Draftstars preview: Friday NRL tips

<ul><li>WAL&#8217;S WAGERS: <a href="http://13.210.220.211/2020/06/11/wals-wagers-round-5-punting-preview/">Round 5 NRL punting preview</a></li><li>FINAL WORD: <a href="http://13.210.220.211/2020/06/11/final-word-key-trade-tactical-advice-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Key SuperCoach tactics + trade advice (opens in a new tab)">Key SuperCoach tactics + trade advice</a></li></ul>



Draftstars is back for Round 5 of the NRL and with it comes the chance to back your fantasy knowledge to win some cash.



For those unfamiliar with the concept, you can enter
competitions for each game for as little as $2.



You pick a squad for that game and watch the points roll in, as per an NRL SuperCoach clash.



It’s important to note however that the scoring system does
differ from SuperCoach, we’ve attached the points system at the bottom of the
page.



The main differences to note are that there’s a greater
emphasis on players with a high workrate, while attacking players aren’t
rewarded as significantly.



Tacklebreaks are worth three points, while missed tackles
are worth negative two. Kick metres are also included, so targeting dominant
long-range kickers in sides is often a strong move.



On that note, let’s look into today’s fixtures.



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://record.affiliates.playup.com/_P4wVQS0n-iz6PBA04iUMN2Nd7ZgqdRLk/1/" target="_blank">FOLLOW THE LINK TO CHECK OUT DRAFTSTARS</a>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WARRIORS v COWBOYS</h2>



OVERVIEW



The Warriors were flattered a fortnight back against the
Dragons, but were brought back to earth when scoreless against Penrith last week.
They face easier opposition here, but still look up against it with Jason
Taumalolo back for North Queensland. I’ll be going heavy on Cowboys attacking
players.



GUNS



Jason Taumalolo 



It’s always an extremely viable option to bypass the players
in Draftstars when they boast hefty price tags. But JT covers both an enormous
workload and just about every attacking statistic. You’d be brave to ignore him
even at $17,3000.



Valentine Holmes



If the Cowboys do a number on the Warriors it’ll be Val
playing the main role in most attacking raids. He’s kicking goals, busting
tackles and looking lethal with ball in hand. If you think the Warriors will
match the Cowboys, he’s one to gamble on leaving out, but I’m not convinced.



Reece Robson



Jake Granville is out which gives promising hooker Reece Robson a start at hooker. He scored two tries off the bench against the Titans and boasts a strong running game. He’s the clear pick of the hookers at $12,800.



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STARS TO AVOID



Roger Tuivasa-Sheck



It’s basically RTS v Val, which basically comes back to who
you’re backing to win. RTS will be a popular pick, but unless the Warriors find
an extra gear in attack it heavily limits his scoring potential.



VALUE



Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow



‘The Hammer’ makes his NRL debut after lighting up the Perth
Nines. He’s a bargain at $7k and will relish playing in Ben Hampton’s spot
which has been a hot spot for try-scoring.



Kodi Nikorima



I like Nikorima in that being a smaller half he gets targeted
defensively, helping lift his tackle count, although he does miss a few which
hurts. He’s extremely nippy, so if the Warriors can get momentum through the
middle he can do plenty of damage through the middle of the ruck.



COMBINATIONS



Valentine Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow



If you’re picking Val Holmes, you basically have to pick the Cowboys left edge winger. Val’s ball-playing has been exceptional on return to the NRL, and his left side is his strong side. Look for him to sweep out the back and find a flying ‘Hammer’ in the corner.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EELS v PANTHERS</h2>



OVERVIEW



This will be a ripping contest, but I’m backing Parramatta
in a tight Batte of the West. They’ve been ultra-impressive in 2020 and look to
be the complete package, with a dominant pack and attacking threats from 1-13. Penrith’s
chief playmaker Nathan Cleary returns for the undefeated Penrith outfit, so it’ll
be hard to favour Draftstars players from either side. Both sides are stacked
with guns, so finding value is extremely hard in this fixture.



GUNS



Ryan Matterson



Matto is locked into an 80 minutes role on the right edge
outside Mitch Moses. His work ethic is exceptional and he has serious attacking
ability with ball in hand. 



Nathan Cleary



Cleary will be very fresh for his first game since the NRL returns. There’s not a lot of value separating himself, Moses and Dylan Brown in the halves, so I’m going with the Penrith number 7. He gets through plenty of work for a half, kicks goals, and is the dominant playmaker in the team.



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STARS TO AVOID



Isaah Yeo and James Fisher-Harris



I don’t for one second begrudge anyone for picking either of
these two stars. However, the 2RF position is stacked and there is some value
in that spot. Yeo only played 58 minutes last week, while JFH fluctuates game
time each round, so I’ll be prioritising Matterson as my 2RF gun.



VALUE



Viliame Kikau



Kikau is the value I speak of in the second-row. He’s
playing strong minutes and is made for Draftstars. While his workrate isn’t quite
the same as the elite 2RF options, his attacking potency is second-to-none. At
$11,760 he looks like a serious selection.



Clint Gutherson



The new rules with a faster ruck suit the high octane style of Gutherson perfectly. He’s cheap as chips at $8,730.



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COMBINATIONS



Nathan Cleary and Viliame Kikau



There’s quality combinations across the park, but I like Cleary and Kikau. Defence will be at a premium in this contest, so I can see Cleary isolating his opposition half for a barnstorming Kikau to score at some stage.



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<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class=""><tbody><tr><td>Stat</td><td>Points value</td></tr><tr><td>Try</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Try-assist</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Field goal</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Linebreak</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Tackle break</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Goal</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Linebreak assist</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Offload</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Tackle </td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Run metre gained</td><td>0.1</td></tr><tr><td>Kick metre gained</td><td>0.05</td></tr><tr><td>Error</td><td>-2</td></tr><tr><td>Missed tackle</td><td>0.05</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Gamble responsibly.



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Draftstars preview: Friday NRL fixtures

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