Predicted Line Up
1. AJ Brimson, 2. Jonus Pearson, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. Brian Kelly, 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Tyrone Roberts, 7. Ash Taylor, 8. Mo Fotuaika, 9. Mitch Rein, 10. Jarrod Wallace, 11. Kevin Proctor, 12. Sam Stone, 13. Jai Arrow. Interchange: 14. Tyrone Peachey, 15. Jai Whitbread, 16. Shannon Boyd, 17. Bryce Cartwright
Relevant Injury/Team news
Ryan James has unfortunately reinjured his ACL, meaning he will most likely miss all of the 2020 NRL season.
Moeaki Fotuaika underwent surgery on his wrist and knee in the off-season but is back in full training and will be fit for the trials.
Tyrone Peachey has been training at 5/8 in pre season and could oust Tyrone Roberts from the #6 jersey.
Keegan Hipgrave remains sidelined indefinitely after suffering multiple concussions in 2019.
Jonus Pearson and Kallum Watkins are battling it out with Anthony Don, Greg Leleisiuao, Dale Copley and Tyrone Peachey for the right wing and right centre positions.
Goal kickers
1. Tyrone Roberts, 2. Ash Taylor, 3. Tyrone Peachey
The Guns
Jai Arrow ($575,700 | 2RF) – As bad as this sounds, the Ryan James injury boosts Arrow’s SuperCoach prospects as it frees up important minutes in the middle. Fotuaika and Wallace will rotate with Boyd and Whitebread, neither of whom are big minute players. This will allow Arrow to play 65 MPG. If this occurs, expect Arrow to do well, as he has never scored below 1.09 PPM in a season. He began 2019 so well, averaging 67 PPG over the opening 10 rounds, but injuries hampered the rest of his season. Expect a bounce back in 2020.
The PODs
AJ Brimson ($359,400 | FLB/5/8) – Brimson will take over the #1 jersey full time at the Titans this season. He has a career average of 58.2 PPG when playing fullback. In 9/13 games at fullback, Brimson had scored 50+ points, averaging 71.6 PPG. He does have a low floor though, scoring in the 20s in 3/12 games at fullback. He’s not an option at FLB in SuperCoach, but could come into consideration for a 5/8 spot.
Mo Fotuaika ($443,000 | FRF) – Fotuaika was slightly disappointing last season. His PPM dropped from 1.13 in 2018 to 1.02 in 2019. This might be because his minutes rose from 32 MPG to 47 MPG, meaning that he stayed on the field for longer but didn’t work as hard to conserve energy. Nevertheless, he still has the potential to be a solid FRF in SuperCoach. In the 11 games Fotuaika started games last season, he averaged 53.6 PPG in 56.8 MPG (this is boosted by an 80 minute game in round 14 where he moved to the edge midway through the game due to injury). In the games he started in 2018, Fotuaika averaged 72.5 PPG in 59.5 MPG. Moreover, Fotuaika had the 7thhighest HU8% out of starting FRFs last season with 74.9%.
Brian Kelly ($508,700 | CTW) – Kelly was surprisingly consistent last season, scoring 50+ points in 48% of his games. He has a strong base in the mid-30s and averaged the 5th most evasive PPG last season (17). The only thing working against Kelly is that he plays for a bad team. If the Titans can produce some more points in attack, Kelly could be a beneficiary.
The Players of Interest
Tyrone Peachey ($366,000 | CTW/2RF) – There hasn’t been much talk about it, but the Titans have an edge back rower spot vacant. Sam Stone may be the man who fills the void from round 1, but if Tyrone Peachey is set to play there for an extended period throughout the season, he’ll be an option in the 2RF position in SuperCoach. He only played in the forwards once last season, and scored 53 points in 61 minutes, including 47 in pure base (tackles + hit ups).
Ash Taylor ($329,000 | HFB) – Taylor struggled in 2019. But, his SuperCoach numbers aren’t shocking. He scored 50+ points in 40% of his games and averaged as many creative PPG as Nathan Cleary. If he can take the goal kicking duties and gain some confidence in attack, Taylor will be underpriced.
The Cheapies
Jonus Pearson ($271,400 | CTW) – Even if he starts, you should probably avoid Pearson. He only averaged 29 PPG last season. In games without a try, his average was 21.8, and in games with a try, his average was 59 PPG. In round 17, he scored 7 points in 80 minutes (9 in base and -2 from an error) – not what you want from a SuperCoach perspective.
Kallum Watkins ($271,800 | CTW) – In Watkins’ 80 minute games at centre last season, he averaged 35 PPG. He did this without any tries, try assists, line breaks or line break assists. His points came from his average of 10 hit ups, 14 tackles and 2 offloads per game. With this base, if Watkins can cross the stripe a few times early in the season, he could be a solid scorer that makes cash.
Greg Leleisiuao ($171,900 | CTW) – Leleisiuao might not start straight away, but it’s only a matter of time before he makes his NRL debut. When that happens, he’ll be a must own cheapie. Here are his stats from the NSW ISP last season: 26 games, 12 tries (5th), 196 tackle breaks (1st), 43 offloads (1st), 433 hit ups (1st). It might be a smart move to select Leleisiuao in your side, leave him on the bench and wait for him to start.
Avoid/Be Wary of
Bryce Cartwright ($397,500 | 2RF) – Cartwright averaged 51 PPG when starting last season, and could earn a starting spot ahead of Stone on the edge. However, without dual position status and given the fact that he has such a low floor, it’s a no from me.
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