Pre-Season Chat 2020
It’s back!
Hope you’ve had an enjoyable offseason, but it’s now time to get back into SuperCoach mode. Use this forum as your main discussion thread for all things SuperCoach.
NRL SuperCoach Talk
We Know SuperCoach!
We Know SuperCoach!
It’s back!
Hope you’ve had an enjoyable offseason, but it’s now time to get back into SuperCoach mode. Use this forum as your main discussion thread for all things SuperCoach.
Hi Guys, Hope u had a great christmas & New Year !
Can’t wait for another great footy season.
Cook – Api (R)
Haas – A.Fifita – James (R)
Lolo – D.Fifita – Bateman – Magoulias (R)
Cleary
Brimson
Croker – Sailor – Best – Isaako
Ponga – Pap
Please breakdown my team & comment any changes you would make
Early days but for a first draft there doesn’t seem to be any alarming problems. Centres look a little weak is my only real concern. Brailey may well be one of the cheapies of the season so considering him over Api is something to think about this pre season. Overall nice start mate.
if I change api to brailey, who should I upgrade bc then I will have another 188k
Seriously considering a api/Brailey starting hok combo, both cheep enough and underpriced even if getting 60min.
Unless arrow gets a release to Souths early, then Souths could have some serious go forward:
8. George/knight
10. Arrow
11. Lowe
12. Sua
13. Murray
14. Tatola
15. George/knight
16. That other prop
I’m currently running with an Api/Brailey combo; both offer plenty of value that I’m going to find it hard to justify picking Cook.
I am with you flock, think api comes out and brings some extra attack.
2019: 44 minutes, average 36 points (0.82 PPM)
2018: 70 minutes, average 56 points (0.8 PPM)
Hard to pass up that value. It sounds like Cleary wants him to play 80 too.
What of kenney and may though? 70-80min would be gold.
I also like Robson if he gets the gig at cows with no Granville, but he is more expensive then api
Liking Lazy with the dpp
Who takes Matto’s spot at Tigerland – eye on Garner
Will Matto score as well at parra – Nuikore?
B Smith and McG at hooker with dpp
Does Hughes still have dpp
With the loss of Ma’u you would think Matterson will somewhat take his role in terms of the star man in the backrow to look for on the edge. Can create with hand and foot so should be utilised in attack fairly often i hope.
Only issue with Lazy is that he is Lazy and could lose GK to reynolds if he goes to the bunnies. MCK looks most likely , is cheap at $370K . My least Fav tige player but SC wise he is under priced if he gets 65 mins + there then hate to say it but he would be a nice cheapish option I personally think eels struggle this year so a no from me next to moses and just like pennies 19 and raiders 17 , i reckon they could miss the 8 this year . Yep il cop… Read more »
Hard to see the Eels missing the 8 when they’ll be considerably stronger this season. Sounds like one of those OTBisms 😉
how are they stronger? u said the same thing about panthers last season 🙂
Mau is a bigger loss considering he made a heap of breaks and guarding moses , i just dont think Matto strikes fear in oppostion like Mau does.
As for RCG he needs to find some form doesn’t he.
Now, now, now, do I need to quote you from last season?
“My revised top 8….
7. Panthers ( backflipped here only because the raiders and cows just don’t look like improving after watching those trials , lolo backrow to fail as will wighton at 5/8 .”
https://www.nrlsupercoachtalk.com/pre-season-chat-v2-0/comment-page-4/#comment-774137
😉
As for the Eels, RCG strengthens their middle rotation; Matto gives them more of a playmaking element, despite not having Ma’u’s attacking ability; and the entire team will have more chemistry and stronger combinations after having multiple injuries and player changes throughout last season.
what was the original top 8 ? i wont be watching this years trials then 😛
Hi guys .. happy new year…
Here is my side think I’ll stick with this .. unlikely to change … much
Cook/Brailey
Haas/fotu/Herrington/Saulo
LoLo/fifta/matterson/tarpine/margoulis/J Cartwright
Moses/Croker
Williams/Luai
Fergo/Lomax/best/sailor/Talau/hoppa/Gebbie
Turbo/pap
$340k in the kitty
With 340k I’m sure it’ll change
Any suggestions .. 3 I’m thinking is upgrading Williams to munster/walker
Upgrading fotu to Klemmer or tarpine to Bateman ?
Tapine to Bateman and if possible Fotu to Klem
What are the thoughts on Tapine this year?
I know he’s a massive risk but how do we see his mins playing out with Bateman and Whitehead locked in at 80 mins
Price is just so tempting lol
And Hodgson locked in for 80 too, which means there’ll be four middles on the bench taking minutes off him.
True Hodgson moving to lock doesn’t help Tapine’s mins
I think Simmonson will play 14 similar to last year when he was pushed out of the 13 due to a full strength squad. When this happened Hodgson played 80 min at HK.
Got a team I’ve been settled on so far
McInnes, Brayley
Haas, Fifi, Fotu, Leniu
Jazz, DFifi, J Williams, James, Su’a, Magoulis
Cleary, Luai
Williams, Crossland
Ramien, Isaako, Blake, Lomax, Sailor, Best, Talau
Holmes, Paps
Risks are obviously Holmes and my halves. Have a feeling about Holmes being able to average 60+. I can then make points elsewhere and hopefully only miss out on 10 points or so from the top shelf FBs
I’ve left some leeway for myself with Magoulis and my CTW bench so hopefully there’s basement price options that show up
Pretty sure Tevs is out early rounds due to injury (again)
McInnes will likely be underdone to start the season too due to injury.
Easy fixes at their price if they are underdone/miss time to start the season
Like tevega and McInnes but concerned about ankle surgery and where mez fits, fifi is a nice price but is it much of the same as last season?
I like Cleary and luai and feel Croft will do well and score a lot of tries this year! Also set a lot up for isakoo and dfaf!!!
Surely Fifi gets more time on the park with no Prior and Gallen
Uele, Williams, woods, magulias, nikora, graham, bokuyua, another edge or prop they just resigned. So many players there who could ask for more min in the middle rotation.
So a team I’ve tossed together. Will change it up for sure pending trials and signings etc;
Cook/Brailey
Haas/Fifita/James(R)/Utoikamanu
Matterson/Angus/DFaf/Leilua(R)/Tino/Magoulis
Cleary/Williams(R)
Brimson/Laui
Isaako/Burnes/Lomax/Smith/Best/Sailor/Cheap
Paps/Holmes(R)
Tempted with Api at HOK but can’t go past Cook at the moment, especially if the bunnies get latrell and arrow.
Brimson only if he locks down FB, but I also like Walker for the same reasons as cook.
Holmes pending trial form, but I do think he will be the go to attacking weapon for the Cows along with Marsters.
Anyone considering Staggs?
Without knowing any of the prices as I don’t have gold, but it will be interesting who ends up getting the right edge position for the broncos and I assume Croft will play on the RHS ??
If he is value he is not the worst choice I reckon
Staggs is 447k
His last 13 rounds in 2019 he averaged 55 (not sure how much of that came from goal kicking). Assuming he can keep that up to a degree he offers some value IMO
If you don’t have gold its roughly the players 2019 avg x $9,300. Not exactly correct but close enough.
I like him, naden and burns all around that price.
But also dfaf and Croft for the feeling Croft organises the broncos well, behind a strong forward pack and obviously had his disagreements with smith!
Isaako is the better CTW option, and I can’t see myself picking two Broncos around that price range. I’d rather take my chances with Ramien at a similar price given that he’ll be playing outside SJ.
this is my draft until preseason and also depends in Latrell goes & starts fb for bunnies
Api – B.brailey
Haas – A.Fifita – Fot (R) – Gilbert
Lolo – Matterson – D.Fifita – James (R) – Magoulias – Saulo
Cleary – Croft (R)
Brimson – Crossland
Latrell – Isaako – Sailor – Best – Gebbie – B.Turbo – Nuf
Holmes – Pap (R)
Please make any recommendations
I can’t go off prices as I haven’t seen them yet but: I think Fifita is broken this year. They have more minutes to go around, but can his knees hold up? I think Uele/Magoulias/JWilliams/Woods share the minutes. I’d swap him for Taupau/AFB/SST, or put RJames there and grab McInnes maybe? Or a gun SR Personally Holmes would be a wait and see but nothing wrong with him. Isaako needs gk to be relevant IMO, I mean assuming Latrell is a wait and see as well? I don’t think Burbo and Gebbie play round 1 (too many chefs in the… Read more »
Whether or not Fifita’s knee issue limits him going forward, the Sharks will most probably need him to play significant minutes as a go-forward middle. Woods only averaged 45 mins last season, JWill will be primarily used as a lock as he isn’t big enough to do the donkey work, and Magoulias will likely rotate through hooker/lock playing more of a utility, ball-playing role. It’ll be up to Fifita, Woods, and Uele to provide the go-forward, and I’d guess the former will be the one to play the biggest role. I honestly don’t see Taupau, AFB, nor SST as better… Read more »
Lads and ladettes! Glad to see the SCTalk community back up firing…
First question I have is, any info on Friend? Cheap at 414k.. Api scares me
I’m thinking of going both Friend and Api.
The bigger risk is Friend, since Verill’s is a big chance to grab a bench spot. Whereas Koroisau should play 80 minutes.
I think Panthers getting Kenny on the bench is just as likely as Verrills on the bench with Friend.
No love for Blayke Brailey? Could play 80, only other hooker is Cam King, but might not make the bench as IMO Magoulias will get 14 with Jack Williams playing 13.
I can’t say this is entirely accurate.
Cleary’s intentions is for Api to play the full-80, whereas I can almost say with certainty that Friend’s 80-mins days are over, due to injuries and Verrils being groomed to eventually take over from him. Verrils will have a guaranteed spot somewhere in the 17 from R1, you can’t say same for Kenny.
Has Cleary stated that he wants Api playing 80 mins?
I hadn’t seen that. If he does then it’s hard not to pick Api
Koroisau, 27, is returning to Penrith after four years with the Sea Eagles. He has been an 80-minute hooker but more recently shared the role with Manase Fainu at Manly. “He hasn’t done it [played the full 80] for a long time so we’ll see how he goes,” Cleary said. “It would be nice if he could, but if he can’t we’ve got Mitch Kenny in the group and that’s also where Tyrone May comes into calculations.” https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/12/10/may-in-clearys-panthers-plans-for-2020/ He’s always wanted an 80-min hooker, but Katoa nor Egan were able to fulfill that role last season. Api averaged 70 minutes… Read more »
And Api will make his way in my team haha
Was always keen due to price but needed to see his mins
Hey gang so great to see the community getting back to it again with the NFL season going in2 finals n e FPL ongoing . Looking at the early bird team builder I’ve come up with this, feel free to pick it apart. Also shout out to those going through some hard times in the terrible fires all around the bloody place, I hope you are ok and you get the help you need. Egan – B.Brailey (R) Haas – A.Fifita – Utoik – Gilbert Lolo – Matterson – Murray – McInness (R) – JWill (R) – Olak Moses –… Read more »
While agree with the alternative option-method at hooker and fullback, I don’t think Egan is worth the risk. There’s far too much unknown around the hooker spot for the Warriors, that you’d probably be best to go with more stability for at least one of the spots. If Egan has to split time with Lawton, Jazz, and/or Niko/CHT, or he doesn’t fire, altogether, and Brailey is a slow-burn, you’ll be left behind before you even have a chance to get out of the gate. Morgan is an interesting one. While the Cowboys should be better on attack this season, Holmes… Read more »
Yeh fair points mate, was thinking Koro could be a gud alternative to Egan..any halves ur looking at opposed to Morgan around the same bracket?
I don’t mind Flanagan and Milford, but if he can lock down the #1 jersey and have an uninterrupted preseason, at only 360k, Brimson is the real gem here.
Yep I was right at him lol
Hi guys – Happy New Year!
Please feel free to comment on my first draft.
Cook, Brailey
Haas, Klemmer, Gueler, Saifiti
Arrow, Tevaga, Fafita, Williams, Magoulis, James
Moses, Croker
Luai, Crossland
Burns, Ramien, Lomax, Best, Smith, Talau, Gebbie
Tedesco, Issako
Looks like a pretty safe team mate tho I think u cud chose better options than:
Gueler
Saifiti
Croker
Options in these positions cud be..
FRF James, Molo, Gilbert, Utoikamanu, Paseka, Pere
With ur halves u need 2 spend a bit more on one of them unless u think Luais a gud base option..Pathers draw isn’t that easy at the start tho.
HFB-5/8 Brimson, GWilliams, Morgan
Hope this help .
Thanks Mr Smith. Interesting ideas!
Can’t fault your HK combo. I honestly don’t see a lot of value in picking Klemmer, given that he’s at his max, IMO, and quite possibly could have his minutes reduced this season. Haas is more than enough to anchor your FRF, and you could find a cheaper alternative to partner him. Tevaga is out, indefinitely, after having surgery on his ankle in December. I’d be planning to start without him as he could be underdone over the opening rounds. I don’t mind your halves, but I’d be hesitant to start with Luai, every week. You’d need to make sure… Read more »
Thanks Flock
Who at this point are people’s 100% lock ins, afraid to start without, make sacrifices elsewhere to fit? Hok – cook/smith – top two hok, cook if Souths get arrow and latrell will be very dangerous, but Smith roaming more in hlf? There are cheaper options this year who could score well and get you to either? Frf – hass/klemmer – top two options, papali was doing great but a battle for min. I feel hass is a lock, a prop who is only getting better and was by reports roping all others last preseason even with the heat. 2rf… Read more »
I agree with your scared list but surely you cannot afford all of them.
At this stage, Papy is the only player who is a 100% lock in for mine; D.Fifita is bordering on being one too. Every other spot is up for grabs.
Haas and papy are the 2 lock ins for me right now
Yeh agree with all of them I think u have 2 consider the draw as well for instance the Eels have a great start to the season with… Bull (H), Tit (A), Cow (A), Drag (H), Tig (H), Bull (A) – 6/6 bottom 8 + 1st bye round And Panthers don’t.. Roost (H), Drag (A), Sto (A), Bro (H), Can (H), Tig (H) – 4/6 top 8 rest in rnd 12 So Moses looks like a better option to Cleary. I’m always afraid without Cook, CS9, CWalker, TTurbo, Teddy, Munster, Cleary n Latrell lol! In my earlier post I think… Read more »
Great insight, haven’t looked at or factored draw into team plan yet!
Haven’t made a team yet (don’t have gold and don’t want to excel it) but.
Can’t see myself leaving out Papi or DFifita.
Haas I’m also pretty sure I’ll have as FRF is always a tricky position and I like to anchor it.
Haas is locked in and a C option every week
Paps will also be locked in
Cleary has been locked in for me……just scares me to much picking Moses 😆
I think B Brailey is a lock in
What are people’s thoughts on Pangai this year if he reverts back to 13 or even if he was to grab an edge and say Glen shifts to 13?
I think he is way too undisciplined.
Simply not worth the risk.
Garner, Kikau, Brown, and Crichton are all better options in that bracket, and there are plenty of other players who’re considerably cheaper who provide better value. I can’t see TPJ displacing Glenn from an edge as he doesn’t have the defensive chops, he’ll most probably rotate through the middle.
Jus better options to him mate and 2 unreliable
Any thoughts on
N brown, W graham and L Garner. They all had disrupted seasons last year. I like the look of garner with his try scoring chances.
Assuming Eels will have a 4 x forward bench then Brown’s minutes dropped by 10 last year and therefore unlikely to be in your final team but is cheaper to start with over the top selections. Graham always has a ‘run’ of good scores to get people interested but has trouble maintaining it, so not for me. Garner looks to have a bit of upside if he can nail an 80 minute role (Avg 62 min last year). He did score 7 tries in 14 games which appeals if he can sustain it otherwise his base needs to improve somewhat.
Brown has ruined me 4 2 seasons straight so he’s on my never again list hehe but u neva know…Matto jus looks better.
Do we have concerns having Williams as a starting 5/8 while he adjusts to NRL
Or is he that good of a talent that he’s a reliable choice from the get-go. To be honest I haven’t seen a great deal of him
I think he comes with some pretty gud pedigree mate like Bateman last year…don’t think they wud have let Sezer go if it wasn’t the case..u shud look up his YouTube highlights
My concern is as talented as he is I can see him being a 40-45 average player early on especially and I don’t wanna rely on that each week
Could easily downgrade to luai/Crossland/Turpin etc all close to or under his price if he fails early rds?
My thought process is that I can see myself happily paying 400k for him if he starts well, so I can start with a SJ type and then look to upgrade to Williams at a later date from another player
Yeh mate couldn’t agree more with the Raiders soft draw at the start he’s definitely worth a punt with the downgrade options available this year
I can’t see myself picking him.
Whilst English forwards seem to do well I can’t remember the last English back to come over here and kill it.
I can understand the temptation though with the raiders soft draw.
2019:
14 tries
21 try assists
122 tackle breaks
18 line breaks
46 offloads
Albeit, I’ve only seen limited games of him, and the difference of SL to NRL aside, that type of attacking potential priced at a 36 point-average is too good to pass up, IMO.
Even better AFOSE , great stats I think he’s a lock now!
Was he the only real attacking option in his side?
Reason being that Wighton can control a lot of ball
I’ve had him locked in my side from the start but considering other options
From the limited games I saw, he was certainly the main one, but what really stood out was his activity level. He was constantly looking to run the ball (he moves his shoulders and hips extremely well) and was typically in support whenever there was a break/half-break, which needlessly to say, is ideal for SC.
He certainly didn’t look a player who’d die wondering.
I’ll be finding my way down to training once we’re closer to the season keeping a close eye on him that’s for sure
He’s at a tough price to have him as a reserve and try pick and choose when to play him sadly haha
Looking forward to reading it mate
He’s gonna be one of those players that are in and out all preseason lol
Haven’t seen much of him I’ll admit, but it appears he operated predominantly on the left, same as Wighton.
You’d imagine Williams will need to shift to the right to accommodate that.
He’s going to be a divisive one because he’s simply a mystery.
Just looked at the draw table on SC STATS – what do the numbers in the rnd box represent ???
Also looking at short (5 day ) turnarounds and Melb have 3 in the first 9 rnds .
Geez the Sharks have a great run as far as turnarounds go
Good stuff for Fifi
Broncos a bit stiff with a few 6 day turnarounds early 😉 😆
Sharks have 3 x 5 day in 17,19,21 but 8/9 day breaks between them. A little bit awkward for the run home
Swear filter got me already !
I’ll rephrase it.
Unmanly only travel out of syd once in the first 18 rnds and that’s to Canberra 😎 😀
Good spotting
Gee that’s a handy break for them
I reckon the numbers relate to a win/loss/points margin of some sort. Looks like the number determines which colour the box is, green = likely to win through to red = likely to lose. You notice that Storm & Roosters are a lot of green & Titans a lot of red/orange
yep Emcee , that’s my thoughts as well
Melb/Sths v Bronx the best indicator
Having Moses in my side is already giving me cold sweats but that draw keeps dragging me in haha
Personally I think Moses is a trap. I know he showed it last year, but I think him and Wighton both step down with their level of play. Cleary will be the best HFB option this year without Maloney IMO
Cleary I’ve had from the start and don’t wanna change but being drawn in lol
Stick with the gut man
Hes been in my side since opening, have to hope this season they start better, less offfeild drama and eels May have some concern with backs, sivo, waka injured. Dogs on paper look juicy rd 1 but isn’t that what everyone thought last few rds? When eels faced them?
Cleary might have the higher average by the end of the season, but Moses should have his measure in the early rounds with a considerably more favourable draw.
The draw plus Rd 12 cover is very hard to ignore for Moses
Haha I think we’re all feeling the same but from an analytical point of view Arthur is setting him up 4 a gud year with Blake n Matto around him and him being the dominant half in that team 2…did I mention that draw?!
He’s in and I’ve now got Ponga over Holmes in my side
I can’t for the life of me find the prices and stuff on the NRL SC Fanatics page. Anyone able to provide a link?
Long time reader, first time post. Thanks for the discussions that have helped me out over the past few years. Team for 2020 Cook, Brailey Haas, James, Leniu, Saulo Lolo, DFifi, Kikau, Su’A, Magoulias, Tino Cleary, Luai Milford, G Williams Croker, Isaako, Lomax, Sailor, Best, A Hopoate, Gebbie Ponga, Papenhuyzen Notes – relying on around 5 cheapies but happy to start with some late season likely cheapies to make it work – Milford with a preseason at 5/8 working with croft and behind a top 3 forward pack has cody walker upside imo – Isaako same as Milford (would like… Read more »
Welcome Zarchy
Merrin to the Drags
Milford was useless when he had a $1M halfback w&s
Isaako – hot and cold w&s
tailend of your 17 looks a bit thin but we will all have that problem
Haha of course i keep forgetting about merrin. I still believe another year of experience to some of their forwards will help out cleary and kikau. If Koroisau can stay fit he should be able to control the play from dummy half better than anyone panthers have had the past couple of seasons. Isaako and Milf are basically trying to pick which backline broncos players will benefit from the forward pack and organisation gained from croft. BHunt wasn’t much of an organiser when he was at Broncs. Also relying on Boyd being on the wing which will force defenders to… Read more »
I do like the idea of kikau if running outside Cleary and fit, he struggled all year last year with early injury.
I feel Croft will greatly benifit front he broncos pack and hopefully set up dfaf a lot!
Hard to believe Bellyache let such a good organiser go !!??!
ps I actually had Croft to finish last season
I like this team. Not sure on cash ITB but if it was possible I would go: – Cook down to Api (Cook would stay if Arrow goes to Souths) – I assume Leniu/Saulo are just placeholders? – I wouldn’t rely on Tino because I don’t think he makes the Storm 17 (of course if there’s an early release he’s a must) – I love your halves, probably what I will go for, only risk is Milford where I might try go Munster but I’m uncertain – I think there are better CTW guns out there, Croker is a good… Read more »
I am not so sold on Holmes, cows still have same coach and no attack! Holmes has been criticised for his ability or lack of for ball playing, and was and has always been a great winger. Further being out of the game for a year and in a new system? Think of Hayne?
– I like Api for value but i feel like its gonna take around 9 weeks at a 58 avg for him to make a 150k price rise and move him on to cook. – Yeah just placeholders and so is Tino for the most part. I’m always happy to grab whichever slow burn cheapie bench forwards are available to start the season. – Munster was scary to own last season even though his base was always solid, he’d just go missing in games and let CSmith take control. He was also targeted by defensive sides so Storm may need… Read more »
Re Munster – spot on. Hughes still on L plates and Papers cant inject the slater spread and ball playing on the right which affected Kafusi /Vuni.
I don’t think the question should be ‘can the Raiders repeat what they did last year?’, but more so around the opportunities that Croker will get. e.g. If G.Williams is on the right-hand side, it will just mean fewer attacking spots than he received last season.
Like some of your picks.
Hass, lolo, dfaf, kikau I like and will try and fit for mine.
Cleary as well, I am liking Croft over milf thinking he will create and then also back up a lot scoring tries. Also isakoo at flb is lock in ctw.
Latrell to Souths according to Fox League predictions 4 this season..mite make Gebbie irrelevant n Latrell n option Along with CWalker, Arrow, Cook n Murray..
Although I might be alone in this thinking, but this makes Cook less of an option for mine, given that it’s another attacking player that takes opportunities away from him in the middle. Walker does come into consideration though.
This is really just me trying to justify leaving Cook out of my team. 😛
SJ vs Walker becomes a good debate for me if Latrell is running off Walker
I have both at the moment.
Like the pedigree they bring
I can actually do the same DH
Cody could get the nod with Rd 12 cover
Last year the debate was to Cook or not to cook.
This year he’s no consideration for me to start. I’ll wait til the time is right or he demands it.
Interesting, does he play FB or CTW? If left centre, Walker takes a major step up on my priority list! One thing to remember is Latrell almost certainty loses kicking if he moves to Souths and if he plays FB does he have the fitness and drive to support through the middle? He was lazy enough at Centre.
I feel it would be to play flb, Burns and Jimmy long term Centers and fox article states bennett saying that, but I feel he could play flb. Latrell and Arrow could make souths real strong they did have a bump start and middle last year with GI, Surgess and Burgi all being injured at points of time.