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KFC SuperCoach NRL: How new NRL draw affects your team

With five trades in hand for Round 3, SuperCoaches will need to consider the new NRL schedule as it could mean the difference between winning and losing.

It's Draft Day for the KFC SuperCoach NRL team

Finally the fixtures for the NRL return is here, and now KFC SuperCoaches can really start preparing for the season ahead.

With five trades in hand for Round 3 SuperCoaches may have already come up with the perfect combination to fix their team, but now is the time to go back to the drawing board.

After such a long break, factoring in the NRL schedule into your five trades now could mean the difference between winning and losing.

Owners will be hoping Haas maintains big minutes. Picture: Alix Sweeney
Owners will be hoping Haas maintains big minutes. Picture: Alix Sweeney

BRONCOS

The Broncos have a number of players returning from injury including Matt Lodge, which could have a serious impact on the game time of popular KFC SuperCoach players like Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan and popular cheapie Thomas Flegler.

David Fifita will be out of action for the Broncos with injury, All eyes will be on Kotoni Staggs, the current top point scorer in KFC SuperCoach who is set for a big price rise with some solid outings.

BULLDOGS

While the Bulldogs started the season off with zero wins, they’ve been tough to beat and have proved to be a SuperCoach graveyard giving up very few points, while also having few standout players. This does not bode well for either them or their first two match-ups in the Sea Eagles and Dragons. There is currently not a single Bulldogs player with over 10 per cent ownership and there really isn’t anyone worth chasing right now, but it is worth looking to see who replaces Corey Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor.

Jason Taumalolo looks like a must have for the rest of 2020. Picture: AAP.
Jason Taumalolo looks like a must have for the rest of 2020. Picture: AAP.

COWBOYS

The Titans in Round 3 will be a juicy matchup for Cowboys players, so SuperCoaches may want to take note, given their tendency to leak points. I’m already considering captaining Valentine Holmes, but will probably just stick with Jason Taumalolo. Scott Drinkwater is currently one of the most purchased players heading into round 3 and with Michael Morgan set to be out could be an excellent pick-up. Ben Hampton is potentially a solid cheapie option here and could make some decent cash with a great performance against Gold Coast.

Cameron McInnes could be a good trade-in option for later in the season. Picture: AAP.
Cameron McInnes could be a good trade-in option for later in the season. Picture: AAP.

DRAGONS

The Dragons will welcome back the Sims brothers as well as SuperCoach gun Cameron McInnes, but all eyes will be on Brayden Williame, Zac Lomax and Tyrell Fuimaono who all have over 20 per cent ownership.

SuperCoaches should have McInnes on their radar however as a potential upgrade option if he looks fit and has a few kind price drops.

Reed Mahoney will be racing the clock to be fit. Picture: AAP.
Reed Mahoney will be racing the clock to be fit. Picture: AAP.

EELS

For the Eels, SuperCoaches will be hoping for a repeat of their 58-0 thrashing of the Broncos in 2019, with Mitchell Moses owned by nearly 40% of players. Hooker Reed Mahoney will be racing the clock to be fit for the NRL return and is certain to play.

In Round 4 Parramatta will host Manly in another exciting matchup with lots of points scored in their 2019 clashes, especially from Maika Sivo who scored 152 KFC SuperCoach points against them in round 25 last year.

Kalyn Ponga is suspended for round three. Picture: AAP.
Kalyn Ponga is suspended for round three. Picture: AAP.

KNIGHTS

Newcastle start off with games against Panthers and Raiders both of which look like pretty tough match-ups, especially without Kalyn Ponga against Penrith. David Klemmer is a base stat machine and looks like a very good purchase for these matchups and the rest of the season, especially given he won’t miss any games through Origin or byes. They also have a number of cheapies potentially worth picking up, especially five-eighth Kurt Mann and potentially fullback fill-in Tex Hoy.

Nathan Cleary is also suspended for the NRL return. Picture: AAP.
Nathan Cleary is also suspended for the NRL return. Picture: AAP.

PANTHERS

Things aren’t looking too good for the Panthers who will be without Nathan Cleary for the season return and SuperCoaches should be looking to trade him out ASAP. The Knights could be a tough matchup for Penrith to start things off, but the Warriors game could be great for other popular Panthers, including Jarome Luai, Apisai Koroisau, Viliame Kikau and Isaah Yeo. Josh Mansour could be another player to keep an eye on, looking back to his SuperCoach best in the opening rounds of 2020.

Damien Cook is one of the most sold players ahead of round three. Picture: Getty Images.
Damien Cook is one of the most sold players ahead of round three. Picture: Getty Images.

RABBITOHS

KFC SuperCoaches are not happy with the Rabbitohs, with Damien Cook, Liam Knight, Braidon Burns, Cameron Murray and Latrell Mitchell all in the top ten most traded out players. Their Roosters and Storm match-ups should make for some exciting real life NRL but maye not translate to amazing SuperCoach points. But that being said, I’d still expect the forwards to get through plenty of work in this matchup and are fine to start.

RAIDERS

The undefeated Raiders have an interesting schedule with games against the Storm and Knights, both also undefeated and tough match-ups. The Storm game should be a pretty low scoring affair, but looks good on paper for forwards like Josh Papalii. The Knights game should prove a bit more SuperCoach friendly, and the 26% of players who own George Williams will want to see him step up. Emre Guler is also a popular buy but is a bit of a trap with his minutes set for a big drop as players return from injury. John Bateman is currently a huge POD at 1.4 per cent ownership and will be one to keep an eye on, as is ‘new’ recruit Jordan Rapana.

James Tedesco is the most owned Roosters player in SuperCoach. Picture: Getty Images.
James Tedesco is the most owned Roosters player in SuperCoach. Picture: Getty Images.

ROOSTERS

The Roosters have two tough match-ups in the season restart taking on the Rabbitohs and the Broncos, and will be desperate for a win after starting the season off with two losses. Despite their on field talent, James Tedesco is the only Easts player with significant KFC SuperCoach ownership and has a pretty good scoring history against these sides.

Blayke Brailey is one of the most owned players in SuperCoach. Picture: Getty Images.
Blayke Brailey is one of the most owned players in SuperCoach. Picture: Getty Images.

SHARKS

Cronulla will have a pretty good run when the season resumes with games against the Tigers and Cowboys. Blake Brailey and Toby Rudolf are very popular cheapies and are definitely worth bringing into your side if they aren’t already. William Kennedy and Jack Williams have decent ownership but should definitely be traded out if possible, given Kennedy may not play and Williams disappointed in the opening rounds.

Tom Trbojevic will be hoping to stay fit for the rest of 2020. Picture: AAP.
Tom Trbojevic will be hoping to stay fit for the rest of 2020. Picture: AAP.

SEA EAGLES

Manly will start 2020 off against the Bulldogs, which does not look too promising if the first two rounds are a guide, given how little SuperCoach points the dogs conceded. Round 4 against the Eels however looks like a potentially high scoring game, with Tom Trbojevic scoring 106 against them in round 18 last year. Jake Trbojevic is a good trade-in target for season return given he won’t miss any games to State of Origin or bye and is currently very low-priced.

Ryan Papenhuyzen has a tough schedule for the season return. Picture: AAP.
Ryan Papenhuyzen has a tough schedule for the season return. Picture: AAP.

STORM

Like some of the other teams in the season restart, Melbourne have a very tough run with games against the Raiders and Rabbitohs which doesn’t bode too well for high SuperCoach output. But then again Ryan Papenhuyzen still scored well in the first two rounds without even scoring a try. These match-ups could also be a good thing for Cameron Smith who should make a tonne of tackles as long as he can maintain big minutes. Tui Kamikamica also scored extremely well in the opening rounds and is a somewhat popular purchase, but is likely to see a drop in minutes with players returning from injury.

New Tigers recruit could be a good cheapie to bring in for round five. Picture: Adam Yip.
New Tigers recruit could be a good cheapie to bring in for round five. Picture: Adam Yip.

TIGERS

The Sharks matchup isn’t too exciting, but the Titans matchup in round four should have SuperCoaches very excited for some potentially high points on offer. The burning question at Wests is who will start at hooker, with cheapie Harry Grant potentially in line to start and play big minutes (likely at the expense of Billy Walters). Only at 2 per cent ownership, Grant could be near a must have for round 5 if he lives up to the hype. Luciano Leilua also started the season off with a bang scoring well and playing big minutes, and is one of the most purchased players for round 3.

TITANS

For the Titans it’s not looking good with very few SuperCoach relevant options outside of Jai Arrow, the only Gold Coast player with over 10% ownership. But who knows, maybe the Titans will emerge from the NRL shutdown a better looking side and surprise us. The Cowboys defence did look vulnerable in the opening two rounds so someone like Ash Taylor or Phillip Sami could be someone to keep an eye on.

The Tigers in round 4 is probably a more favourable match up for the Titans given it’s a home game and Wests conceded a huge 42 points to the Knights in round 2.

WARRIORS

The Warriors have sacrificed a lot to be in Australia for the NRL return and I’m sure lots of fans will be keen to cheer them on this season. But like the Titans it’s not looking too pretty in terms of KFC SuperCoach, with just two players with over 5% ownership, both of whom are cheapies. Eliesa Katoa and Jamayne Tonua Brown are both highly owned cheapies, but it looks like one or both of them could potentially lose their spots in the side which would really hurt.

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Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL: How new NRL draw affects your team

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/supercoach-news/kfc-supercoach-nrl-how-new-nrl-draw-affects-you-team/news-story/af4b1b27bd3332669cf3341ee0a78110