Jarrod Croker
Canberra Raiders captain
Jarrod Croker’s SuperCoach side for 2020 season
Fresh off signing a new NRL contract, Canberra Raiders captain Jarrod Croker settles on his SuperCoach side for 2020.
Croker's Call Expert Analysis Pre-season
February 4, 2020
- PREDICTED 17: Brisbane Broncos full SC player analysis
- PART THREE: Players of Intrigue in 2020
I’m excited to be on board the SC Playbook team for the new season, but I have to admit I’m lacking in the SuperCoach experience department.
I’ve jumped on the advice of the fellow contributors to help put together ‘Croker’s Stockmen’ for Round 1.
The name comes from my hometown club, the Goulburn Stockmen.
To avoid any drama, I’ll be steering clear of any fellow Canberra players throughout the season, so hopefully that doesn’t come back to bite me too hard.
It was tough work fitting players under the cap, but with a bit of luck my cheap players will get a start early in the year to accommodate the stars.
Here’s what I’ve come up with to start the year.
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Embed from Getty ImagesFULLBACK
Tom Trbojevic || $714,800 || FLB
Trbojevic pretty well picked himself, he’s an absolute star who should be set for another strong season after picking up a few injuries in 2019.
Ryan Papenhuyzen || $508,200 || FLB
The Melbourne fullback is loaded with X-factor and on all reports is a bargain buy in SuperCoach for round 1.
Embed from Getty ImagesWING/CENTRE
Latrell Mitchell || $653,100 || CTW-FLB
Bringing in Latrell hurt my bank big time, but he should see plenty more ball at fullback. He’s arguably the most damaging runner in the game, so he could be anything with more touches to his name. He looks a standout as a buy in the centres.
Josh Mansour || $416,700 || CTW
Josh is one of the strongest ball-carriers in the NRL and can hopefully stay fit and healthy in 2020.
Waqa Blake || $386,500 || CTW
I’ve upgraded Tristan Sailor who looks like he’ll miss out on Round 1, to Waqa Blake at the Eels. Parra have a decent start to the year, and Blake can bust plenty of tackles with good ball and room to move outside Mitch Moses.
Gehamat Shibasaki || $286,400 || CTW
The former Bronco looks to have a spot in the Knights backline with injuries adding up in the outside backs.
Kurt Mann – Bradman Best – Brayden Wiliame
My three bargain buy picks at centre. Best is a quality footballer and should slot into the side on return from injury.
Embed from Getty Images5/8
Scott Drinkwater || $360,600 || 5/8-FLB
Against my better judgement I’ve had to drop Cody Walker to add some cash across my squad. In comes Drinkwater who has looked extremely sharp in pre-season and seems extremely cheap to start the year. Playing behind that Cowboys pack should allow him to excel off the back of what should be a relentless string of quick play-the-balls. His natural support play from his time at fullback should continue with Morgan running the show.
Michael Morgan || $471,600 || HFB-5/8
Morgan is another guy I was surprised to see so cheap. The Cowboys are loaded in the middle third of the field, meaning Morgan can thrive behind it after a disappointing 2019 for the club. A few key recruits out wide should do wonders for his attacking stats.
HALFBACK
Shaun Johnson || $585,500 || HFB-5/8
Johnson was straight into my team for the new season. He’s an electric ball-player and has really developed his organisational game in recent years, so hopefully that translates to some decent SuperCoach scores.
Jarome Luai || $257,400 || HFB-5/8
Luai looks a gifted playmaking prospect and should relish playing next to Nathan Cleary at Penrith.
HOOKER
Damien Cook || $705,500 || HOK
Cook has asserted himself as an absolute star in recent years and was an easy pick for Croker’s Stockmen. You know his running game is lethal, but if the play-the-ball is quick enough there’s little you can do to stop him through the ruck.
Blayke Brailey || $201,000 || HOK
With brother Jayden moving to Newcastle, Blayke will be the No.9 for Cronulla. At that price he looks a bargain.
Embed from Getty ImagesFRONT-ROW
Payne Haas || $728,200 || FRF
I really wanted big Papa here, but my ban on Raiders players stopped me. I thought about starting without Haas due to his huge price tag, but the more experienced SuperCoach minds have advised me against doing so. I’ve taken that on board for now, so he’s in.
Zane Musgrove || $201,100 || FRF
Musgrove is a special talent and should see decent game time with a utility player likely to be named at 14. I’m weak in my second front-row spot, so hopefully Musgrove can belt out some reasonable points.
Toby Rudolf || $171,900 || FRF
The prop has won a spot on the bench for the Sharks. Minutes might be hard to come by, but he’s hard to pass up at the price.
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown || $171,900 || FRF
The Kiwi forward had a big pre-season and looks set for decent minutes with just the two big men named on the bench. Here’s hoping he keeps his spot.
SECOND-ROW
Mitch Barnett || $578,000 || 2RF
Mitch is an old teammate of mine at the Raiders and has flourished since moving to the Knights. The Taree boy is as tough as they come with a big motor, making him a welcome addition to my side.
David Fifita || $501,900 || 2RF
Young Fifita looks to have a huge future in front of him in the NRL. Based on what we saw last season he looks to be a fairly cheap buy.
Embed from Getty ImagesJack Williams || $397,200 || 2RF
Jack came through the Raiders junior system and has excelled since joining the Sharks a few years back. All reports suggest he’s held in strong regard at the club. He’s a gifted ball-player for a big man, which Cronulla have liked in their lock over the years, so I’m backing him to produce the odd attacking stat to go with his heavy workload.
Jaydn Su’A || $303,600 || 2RF
Su’A looks to be locked into a big minute role on an edge at the Rabbitohs. That should lead to a few attacking stats, and at his price I can’t go past him.
Tom Flegler || $294,900 || 2RF-FRF
The injury to Matt Lodge has opened up a starting spot for Flegler. He’s extremely strong for a young forward and has a high quality point of contact in defence.
Eliesa Katoa || $171,900 || 2RF
Katoa looks a player of the future, so hopefully he wins decent minutes for the Warriors.
SG
Ben Trbojevic cannot play until June and you need to make money before then