Predicted Line Up
1. Clint Gutherson, 2. Maika Sivo, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Waqa Blake, 5. Blake Ferguson, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Mitchell Moses, 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9. Reed Mahoney, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Shaun Lane, 12. Ryan Matterson, 13. Nathan Brown. Interchange: 14. Brad Takairangi, 15. Daniel Alvaro, 16. Stefano Utoikamanu, 17. Marata Niukore
Relevant Injury/Team news
Reagan Campbell-Gillard (elbow) and Maika Sivo (hand) are fit for the pre-season trials.
Waqa Blake is still recovering from a shoulder injury but is hopeful of returning for round 1.
Stefano Utoikamanu and Oregon Kaufusi have been training with the starting squad in opposed sessions, with Kane Evans in the reserve grade squad.
Goal Kickers
1. Mitchell Moses, 2. Clint Gutherson, 3. Brock Lamb
The Guns
Mitchell Moses ($579,300 | HFB) – Read our ‘Under the Microscope’ article on Mitch Moses to see why we think he is a gun.
Ryan Matterson ($626,200 | 2RF) – Matterson will play as an 80 minute backrower on the right edge this season. He averaged 69.9 PPG in that role in 2018, and 67.8 PPG in that role in 2019. He’s about as safe an option as you can get, scoring 50+ in every game last season.
Maika Sivo ($547,900 | CTW) – Picking any winger in SuperCoach comes with risk, but Sivo was one of the best last season, averaging 59.0 PPG. He scored 90+ points in 5/23 games, and 50+ points in 13/23 games. Given his soft draw, there’s every chance Sivo could explode to start the season.
The PODs
Blake Ferguson ($505,700 | CTW) – Ferguson is probably a better option than Sivo. Whereas Sivo scored <40 9 times last season, Ferguson did so only once. His superior base means that he is a safer pick than Sivo, so all he needs to do is score a few more tries than last season and he’ll be a 60+ averaging CTW.
Shaun Lane ($519,600 | 2RF) – Lane was quite solid in SuperCoach last season. From rounds 1-11 he averaged 59.7 PPG, and from rounds 20-25 he averaged 62.3 PPG. His average was impacted by a poor run from rounds 12-19, where he averaged 42.5 PPG. Moreover, he averaged 64.6 PPG against bottom 5 clubs last season. Given the Eels’ favourable draw, Lane is a sneaky POD to begin the season.
Waqa Blake ($386,500| CTW) – In Blake’s 80 minute games for the Eels last season, he averaged 55.2 PPG. Given his underwhelming start to the year at the Panthers, he is priced at a 41.6 PPG average. With some favourable match ups to begin the season, Blake is a reasonably cheap option with high upside that should make cash.
Junior Paulo ($542,000 | FRF) – I don’t think Paulo will improve this season, but I can see him maintaining his 2019 output. He should score a safe 50-60 PPG each week, with the occasional 70-80 point score when attacking stats come and the occasional 40-50 point score when he can’t get his offload away.
The Players of Interest
Nathan Brown ($551,700| 2RF) – When starting at lock last season, Brown averaged 64.7 PPG in 64.6 MPG. In the 2 seasons prior, he averaged 65 PPG and 62 PPG in 67 MPG and 68 MPG. He’s a SuperCoach gun, but only when he plays big minutes. Given the forward stocks at the Eels this season, it’s hard to see Brown playing more than 60 minutes very often.
The Cheapies
Oregon Kaufusi ($255,600| FRF) – He’s a PPM beast, so will be an option if he can play 25-30 MPG.
Stefano Utoikamanu ($171,900| FRF) – All reports are that Stefano U is in line for a bench spot come round 1. Although it would seem unlikely that Kane Evans would be dropped after his great form in 2019, Utoikamanu will the best FRF cheapie if he’s named.
Avoid/Be wary of
Clint Gutherson ($532,400 | FLB) – Having lost his dual FLB/CTW classification, Gutho’s major appeal is gone. He’ll still be a 60 PPG averaging fullback, but there are better options at fullback.
Dylan Brown ($428,900 | HFB/5/8) – Brown is a classy player and will probably average around 50 PPG this season, but he’s awkwardly priced and there are better options available.
Reed Mahoney ($490,200 | HOK) – Mahoney makes a lot of tackles, and that’s all he does with regularity in SuperCoach terms. He doesn’t have the running or creative game to pump out regular huge scores. He was a 60-70 MPG hooker in the back half of last season and I don’t think forking out nearly $500k for Mahoney can be justified.
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