Playmaker's Insight: Key questions ahead of season opener

looking forward to future articles with the h2h perspective. Good work

<ul><li>PART TWO:&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://13.210.220.211/2020/03/05/trial-recap-part-two-supercoach-weekend-analysis/" target="_blank">NRL SuperCoach trials recap</a></li><li>PART TWO:&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://13.210.220.211/2020/02/27/part-two-every-potential-cheapie-option-ranked/" target="_blank">Every potential cheapie option ranked</a></li></ul>



With the 2020 season kick starting this week, I’ll have a look into a few common questions that I get asked and how that could translate into SuperCoach success or failure. 



<a href="http://13.210.220.211/subscribe/">Sign up to SC Playbook</a>&nbsp;for detailed pre-season analysis of every top 17 player from every club in the competition and more + over 200 additional articles once the season kicks off.



<a id="e5Z1Ye2oQSNBYfoHE1Yi6Q" class="gie-single" href="http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/1208032466" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'e5Z1Ye2oQSNBYfoHE1Yi6Q',sig:'VWAAtP6RwdagITpO4cXEw7JxvJoHx0sR1dxr3cbnRqI=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1208032466',caption: true ,tld:'com.au',is360: false })});</script><script src="//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" async=""></script>



How will the Roosters handle the early rounds following
the World Club Challenge in England? 



I think they will have learnt from last year’s disappointing
Round 1 defeat to South Sydney and will have slightly altered how they approach
the opener. 



It may have been as simple as how they structure their recovery
from overseas travel and the amount of time spent on the training paddock. 



They may simplify their game plan and play a more percentage-based
game plan. 



With their strike power and game breakers such as James Tedesco
and Luke Keary, they will still find a way to score points, but do it in a more
conservative manner. 



A new halves combination will take some time to fully gel,
so it’ll likely take Flanagan some time to find his feet in a new team. 



The NRL draw suits them and I’m sure this was looked at by
the NRL with the first five rounds all being in and around Sydney, allowing
them to have a simple travel plan and a consistent training base.



This is something that can’t be overlooked and they certainly know how to handle being the hunted.



<a id="uLXHX3svT1lBMKUPaHQ5nQ" class="gie-single" href="http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/1174597649" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'uLXHX3svT1lBMKUPaHQ5nQ',sig:'-rwlgEJBCsHYyH2KHZkMjboXdkmjfKHAvyqDGB-ym2c=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1174597649',caption: true ,tld:'com.au',is360: false })});</script><script src="//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" async=""></script>



Having been unbeaten since 2001 in the season opener, why
is Melbourne so dominant in Round 1?



I don’t believe that there is a team that knows there game
better than the Storm. 



They are very meticulous in their shapes and roles of each
individual player.



Something that may take 8-12 weeks to come together in some
teams, the Storm seem to have nailed at the time the competition starts. 



I’m sure all teams have the same ambitions to start the
season fast.



But it’s the knowledge that Cameron Smith has of how to win
a game that’s the difference, whether it be Origin, Test or NRL games, it’s
second to none and it’s no fluke that the influence he has on any player who
comes into the Storm system is passed on. 



Without knowing how all clubs train, I believe some teams will structure match fitness and peaking at certain times of the season differently, but the Storm are always rock hard fit and ready to play in Round 1. 



<a href="http://13.210.220.211/subscribe/">Sign up to SC Playbook</a>&nbsp;for detailed pre-season analysis of every top 17 player from every club in the competition and more + over 200 additional articles once the season kicks off.



<a id="KiE3pqOBQtpVqlOp-k8DaA" class="gie-single" href="http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/1136104023" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'KiE3pqOBQtpVqlOp-k8DaA',sig:'4o4fTtum8JTJ5ll3yqAlvvYwHecd93y-E8mdC6tflug=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1136104023',caption: true ,tld:'com.au',is360: false })});</script><script src="//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" async=""></script>



Who will start strong and surprise?



This part of tipping is a nightmare for most tipsters with
so much unknown in an extremely even competition. 



A team who could start strong on the back of a good early
season draw is the Bulldogs.



Although they aren’t up with the favourites for the
competition, they have a style that is physical, gritty and certainly a team
that works hard for each other. 



The early rounds are very much about completions and less
about flamboyance, and although they have added some really nice spark, I think
if they can complete well they will have some close matches that they will back
themselves to come out on top in. 



In the opening six rounds, they have four games at ANZ and the other two in Campbelltown and Bankwest.



<a id="Z7lEDXLDRptE8EJLL3QMOA" class="gie-single" href="http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/1209392723" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Z7lEDXLDRptE8EJLL3QMOA',sig:'s-H743ghAp3oAf1jtTrh4ISkEMdTAy_KLBOj6kAqIaQ=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1209392723',caption: true ,tld:'com.au',is360: false })});</script><script src="//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" async=""></script>



As evidenced in the back end of last season, the team is really starting to discover and successfully implement the Dean Pay way, which gives them the perfect grounding to make themselves known early in the year.



Many are rightly jumping on Parramatta stars in SuperCoach due to what appears to be a simple early season draw, including the Bulldogs twice, but it may not be the walkover most are predicting. 



I hope this gives some insight into a couple of early season
favourites and a team on the up. 



I’m as excited for the 2020 season to start as anyone.



Good luck to all SuperCoach players out there, I hope your
players do well (unless against the Raiders) and your team is successful.

Playmaker’s Insight: Key questions ahead of season opener

Discussion (1)

Related /

Playmaker’s insight: Rookie halves gifted chance

Playmaker’s Insight: Injury delay to benefit SC trio

Playmaker’s Insight: NRL, Super League comparison

Playmaker’s Insight: Why ‘mini pre-season’ is key to return