Champion PODs: Unique players to find an edge

• STAT ANALYSIS: Vital numbers to beat the best
• SQUAD BREAKDOWN: Round 9 team insights

With no bye-planning, and a stack of trades at our disposal, teams will take shape quicker than previous years.

To help you find an edge over rivals, 2019 SuperCoach champion Dez Creek identifies the low-ownership players to target.

Here’s who he’s found for Round 9.

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Ryan Hall ($334,200)

If you still need to POD up in the CTW look no further than the 0.2% owned Ryan Hall.

He hasn’t really had the opportunity to show what he can do yet in an already dominant Roosters side – which has kept him severely under-priced compared to the rest of the side.

If he gets enough ball he could see Sivo-esque scores over the coming weeks against some very weak defensive sides.

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Martin Taupau ($410,200)

$161k cheaper than he started the season, you won’t see Kapow get any cheaper than this.

He’s by far the best value FRF on the market right now especially given the fact AFB is sidelined for an extended stint.

Furthermore, Marty is only owned by 7.2% of teams (much of which would be lowly ranked teams) which gives him extra POD credentials for mine.

Lastly, if Hasler gives him the unlimited offload license back he will quickly return to his old keeper status.

Junior Paulo ($596,200)

A FRF playing big minutes in a destructive Eels side capable of seven effective offloads in a game? Yes please.

If you have the coin there is no doubt in my mind this man is a keeper for the 2020 season.

Paulo is highly capable of going 120+ if the attacking stats fall his way, and I think they indeed will given the Eels’ favourable draw over the next six weeks. 4.3% ownership – get him in!

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Raymond Faitala-Mariner ($488,900)

On first thought you would likely think buying a Bulldogs 2RF is quite a risky POD.

However, RFM is in fact safe as houses for 60 points every week given he’s playing 80 minutes and has decent upside as shown by his 89 last week including a linebreak and try.

Given the calibre of 2RF this year I wouldn’t go as far as calling RFM a keeper, but he is definitely undervalued and might be the perfect money bridge to get in the likes of Matto and Crichton if you haven’t already.

However, if luck goes his way he has the potential to average in the keeper range over the next month or two for his 0.5% of owners.

Ken Maumalo ($486,600)

Arguably last year’s premium CTW, Maumalo showed his 1.7% owners why last week with a 106.

The Warriors have the Titans this week so I think it’s likely he scores similar this week as well, if not more.

The injection of RTS back into the Warriors side will also help Maumalo get clean attacking ball and he should come into serious consideration for a lot of sides high up in the rankings due to his superb work rate and base stats.

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Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ($444,900)

$215k off his starting price, RTS has quickly become the forgotten gun of 2019.

If you want to sell Kalyn Ponga and want to take a different path to the easy King Gutho trade in than RTS is your man, especially coming in fresh to a juicy Titans match up.

Currently only owned by 2.6% of teams, none of which will be highly ranked, RTS shapes as the perfect fullback POD to pair with James Tedesco if you are looking to differentiate/make up ground.

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