Alright fellas probably my first and last draft until trials and 9’s begin. I’ll explain my train of thought with each selection. This season looks to be a lot difficult in terms of rookies available, meaning there should hopefully be a bit more variety in teams to start the SuperCoach season.
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Api Koroisai is a no brainer for mine. Has proven to be a borderline gun when getting the minutes at his previous club Manly. Has moved to Penrith for more opportunity, and coach Cleary is on the record saying he ideally wants an 80 minute hooker. They might start with 2 hookers to begin the season, however Api will get enough minutes and enough points to move his price along nicely. Viewed as a stepping stone to a certified gun around the bye, this can quickly change if he cements an 80 minute role where he’d potentially be a season long keeper.
Blayke Brailey looks set to be everybody’s reserve hooker. Is odds on to be Cronulla’s starting hooker so will be a nice cash cow that gets that cash generation flowing. Should play 50-60 minutes with Cam King possibly on the bench to interchange him.
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Payne Haas need I say more? Is clearly the best prop in the game and more then justifies his price tag. With Seibold on the record saying he wants to see Payne develop an offload game, there could be further improvement to his SuperCoach scoring which seems absurd. Start without him at your peril.
Andrew Fifita is my second front rower
for now. He is a certified gun who had an injury plagued season last year that saw him come off the bench at stages to nurse him through the season. From all reports he’s fit and healthy heading into 2020. His season durability has a question mark given he’s getting older, but for mine at his price I can’t not start with him.
Ryan James is a former certified gun fallen in price due to missing 2019 with injury. As it stands when I write this, he’ll start in the second row for the Titans which is not ideal in terms of maximising his SuperCoach scoring potential. His runs on the board previously are from when he played lock as his work ethic is second to none. If Jai Arrow ends up at Souths a year before his due to arrive, James’s stocks will rise significantly as he will slot in to that vacant lock spot. Watch this space.
Spencer Leniu limited opportunity last season but from what I saw he is a beast. Within the 4 walls at Penrith they seem to have huge wraps on this kid. Should get more opportunity this season in terms of games and minutes, so will hopefully be a slow-ish steady cash cow that will be looked to be upgraded come the first bye.
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Jason Taumalolo need I say more. A lot are turned off by his starting price and the myth that he struggles in the heat of the early rounds. You’ll be behind the 8ball from the start without him in your side.
Jai Arrow is a certified gun. If does end up moving to Souths this season, he’ll play prop. With his rotation unknown there, I might be inclined to be scared off and swap him with somebody else.
Viliame Kikau is not in a lot of people’s sides and that excites me. Is an absolute wrecking ball inside his attacking 20 that is just about unstoppable. He had a delayed start to last season due to injury and was never fully 100% fit IMO. With a full pre season under his belt, and a Penrith side on the up, I think we’ll see the best out of Viliame. Certainly I think his start to the season will be hot. Whether he maintains it throughout the entire season there is a question mark, but he is young and yet to hit his prime which is scary, so I’m happy to ride it out.
David Fifita looks well underpriced here and I’d imagine he’d be in most sides because of this. Is an absolute gun who is allergic to being tackles on first contact.
Jack Williams is someone I’ve had my eye on now for a couple of years, patiently waiting for Paul Gallen to die of old age or retire - whatever came first. Finally he has vacated the 13 jersey, and we’ll see Jack hopefully cement it as his own. Has a high work rate that translates well in terms of points per minute. His rotation in the side remains to be seen, however I’m expecting northwards of 50 minutes for him to begin the season, which will be enough for him to make money and upgrade come the first bye.
Billy Magoulias is an absolute gun who’s torn NSW Cup to shreds the last couple of years. His emergence may actually jeopardise Jack Williams minutes and vice verca, so this is a wait and see come trials. Ideally I think both can serve their purposes in my squad (Williams a genuine reserve and upgrade option, Magoulias a cash cow) but we’ll look to confirm their respective roles at Cronulla first before locking them in.
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Nathan Cleary is just about first picked in my side this year. At long last, the keys have been handed over with Jimmy Maloney heading off to France, and this is finally Nathan’s team. I’m expecting big things from Nathan and Penrith this year. He has an incredibly high ceiling in SuperCoach as seen in the monster 186 and 136 at the back end of last year. And his floor is relatively high for a half with his goal kicking duties. An absolute must for mine, and will thoroughly enjoy not death riding him like I did last year.
Shaun Johnson looks an enticing prospect for mine, which is a sentiment that seems to be said every year, before SJ serves up a serviceable season without reaching the lofty expectations we throw on him. He’s got a full pre season under his belt at cronulla which can only help his chemistry with the side. Playing behind a great forward pack with a gun set of outside backs, there’s no reason for Johnson not to kill it.
Jarome Luai looks to be the front runner to be Cleary’s deputy. Has always impressed me when he’s got an opportunity to play, especially during the origin period when he’s been given more responsibility in the side.
Phoenix Crossland - this is where it starts to get tricky. Phoenix is no guarantee to start alongside Pearce, and word out of Newcastle is that Kurt Mann is the front runner to do so. If that is the case, and there also appears to be a lack of basement price centre/wing rookies, I’m going to have to do a complete overhaul of my halves structure in order to maximise cash generation. It’ll be annoying, but also open up the variety of possibilities of combinations which is also exciting for SuperCoach.
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This is where things get tricky for mine, and the make up of structures will all be dependent on what rookies we get. Lack of basement priced rookies will see us having to make adjustments on other lines in order to avoid having non playing rookies in the CTW position. As it stands, the starting 4 I have are all likely what I’ll start with come round 1 as they’re looking a decent chance to play. The three reserves are just place holders until trials commence.
Zac Lomax looks a valuable commodity here after being given first crack to nail the vacant fullback position, and also being first choice goal kicker. I rate his talent highly. Whether he fits well in at fullback remains to be seen, however he’s hard to ignore at his price and role in the side.
Billy Smith looks to benefit the most from Latrell Mitchell’s exit. Managed two games last season and past the eye test for mine. In a star studded line up that should once again score plenty of points this season, with Billy hopefully benefiting.
Jason Saab is actually being tipped by the experts to not be in the Dragons side come round 1 but I strongly disagree. Many have Tristan Sailor on the wing ahead of him, however I feel as if Saab is a genuine winger who is far better suited to the role in terms of his physique and experience than Sailor. Saab debuted last year and past the eye test for mine. Looks to be a good finisher and not shy of the hard carries out of his own 20. If Sailor starts ahead of him, he is cheaper and an easy downgrade option anyway.
Bradman Best the kid with one of the great names, kudos to his parents. This kid could be anything. Do yourselves a favour and look him up on google images and just marvel at the size of his quads. Bloke is an absolute unit for a teenager. Think he’ll be this years Bronson Xerri. Has an exciting future ahead of him.
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Kalyn Ponga is surprisingly a wait and see for mine. It is all dependant on the Newcastle half situation. If Mason Lino secures the vacant 5/8 role, he will assume the goal kicking duties which means I unfortunately won’t be starting with Ponga at that price. There’s a fair discrepancy between Ponga last season scoring when he’s goal kicking and when he’s not. I don’t think Lino will be their first choice 5/8, but who knows what their new coach will do. Wait and see.
Ryan Papenhuyzen welcome back to my side. Thoroughly enjoyed having him in my side last year as a cash cow turned certified gun. Heavily underpriced this year due to coming off the bench in the majority of his games last season, I can’t not have him in my side at his price give he has made the number 1 jersey his. With a full pre season building cohesion within their spine, I’m predicting big things from lil papi.
That should be my side until at least the 9’s and trials pending any further developments. I’m a bit of a league nut and done alright in SuperCoach in the past as well as last year, so if anyone has any questions on players, or if you’re new and need a hand let us know and I’ll be more then happy to give you my thoughts.
