Want to play but don't know where to start? Expert/NRL Nuff Trent Copeland gives his take after the NRL NINES competition.
Nines standouts force SuperCoach carnage
Trent Copeland, The Daily Telegraph
19 Feb. 2020
Copes Crusaders’ iteration two is a marked improvement in my eyes, well, of course it is, I’d be disappointed if I had gone backwards at this point given the great look we’ve had at preseasons and the Nines in Perth over the weekend – a few Roosters have made their way in, and it may not be who you would expect!
That said, some key points still remain …
I’m going left field with some guns, ‘FOTU’ is ma boy, lots of mid-range/cheap CTW’s with so much uncertainty at the position and Jason Taumalolo is not human.
I’ll run through each change I’ve made below in the respective positions.
HOOKER
No changes, I am worried about Blayke Brailey with Cameron King reportedly killing it in pre-season, though.
Damien Cook | Rabbitohs | $705,500
The best in the game, averaging 75.9PPG in 2019 with no less than FIVE scores of 100 points or more. I ain’t mucking around here. It’s really only a decision of Cook or Smith, as anyone else is costing you points every week and priceless trades later on.
Blayke Brailey | Sharks | $201,000
Cheapie of the year candidate in the absence of his brother who has flown up the M1 to the Knights. I am not expecting the full 80 minutes, but even in 55-60 minutes per game Brailey should be able to whack out scores in excess of 40 and make some handy cash.
FRONT ROW
Braden Hamlin-Uele OUT Toby Rudolf IN
I love Hamlin-Uele and he remains a chance to make my starting squad, but, Rudolph seems a lock to earn a bench spot, and I’ve managed to upgrade a 2RF slot from a mid-ranger to a gun on the back of this move (see below in 2RF section).
Payne Haas | Broncos | $728,200
I like paying up when the best player in any position is so far in advance of the ‘rest’ and this guy is genuinely a freak of nature. Capable of 80 minutes in the middle with peak Paul Gallen or Corey Parker like workloads, Haas averaged 78.4PPG in his pseudo rookie season to finish 8th for overall points. I don’t care that he likely plays Origin or that you could save money to Fifita etc. He’s a must have.
Moeaki Fotuaika | Titans | $443,000
Here’s where I’ve started to go a bit left of centre. I’m all in on this kid, and those that heard me shout his name from the rooftops last year will know why … ‘Fotu’ played reduced minutes to start the season, but have a listen to these numbers from round 11 onwards (13 games) in 2019, 54.7 minutes per game for 54.3PPG including a massive 75 points across the full 80-minutes in round 14. There’s big upside if things break his way in a depleted forward pack, and the tragic re-aggravation of Ryan James’ ACL will only help things.
Toby Rudolf | Sharks | $171,900
Rudolf is a young gun who’s had to do it the hard way. In the lower grades his work rate has been exceptional and has a really SuperCoach friendly game. A stellar season with Redcliffe and a MOM performance in the Intrust Super Cup GF excites me. Gallen is gone. Prior is gone. Simply put, if he Rudolf earn a bench spot for round one, there are minutes there for the taking in the middle rotation.
Stefano Utoikamanu | Eels | $171,900
This guy is an absolute BEAST. The Eels upgraded his deal to try to keep hold of him (already signed for the Tigers from 2021, and there was talk of an early release), which tells us they may want to use the young pup alongside new signing Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo, Kane Evans and Nathan Brown in the middle rotation. Fingers crossed, as there’s big PPM upside here.
SECOND ROW
John Bateman OUT Jai Arrow IN
Ryan James OUT Nat Butcher IN
Jed Cartwright OUT Pasami Saulo IN
Arrow is a SuperCoach STUD who now has no Ryan James in the middle, so I would expect he, ma boy Fotu and Jarrod Wallace to do all the heavy lifting in the forward pack, outside chance to be available for Round 12 an added bonus. Now for my new addition. I want you to read this, do nothing, say nothing and just let me have him. OK? Nat Butcher is my under the radar gun for the 2RF keeper category this season. In reduced minutes off the bench last year, the future captain of the chooks produced some remarkable performances. His PPM is ridiculously high, and if the mooted switch of Angus Crichton to centre sticks, then Butcher will be looking at big minutes.
Jason Taumalolo | Cowboys | $723,400
See Payne Haas rationale. The best are worth paying for, particularly with cover of the first bye round. I mean, did you see the Nines? WOW. Nuff said.
Jai Arrow | Titans | $575,700
Bateman goes out with injury, in comes a guy who’s capable of being the best SuperCoach back rower in the game, if healthy and if he played 80 minutes (which he’s capable of) every week. My expectations are that that perfect combination of minutes and health will not be there, I would expect 65 minutes, a huge work rate (approx. 1.1-1.2PPM) for a 70 point average. At $575k, that’s serious value.
David Fifita | Broncos | $501,900
Pretty obvious one this. The guy busted out BIG time alongside Payne Haas for the Broncos in the back half of 2019, playing 80 minutes in all of the final eight matches, for an average of 76.9PPG including scores of 121 and 116. Get on, or get left behind.
Nat Butcher | Roosters | $522,800
As mentioned above,
the prospect of Angus Crichton filling the Latrell Mitchell-sized centre role leaves big minutes in the pack for a young gun like Butcher. Butcher averaged 56.1PPG at a stellar 1.2PPM, and impressively, when he played over 50 minutes (9 times) in 2019 he produced scores of 77, 71, 88, 46, 98, 75, 75, 44, and 47 for an average of 69PPG and ridiculous 1.4PPM. Sure, Mitch Aubusson will likely start on an edge, but there’s serious upside here. Fingers crossed watching the World Club Challenge and pre-season.
Billy Magoulias | Sharks | $221,700 & Pasami Saulo | Knights | $184,900
Two young guys with big upside should they win respective spots on the bench for their sides. Magoulias probably the most likely, even if he didn’t beat out Jack Williams for the lock rotation.
HALFBACK
No Changes.
Mitch Moses | Eels | $579,300
I don’t mean to be a Debbie downer on the Nathan Cleary train (literally my favourite SuperCoach player since his rookie season), but the Panthers have a tumultuous opening five games this season – Roosters, Dragons, Storm, Broncos, and Raiders. Yuck. So, on we go to a man who broke out last year, averaging a very impressive 62.3PPG and finding the consistency we need to invest in SuperCoach. Plays the first bye round if all goes to plan as an added bonus.
Jerome Luai | Panthers | $257,400
Love this kid. He just passes the eyeball test no matter what position he’s been asked to play in the past as a utility.