week, while Morris will depart to the Roosters after Round 2.
Johnson is an extremely viable option in the halves, with his dual position availability a massive boost over halves rivals Moses and Cleary.
Ramien was on a tear in the All Stars game and is a decent POD on return to the Shire.
Williams and Hamlin-Uele will both play increased minutes and should make decent coin.
With Tracey named on the bench, Brailey likely won’t play 80-minutes and therefore shouldn’t be selected in 17s.
This selection bodes well for debutant Rudolf who may earn reasonable minutes. Let’s see how fit Fifita is and what minutes he’s given before joining that ride.
Embed from Getty ImagesSaturday, 7.35pm, Panthers Stadium, Penrith
Panthers
1. Caleb Aekins 2. Josh Mansour 3. Dean
Whare 4. Brent Naden 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome
Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Apisai
Koroisau 10. Zane Tetevano 11. Viliame
Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Bench: 14. Stephen Crichton 15. James Fisher-Harris 16. Moses Leota 17. Jack Hetherington
Reserves: 18. Billy Burns 19. Matt Burton 20. Jed Cartwright 21. Kaide Ellis
Analysis: Mansour and To’o both have serious POD credentials, although you’re paying a premium price for the latter man so it’s a huge risk.
With Fisher-Harris eased back, Tetevano and Yeo are both traps, although they’re hardly appealing anyway.
With no bench hooker named, Koroisau should play 80-minutes and is a great buy. Luai looks a decent cheapie option but don’t lock him into your 17 with any confidence.
Cleary gets his chance to run the show without Maloney, the only concern is Penrith’s savage opening to the year.
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Angus
Crichton 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Luke
Keary 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jared
Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Siosiua
Taukeiaho 11. Sitili Tupouniua 12. Mitchell
Aubusson 13. Victor Radley
Bench: 14. Sam Verrills 15. Isaac Liu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Lindsay Collins
Reserves: 18. Matt Ikuvalu 19. Poasa Faamausili 20. Lachlan Lam 21. Asu Kepaoa
Analysis: Tupouniua is a trap with Cordner to come back and Crichton to shift from centre with Josh Morris joining the club in coming weeks.
Tedesco is the best player in SuperCoach, but at the price it’s probably worth waiting for a price drop before upgrading a Papenhuyzen or Ponga.
Keary is a decent POD now that he’ll run the show in the post-Cronk era. Taukeiaho can evolve into an elite FRF option if his body holds up, with the potential to also win the goal-kicking duties which would make him a must-have.
Embed from Getty ImagesSunday, 4.05pm, Lottoland, Manly
Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Brad
Parker 4. Moses Suli 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Dylan
Walker 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Addin
Fonua-Blake 9. Danny Levi 10. Martin
Taupau 11. Joel Thompson 12. Curtis
Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic
Bench: 14. Lachlan Croker 15. Sean Keppie 16. Morgan Boyle 17. Haumole Olakau’atu
Reserves: 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Tevita Funa 21. Zac Saddler
Analysis: Tom Trbojevic is obviously an exceptional option to start the season. Jake Trbojevic and AFB are surprise inclusions for Round 1.
There’s no doubting their SuperCoach ability, but their minutes and workload are a concern on return from injury.
Cherry-Evans needs goal-kicking duties to match the elite tier of halfbacks.
Taupau is a decent option, but with three props named on the bench, and Jurbo/AFB capable of big minutes once fit, how much game time does he get? Keppie and Olakau’ata are both solid cheapie options.
Storm
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Marion
Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron
Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse
Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Tui
Kamikamica 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath
Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane
Bench: 14. Harry Grant 15. Tino Faasuamaleaui 16. Max King 17. Tom Eisenhuth
Reserves: 18. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 19. Brenko Lee 20. Ryley Jacks 21. Darryn Schonig
Analysis: Papenhuyzen averaged just 38MPG in 2019. In his six 80-minute games at fullback, he averaged a ridiculous 95PPG, scoring at the hardly believable rate of 1.38PPM. He’s a must-have.
Munster is an elite 5/8 option and will be a strong pick to start the year as usual. The line-up is fairly settled, so there’s not too much interest elsewhere.
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Embed from Getty ImagesSunday, 6.15pm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Dragons
1. Zac Lomax 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Brayden Wiliame 4. Tim Lafai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Ben Hunt 8. James Graham 9. Issac Luke 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. Blake Lawrie
Bench: 14. Trent Merrin 15. Tyrell Fuimaono 16. Billy Brittain 17. Jacob Host
Reserves: 18. Jackson Ford 19. Adam Clune 20. Euan Aitken 21. Josh Kerr
Analysis: Lomax may not be the star mid-ranger we hoped for, but after averaging just 55MPG last season as a winger and now taking on the goal-kicking full-time he looks a fairly safe bet.
Wiliame has beaten out Aitken to a centre role, and although job security is a huge issue, you have to take the punt at $201k.
There’s not a lot doing elsewhere, with a stack of forward depth the minute rotation of the pack is largely unknown and therefore not worth the risk until we’ve seen it play out.
Tigers
1. Corey Thompson 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Joseph
Leilua 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Robert
Jennings 6. Benji Marshall 7. Luke
Brooks 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Billy Walters 10. Alex
Twal 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Elijah
Taylor
Bench: 14. Thomas Mikaele 15. Josh Reynolds 16. Zane Musgrove 17. Chris Lawrence
Reserves: 18. Michael Chee-Kam 19. Oliver Clark 20. Matt Eisenhuth 21. Paul Momirovski
Analysis: Doueihi looks a trap, despite being at a tempting price with goal-kicking duties next to his name.
He couldn’t fire in SuperCoach as a fullback at the relentless Rabbitohs, so why should he as a centre at a team who has struggled to score points in recent years?
Furthermore, the right edge of the Leilua brothers and Nofoaluma will see the majority of good ball.
Looking set for a 65+ minute role, Luciano Leilua looks an exceptional buy having averaged 47PPG in 41MPG at an output of 1.13PPM last season at the Dragons.
Joey Leilua, however, hasn’t averaged over 51PPG in the past five years, outside of his monster 72PPG in 2016.
The POD temptation is there, but like Doueihi, he’s left an attacking side for one that struggles to cross the line, so how much improvement is really there?
Musgrove is highly regarded at the club and looks to be a very decent cash cow with strong job security.
The dual position HOK/HFB of Walters is huge, but there’s a concern with Reynolds likely to play a minimum of 30 minutes off the bench and the looming Grant-Momirovski player swap.
SUPERCOACH TERMINOLOGY KEY
MPG = Minutes per game
PPG = Points per game
PPM= Points per minute
BPG = Base per game (point accrued in tackles + runs + missed tackles)
POD = Point of difference
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Love the write up. Keep them coming. Such a huge help! Although I think if there is any hint of truth to the rumours of what the Bulldogs boys did then they will be out for a long time and Stimson might not actually be a trap.
Yep. Having read a bit more and the screen shot that shows the message from Okenbor to one of the girls, I’m starting to think that myself. It’s a bad bad look.