SuperCoach NRL: Dave Von Kotze revs up his Velociraptors

There are changes galore at The Velociraptors with former SuperCoach NRL champion Dave Von Kotze clearing out some dead wood.

• TEAMS: Predicted squads for round one

• Wacko’s Whispers: Cheapies to target in 2019

There have been nine, yes nine changes made since draft one for the Velociraptors and with eight days, five hours, three minutes and seven seconds until the first lock out there will be no further tinkering.

That is until next Tuesday when all current plans could go straight out the back door should TLT not be as kind as it has been in the past. Personally, I would love to see hardly any cheapies named and see the competition blown right open in the year of ‘Mid-priced Madness’ but we’ll just have to see what comes our way next week.

Dave Von Kotze reveals The Velociraptors 2.0

My current team exceeds the cap by $5,000 which I’m hoping will be an easy fix when teams are released next week. This hasn’t been done to suggest that the Velociraptors are under some kind of mythical ‘Salary Sombrero’ that a certain NRL club is frequently and falsely accused of, it is simply so you can see what direction my team is going this year and a few extra players I am also considering.

Here are the changes I have made since posting my first team:

HOOKER

OUT: Kurt Mann ($258,900)

IN: Brandon Smith ($248,900)

Wayde Egan looks like he won’t win the starting hooker spot so Brandon Smith appears to be the best of the remaining options around the $250,000 mark. Smith plays a very SuperCoach friendly game scoring his points at nearly one per minute so a few extra minutes could see some growth just as long as it is not at the expense of Cameron Smith otherwise the Velociraptors are in some ‘Barney Rubble’ at hooker. There is also the option of starting with a non-playing cheapie so I have an extra $80,000 to play with in my cap but that comes with plenty of risk.

Paul Vaughan could be a beneficiary from Jack de Belin’s suspension. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

PROP

OUT: Tevita Pangai Jr ($495,000)

IN: Paul Vaughan ($493,000)

Vaughan came crashing back to earth last season after a cracking 2017 but for the past five seasons he has scored his points at more than a point per minute so with the loss of Jack de Belin, I’m hoping Vaughan will play fifty minutes a game and drop as few points as possible to the more expensive Marty Taupau. Brisbane’s Jo Ofahengaue is also another option I am considering if TPJ’s ongoing hamstring issues keep him out of the opening rounds.

OUT: Payne Hass ($181,100)

IN: Tim Glasby (364,900)

Glasby has averaged only 42 minutes for the past few seasons but has scored his points at an economical rate. If he can increase that average to 50 minutes a game at the start of the season there could be some decent cash made as in the six games in which he played fifty minutes or over last season he averaged 52.

Angus Crichton is as reliable as they come at second row. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

SECOND ROW

OUT: Bryce Cartwright ($231,300)

IN: Angus Crichton ($646,900)

The injury to Tom Trbojevic has relieved my biggest SuperCoach headache this year which was leaving out Crichton. In his last 38 games where he has played seventy minutes or more he has only scored under fifty on three occasions and has knocked out a 38-game average of 72. At only 13 per cent ownership he is now locked and loaded in my stacked 2RF.

OUT: Joe Stimson ($352,900)

IN: Tui Kamikamica ($196,900)

Tui the ‘Karma Kamikamica-ian” has been impressive during pre-season trials but appeared to pick up an injury last weekend which may have thrown a spanner in the works. Even if not named for round one he will most likely still have a spot in my team as it is highly likely he will feature throughout the year.

OUT: Sitili Tupouniua ($181,100)

IN: Lachlan Burr ($196,900)

Burr had a strong showing in the recent trial but Adam Blair is expected to be ready for round one so probably a bench spot at best for Burr meaning he will be a slow burner unless he nabs a try. Happy to drop him like a hot potato if a better option surfaces next week.

HALFBACK

OUT: Chanel Harris-Tavita ($168,100)

IN: Adam Keighran ($168,100)

Keighran appears as if he will get the nod for round one but if not CHT will slip straight back in.

CENTRE/WING

OUT: John Bateman ($400,000)

IN: Brett Morris ($375,100)

Bateman has yet to show that he has the goods so the dice is being rolled with Brett Morris. Those considering this trade need know that his base stats are rubbish but Morris sure can find the try line so my thinking behind this risky trade is hopefully that he posts a few try inflated scores in the first three rounds against the Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles and Eels before upgrading to a CTW keeper. Currently only 11 per cent ownership so just within POD range.

FULLBACK

OUT: Tom Trbojevic ($691,200)

IN: Clint Gutherson ($439,300)

It was mentioned in my initial team that I feel Gutho will have a hit-back year at fullback so I have found a way to make it happen due to some positive signs during the trials. He will also cover round twelve and has dual FLB/CTW flexibility to sweeten the deal. For an extra $46,000 Matt Moylan has also thrown his hat in the ring so I can cash in on the Johnson/Moylan combination should the Sharks fire early.

MORE SUPERCOACH:

Full SuperCoach News section / Cheapie Bible / Predicted round one teams / Sangster’s team / Champ’s team / Wilfred’s team / Tallis’s team / Copes’ team / Huge rule change / Top 10 rookies in NRL

Wily veteran Cameron Smith of the Storm. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

THE VELOCIRAPTORS 2.0

HOOKER

Cameron Smith ($594,400)

Smith will take the reins again in the HOK role for me in 2019. I can totally see the reasoning behind going with Cook who was in a league of his own last year, however, the extra $131,000 that I’ll have to use elsewhere it too hard to pass up. Smith scored over 60 points in 13 of the 22 (59 per cent) games he played last year where he was on the park for over 70 minutes and cracked the ton on three occasions so that is more than enough to warrant his selection.

Brandon Smith ($248,900)

See above.

PROP

Andrew Fifita ($634,300)

There is no denying that Fifita is as loose as they come. One minute he gives away three penalties in a row and the next he makes four effective offloads in quick succession and wins you right back. It is for this reason coupled with the fact that in the last three years he has averaged 67, 64 and 72 and scored his points at over a point per minute (PPM-1.2, 1.2 & 1.3) that the big unit is once again a set and forget for the Velociraptors in 2019.

Paul Vaughan ($493,000)

See above.

Tim Glasby (364,900)

See above.

Blake Lawrie ($216,600)

Lawrie got some game time in only seven games last season averaging 22 minutes per game but his work rate was impressive (averaging 1.05 PPM) so keep an eye out in future if he finds extra minutes.

Jai Arrow churned points out at well over 1.0PPM in 2018. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

BACKROW

Jai Arrow ($598,000)

Arrow was my first picked this year as I think SuperCoaches have been offered a considerable discount on him to start 2019 due to an injury affected end to 2018. He had an 11-game average of 80 in games in which he played above 55 minutes and churned his points out with a PPM of 1.2 so his selection is an absolute no-brainer for me.

Jake Trbojevic ($667,600)

Big Brother Jake’s engine coupled with his ability to find attacking stats sees him currently sitting in 41 per cent of teams. He is worth every cent of his high asking price and worst case scenario, if Des Hasler for some reason messes with his minutes, he can be a straight swap to any other 2RF in the game.

Jason Taumalolo ($657,400)

It has been noted that he started 2018 slowly with an opening 5-game average of 50 but he followed it up by averaging 80 in his next five. Regardless of some of the warm weather starts he has in 2019, hopefully he can open like a steam train as he did in 2017 with an initial 5-game average of 85. An added bonus is no Origin involvement.

Angus Crichton ($646,900)

See above.

Tui Kamikamica ($196,900)

See above.

Lachlan Burr ($196,900)

See above.

Shaun Johnson looks set for a big year at the Shire. Picture: Tony Feder/Getty Images

HALFBACK

Shaun Johnson ($603,000)

SJ appears to have spiders on him this year currently sitting in only 13 per cent of teams but I have him locked and loaded. Surely he will be goal kicking now Valentine Holmes has departed and those worried about him gelling with predicted halves partner Chad Townsend need know that they played together at the Warriors in 2014 and 2015 where Johnson averaged 69 and 70 respectively. I also feel he will have a much better platform to work off this year behind a forward pack who thrive on a grinding, dogfight so strap me in to the well-known ‘SuperCoach Roller-coaster’.

Adam Keighran ($168,100)

See above.

FIVE-EIGHTH

Kalyn Ponga ($614,300)

From what I saw last year I am not worried about the positional switch at all. Ponga is a freak of nature who is also coming in slightly under valued due to an injury affected score of five points in round sixteen and two scores in the 40s to finish the year when he was playing busted. There is also the added kicker that he will play four of his first five at home.

Dylan Brown ($168,100)

Another case of ‘if he starts round one, he’s in’. Handy HFB/5/8 dual positioning to sweeten the deal too.

CENTRE/WING

Brett Morris ($375,100)

See above.

Zac Lomax ($196,900)

After what we saw during the finals series last year, Lomax will be a SuperCoach gift if he takes and holds one of the recently vacated wing spots at the Dragons.

Cheapie, Cheapie, Cheapie, Cheapie and Cheapie for the final five spots. It is in this position that SuperCoaches are often gifted fast, easy money and there are plenty of young guns eager to secure their NRL debuts which may well provide that early cash. As mentioned earlier, my team is a stock standard ‘Guns and Cows’ team so any player named in the CTW under or around $200,000 ballpark will come straight into my team.

FULLBACK

James Tedesco ($689,000)

As a Roosters supporter, I would be angry and disappointed in myself if I didn’t fork out the dosh to have Teddy in my team. I sang his praises in the Roosters pre-season yarn so refer to that if you need any further convincing.

Clint Gutherson ($439,300)

See above.

Originally published as SuperCoach NRL: Dave Von Kotze revs up his Velociraptors