Positional watchlist: NRL round 2 rising and falling player stocks

What an incredible opening round of Supercoach – I can’t remember a round one as high scoring. It will be interesting to see if that trend continues. 

The high scores could make it even more tempting to trade hard and fast this round. However, it’s worth noting that round two trades before price changes are historically fraught with danger.

For the most part, the players on the job and form watchlists below need another look, but this is team and strategy dependent based on how much risk you’re prepared to take.

Boosting early has proven to be a successful strategy in recent seasons, but doing this from next round onwards will give you more certainty about breakevens to maximise early cash generation. 

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Fullbacks

No major changes here. Papy won the dual of the fullbacks in round one with his 131-point performance. He may be a future target once the Storm get their round two bye and round three Panthers game out of the way. 

Targets: 

Priced 650k+

Tom Trbojevic – Sea Eagles – $875.6k

Kalyn Ponga – Knights – $790.3k

Reece Walsh – Broncos – $738.4k

Priced below $300k

Isaiah Iongi – Eels – $232.6k

Form watch:

Priced 650k+

James Tedesco – Roosters – $920.2k

Scott Drinkwater – Cowboys – $770.1k 

Keano Kini – Titans – $707.9k

Ryan Papenhuyzen – Storm – $616.7k

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CTW

Great to see a few of these targets perform in round one. Early indications are that the likes of Toia, Shibashaki and Tamale will be strong enough to fill the 4th CTW spot. Provided they can continue to start in coming rounds, this could open up more options for how we structure our sides. 

Targets:

Priced 650k+

Reuben Garrick – Sea Eagles – $680.3k

Priced 500k-650k

Dylan Lucas – Knights – $616.7k (2RF/CTW) 

AJ Brimson – Titans – $539.2k (CTW/5-8)

Greg Marzhew – Knights – $513.7k 

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Priced below 300k

Jaxon Purdue – Cowboys – $257k 

Gehamat Shibashaki – Broncos – $232.6k

Robert Toia – Roosters – $198.8k

Form watch:

Priced 650k+

Valentine Holmes – $784.5k

Zac Lomax – $773.8k

Herbie Farnworth – Dolphins – $728.3k

Priced 500k-650k

Kayal Iro – Sharks – $640.7k 

Fletcher Sharpe $636.6k (CTW/FLB)

Beau Fermor – Titans – $593.1k (2RF/CTW)

Lehi Hopoate – Sea Eagles – $589k (CTW/FLB) 

Connor Tracey – Bulldogs – $587.3k (CTW/FLB) (Added – strong round one performance following first full pre-season training at fullback. Dogs also continue to improve in attack)

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – Warriors – $553.1k

Selwyn Cobbo – Broncos – $550.8k 

Kotoni Staggs – Broncos – $514.2k

Campbell Graham – Rabbitohs – $505k (Moved from targets – tough upcoming draw for Souths)

Izack Tago – Panthers – $501.4k

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Priced below 500k 

Jeral Skelton – Tigers – $499.2k

Casey McLean – Panthers – $443k

Mark Nawaqanitawase – Roosters – $438.6k

Jack Howarth – Storm – $426.6k

Removed: Tyrone Munro (injured)

Priced 300k-$499k

Isaiah Tass – Rabbitohs – $327.9k (Moved from targets – low base in round one, but might get a few rounds playing on Souths’ coveted left wing spot)

Job watch:

Priced 300k-$499k

Adam Douehi – Tigers – $431.7k (5-8/CTW) 

Savelio Tamale – Raiders – $232.6k

Priced below $300k

Starford Toa – Tigers – $288k (Added – named to start in centres this week)

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5/8

No changes here, with a close watch on Jayden Campbell, along with Warriors’ duo Metcalf and Harris-Tevita. Campbell has the potential to be the highest averaging player in the position as he was last year. I’m backing Metcalf to bounce back, but if not, Harris-Tevita could be a downgrade option if he can hold his spot. 

Targets:

Priced 500k-650k

Dylan Brown – Eels – $651.8k (HFB/5-8)

Cameron Munster – Storm – $609k

AJ Brimson – Titans – $539.2k (CTW/5-8) 

Form watch:

Priced 650k+

Jayden Campbell – Titans – $700.2k (FLB/5-8) 

Priced 500k-650k

Lachlan Galvin – Tigers – $624.2k

Jarome Luai – TIgers – $582.2k (HFB/5-8)

Cody Walker – Rabbitohs – $559.8k (HFB/5-8) 

Job watch:

Priced 300k-$499k

Jayden Sullivan – Rabbitohs – $480.9k (HFB/5-8)

Luke Metcalf – Warriors – $443k (HFB/5-8)

Chanel Harris-Tevita – Warriors – $329.6k 

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Halfbacks

A few things to watch here. Firstly, If Nicho doesn’t get the goalkicking back he could be a trade out candidate in the coming rounds. Secondly, if Tom Duffy has another low score, he’ll struggle to make the quick cash we could need to upgrade in this position, so may be a trade out candidate. 

Keep a close eye on Jamie Humphreys, Phoenix Crossland and DCE, any of whom could be good cash gen options if they back up their round one efforts. 

Targets:

Priced 650k+

Nathan Cleary – Panthers – $811.5k

Priced 500k-650k

Dylan Brown – Eels – $651.8k (HFB/5-8)

Priced below $300k

Sandon Smith – Roosters – $237.6k (HK/HFB)

Tom Duffy – Cowboys – $198.8k 

Form watch: 

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Priced 650k+

Jahrome Hughes – Storm – $805.2k

Priced 500k-650k

Daly Cherry-Evans – Sea Eagles – $646.5k (Added – 130 points in round one. Another big score this week could see him with a low breakeven and make him a segway to a Cleary or Nicho)

Jarome Luai – TIgers – $582.2k (HFB/5-8)

Lachlan Ilias – Dragons – $348.5k

Cody Walker – Rabbitohs – $559.8k (HFB/5-8)

Priced 300k-499k

Luke Metcalf – Warriors – $443k (HFB/5-8)

Job watch:

Priced 650k+

Nicho Hynes – Sharks – $735.5k

Priced 300k-499k

Jayden Sullivan – Rabbitohs – $480.9k (HFB/5-8)

Phoenix Crossland (341.8k) (HK/HFB) (Added – 51 in 60 minutes round one. Cash generation option pending round two performance)

Lewis Dodd – Rabbitohs – $336k

Jamie Humphreys – Rabbitohs – $305.4k 

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2RF

Big Ola showcased his SC scoring ability in round one, whilst there were also good signs for the likes of Hopgood (70 minutes) and Preston (80 minutes). Similarly, Dylan Lucas was very impressive in an 80-minute performance and his dual position is highly valuable, especially when manoeuvring team structure early in the season. 

Targets 

Priced 650k+

Haumole Olakau’atu – Sea Eagles – $665.7k

J’maine Hopgood – Eels – $657.5k 

Priced 500k-650k

Dylan Lucas – Knights – $616.7k (2RF/CTW) 

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui – Titans – $531.3k (FRF/2RF)

Priced 300k-499k

Corey Horsburgh – Raiders – $355.5k (FRF/2RF)

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Priced below $300k

Lachlan Hubner – Rabbitohs – $232.6k 

Charlie Guymer – Eels – $232.6k 

Myles Martin – Raiders – $198.8k (FRF/2RF)

Ethan Roberts – Roosters – $198.8k (FRF/2RF)

Tukimihia Simpkins – Titans – $198.8k (FRF/2RF)

Job watch 

Priced 650k+

Jacob Preston – Bulldogs – $609.2k 

Priced 500k-650k

Patrick Carrigan – Broncos – $642.5k (FRF/2RF) (Added – 93 points in 67 minutes round one, including a try assist and line break assist. Will be a target if those minutes continue)

Keaon Koloamatangi – Rabbitohs – $619.2k

Max Plath – Dolphins – $617.6k (HK/2RF) 

Max Plath – Dolphins – $617.6k (HK/2RF)

Connor Watson – Roosters – $583k (HK/2RF) (Moved from targets – Dockar-Clay on the bench as a backup hooker for the Roosters. Watson’s 80 minutes in round one may have been impacted by Victor Radley injury)

John Bateman – Cowboys – $522.9k

Zac Hosking – Raiders – $513.9k

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Priced 300k-499k

Tom Gilbert – Dolphins – $462k 

Jack Williams – Eels – $455.6k

Kelma Tuilagi – Eels – 433.8k

Alex Seyfarth – Tigers – $432.4k 

Tallis Duncan – Rabbitohs $420k

Naufahu Whyte – Roosters – $367.1k (FRF/2RF) (Moved from targets – 43 points in 48 mins round one, including one offload. Not bad in a well beaten side but watch to see his round three breakeven)

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki – Dolphins – $368.2k

Kai O’Donnell – Cowboys – $336k (Added – named to start for Cowboys after Nanai dropped)

Siua Wong – Roosters – $318.1k

Kobe Hetherington – Broncos – $338.8k (Moved from targets – 43 minutes in round one is slightly below amount expected. Probably needs 50+ minutes to be worth considering)

Priced below $300k

Oryn Keeley – Dolphins – $274.6k (2RF/FRF) (Added – named to start on an edge this week, but likely goes back to bench when Finefuiaki returns next week)

Jacob Laban – Warriors – $232.6k

Demitric Vaimauga – Warriors – $232.6k

Leka Halasima – Warriors – $232.6k

Jack Gosiewski – Broncos – $232.6k

Kitione Kautoga – Eels – $232.6k

Form watch 

Priced 650k+

Angus Crichton – Roosters – $758.7k

David Fifita – Titans – $749.4k

Isaah Yeo – Panthers – $727.1k

Eliesa Katoa – Storm – $717.3k

Hudson Young – Raiders – $685.2k

Briton Nikora – Sharks – $682.1k

Priced 500k-650k

Beau Fermor – Titans – $593.1k (2RF/CTW)

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FRF 

Payne Haas’ round one performance is the major thing to note here. In recent seasons it’s been best to look for early upgrades in higher upside positions than FRF. However, Haas’ role looks to have plenty of attacking upside, making him another target in an FRF position that is looking stronger than recent years. 

Targets 

Priced 650k+

Payne Haas – Broncos – $669.2k (Moved from form watch – role looks good despite just playing 50 minutes – license to offload and attack leading to 104 points)

Priced 500k-650k

Terrell May – Tigers – $597.5k

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui – Titans – $531.3k (FRF/2RF)

Priced 300k-499k

Corey Horsburgh – Raiders – $355.5k (FRF/2RF)

Priced below 300k

Myles Martin – Raiders – $198.8k (FRF/2RF)

Ethan Roberts – Roosters – $198.8k (FRF/2RF)

Tukimihia Simpkins – Titans – $198.8k (FRF/2RF)

Form watch

Priced 500k-650k

Stefano Utoikamanu – Storm – $529k

Job Watch

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Priced 650k+

Mitch Barnett – $661k

Priced 500k-650k

Patrick Carrigan – Broncos – $642.5k (FRF/2RF) (Added – 93 points in 67 minutes round one, including a try assist and line break assist. Definitely an option if those minutes continue)

Lindsay Smith – Panthers – $524.1k (Added – 73 points in 60 minutes round one, including 70 in base. Almost scored a try.)

Priced 300k-499k

Toby Couchman – Dragons – 483.2k (FRF/2RF) (Added – 69 points in 70 minutes in round one, all in base + power).

Erin Clark – Warriors – $391.2k (FRF/2RF)

Naufahu Whyte – Roosters – $367.1k (FRF/2RF) (Moved from targets – 43 points in 48 mins round one, including one offload. Not bad in a well beaten side but watch to see his round three breakeven)

Tevita Tatola – Rabbitohs – 343.6k

Priced below 300k

Oryn Keeley – Dolphins – $274.6k (2RF/FRF) (Added – named to start on an edge this week, but likely returns to bench when Finefuiaki returns next week)

Hamish Stewart – Dragons – $198.8k (Added – 42 points in 42 minutes all in base round one, but this was likely impacted by injury to Ryan Couchman)

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Hooker

No major changes here. The position has the potential to become a bit of a headache due to the lack of options. Provided Plath and Watson and continue to play 80 minutes, they’ll be a way to plug this hole. Harry Grant is also relatively affordable so so could be worth considering post the Storm’s bye. 

Targets:

Priced below 300k

Sandon Smith – Roosters – $237.6k (HK/HFB)

Job watch:

Priced 650k+

Damien Cook – Dragons – $662.3k

Priced 500k-649k

Max Plath – Dolphins – $617.6k (HK/2RF) 

Connor Watson – Roosters – $583k (HK/2RF) (Moved from targets – Dockar-Clay on the bench as a backup hooker for the Roosters. Watson’s 80 minutes in round one may have been impacted by Victor Radley injury)

Jeremy Marshall-King – Dolphins – $555.1k 

Priced 300k-499k

Phoenix Crossland (341.8k) (HK/HFB) (Added – 51 in 60 minutes round one. Cash generation option pending round two)

Priced below 300k

Owen Pattie – Raiders – $198.8k

Ryley Smith – Eels – likely price $198.8

Form watch

Priced 650k+

Harry Grant – Storm – $691.6k  (Moved from targets – bye this round, leading into Panthers game in round three)

Priced 300k-499kPeter Mamouzelos – Rabbitohs – $302.9k (Moved from targets – 72 minutes in round one, which is great. Just 37 points though, which could be due to instructions to focus on distribution from Coach Bennett)

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